Bar code scanner using universal frequency translation technology for up-conversion and down-conversion

• US 6,634,555 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Cook, Robert W., Bultman, Michael J., Sorrells, David F., Moses, Charley D. Jr., Looke, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Diane I.
• Application Number:
  US09/489,675
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.25, 235/462.46, 235/472.02, 455/118, 455/313, 455/91, 375/350, 375/295
• US Class Current: 235/462.25
• 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

Abstract

Frequency translation and applications include, but are not limited to, frequency down-conversion, frequency up-conversion, enhanced signal reception, unified down-conversion and filtering, and combinations and applications of same.

Claims

1. A bar code scanner, comprising:

a bar code reader that reads a bar code; and

a transmitter comprising a switch module that gates a bias signal according to a first control signal to create a periodic signal having a plurality of harmonics, including at least one harmonic desired to be transmitted, said bias signal or said first control signal being a function of information representative of said bar code.

2. The bar code scanner of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver comprising a second switch module under the control of a second control signal, wherein said second switch module samples a received signal to transfer energy from said received signal; and

a storage device that stores the transferred energy as integrated energy, wherein a down-converted signal is generated from said integrated energy.

3. The bar code scanner of claim 2, wherein said receiver and said transmitter are part of a wireless local area network (WLAN) module.

4. The bar code scanner of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one storage device for storing said bar code for later processing.

5. The bar code scanner of claim 1, wherein said transmitter further comprises:

a filter to isolate said at least one harmonic desired to be transmitted.

6. The bar code scanner of claim 1, wherein said transmitter modulates an oscillating signal according to said information representative of said bar code.

7. A bar code scanner, comprising:

a bar code reader that reads bar codes; and

a transceiver comprising a switch module that gates a bias signal according to a first control signal to create a periodic signal having a plurality of harmonics, including at least one harmonic desired to be transmitted, said bias signal or said first control signal being a function of information representative of said bar codes.

8. The bar code scanner of claim 7, wherein said transceiver further comprises:

a second switch module under the control of a second control signal, wherein said second switch module samples a received signal to transfer energy from said received signal; and

a storage device that stores the transferred energy as integrated energy, wherein a down-converted signal is generated from said integrated energy.

9. A method for processing a bar code, comprising the steps of:

(1) reading a bar code representing an object; and

(2) gating a bias signal according to a control signal to create a periodic signal having a plurality of harmonics, including at least one harmonic desired to be transmitted, said bias signal or said control signal being a function of information representative of said bar code.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

storing said bar code for later processing.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein step (2) further comprises:

isolating said at least one harmonic desired to be transmitted.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

(3) sampling a received signal comprising said information representative of said bar code to transfer energy from said received signal, and

(4) storing the transferred energy as integrated energy, wherein a down-converted signal is generated from said integrated energy.