Bar code symbol reading system having cordless bar code symbol reader and portable base unit with data collection memory and acoustical acknowledgment signal generator

• US 5,939,701 A
• Filed: 07/09/1997
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Colavito, Stephen J., Rockstein, George B., Knowles, Carl Harry, Wilz, David M., German, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien Minh
• Application Number:
  US08/890,586
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472, 235/385, 235/386, 235/469, 235/1, 375/1
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/106 having diffraction gratings as scanning elements, e.g. holographic scanners holographic optical elements G02B5/32, holography G03H
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10534 Scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1012 Special detection of object
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1016 Motor control or optical moving unit control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1017 Programmable
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1018 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10594 Beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10603 Basic scanning using moving elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10663 using hologram
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10673 Parallel lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10693 for omnidirectional scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10792 Special measures in relation to the object to be scanned
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10801 Multidistance reading
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 : sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10871 : randomly oriented data-fields, code-marks therefore, e.g. concentric circles-code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 : constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 : the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 : adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 : using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 : locating of the code in an image

Abstract

A bar code symbol reading system is provided having at least one portable bar code symbol reading device and an associated base unit positioned within the data transmission range thereof without a physical wiring connection thereto. After each successful reading of a bar code symbol, the bar code reading device automatically produces symbol character data representative of the bar code symbol, synthesizes a group of data packets each containing the symbol character data, and then transmits the synthesized group of data packets to the base unit. Upon the successful receipt of one of the transmitted data packets and the recovery of symbol character data therefrom, the base unit generates an acoustic acknowledgment signal that is perceptible to the user of the bar code symbol reading device and indicates the transmitted symbol character data has been successfully received.

Claims

1. A portable data collection device for receiving symbol character data transmitted over a data packet modulated carrier signal of electromagnetic nature, said portable data collection device comprising:

A compact housing of lightweight construction;

radio signal receiving means, disposed in said compact housing, for receiving said data packet modulated carrier signal transmitted from a portable bar code symbol reading device;

carrier signal demodulating means, disposed in said compact housing, for demodulating said modulated carrier signal and recovering said symbol character data;

data storage means for storing said recovered symbol character data;

acoustical acknowledgment signal generating means, disposed in said compact housing, for producing an audible acoustical acknowledgment signal

data transmission means, disposed in said compact housing, for transmitting said recovered symbol character data from said data storage means to the input port of a host device; and

acoustical acknowledgment signal generation means enabled upon the transmission of said recovered symbol character to produce an audible acoustical acknowledgment signal, thereby to inform the user that a recovered data packet has been received at said collection device and that the symbol character data contained in said modulated data packet has been recovered and transmitted to the host device.

2. A portable data collection device for receiving symbol character data transmitted over a data packet modulated carrier signal of electromagnetic nature as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrier signal demodulating means further includes:

data analyzing means for analyzing said recovered symbol character data so as to determine that said recovered symbol character data (a) was recovered from said transmitted symbol character data packet modulated carrier signal and (b) has not been previously transmitted to said host device.

3. A portable data collection device for receiving symbol character data transmitted over a data packet modulated carrier signal of electromagnetic nature as set forth in claim 1, wherein said acoustical acknowledgment signal generating means further includes means for producing said acoustical acknowledgment signal having specific pitch characteristics and which is assigned particularly to said portable bar code symbol reading device.

4. A portable data collection device for receiving symbol character data transmitted over a data packet modulated carrier signal of electromagnetic nature, said portable data collection device comprising:

a compact housing of lightweight construction;

radio signal receiving means, disposed in said compact housing, for receiving said data packet modulated carrier signal transmitted from a portable bar code symbol reading device;

carrier signal demodulating means, disposed in said compact housing, for demodulating said modulated carrier signal;

data packet recovery means for recovering from said demodulated carrier signal said symbol character data packet transmitted from said portable bar code symbol reading device;

data packet analyzing means for analyzing said recovered symbol character data packet so as to determine that said recovered symbol character data packet (a) was recovered from said transmitted symbol character data packet modulated carrier signal and (b) has not been previously transmitted to a host device;

data extracting means for extracting bar code symbol character data contained in said recovered symbol character data packet;

data storage and buffering means for storing and buffering said recovered extracted bar code symbol character data for subsequent transmission to a host device;

acoustical acknowledgment signal generating means, disposed in said compact housing, for producing an audible acoustical acknowledgment signal;

data transmission means, disposed in said compact housing, for transmitting said extracted bar code symbol character data from said data storage and buffering means to the input port of said host device; and

control circuitry for enabling said acoustical acknowledgment signal generating means to produce said audible acoustical acknowledgment signal upon transmission of said extracted bar code symbol character data by said data transmission means to the input port of said host device.

5. A portable data collection device for receiving symbol character data transmitted over a data packet modulated carrier signal of electromagnetic nature as set forth in claim 4, wherein said acoustical acknowledgment signal generating means further includes means for producing said acoustical acknowledgment signal having specific pitch characteristics and which is assigned particularly to said portable bar code symbol reading device.