Multiple-interface selection system for computer peripherals

• US 6,293,467 B1
• Filed: 03/15/1999
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PSC Scanning, Inc. (Datalogic ADC Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: PSC Scanning, Inc. (Datalogic ADC Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reddersen, Brad R., Moch, Rockie D., Shepard, Phillip W., Williams, Jon Paul Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/268,263
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 235/467.13, 235/462.15, 235/462.07, 439/59, 439/65, 439/68, 439/502, 439/620
• US Class Current: 235/462.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1017 Programmable
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7076 for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

An interface selection and configuration system for a computer peripheral in which configuration for the peripheral and/or the host interface is at least in part accomplished by the interface connector cable. In a preferred embodiment, the computer peripheral is equipped with one or more hardware interfaces. The interface connector cable has a first end connector for attaching to the computer peripheral. The first end connector of the interface connector cable is typically a multiple pin connector constructed and arranged to be properly physically and electrically connectable only to a specific computer peripheral or class of computer peripherals, the first end connector including at least one electrical connection between two pins for completing a circuit within the computer peripheral thereby enabling the computer peripheral. Where the peripheral is a data reading device such as a laser scanner or RFID reader, alternate or additional configuration may be obtained, with data reading device, from the label on the interconnect cable. The label, which may for example be a bar code or RFID tag, contains information or instructions by which the data reading device (and/or the host) is configured.

Claims

1. A method for setting an interface configuration of a data reading system to correspond to a connected device, comprising the steps of

providing the connected device with an RFID tag containing configuration instructions responding to interfacing with the connected device;

interrogating the RFID tag with the data reading system to obtain the configuration instructions;

setting interface configuration of the data reading system according to the configuration instructions obtained.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the interface configuration is selected from the group consisting of:

IBM 4683, OCIA, RS-232, wand emulation.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising automatically initiating interrogating the RFID tag upon power up of the data reading system.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising

connecting the data reading system to the connected device via a cable, the connected device comprising a host;

reading bar code labels with the data reading system to obtain bar code label data;

transmitting the bar code label data to the host.

5. A method of data reading comprising the steps of

connecting a data reading system to a connected device via a link, the connected device having a given interface configuration;

providing the data reading system with a plurality of internally selectable interface configurations, one of the interface configurations corresponding to the given interface configuration;

setting the interface configuration of the data reading system by

sending a wireless signal to the data reading system, the signal containing configuration instructions corresponding to interfacing with the connected device,

receiving the configuration instructions at the data reading system, wherein by an internal configuration routine, the interface configuration of the data reading system is set according to the configuration instructions received;

transmitting data from the data reading device to the connected device via the link.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the given interface configuration is selected from the group consisting of:

IBM 4683, OCIA, RS-232.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein the link is selected from the group consisting of:

wire, cable, fiber optic cable, radio frequency link, infra red light link.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein said data reading system comprising a hand-held bar code scanner in communication with a host via a wireless link.

9. A method according to claim 5 wherein said data reading system further comprises a handheld terminal having a display and a plurality of input keys.

10. A method for setting configuration of a data reading system, comprising the steps of:

providing the data reading system with a plurality of internally selectable interface configurations, one of the interface configurations corresponding to a given interface configuration;

selecting a cable section corresponding to the given interface configuration for installation in the system;

installing the cable section in the system;

setting an interface parameter of the system corresponding to the given interface configuration by operation of the step of installing the cable section in the system.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the step of setting an interface parameter further includes obtaining information from the cable, and setting interface configuration of the system in response to said information.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the step of setting an interface parameter comprises setting system parameters corresponding to an interface type selected from the group consisting of:

IBM 4683, OCIA, RS-232, Wand Emulation.

13. A method for setting a data reading system to a given interface configuration, comprising the steps of:

selecting a cable section corresponding to the given interface configuration;

installing said cable section in the system;

sending information from said cable section to the data reader;

setting interface configuration of the system in response to said information.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the step of setting interface configuration comprises setting system parameters corresponding to an interface type selected from the group consisting of:

IBM 4683, OCIA, RS-232, Wand Emulation.

15. A method for setting a data reading system to a given interface configuration, comprising the steps of:

selecting a cable section corresponding to the given interface configuration;

installing said cable section in the system;

sending information from said cable section to the data reader;

setting interface configuration of the system in response to said information;

signaling the cable to send the information to the data reader.

16. A method of setting an operating parameter in a data reading system comprising the steps of

providing the data reading system with a data reader and a cable section;

connecting the cable selection in the data reading system;

providing information from the cable section to the data reader;

setting an operating parameter of the data reading system based upon said information.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of setting an operating parameter of the data reading system comprises setting system parameters corresponding to an interface type selected from the group consisting of:

IBM 4683, OCIA, RS-232, Wand Emulation.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of setting an operating parameter of the data reading system comprises restricting reading options of the data reader.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of setting an operating parameter of the data reading system comprises setting code output format of the data reader.

20. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of setting an operating parameter of the data reading system comprises setting interface configuration for the data reading system.

21. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of setting an operating parameter of the data reading system comprises setting decode parameters.

22. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of setting an operating parameter of the data reading system comprises setting communication parameters.

