Indicia-reading system

• US 9,530,038 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Xian, Tao, Liu, Haiyang, Bremer, Edward C., Smith, Taylor
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUYEN KIM
• Application Number:
  US14/525,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20150144701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 235/385, 235/462.14, 235/462.45, 23547201-47203, 235/462.43, 235/462.46
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10693 for omnidirectional scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1096 the scanner having more than one scanning window, e.g. two substantially orthogonally placed scanning windows for integration into a check-out counter of a super-market
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0081 the reader being a portable scanner or data reader G07G1/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source

Abstract

Indicia-reading systems include an auxiliary reading apparatus with wireless charging capability. The systems are configured to couple, transfer, and receive energy wirelessly between a base charging station and auxiliary indicia reader via resonating coils that include an impedance matching network. Wireless charging capability can save space at the point-of-sale and add convenience for the operator.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly charging an auxiliary hand-held indicia reader, comprising:

providing an auxiliary hand-held indicia reader comprising a housing, a receiving inductor for wirelessly receiving energy and an energy storage device, the receiving inductor being configured to charge the energy storage device;

providing a charging zone proximate to an emitting inductor, the emitting inductor incorporated into a top tower of a bi-optic point-of-sale terminal for wirelessly emitting energy to the auxiliary hand-held indicia reader'"'"'s receiving inductor when the auxiliary hand-held indicia reader is placed in the charging zone;

placing the auxiliary hand-held indicia reader in the charging zone in any relative orientation to the emitting inductor; and

charging the energy storage device through magnetic resonance coupling of the receiving inductor and the emitting inductor while the auxiliary hand-held indicia reader rests on the point-of-sale terminal or is in non-contact proximity to the charging zone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary hand-held indicia reader has a trigger style form factor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery physically integrated within the housing, the receiving inductor being configured to charge the battery.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the hand-held indicia reader comprises a rectifier physically integrated within the hand-supportable housing and electrically integrated between the receiving inductor and the battery, the rectifier being configured to convert RF-energy to DC energy.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises a super capacitor physically integrated within the hand-supportable housing, the receiving inductor being configured to charge the super capacitor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the hand-held indicia reader comprises a rectifier physically integrated within the hand-supportable housing and electrically integrated between the receiving inductor and the super capacitor, the rectifier being configured to convert RF-energy to DC energy.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the emitting inductor and the receiving inductor are tuned to a resonant frequency.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising an amplifier configured to drive the emitting inductor at resonance.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the emitting inductor comprises an emitting coil and a resonating coil.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving inductor comprises a receiving coil and a resonating coil.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the hand-held indicia reader comprises a wireless communication module at least partially integrated within the housing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the hand-held indicia reader and the in-counter indicia-reader are in wireless communication.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging zone is a cradleless charging zone.