Instant portable bar code reader

• US 6,234,395 B1
• Filed: 03/16/1995
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Chadima, Jr., George E., Laser, Vadim
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US08/406,245
• Time in Patent Office: 2,259 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472, 235/472.01, 235/402.01
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• 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 7/10594 Beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10772 Moved readers, e.g. pen, wand
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, a hand held bar code reader has a handle portion and a reader head portion which may be held spaced from a bar code data carrier during a reading operation. Light energy is directed outwardly through a window so as to illuminate a bar code sensing region in front of the window having a depth dimension of at least about ten millimeters, and an optical system focuses bar code patterns in the sensing region onto an image photosensor in the reader unit with a resolution so as to read e.g. bar code formats with a minimum bar or space width of about 0.0075 inch or less. The bar code image is converged through a generally rectangular optical aperture and is reflected onto the image photosensor by a reflecting mirror positioned relative to the image photosensor by virtue of their common association with a printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A battery-powered, code reading system comprising:

a decoder unit having a light source for directing light toward a code to be read, a sensor for receiving light reflected from the code and for generating therefrom an electrical code signal, and a processor for identifying the type of code represented by the electrical code signal, for decoding the electrical code signal into decoded data and for communicating the decoded data, the processor using an application program stored in memory, the application program enabling the identification and decoding of a plurality of different electrical code signals representative of different code types; and

a terminal unit operatively coupled to the decoder unit, the terminal unit having a processor for receiving the decoded data from the processor of the decoder unit.

2. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 1 wherein the processor of the decoder unit communicates with the processor of the terminal unit using an ASCII protocol.

3. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 1 further comprising a manual trigger, and wherein the terminal unit is responsive to operation of the manual trigger for causing the decoder unit to initiate a code reading operation.

4. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 3 wherein the processor of the decoder unit responds to a communication from the processor of the terminal unit to initiate a code reading operation.

5. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 1 wherein the processor of the decoder unit enters an inactive state after communicating the decoded data to the processor of the terminal unit.

6. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 5 wherein the processor of the decoder unit remains in an inactive state pending a communication from the processor of the terminal unit.

7. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 1 wherein the processor of the terminal unit determines whether the received decoded data is good, and if not, communicates a request to the processor of the decoder unit to retransmit the decoded data.

8. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 1 wherein the processor of the decoder unit powers down after communicating the decoded data to the processor of the terminal unit.

9. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 8 wherein the processor of the terminal unit causes the processor of the decoder unit to power down after receiving the decoded data.

10. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 1 wherein the processor of the terminal unit controls the supply of battery power to the decoder unit.

11. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 1 wherein the processor of the decoder unit causes the illumination of the light source and the activation of the sensor for performing a code reading operation.

12. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 1 wherein the light source is deactivated after the processor of the decoder unit communicates the decoded data to the processor of the terminal unit.

13. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 12 wherein the light source remains deactivated pending further activation thereof.

14. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 1 wherein the decoder unit powers down after communicating decoded data to the terminal unit.

15. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 14 wherein the terminal unit causes the decoder unit to power after receiving the decoded data.

16. The battery-powered reader system of claim 14 wherein the decoder unit remains powered down until the terminal unit causes the supply of power to the decoder unit for a further code reading operation.

17. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 1 further comprising a trigger, and wherein the terminal unit s responsive to manual operation of the trigger for causing the decoder unit to initiate a code reading operation, and wherein the decoder unit is powered down after the processor of the decoder unit communicates the decoded data pending further manual operation of the trigger.

18. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 17 wherein the terminal unit causes the decoder unit to be powered down.

19. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 17 wherein decoder unit powers down in response to receipt of good decoded data by the terminal unit.

20. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 1 wherein the processor of the decoder unit powers down in response to receipt of good decoded data by the processor of the terminal unit.

21. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 1 wherein the decoder unit powers down in response to receipt by the terminal unit of good decoded data.

22. The code reading system of claim 1 wherein the communication of decoded data by the processor of the decoder unit includes data including the type of code that was sensed and decoded by the decoder unit.

23. A power-saving code reading system comprising:

a decoder unit having a sensor for generating an electrical signal in response to light received by the sensor reflected from a code, and a processor for identifying the type of code represented by the electrical signal, for decoding the electrical signal into decoded data and for communicating the decoded data, the processor using an application program stored in memory, the application program enabling the identification and decoding of a plurality of different electrical signals representative of different code types;

a terminal unit having a processor for receiving the decoded data; and

a battery supply for the decoder unit and the terminal unit, the decoder unit using operating power from the battery supply only as needed for performing a code reading operation and for communicating decoded data in order to conserve battery power for the terminal unit.