23. A method of setting an operating parameter in a data reading system comprising the steps of

providing the data reading system with a data reader and a cable section;

connecting the cable section in the data reading system;

providing information from the cable section to the data reader;

setting an operating parameter of the data reading system based upon said information,

wherein the step of providing information from the cable section to the data reader comprises

the data reader signaling the cable section to send the information, and

the data reader receiving the information.

24. A method of setting an operating parameter in a data reading system comprising the steps of

providing the data reading system with a data reader and a cable section;

connecting the cable section in the data reading system;

providing information from the cable section to the data reader;

setting an operating parameter of the data reading system based upon said information,

wherein the step of providing information from the cable section to the data reader comprises

the data reader signaling an RFID tag on the cable section to send the information, and

the data reader receiving the information.

25. A method of setting an operating parameter in a data reading system comprising the steps of

providing the data reading system with a data reader and a cable section;

connecting the cable section in the data reading system;

providing information from the cable section to the data reader;

setting an operating parameter of the data reading system based upon said information,

wherein the step of providing information from the cable section to the data reader comprises the data reader reading a bar code label on the cable section, the bar code label continuing the information.

26. A method of data reading comprising the steps of providing a data reading system with a data reader and at least one cable section;

connecting the cable section within the data reading system;

sending information from the cable section to the data reader;

setting a function of the data reader according to the information.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the information comprises communication parameters.

28. A method according to claim 26 wherein the information comprises code reading restrictions.

29. A method according to claim 26 wherein the information tells the data reader how to set decode parameters.

30. A method according to claim 26 wherein the information comprises instructions to the data reader for setting data format.

31. A method of data reading comprising the steps of

providing a data reading system with a data reader and at least one cable section;

connecting the cable section with in the data readaing system;

sending information from the cable section to the data reader;

setting a function of the data reader according to the information,

wherein the data reader signals the cable section and in response the cable section sends the information

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein the cable section stores the information in an RFID tag on the cable section.

33. A data reading system comprising:

a data reader; and

a cable connection system including a cable section, wherein the data reader obtains information from the cable section for setting operating parameters of the data reader.

34. A data reading system comprising:

a data reader; and

a cable connection system including a cable section, wherein the data reader obtains information from the cable section for setting operating parameters of the data reader, wherein the data reader requests the information from the cable section, and in response the cable section sends the information to the data reader.

35. A data reading system comprising:

a data reader; and

a cable connection system including a cable section, wherein the data reader obtains information from the cable section for setting operating parameters of the data reader, wherein the cable section stores the information in an RFID tag on the cable section.

36. A data reading system comprising:

a data reader; and

a cable connection system including a cable section, wherein the data reader obtains information from the cable section for setting operating parameters of the data reader, wherein the data reader obtains information from the cable section by reading a bar code disposed on the cable section, the bar code containing the information.

37. A cable for connection to a data reading system, the cable comprising

a cable housing;

a connector on one end of the cable housing, the connector adapted to be connectable to a data reading system;

information storage containing information which is obtainable by the data reading system, the information containing instructions for setting parameters in the data reading system.

38. A cable according to claim 37 wherein the instructions obtainable by the data reading system are operative for setting data format.

39. A cable for connection to a data reading system, the cable comprising

a cable housing;

a connector on one end of the cable housing, the connector adapted to be connectable to a data reading system;

information storage containing information which is obtainable by the data reading system, the information containing instructions for setting parameters in the data reading system,

wherein the information storage comprises a bar code on the cable housing.

40. A cable for connection to a data reading system, the cable comprising

a cable housing;

a connector on one end of the cable housing, the connector adapted to be connectable to a data reading system;

information storage containing information which is obtainable by the data reading system, the information containing instructions for setting parameters in the data reading system,

wherein the information storage comprises an RFID tag.

41. A cable connection system for connecting a data reader to a host, comprising

a first connector connectable directly or indirectly to a data reader;

a second connector connectable directly or indirectly to a host;

a cable section having information storage, wherein the information storage contains information which is obtainable by the data reader, wherein the data reader uses the information obtained to set an internal parameter therein.

42. A cable connection system according to claim 41 further comprising a translator module for converting signal from the data reader to a compatible format for a host.

43. A data reading system comprising:

a data reader for reading coded symbols;

an interface arrangement for connecting the data reader to any selected one of a plurality of electronic devices comprising

a cabling connection including a housing section containing a translator module for converting signal from the data reader to a common data exchange format to enable signal from the date reader to be transmitted to the selected one of a plurality of electronic devices.

44. A portable data reading system comprising:

a handheld terminal including a terminal housing with a display and a plurality of input keys;

a removable translator module attached to the handheld terminal, the translator module having a module housing separate from the terminal housing;

a handheld data reader electrically connected to the translator module, the handheld data reader scanning optical codes and generating a signal in corresponding thereto,

wherein the translator module converting the signal from the scanner into a form accepted by the handheld terminal.

45. A system according to claim 44 further comprising a coiled cable for connecting the handheld data reader to the translator module.

46. A system according to claim 44 wherein the translator module interfaces the handheld data reader to the handheld terminal.

47. A system according to claim 44 wherein the display and the keys are disposed on a top side of the terminal housing and the translator module is attached to a lateral side of the handheld terminal.