Combined radio frequency identification and optical imaging module
First Claim
1. A combined RFID reader and optical imager for interconnection to a host device, comprising:
- a single printed circuit board;
a single microcontroller positioned on said printed circuit board and including a command interpreter for processing at least one host command;
an RFID transceiver positioned on said printed circuit board and attached to said microcontroller;
an optical imager positioned at least partially on said printed circuit board and attached to said microcontroller;
a host interface positioned at least partially on said printed circuit board and attached to said microcontroller and configured to receive said at least one host command from said host device; and
wherein said microprocessor controls operation of said RFID transceiver and said optical imager based upon said at least one host command received through said host interface from said host device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical imager, a RFID reader, and a single host interface combined into a single module for use as a stand alone device or OEM product. The module includes a system microcontroller that interconnects an optical image microcontroller and a RFID microcontroller through the single interface to a host device, such as a computer. The system microprocessor is configurable via the host interface to selectively provide RFID reading, optical imaging, or a variety of combinations of both techniques. The module is programmable to allow the host computer trigger the RFID reader and optical imager. In addition, the system microcontroller is programmable via the host computer to provide image analysis, such as shape determination or recognition, prior to relaying data to the host computer through the single interface.
30 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A combined RFID reader and optical imager for interconnection to a host device, comprising:
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a single printed circuit board; a single microcontroller positioned on said printed circuit board and including a command interpreter for processing at least one host command; an RFID transceiver positioned on said printed circuit board and attached to said microcontroller; an optical imager positioned at least partially on said printed circuit board and attached to said microcontroller; a host interface positioned at least partially on said printed circuit board and attached to said microcontroller and configured to receive said at least one host command from said host device; and wherein said microprocessor controls operation of said RFID transceiver and said optical imager based upon said at least one host command received through said host interface from said host device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of providing RFID reading and optical imaging for a host device, comprising the steps of:
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attaching to said host device via a host interface a single printed circuit board having a microcontroller, an RFID transceiver attached to said microcontroller, an optical imager attached to said microcontroller, and said host interface attached to said microcontroller positioned thereon, wherein said microcontroller is programmed to interpret commands sent by sent host device through said host interface; selectively triggering said RFID reader and said optical imager by sending at least one command from said host device to said microcontroller through said host interface and selectively triggering based upon said at least one command. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A module for collecting information from an object, comprising:
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a printed circuit board; a single microprocessor positioned on said printed circuit board; a first submodule positioned on said printed circuit board and attached to said microprocessor for obtaining a first type of data from said object; a second submodule positioned on said printed circuit board and attached to said microprocessor for obtaining a second type of data from said object; a single host interface positioned on said printed circuit board and attached to said microprocessor for interfacing with a host device and receiving host commands sent by said host device; and wherein said microprocessor is programmed to selectively operate said first submodule and said second submodule based upon the receipt of a host command from said host device through said host interface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification