Bar code symbol reading system with multi-port digital signal decoder

• US 5,686,717 A
• Filed: 06/03/1996
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kolis, George, Knowles, Carl Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FILIPEK, JEFFER
• Application Number:
  US08/657,220
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/436
• US Class Current: 235/462.07
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0166 by means of clock-signals derived from the code marks, e.g. self-clocking code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence

Abstract

A bar code symbol reading system having a laser scanner, and a multi-port digital signal decoder capable of decoding digital signals produced from various types of scanning devices including, for example, high-speed counter top scanners, low-speed hand-held scanners, wand scanners, light pen scanners, and magnetic card scanners. The digital signal decoder includes a plurality of data input ports for receiving digital input signals produced from the various scanning devices. The digital signal decoder also includes common digital signal and data processing circuitry for processing the digital input signals and digital data so as to produce, as output, decoded symbol data. In addition, the digital signal decoder further includes an output data port for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connected to the digital signal decoder. In the illustrative embodiment, the digital signal decoder is realized using VLSI circuit and microprocessor technology.

Claims

1. A bar code symbol reading system comprising:

(1) a first scanning device for scanning a bar code symbol and producing a first digital data signal having first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with said bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device; and

(2) a digital signal processing device capable of decoding a plurality of digital data signals, including said first digital data signal, and a second digital data signal produced as output from a second scanning device and having first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with a bar code symbol being scanned by said second scanning device, said digital signal processing device including;

(a) a plurality of data input ports, each said data input port being operably connectable to one said scanning device, for supplying one said digital data signal to one said data input port for processing;

(b) signal level transition detection means for detecting the signal level transitions in the digital data signal supplied to any one of said plurality of data input ports, and producing signal level transition data for the supplied digital data signal;

(c) means for operably connecting said data input ports to said signal level transition detection means;

(d) common timing means for measuring the time duration of the first and second signal levels between detected signal level transitions in the supplied digital data signal, and producing digital data related to the time duration of the first and second signal levels in the supplied digital data signal;

(e) common control means for controlling the operation of said common timing means in response to signal level transition data produced from said signal level transition detection means;

(f) common data processing means operably associated with said common timing means and programmed for processing said digital data from the supplied digital data signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of the bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device producing the supplied digital signal; and

(g) a data output port operably associated with said common data processing means and for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectable to said data output port.

2. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of data input ports comprises at least first and second data input ports, and wherein said first data input port is adapted for receiving said first digital data signal produced from said first scanning device, and wherein said first and second signal levels of said first digital data signal represent the bars and spaces, respectively, of the bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device.

3. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 2, wherein said second data input port is adapted for receiving said second digital data signal produced from said second scanning device, and wherein said first and second signal levels of said second digital data signal represent the bars and the spaces, respectively, of the bar code symbol being scanned by said second scanning device.

4. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 2, wherein at least one of said first and second scanning devices is selected from the group comprising countertop scanners, handheld scanners, light pen scanners and wand scanners.

5. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said common timing means comprises means for producing clock pulses at a predetermined frequency and means for counting the produced clock pulses so as to produce said digital data.

22. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of data input ports, said signal level transition detection means, said connection means, said common timing means, and said common control means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

24. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 3, wherein said plurality of data input ports, said signal level transition detection means, said connection means, said common timing means, and said common control means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

25. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 24, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

6. A bar code symbol reading system comprising:

(1) a first scanning device for scanning a bar code symbol and producing a first digital data signal having first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with said bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device; and

(2) a digital signal processing device capable of decoding a plurality of digital data signals, including said first digital data signal and a second digital data signal produced as output from a second scanning device and having first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with a bar code symbol being scanned by said second scanning device, said digital signal processing device including;

(a) a plurality of data input ports, each said data input port being operably connectable to one said scanning device, for supplying one said digital data signal to said data input port for processing;

(b) signal level transition detection means operably associated with each said data input port, for detecting signal level transitions in the digital data signal supplied to any one of said plurality of data input ports and producing signal level transition data associated with the supplied digital data signal;

(c) common digital count data producing means for measuring the time duration of the first and second signal levels between detected signal level transitions in the supplied digital data signal, and producing digital data related to the time duration of the first and second levels in the supplied digital data signal;

(d) common data processing means operably associated with said common digital count data producing means, and programmed for processing data including said digital data from the supplied digital data signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of the bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device producing the supplied digital signal; and

(e) a data output port operably associated with said common data processing means and for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectably to said data output port.

