Barcode reader and accessory for the barcode reader

• US 9,679,177 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Deal, John, Hoobler, Ryan, Russell, Garrett
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hassan, Aurangzeb
• Application Number:
  US14/741,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20160140372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4221 being an input/output bus, e.g. ISA bus, EISA bus, PCI bus, SCSI bus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10198 setting parameters for the interrogator, e.g. programming parameters and operating modes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10257 arrangements for protecting the interrogation against piracy attacks computer security in general G06F21/00; jamming of communication, countermeasures H04K3/00; secret communication H04K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10821 further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A barcode reader and an accessory are disclosed. A barcode reader may include an interface for communication with a host computer via a wireless or wired link and an authentication system to establish mutual authentication with the host computer. The barcode reader may include a connector for connecting the barcode reader to the external power source or the host computer. The connector may be a combined power and data connector. An accessory may provide operating power to a barcode reader and provide decoded data of an image of a barcode received from the barcode reader to a host computer. The accessory may include connectors and an interface system. The interface system may include a processor configured to send the decoded data to the host computer, an authentication system, and a power interface. The accessory may include RF circuits for communicating with the host computer via a wireless link.

Claims

1. A barcode reader system comprising:

a barcode reader requiring power from a remote power source for generating decoded data of an image of a barcode; and

an accessory, comprising a flexible cable for coupling from the remote power source to the barcode reader and a wireless interface circuit for transmitting decoded data generated by the barcode reader to a remote mobile device, the remote mobile device being distinct from the remote power source, the accessory comprising;

a first power/data connector for connecting to the barcode reader and providing operating power to the barcode reader and receiving the decoded data from the barcode reader;

the wireless interface circuit comprising;

a processor; and

a code, executed by the processor, for;

establishing a point-to-point wireless communication link to the remote mobile device,

using the point-to-point wireless communication link to exchange authentication information with the remote mobile device thereby authenticating as a trusted accessory and establishing a specification ID for an exchange of data with the remote mobile device,

receiving the decoded data from the barcode reader via the first power/data connector, and wirelessly transmitting the decoded data to the remote mobile device using a communication protocol associated with the specification ID after authenticating as a trusted accessory with the mobile device; and

a second power/data connector for connecting to the remote power source and drawing operating power from the remote power source for both;

i) operating the wireless interface circuit; and

ii) coupling to the barcode reader via the first power/data connector.

2. The barcode reader system of claim 1, wherein the second power/data connector is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) male connector.

3. The barcode reader system of claim 1, wherein the flexible cable includes a segment between the wireless interface circuit and the first power/data connector and which couples the wireless interface circuit to the first power/data connector.

4. The barcode reader system of claim 2, wherein the flexible cable includes a segment between the wireless interface circuit and the second power/data connector and which couples the wireless interface circuit to the second power/data connector.

5. The barcode reader system of claim 1, wherein the flexible cable includes a first segment between the wireless interface circuit and the first power/data connector and a second segment between the wireless interface circuit and the second power/data connector, the first segment coupling the wireless interface circuit to the first power/data connector and the second segment coupling the wireless interface circuit to the second power/data connector.

6. A barcode reading system for providing decoded data of an image of a barcode to a remote host computer, the barcode reading system comprising:

a barcode reader requiring power from a remote power source for operation and comprising a decoding code stored in memory of the barcode reader and executed by a barcode reader processor to generate decoded data from the barcode;

a flexible power/data cable accessory coupled to the barcode reader, the flexible power/data cable accessory comprising;

a first power/data connector for connecting the flexible power/data cable accessory to the barcode reader and providing operating power to the barcode reader and receiving decoded data from the barcode reader;

an accessory circuit configured to;

establish a wireless point-to-point communication link with the remote host computer,

use the wireless point-to-point communication link to exchange authentication information with the remote host computer thereby authenticating as a trusted accessory and establishing a specification ID for an exchange of data with the remote host computer,

wirelessly provide the decoded data received from the barcode reader to the remote host computer using a communication protocol associated with the specification ID after authenticating as a trusted accessory with the host computer; and

a second power/data connector for connecting to the remote power source distinct from the host computer and drawing operating power from the remote power source for both;

i) operating the accessory circuit; and

ii) coupling to the barcode reader via the first power/data connector.

7. The barcode reading system of claim 6, wherein the accessory circuit further comprises memory that includes at least one of a point-to-point interface driver, a radio frequency (RF) circuit driver, an accessory protocol code, or a relay code.

8. The barcode reading system of claim 6, wherein the flexible power/data cable accessory includes a flexible cable segment between the accessory circuit and the first power/data connector and which couples the accessory circuit to the first power/data connector.

9. The barcode reading system of claim 6, wherein the flexible power/data cable accessory includes a flexible cable segment between the accessory circuit and the second power/data connector and which couples the accessory circuit to the second power/data connector.

10. The barcode reading system of claim 6, wherein the flexible power/data cable accessory includes a first segment between the accessory circuit and the first power/data connector and a second segment between the accessory circuit and the second power/data connector, the first segment coupling the accessory circuit to the first power/data connector and the second segment coupling the accessory circuit to the second power/data connector.