Optical scanner with hand-held and hands-free modes of use

• US 6,216,951 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Swift, Philip, Tu, Jean, Carricato, John, Barkan, Edward, Jenkins, Ian, Wild, Robert, Giordano, Joseph, Curry, Daniel, Ryder, Michael, Oppenheim, Ellen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, UYEN CHAU N
• Application Number:
  US09/539,689
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.45, 235/462.43, 235/462.47, 235/462.48, 235/462.46, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/454, 235/383
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1016 Motor control or optical moving unit control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1018 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10554 Moving beam scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10633 by oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10643 Activating means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10653 using flexible or piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10673 Parallel lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10693 for omnidirectional scanning
• 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 7/10871 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 7/1478 adapting the threshold for pixels in a CMOS or CCD pixel sensor for black and white recognition

Abstract

Antique identifying electro-optical marker is associated with a base unit having a receiver. During a set-up mode of operation, an electro-optical reader reads the marker. During subsequent reading of indicia, the reader generates electrical signals which are transmitted to the receiver of the uniquely identified base unit.

Claims

1. A data transfer system, comprising:

a) a base unit having a receiver;

b) a unique identifying marker having parts of different light reflectivity associated with the base unit; and

c) a portable reader having a handle to be held by a user in a hand-held mode of operation, and operative for electro-optically reading the identifying marker in a set-up mode of operation in which the base unit is uniquely identified to the reader, the reader being subsequently operative in a reading mode of operation for electro-optically reading an indicium having parts of different light reflectivity and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the indicium, the reader having a transmitter for transmitting the electrical signal by wireless transmission to the receiver of the uniquely identified base unit.

2. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the base unit includes a stand for supporting the reader in a hands-free mode of operation.

3. The data transfer system according to claim 2, wherein the stand includes a support for resting on a generally planar support surface, an elongated stem having one end connected to the support, and a cradle at an opposite end of the stem and elevated above the support.

4. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the identifying marker is a machine-readable indicium.

5. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the identifying marker is a bar code symbol.

6. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the identifying marker is physically secured to the base unit.

7. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the identifying marker is physically located in proximity to the base unit.

8. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the reader includes a user-actuatable trigger for manually actuating the reading of the identifying marker in the set-up mode, and for manually actuating the reading of the indicium in the reading mode.

9. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the reader includes a light source for directing a light beam at the identifying marker in the set-up mode, and at the indicium in the reading mode;

a light sensor having a field of view and operative for detecting light reflected from the identifying marker in the set-up mode, and from the indicium in the reading mode;

a scanner for scanning at least one of the light beam and the field of view in each of the set-up mode and the reading mode; and

an actuator for manually actuating the reader to initiate reading of the identifying marker in the set-up mode, and to initiate reading of the indicium in the reading mode.

10. The data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter and the receiver operate at radio frequencies.

11. The data transfer system according to claim 1;

and further comprising additional portable readers identical to said reader, and wherein the base unit is uniquely identified to any selected one of the readers which has read the identifying marker.

12. A method of transfering data, comprising the steps of:

a) associating a unique identifying marker having parts of different light reflectivity with a base unit having a receiver;

b) electro-optically reading the identifying marker with a portable reader held by a user in a set-up mode of operation in which the base unit is uniquely identified to the reader;

c) subsequently electro-optically reading an indicium having parts of different light reflectivity with the reader held by the user in a reading mode of operation in which an electrical signal indicative of the indicium is generated; and

d) transmitting the electrical signal by wireless transmission to the receiver of the uniquely identified base unit.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the identifying marker is a machine-readable indicium.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the identifying marker is a bar code symbol.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the associating step is performed by physically securing the identifying marker to the base unit.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the associating step is performed by physically locating the identifying marker in proximity to the base unit.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein each reading step is initiated by the user manually actuating the reader.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein each reading step is performed by scanning at least one of a light beam directed at the marker in the set-up mode and at the indicium in the reading mode, and a field of view of a detector operative for detecting light from the marker in the set-up mode and from the indicium in the reading mode.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the transmitting step is performed at radio frequencies.

20. The method according to claim 12, and further comprising the step of providing additional portable readers identical to said reader, and wherein the marker reading step is performed by any selected one of the readers.