Bar code scanner

• US 7,070,108 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Detwiler, Deborah A., Blanford, Denis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US10/320,593
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.07, 235/462.08, 235/462.15, 235/462.25, 235/462.09, 235/462.12
• US Class Current: 235/462.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence

Abstract

A bar code scanner is disclosed, which is arranged to operate in both a first mode, and a second mode. In said first mode a limited number of bar code symbologies or types are read, as part of the scanning process. In said second mode, at least, one additional bar code symbology is read, as part of the scanning process.

Claims

1. A bar code scanner operating in both a first mode, in which the scanner is enabled to read a limited number of different bar code symbologies or types representing a subset of all bar code symbologies that the scanner is capable of decoding, as part of a scanning process, and a second mode in which the scanner is enabled to read all bar code symbologies that the scanner is capable of decoding, as part of the scanning process, the second mode being invoked when the scanner operating in the first mode has failed to read a bar code, the scanner being further enabled to indicate bar code symbologies successfully decoded during operation in the second mode.

2. The bar code scanner of claim 1, adapted such that a bar code symbology can be added to or removed from the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation.

3. The bar code scanner of claim 2, adapted such that a bar code symbology detected during operation of the scanner in the second mode of operation is added to the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation when detected by the scanner.

4. The bar code scanner of claim 3, adapted to add a symbology to or remove the symbology from the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation automatically.

5. The bar code scanner of claim 4, adapted such that a symbology is added to the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation only when detected a predetermined number of times during scanning operations.

6. The bar code scanner of claim 3, wherein the symbology is added to the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode upon a command by a scanner operator.

7. The bar code scanner of claim 1, adapted for manual switching between the first and second modes of operation, upon a command by a scanner operator.

8. The bar code scanner of claim 7, wherein the switching between the modes is actuated by scanning a predesignated bar code.

9. The bar code scanner of claim 7, wherein the switching between the modes is actuated by utilizing a switch on the scanner.

10. The bar code scanner of claim 7, further comprising a display operative to indicate to the operator the bar code symbology detected during scanning.

11. The bar code scanner of claim 1, wherein the scanner is adapted to switch between the first and second modes of operation automatically, when a bar code can not be read when the scanner is in the first mode of operation.

12. The bar code scanner of claim 1, adapted to log the number of times scanning is undertaken without detecting particular bar codes and wherein a bar code symbology which has not been detected in a predetermined number of scanning operations is removed from the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode.

13. The bar code scanner of claim 12, further comprising means of informing the operator that a bar code symbology has not been detected in a predetermined number of scans and the operator is asked to confirm that the symbology is to be removed from the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode.

14. The bar code scanner of claim 12, operative to automatically remove the bar code symbology not detected in a predetermined number of scans from the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode.

15. A method of scanning a bar code, comprising:

setting a scanner to a first mode, in which the scanner is enabled to read a limited number of different bar code symbologies or types representing a subset of all the symbologies or types that the scanner is capable of decoding, as part of a scanning process; and

upon failure of the scanner to read a bar code when operating in the first mode, setting the scanner to a second mode, in which the scanner is enabled to read all symbologies that the scanner is capable of decoding, as part of the scanning has process, the scanner being further enabled to indicate bar code symbologies successfully decoded during operation in the second mode.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a bar code symbology can be added to or removed from the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a bar code symbology is added to the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation upon detection during operation of the scanner in the second mode.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the symbology is added automatically.

19. The method of claim 18, adapted such that a symbology is added to the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation only when detected a predetermined number of times during a scanning operation.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the symbology is added to the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation upon a command by a scanner operator.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein switching between the first and second modes of operation is actuated upon a command by a scanner operator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the switching between the modes is actuated by scanning a predesignated bar code.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the switching between the modes is actuated by utilizing a switch on the scanner.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising displaying to the operator the bar code symbology detected during scanning.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein switching between the first and second modes of operation is accomplished automatically, when a bar code can not be read.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein a bar code symbology which has not been detected in a predetermined number of scanning operations is removed from the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the operator is informed that a bar code symbology has not been detected in a predetermined number of scans and the operator is asked to confirm that the symbology is to be removed from the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the symbology is removed from the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation automatically.

29. A bar code scanner operating in both a first mode, in which the scanner is enabled to read a limited number of bar code symbologies or types representing a subset of all bar code symbologies that the scanner is capable of decoding, as part of a scanning process, and a second mode in which the scanner is enabled to read all bar code symbologies that the scanner is capable of decoding, as part of the scanning process, the second mode being invoked when the scanner operating in the first mode has failed to read a bar code, the scanner being further enabled to indicate bar code symbologies successfully decoded during operation in the second mode;

in which the scanner is adapted such that a bar code symbology can be added to or removed from the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation; and

in which the scanner is adapted such that a bar code symbology detected during operation of the scanner in the second mode of operation is added to the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation when detected by the scanner.

30. The bar code scanner of claim 29, adapted to add a symbology to or remove the symbology from the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation automatically.

31. The bar code scanner of claim 30, adapted such that a symbology is added to the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation only when detected a predetermined number of times during scanning operations.

32. The bar code scanner of claim 29, wherein the symbology is added to the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode upon a command by a scanner operator.

33. A method of scanning a bar code, comprising:

setting a scanner to a first mode, in which the scanner is enabled to read a limited number of bar code symbologies or types representing a subset of all the symbologies or types that the scanner is capable of decoding, as part of a scanning process; and

upon failure of the scanner to read a bar code when operating in the first mode, setting the scanner to a second mode, in which the scanner is enabled to read all symbologies that the scanner is capable of decoding, as part of the scanning has process, the scanner being further enabled to indicate bar code symbologies successfully decoded during operation in the second mode;

wherein a bar code symbology can be added to or removed from the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation; and

wherein a bar code symbology is added to the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation upon detection during operation of the scanner in the second mode.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the symbology is added automatically.

35. The method of claim 34, adapted such that a symbology is added to the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation only when detected a predetermined number of times during a scanning operation.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the symbology is added to the limited number of bar code symbologies read in the first mode of operation upon a command by a scanner operator.