Combination bar code scanner/RFID circuit

• US 6,264,106 B1
• Filed: 12/27/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Bridgelall, Raj
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US09/472,565
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.46, 235/472.02
• US Class Current: 235/462.46
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers

Abstract

A circuit that combines the functionality of a bar code scanner and an RFID circuit is provided. This circuit uses certain functional blocks for processing both the bar code signals and the RFID signals. As a result, the space and power consumed by the circuit are substantially reduced such that the circuit can be formed to fit a free-standing, hand-held reader device. The circuit also may use a single interface from a hand-held device to central processing unit to process digital signals from both the bar code scanner and the RFID circuit. In addition, in one embodiment, the circuit may also simultaneously process bar code signals and RFID signals.

Claims

1. A bar code scanner/RFID circuit for use in a free-standing reader device, and that provides an interrogation signal to an identification tag, receives a data signal from an identification tag, and that provides a digital signal to a processing unit, the circuit comprising:

a bar code scanner circuit;

an RFID circuit;

wherein the processing unit is coupled to receive a data acquisition command, and, in response to the data acquisition command, to instruct at least one of the bar code scanner circuit and the RFID circuit to provide the interrogation signal, to receive the data signal, and to transmit the data signal; and

a data acquisition circuit which is adapted to receive the data signal from at least one of the bar code scanner circuit and the RFID circuit, to process the data signal into an analog signal and then into the digital signal, and to transmit the digital signal to the processing unit.

2. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition circuit comprises a summing circuit.

3. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition circuit comprises a multiplexer.

4. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition circuit comprises a gain control and filter circuit for processing the data signal into the analog signal that is suitable for digitization.

5. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition circuit comprises a digitizer.

6. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition circuit comprises a comparator.

7. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition circuit comprises a differentiator.

8. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition circuit comprises a peak detector.

9. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition circuit is further adapted to receive the data signals from both the bar code scanner circuit and the RFID circuit simultaneously, to process the data signals into analog signals and then into digital signals, and to transmit each digital signal to the first processing unit.

10. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein the bar code scanner/RFID circuit fits into a modular space provided for an SE1200 scan engine.

11. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein the bar code scanner/RFID circuit is resident in a hand-held reader device.

12. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition circuit transmits the digital signal to the processing unit with an eight pin interface.

13. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein a scanning field emitted by a bar code scanner portion of the bar code scanner/RFID circuit is substantially equivalent in directional orientation to an RF field emitted by an RFID portion of the bar code scanner/RFID circuit.

14. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition circuit is adapted to simultaneously produce digital signals in response to the data signals produced by both the bar code scanner circuit and by the RFID circuit.

15. The bar code scanner/RFID circuit of claim 1, wherein multiple processing units are utilized.

16. A method of reading a bar code and an RFID tag using a hand-held reading device, comprising:

providing at least one of a bar code interrogation signal and an RFID interrogation signal to at least one identification tag;

receiving at least one data signal from the at least one identification tag in response to the at least one bar code interrogation signal and the RFID interrogation signal;

transforming the at least one data signal into an analog signal;

digitizing the analog signal within the reading device into a digital signal; and

transmitting the digital signal to a central processing unit.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the providing comprises simultaneously providing a bar code interrogation signal and an RFID interrogation signal to at least one identification tag.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmitting comprising transmitting through an eight pin interface.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the transmitting comprises substantially simultaneously transmitting a digital signal which results in a response to a bar code interrogation signal and transmitting a digital signal which results in response to an RFID interrogation signal.

20. A bar code scanner/RFID circuit for mounting in a hand-held reading device, said circuit comprising:

means for providing at least one of a bar code interrogation signal and an RFID interrogation signal to at least one identification tag;

means receiving at least one data signal from the at least one identification tag in response to the at least one bar code interrogation signal and the RFID interrogation signal;

means for transforming the at least one data signal into an analog signal;

means for digitizing the analog signal within the reading device into a digital signal; and

means for transmitting the digital signal to a central processing unit.

21. The circuit of claim 20 wherein the means for providing comprises simultaneously a means for providing a bar code interrogation signal and an RFID interrogation signal to at least one identification tag.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the means for transmitting comprising means for transmitting through an eight pin interface.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the means for transmitting comprises a means for transmitting substantially simultaneously a digital signal in response to a bar code interrogation signal and a digital signal in response to an RFID interrogation signal.

25. The image capture/RFID circuit of claim 23, wherein the image capture/RFID circuit is resident in a hand-held reader device.

24. An image capture/RFID circuit for use in a free-standing reader device, and that provides an interrogation signal to an identification tag, receives a data signal from an identification tag, and that provides a digital signal to a processing unit, the circuit comprising:

an image capture circuit;

an RFID circuit;

wherein the processing unit is coupled to receive a data acquisition command, and, in response to the data acquisition command, to instruct at least one of the image capture circuit and the RFID circuit to provide the interrogation signal, to receive the data signal, and to transmit the data signal; and

a data acquisition circuit which is adapted to receive the data signal from at least one of the image capture circuit and the RFID circuit, to process the data signal into an analog signal and then into the digital signal, and to transmit the digital signal to the processing unit.

26. The image capture/RFID circuit of claim 24, wherein the data acquisition circuit transmits the digital signal to the processing unit with an eight pin interface.

27. The image capture/RFID circuit of claim 24, wherein a scanning field emitted by a image capture portion of the image capture/RFID circuit is substantially equivalent in directional orientation to an RF field emitted by an RFID portion of the image capture/RFID circuit.