Optical reader with ultraviolet wavelength capability

• US 7,314,173 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: LV Partners LP (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Philyaw, Jeffry Jovan, Holberg, Douglas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US10/884,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20050035207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.09, 235/468, 235/472.01, 235/454, 235/457, 235/462.24, 235/462.46, 235/462.42
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10762 Relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10831 Arrangement of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms optical elements per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

An optical reader is provided for reading a bar code having ultraviolet-wavelength-responsive properties. The optical reader includes an ultraviolet light source, a photodetector, an optical system and a decoder. The ultraviolet light source generates ultraviolet light having a wavelength shorter than visible light and longer than X-rays for illuminating a target region. The photodetector generates output electrical signals indicative of light incident thereon having a wavelength within a predetermined range of wavelengths. The optical system includes a projection portion and a collection portion. The projection portion directs the ultraviolet light along a projection path extending from the ultraviolet light source to the target region. The collection portion collects the light from a bar code when the bar code occupies the target region and directs the collected light along a collection path extending from the target region to the photodetector. The decoder receives the output electrical signals of the photodetector and produces, in response thereto, electrical signals indicative of information encoded in the bar code.

Claims

1. An optical reader for scanning and reading a bar code having ultraviolet-wavelength-responsive properties, the reader scanning the bar code, which bar code comprises a plurality of dark and light regions of varying sizes, along a linear path across such dark and light regions, the reader comprising:

an ultraviolet light source for generating ultraviolet light for illuminating a small target region on the bar code at a first wavelength as the reader traverses the linear path;

a photodetector for detecting light incident thereon having a wavelength within a predetermined range of wavelengths;

an optical system having;

a projection portion for directing the ultraviolet light along a projection path extending from the ultraviolet light source to the small target region as the reader traverses the linear path so as to illuminate only the small target region,

a collection portion for collecting light at a second wavelength received from the small target region illuminating a bar code when the dark area of the bar code occupies the small target region and for delivering light having the second wavelength along a collection path extending from the small target region to the photodetector; and

a decoder receiving the output of the photodetector and producing in response thereto electrical signals indicative of information encoded in the bar code.

2. An optical reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet light source comprises a mercury vapor lamp.

3. An optical reader in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a ballast circuit for providing a starting voltage for the mercury vapor lamp.

4. An optical reader in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a ballast circuit for stabilizing the current supplied to the mercury vapor lamp.

5. An optical reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the predetermined range of wavelengths is shorter than visible light and longer than X-rays.

6. An optical reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the predetermined range of wavelengths is within the spectrum of visible light.

7. An optical reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the collection portion further comprises a target member disposed to absorb at least a portion of the light from the bar code, the light absorbed by the target member having a first wavelength, and emitting in response thereto light having a second wavelength, the emitted light being directed toward the photodetector.

8. An optical reader in accordance with claim 7, wherein the first wavelength is outside the predetermined range of wavelengths and the second wavelength is within the predetermined range of wavelengths.

9. An optical reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the photodetector is a photo-diode.

10. An optical reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the photodetector is a photo-transistor.

11. An optical reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the photodetector is a photo-resistor.

12. An optical reader in accordance with claim 1, wherein the photodetector is a charge coupled device (CCD).

13. An optical reader in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an output circuit receiving electrical signals indicative of information encoded in the bar code from the decoder and transmitting an output signal indicative of information encoded in the bar code from the optical reader.

14. An optical reader in accordance with claim 13, wherein the output signal is an electrical signal which emulates keyboard keystrokes.

15. An optical reader in accordance with claim 13, wherein the output circuit further comprises:

a modulator receiving the electrical signals indicative of information encoded in the bar code from the decoder and producing a modulated output signal indicative of the information encoded in the bar code; and

a transmitter for transmitting the modulated output signal from the optical reader.

16. An optical reader in accordance with claim 15, wherein the transmitter transmits output signals having radio frequency (RF) wavelengths.

17. An optical reader in accordance with claim 15, wherein the transmitter transmits output signals having infrared (IR) wavelengths.

18. A method of scanning a bar code having ultraviolet-wavelength-responsive properties, the bar code comprising a plurality of dark and light regions of varying sizes, comprising the steps of:

generating ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet light source that is capable of illuminating a small target region on the bar code;

scanning the ultraviolet light source across the bar code, such that the small target region scans across the light and dark regions of the bar code along a linear path;

illuminating the bar code with the ultraviolet light as it traverses the linear path thereby causing a light-producing response of the bar code at a first wavelength when the small target region covers a dark area;

collecting the light reflected at a second wavelength resulting from the light-producing response of the dark regions of the bar code when the dark regions of the bar code occupies a small target region;

delivering light having the second wavelength to a photodetector in response to the step of collecting;

generating output electrical signals indicative of the delivered light having the second wavelength incident on the photodetector;

directing the output electrical signals of the photodetector to a decoder; and

decoding the output electrical signals of the photodetector to produce electrical signals indicative of information encoded in the bar code.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the light-producing response of the bar code comprises reflecting light having the same wavelength as the illuminating ultraviolet light.

20. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the light-producing response of the bar code comprises emitting light having a different wavelength from the wavelength of the illuminating ultraviolet light.

21. A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein the emitted light has a wavelength within the visible spectrum.