7. The digital signal processing device of claim 6, wherein said plurality of data input ports comprises at least first and second data input ports, and wherein said first data input port is adapted for receiving said first digital data signal produced from said first scanning device, and wherein said first and second signal levels represent the bars and spaces, respectively, of the bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device.

8. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 7, wherein said second data input port is adapted for receiving said second digital data signal produced from said second scanning device, and wherein said first and second signal levels of said second digital data signal represent the bars and spaces, respectively, of the bar code symbol being scanned by said second scanning device.

9. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 8, wherein at least one of said first and second scanning devices is selected from the group comprising countertop scanners, hand-held scanners, light pen scanners and wand scanners.

10. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 7, wherein said common digital count data producing means comprises means for producing clock pulses at a predetermined frequency and means for counting the produced clock pulses so as to produce said digital data.

26. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 6, wherein said plurality of data input ports, said signal level transition detection means and said common digital count data producing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

27. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 26, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

28. The bar code reading system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of data input ports, said signal level transition detection means, and said common digital count data producing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

29. The bar code reading system of claim 28, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

11. A bar code symbol reading system comprising:

(1) a first scanning device for scanning a bar code symbol and producing a first digital data signal having first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with said bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device; and

(2) a digital signal processing device capable of decoding a plurality of digital data signals, including said first digital data signal, a second digital data signal produced as output from a scanning device and having first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with the bar code symbol being scanned by said second scanning device, said digital signal processing device including;

(a) a plurality of data input ports, each said data input port being operably connectable to one said scanning device, for supplying one said digital data signal to one said data input port;

(b) common signal processing means in operable association with each said data input port, for processing the digital data signal supplied to any one of said plurality of data input ports, said common signal processing means including

(i) signal level transition detection means for detecting the signal level transitions in the supplied digital data signal and producing signal level transition data associated with the supplied digital data signal, and

(ii) common timing means for measuring the time duration of the first and second signal levels between detected signal level transitions in the supplied digital data signal, and producing digital data related to the time duration of the first and second signal levels in the supplied digital signal;

(c) common data processing means operably associated with said common signal processing means, and programmed for processing said digital data produced from the supplied digital signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of the bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device producing the supplied digital signal; and

(d) a data output port operably associated with said common data processing means and for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectably to said data output port.

12. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 11, wherein said common timing means comprises means for producing clock pulses at a predetermined frequency and means for counting the produced clock pulses so as to produce said digital data.

13. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of data input ports comprises at least first and second data input ports, and wherein said first data input port is adapted for receiving said first digital data signal produced from said first scanning device, and wherein said first and second signal levels of said first digital data signal represent the bars and spaces, respectively, of the bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device.

14. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 13, wherein said second data input port is adapted for receiving said second digital data signal produced from said second scanning device, and wherein said first and second signal levels of said second digital data signal represent the bar code symbol being scanned by said second scanning device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein at least one of said first and second scanning devices is selected from the group comprising countertop scanners, handheld scanners, light pen scanners, and wand scanners.

