Pager having bar code reader

• US 6,262,671 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1991
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nakano, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US07/801,659
• Time in Patent Office: 3,515 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/815.21, 455/38.1, 379/57, 359/153, 359/161, 359/145, 235/462
• US Class Current: 340/7.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1066 with other provisions not elsewhere provided for, e.g. turn-off protection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/229 with other provisions not elsewhere provided for

Abstract

A pager includes a bar code reader, which reads from a function setting bar code list functional data to be set to a pager and which stores the data in the ROM. Since the function setting data is read from the bar code, the ROM writer is unnecessary when the user changes the function. The user need only prepare a function setting bar code list and is hence relieved from inconvenience to bring the pager to the service firm. In addition, the electrodes for the connection between the pager and the ROM writer and hence the seal covering the electrodes are unnecessary, which simplifies the structure of the pager.

Claims

1. A pager comprising:

receiver means for receiving a paging signal, including a pager address and a message, to produce a received signal;

comparing means responsive to said received signal for comparing said pager address with a preassigned address to produce a coincidence signal when said pager address is coincident with said preassigned address;

annunciate means response to said coincidence signal for annunciating a call;

storing means for storing therein said preassigned address and functional data of said pager associated with the processing and the annunciation; and

bar code reader means for reading bar code data from a function setting bar code and storing the content of said bar code data in said storing means,

wherein said bar code reader means includes a light receiving section for reading a bar code,

wherein said annunciate means includes a light notifying device, and

wherein said light notifying device comprises a light emitting diode,

said light emitting diode illuminating the bar code.

2. A pager, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a paging signal having a selective calling code and a message following the code and for outputting a received signal;

a comparator for comparing a selective calling number included in the received signal with a preassigned calling number stored in a memory, and outputting a control signal whenever said selective calling number coincides with said preassigned calling number;

a controller connected to said comparator, an audible notifying section and a light notifying section, wherein whenever the selective calling signal of the pager is followed by a message signal, the controller processes the message signal according to a function set stored in the memory to extract a message therefrom and presents the message on a display section, the controller being further connected to a light receiving section;

a bar code reader connected to the memory and the light receiving section, wherein the light notifying section illuminates a bar code associated with a function setting bar code list such that a reflection light thereof is received by the light receiving section and the bar code reader reads a bar code based on a signal thus obtained, said bar code including functional data stored in the memory; and

a switch for selecting a receiving mode and a bar code reading mode, wherein, in said receiving mode, the controller makes the light notifying section function as a light notifying device for a call, and in said bar code reading mode, the controller makes the light notifying means function as a bar code light, thereby permitting the light notifying section to selectively function either as the light notifying device or the bar code light.