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System and method for charging a barcode scanner

  • US 9,997,935 B2
  • Filed: 01/08/2016
  • Issued: 06/12/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for selecting a charging process, the method comprising:

  • connecting a rechargeable energy storage unit (RESU) to a charger, the RESU configured to supply electrical energy to a barcode scanner, and the charger configured to perform a first charging process for charging a supercapacitor and a second charging process for charging a battery, wherein the charger comprises a detection circuit configured to interface with a pin on the RESU and to output a digital signal indicative of a voltage from the pin;

    ascertaining with a processor whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a supercapacitor or whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a battery;

    selecting the first charging process when the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a supercapacitor; and

    selecting the second charging process when the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a battery;

    wherein the charger comprises one interface configured to receive both an RESU comprising a supercapacitor or an RESU comprising a battery, wherein the RESU comprises a uniform mechanical shape and size and a uniform electrical interface as between the RESU comprising a supercapacitor and the RESU comprising a battery, the uniform electrical interface comprising the pin;

    wherein the digital signal corresponds to a terminal resistance at the pin; and

    wherein the terminal resistance at the pin approximates the resistance of a short-circuit to ground when the RESU comprises a supercapacitor, and wherein the terminal resistance at the pin approximates 10,000 ohms when RESU comprises a battery, the approximates being sufficiently different such that the processor may ascertain whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a supercapacitor or whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a battery.

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