30. The bar code reading system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of data input ports and said common signal processing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

31. The bar code reading system of claim 30, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

32. The bar code reading system of claim 13, wherein said plurality of data input ports and said common signal producing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

33. The bar code reading system of claim 32, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

16. A bar code symbol reading system comprising:

(1) a first scanning device for scanning a bar code symbol and producing a first digital data signal having first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with said bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device; and

(2) a digital signal processing device capable of decoding a plurality of digital data signals, including said first digital data signal, a second digital data signal produced as output from a second scanning device and having first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with the bar code symbol being scanned by said second scanning device, said digital signal processing device including;

(a) a plurality of data input ports, each said data input port being operably connectable with one said scanning device for supplying one said digital data signal to one said data input port for processing;

(b) clock signal generating means for generating a plurality of predetermined clock signals, each said predetermined clock signal having a frequency which is suitable for use in measuring the time duration of the first and second levels of at least one of said digital data signals;

(c) timing means for measuring the time duration of each of said first and second levels of the supplied digital data signal using one of said plurality of predetermined clock signals and producing digital data representing said measured time durations;

(d) common data processing means operably associated with said timing means and programmed for processing said digital data from the supplied digital data signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of the bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device producing the supplied digital signal; and

(e) data output port operably associated with said common data processing means, for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectable to said data output port.

17. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of data input ports comprises at least first and second data input ports, and wherein said first data input port is adapted for receiving said first digital data signal produced from said first scanning device, and said first and second signal levels of said first digital data signal represent the bars and spaces, respectively, of the bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device.

18. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 17, wherein said second data input port is adapted for receiving said second digital data signal produced from said second scanning device, and wherein said first and second signal levels of said second digital data signal represent the bar code symbol being scanned by said second scanning device.

19. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 18, wherein at least one of said first and second scanning devices is selected from the group comprising countertop scanners, handheld scanners, light pen scanners and wand scanners.

34. The bar code reading system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of data input ports, said clock signal generating means, said timing means, and said common data producing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

35. The bar code reading system of claim 34, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

36. The bar code reading system of claim 18, wherein said plurality of data input ports, said clock signal generating means, said timing means, and said common data producing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

37. The bar code reading system of claim 36, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

20. A bar code symbol reading system comprising:

(1) a first scanning device for scanning a bar code symbol and producing a first digital data signal having a first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with said bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device; and

(2) a digital signal processing device capable of decoding a plurality of digital signals including said first digital signal and a second digital signal produced as output from a magnetic medium scanning device and having first and second signal levels which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with the digital code being scanned by said magnetic medium scanning device, said digital signal processing device including;

(a) first and second data input ports, wherein said first data input port is operably connectable to said bar code scanning device for supplying said first digital data signal to said first data input port for processing, and wherein said second data input port is operably connectable to said magnetic medium scanning device for supplying said second digital data signal to said second data input port for processing;

(b) said common digital signal processing means operably connected to said first and second data input ports, said common digital signal processing means including

(i) transition detection means for detecting the signal level transitions in the digital data signal being supplied to said common digital signal processing means, and producing signal level transition data associated with the supplied digital data signal,

(ii) signal level detection means for detecting the signal level between detected signal level transitions in the supplied digital signal, and producing digital data related to detected signal level in the supplied digital signal, and

(iii) control means for controlling the operation of said signal level detection means in response to the signal level transition data produced from said signal transition detection means;

(c) common data processing means operably associated with said common digital signal processing means, and programmed for processing the digital data produced from the supplied digital signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of said bar code symbol when said bar code scanning device provides the supplied digital data signal, and produces decoded symbol data representative of said digital code when said magnetic medium scanning device provides the digital data signal; and

(d) a data output port operably associated with said common data processing means, for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectable to said data output port.

21. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 20, wherein said bar code scanning device is selected from the group comprising countertop scanners, handheld scanners, light pen scanners, and wand scanners.

23. The bar code symbol reading system of claim 21, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

38. The bar code reading system of claim 20, wherein said first and second data input ports and said common digital signal processing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

39. The bar code reading system of claim 38, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

40. The bar code reading system of claim 21, wherein said plurality of data input ports and said common digital signal processing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

41. The bar code reading system of claim 40, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.