Integrated bar code reader and RF transceiver

• US 6,305,607 B1
• Filed: 04/24/1998
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Vu, Toan, Goren, David, Katz, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/065,867
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.46, 235/462.45, 235/462.29, 235/462.13
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1016 Motor control or optical moving unit control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10653 using flexible or piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence

Abstract

An integrated scanner/radio includes a bar code reader and an RF transceiver integrated on a semiconductor substrate. The bar code reader includes a light source, a scanner for directing light from the light source across a bar code symbol, and a detector for detecting the light reflected from the bar code symbol and creating an electrical signal representative of the detected light. The RF transceiver includes an antenna for transmitting and receiving modulated RF carrier signals.

Claims

1. An integrated bar code reader and radio frequency (RF) transceiver, comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

a bar code reader, integrated on said substrate, for scanning a bar code symbol and producing an electrical signal representative of light reflected from the barcode symbol; and

an RF transceiver, integrated on said substrate, for modulating an RF carrier in response to the electrical signal and transmitting the modulated RF carrier by wireless transmission.

2. An integrated bar code reader and RF transceiver according to claim 1, wherein said bar code reader includes

a light scanner, integrated on said substrate, for scanning light across the bar code symbol; and

a sensor, integrated on said substrate, for detecting light reflected from the bar code symbol and creating the electrical signal representative of light reflected from the barcode symbol.

3. An integrated bar code reader and RF transceiver according to claim 1, wherein said RF transceiver includes

an antenna for transmitting and receiving modulated RF carrier signals;

and

an analog front-end, coupled to said antenna, for modulating an RF carrier signal to be transmitted by said antenna and for demodulating a modulated RF carrier signal received by said antenna.

4. An integrated bar code reader and RF transceiver according to claim 3, wherein said analog front-end includes

a first filter, coupled to said antenna, for filtering the modulated RF carrier signals transmitted and received by said antenna;

a modulator circuit for modulating an RF carrier signal to be transmitted by said antenna;

a demodulator circuit for demodulating an RF carrier signal received by said antenna; and

a transmitter/receiver, coupled to said first filter, for passing the RF carrier signal modulated by said modulator circuit to said antenna via said first filter, and for passing the RF carrier signal received by said antenna and filtered by said first filter to said demodulator circuit.

5. An integrated bar code reader and RF transceiver according to claim 4, further comprising:

a digital signal processor, coupled to said bar code reader and said RF transceiver, for decoding the electrical signal representative of light reflected from the bar code symbol and for converting the demodulated RF carrier signal into a digital signal,

wherein said RF transceiver modulates an RF carrier in response to the decoded signal and transmits the modulated RF carrier by wireless transmission.

6. An integrated bar code reader and RF transceiver according to claim 5, wherein said digital signal processor includes

an analog-to-digital converter for converting the demodulated RF carrier signal into a digital signal.

7. An integrated bar code reader and RF transceiver according to claim 3, wherein said antenna is a patch antenna.

8. An integrated bar code reader and RF transceiver according to claim 1, further comprising:

a digital signal processor, coupled to said bar code reader and said RF transceiver, for decoding the electrical signal representative of light reflected from the bar code symbol,

wherein said RF transceiver modulates an RF carrier in response to the decoded signal and transmits the modulated RF carrier by wireless transmission.

9. A handheld apparatus, comprising:

an integrated bar code reader and radio frequency (RF) transceiver which includes

a semiconductor substrate;

a bar code reader, integrated on said substrate, for scanning a bar code symbol and producing an electrical signal representative of light reflected from the barcode symbol; and

an RF transceiver, integrated on said substrate, for modulating an RF carrier in response to the electrical signal and transmitting the modulated RF carrier by wireless transmission; and

operating means for initiating the scanning of the bar code symbol.

10. A handheld apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said bar code reader includes

a light scanner, integrated on said substrate, for scanning light across the bar code symbol; and

a sensor, integrated on said substrate, for detecting light reflected from the bar code symbol and creating the electrical signal representative of light reflected from the barcode symbol.

11. A handheld apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said RF transceiver includes

an antenna for transmitting and receiving modulated RF carrier signals;

and

an analog front-end, coupled to said antenna, for modulating an RF carrier signal to be transmitted by said antenna and for demodulating a modulated RF carrier signal received by said antenna.

12. A handheld apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said analog front-end includes

a first filter, coupled to said antenna, for filtering the modulated RF carrier signals transmitted and received by said antenna;

a modulator circuit for modulating an RF carrier signal to be transmitted by said antenna;

a demodulator circuit for demodulating an RF carrier signal received by said antenna; and

a transmitter/receiver, coupled to said first filter, for passing the RF carrier signal modulated by said modulator circuit to said antenna via said first filter, and for passing the RF carrier signal received by said antenna and filtered by said first filter to said demodulator circuit.

13. A handheld apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a digital signal processor, coupled to said bar code reader and said RF transceiver, for decoding the electrical signal representative of light reflected from the bar code symbol and for converting the demodulated RF carrier signal into a digital signal,

wherein said RF transceiver modulates an RF carrier in response to the decoded signal and transmits the modulated RF carrier by wireless transmission.

14. A handheld apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said digital signal processor includes

an analog-to-digital converter for converting the demodulated RF carrier signal into a digital signal.

15. A handheld apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said antenna is a patch antenna.

16. A handheld apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a digital signal processor, coupled to said bar code reader and said RF transceiver, for decoding the electrical signal representative of light reflected from the bar code symbol,

wherein said RF transceiver modulates an RF carrier in response to the decoded signal and transmits the modulated RF carrier by wireless transmission.