Bar code symbol reading system having one-way RF signal-receiving keyboard wedge interface

• US 5,979,766 A
• Filed: 06/13/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• 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): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D
• Application Number:
  US08/874,221
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472, 235/462, 235/462.01, 235/462.45, 235/462.48, 235/462.46, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 375/206
• US Class Current: 235/462.46
• 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 provisions 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 fully automatic 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 of the bar code reader range without a physical wiring connection between the bar code reader and the base unit. 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 acknowledgement signal that is perceptible to the user of the bar code symbol reading device and indicates that the transmitted symbol character data has been successfully received. The base unit includes data format conversion circuitry that converts the symbol character data into the same format produced by a computer keyboard, and an interface circuit that interfaces the output port of the base unit with the keyboard input port of the host device.

Claims

1. A system for reading code symbols comprising:

(A) a code symbol reading device including

(1) a first housing supportable by a user of said code symbols reading device, and having a light transmission aperture through which visible light can exit from and enter into said first housing,

(2) light producing means, disposed in said first housing, for producing light within said first housing,

(3) light projecting means, disposed in said first housing, for projecting said light into a scan field defined external to said first housing and onto a code symbol on an object located in at least a portion of said scan field,

(4) light detecting means, disposed in said first housing, for detecting the intensity of light reflected off said code symbol and passing through said light transmission aperture as said light is projected onto said code symbol presented in said scan field, and for automatically producing scan data indicative of said detected light intensity,

(5) scan data processing means for processing produced scan data in order to detect and decode said code symbol when said code is present in said scan field and automatically produce symbol character data in a form representative of said decoded code symbol,

(6) control means for automatically controlling the operation of said code symbol reading device,

(7) data packet synthesizing means for synthesizing a data packet using said symbol character data;

(8) carrier signal generation means for generating a carrier signal of electromagnetic nature,

(9) carrier signal modulation means for modulating said carrier signal using said data packet, and

(10) carrier signal transmitting means for transmitting said modulated carrier signal over a predetermined data transmission range in free space; and

(B) a base unit positionable within the predetermined transmission range of said code symbol reading device, and including

(1) a carrier signal receiving means for receiving said modulated carrier signal transmitted from said carrier signal transmitting means,

(2) carrier signal demodulation means for demodulating said modulated carrier signal so as to recover the data packet from said received modulated carrier signal,

(3) data packet analyzing means for analyzing said recovered data packet,

(4) data interface circuitry for interfacing the data output port of a computer keyboard with the data input port of a computer system,

(5) data format conversion means for converting the data format of said symbol character data recovered at said base unit, into a data format which is substantially identical to the data format of data produced from the output of said computer keyboard,

(6) data transmission means for transmitting said converted data from said data format conversion means through said data interface circuitry to the keyboard data input port of said host computer;

(7) acknowledgment signal producing means for automatically producing an acknowledgement signal perceptible to the user thereof when said user is situated within said predetermined data transmission range, so as to inform said user that said symbol character data transmitted from said code symbol reading device has been received and recovered at said base unit and successfully transmitted to the keyboard data input port of said host computer system; and

(8) control circuitry for enabling said acknowledgment producing means to produce said acknowledgment signal upon transmission of said converted symbol chamber data by said data transmission means to the keyboard data input port of said host device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said acknowledge signal is an acoustical signal.

3. A desktop base unit for receiving symbol character data transmitted over a data packet modulated carrier signal of electromagnetic nature, said desktop base unit comprising:

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

carrier signal demodulating means for demodulating said modulated carrier signal and recovering said symbol character data;

acoustical acknowledgment signal generating means 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 keyboard data input port of a host device, and

control circuitry for enabling said acoustical acknowledgment signal upon transmission of said data transmission means to the input keyboard data port of said host device.

4. A desktop base unit for receiving symbol character data transmitted over a data packet modulated carrier signal of electromagnetic nature, said desktop base unit comprising:

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

carrier signal demodulating means for demodulating said modulated carrier signal and recovering said symbol character data;

keyboard input port for receiving keyboard output data produced from a keyboard device;

data transmission means for selectively transmitting either said recovered symbol character data or said keyboard output data to the input port of a host device;

acoustical acknowledgment signal generating means for producing an audible acoustical acknowledgment signal upon recovering said symbol character data and transmitting said symbol character data to the keyboard data input port of said host device; and

control means for controlling the operation of said acoustical acknowledgment means and said data transmission means.