24. The power-saving, code reading system of claim 23 wherein the processor of the decoder unit enters a low power mode after communicating the decoded data to the terminal unit.

25. The power-saving, code reading system of claim 24 wherein the processor of the terminal unit causes the processor of the decoder unit to enter the low power mode.

26. The power-saving, code reading system of claim 24 wherein the processor of the decoder unit enters the low power mode in response to receipt of good decoded data by the processor of the terminal unit.

27. The power-saving, code reading system of claim 23 wherein the processor of the decoder unit enters an inactive state after communicating the decoded data to the terminal unit.

28. The power-saving, code reading system of claim 27 wherein the processor of the decoder unit remains in an inactive state pending a communication from the terminal unit.

29. The power-saving, code reading system of claim 23 wherein the terminal unit controls the supply of power from the battery supply to the decoder unit.

30. A battery-powered code reader unit comprising:

a light source for directing light toward a code to be read;

a detector for receiving light reflected from the code and for generating therefrom an electrical signal; and

a processor for identifying the type of code represented by the electrical signal, for decoding the electrical signal into decoded data and for communicating the decoded data to a portable host processor, the processor using an application program stored in memory, the application program enabling the identification and decoding of a plurality of different electrical signals representative of different code types.

31. The code reader unit of claim 30 wherein the processor communicates with the host processor using an ASCII protocol.

32. The code reader unit of claim 31 wherein the processor communicates data to the host processor indicating the type of code detected and decoded by the reader unit.

33. The code reader unit of claim 30 wherein the processor enters a low power mode after communicating the decoded data to the host processor.

34. The code reader unit of claim 33 wherein the host processor causes the processor to enter the low power mode.

35. The code reader unit of claim 33 wherein the processor enters a lower power mode in response to receipt by the host processor of good decoded data.

36. The code reader unit of claim 30 wherein the processor enters an inactive state after communicating the decoded data to the host processor.

37. The code reader unit of claim 36 wherein the processor remains in an inactive state pending communication from the host processor.

38. A battery-powered, code reading system comprising:

a light source for directing light toward a code to be read;

a detector for receiving light reflected from the code and for producing an electrical signal therefrom;

a first processor for identifying the type of code represented by the electrical signal, for decoding the electrical signal to decoded data and for communicating the decoded data, the processor using an application program stored in memory, the application program enabling the identification and decoding of a plurality of different electrical signals representative of different code types; and

a second processor communicatively coupled to the first processor for receiving the communicated decoded data.

39. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 38 wherein the first and second processors communicate using an ASCII protocol.

40. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 38 wherein the first processor communicates data to the second processor indicating the type of code detected and decoded.

41. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 38 wherein the first processor enters a low power mode after communicating the decoded data to the second processor.

42. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 41 wherein the second processor causes the first processor to enter the low power mode.

43. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 38 wherein the first processor enters a low power mode in response to receipt by the second processor of good decoded data.

44. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 38 wherein the first processor enters an inactive state after communicating the decoded data to the second processor.

45. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 44 wherein the first processor remains in the inactive state pending communication from the second processor.

46. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 38 wherein the second processor determines whether the received decoded data is good, and if not, communicates a request to the first processor to retransmit the decoded data.

47. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 38 wherein the second processor controls the supply of power of the first processor.

48. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 38 wherein the first processor controls the illumination of the light source and the activation of the detector for performing a code reading operation.

49. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 38 wherein the light source is deactivated after the first processor communicates the decoded data to the second processor.

50. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 49 wherein the light source remains deactivated pending further activation thereof.

51. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 38 further comprising a trigger, and wherein manual operation of the trigger causes the activation of the light source, detector, and first processor for performing a code reading operation.

52. The battery-powered, code reading system of claim 51 wherein the first processor enters a low power mode after communicating the decoded data to the second processor pending a further manual operation of the trigger.

53. A method of conserving power in a battery powered, code reading system having a light emitter, a detector, a first processor and a second processor, the method comprising the steps of:

emitting by the light emitter light toward a code;

receiving by the detector light reflected back from the code;

producing by the detector an electrical signal from the reflected light;

determining by the first processor the type of code represented by the electrical signal from a plurality of different code types;

decoding by the first processor the electrical signal into decoded data regardless of which of the plurality of different code types the electrical signal is determined to represent;

communicating by the first processor the decoded data to the second processor;

receiving by the second processor the decoded data; and

entering by the first processor a low power mode.