U.S. patent application number 09/785410 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-21 for system for reading bar code symbols using portable bar code symbol readers having one-way rf signal transmission links with base stations.
Invention is credited to Colavito, Stephen J., Germaine, Gennady, Knowles, Carl H., Rockstein, George B., Wilz, David M. SR..
Application Number | 20020033418 09/785410 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26995048 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020033418 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Knowles, Carl H. ; et
al. |
March 21, 2002 |
System for reading bar code symbols using portable bar code symbol
readers having one-way RF signal transmission links with base
stations
Abstract
A code symbol reading device includes a portable housing that
contains a light source. Light from the light source is projected
into a scan field external to the housing and onto a code symbol on
an object located within the scan field. The light reflected off
the code symbol is detected within the housing to produce scan data
that is indicative of the detected light intensity. The scan data
is processed to detect and decode the code symbol and to produce
symbol character data that are representative of the decoded code
symbol. A data packet utilizing the symbol character data is
synthesized and modulated onto a carrier signal that is transmitted
to a base unit where the carrier signal is demodulated and the data
packet recovered. The received data packet is analyzed to recover
the symbol character data, and an acknowledgment signal is produced
to acknowledge the receipt of the symbol character data at the base
unit.
Inventors: |
Knowles, Carl H.;
(Moorestown, NJ) ; Rockstein, George B.; (Audubon,
NJ) ; Wilz, David M. SR.; (Sewell, NJ) ;
Colavito, Stephen J.; (Brookhaven, PA) ; Germaine,
Gennady; (Cherry Hill, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Steven R. Bartholomew, Esq.
41st Floor
60 East 42nd Street
New York
NY
10165
US
|
Family ID: |
26995048 |
Appl. No.: |
09/785410 |
Filed: |
February 16, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09785410 |
Feb 16, 2001 |
|
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|
09346859 |
Jul 2, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/472.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 7/10702 20130101;
G06K 17/0022 20130101; G06K 7/10792 20130101; G06K 7/10 20130101;
G06K 7/10801 20130101; G06K 2207/1016 20130101; G06K 2207/1017
20130101; G06K 7/10861 20130101; G06K 7/10693 20130101; G06K 7/14
20130101; G06K 2207/1012 20130101; G06K 7/10881 20130101; G06K
7/10603 20130101; G06K 7/10891 20130101; G06K 7/10564 20130101;
G06K 7/10594 20130101; G06K 2207/1018 20130101; G06K 7/10851
20130101; G06K 7/1443 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/472.01 |
International
Class: |
G06K 007/10 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for reading code symbols comprising: (A) a plurality of
code symbol reading devices, each said code symbol reading device
including means for automatically scanning a code symbol on an
object, means for automatically producing symbol character data in
a form representative of said scanned code symbol, mean for
synthesizing a group of data packets, each having a plurality of
data fields containing codes for identifying the code symbol
reading device synthesizing said data packet in said group thereof,
a data packet number for identifying each said data packet, a data
packet group number for identifying the group to which each said
data packet belongs, and a sequence of digital data bits
representative of said symbol character data, and means for
generating a carrier signal of electromagnetic nature, having a
frequency modulated by the digital data bits representative of said
group of data packets, and transmitting said modulated carrier
signal over a predetermined data transmission range in free space,
wherein the frequency of the carrier signal produced by each said
code symbol reading device is substantially the same and equal to a
preselected frequency value; and (B) a plurality of base units,
each said base unit being assigned to one said code symbol reading
device, and positionable within the predetermined transmitting
range thereof, and including means for receiving a modulated
carrier signal transmitted from said any one of said code symbol
reading devices, means for demodulating any one of the received
modulated carrier signals so as to recover at least one data packet
therefrom, means for analyzing said recovered data packet to
determine whether the received data packet was synthesized by its
assigned code symbol reading device, and if so, then recovering
said symbol character data therefrom, means for buffering said
symbol character data recovered from the data packet synthesized by
said preassigned code symbol reading device, and means for
automatically producing, in response to the recovery and buffering
of said symbol character data, an acknowledgement signal
perceptible to the user of said assigned code symbol reading device
when said user is situated within said predetermined data
transmission range, so as to inform the user of said code symbol
reading device that said symbol character data produced thereby has
been received and recovered at said assigned base unit.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein each said code symbol reading
device comprises a laser diode for producing a visible laser that
is repeatedly scanned across said code symbol.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said acknowledgement signal
comprises an acoustical signal audible to the user of said code
symbol reading device when said user is situated within said
predetermined data transmission range.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein said acknowledgement signal
further comprises a light signal visible to the user of said code
symbol reading device when said user is situated within said
predetermined data transmission range.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein said acoustical signal produced
by each said base unit has at least one uniquely identifiable pitch
characteristic assigned to said preassigned code symbol reading
device.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein each said base unit comprises a
circuit tuned to said preselected frequency, and a receiving
element operably associated with said circuit, for receiving the
modulated carrier signal transmitted from any one or more of said
code symbol reading devices.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein each said base unit further
comprises data interface circuitry for interfacing the data output
port of a computer keyboard with the data input port of a computer
system, and data conversion means for converting the data format of
said symbol character data recovered at said base unit, into a data
format which is substantially identical to the data format of data
produced from the output of said computer keyboard.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein each said base unit further
comprises a data processing unit selected from the group consisting
of slot-type bar code symbol reader, a projection-type bar code
symbol reader, a cash register, a host computer system, and a
portable collection device.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a Continuation of patent application Ser. No.
09/346,859, filed on Jul. 2, 1999, which is a Continuation-In-Part
of patent application Ser. No. 07/761,123 filed on Sep. 17, 1991,
and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,971.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to bar code symbol reading
systems having one or more base stations or units, and one or more
hand-held bar code symbol reading devices each remotely suitable
from the base station(s) and capable of sending symbol character
data over distance(s) thereto.
[0004] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Bar code symbols have become widely used in many commercial
environments such as, for example, point-of-sale (POS) stations in
retail stores and supermarkets, inventory and document tracking,
and diverse data control applications. To meet the growing demands
of this recent technological innovation, bar code symbol readers of
various types have been developed for scanning and decoding bar
code symbol patterns and producing symbol character data for use as
input in automated data processing systems.
[0006] In general, prior art hand-held bar code symbol readers
using laser scanning mechanisms can be classified into two major
categories.
[0007] The first category of bar code symbol readers includes
manually-actuated trigger-operated systems having lightweight,
hand-held laser scanners which can be supported in the hand of the
user. The user positions the hand-held laser scanner at a specified
distance from the object bearing the bar code symbol, manually
activates the scanner to initiate reading and then moves the
scanner over other objects bearing bar code symbols to be read.
Prior art bar code symbol readers illustrative of this first
category are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,387,297 to Swartz;
4,575,625 to Knowles; 4,845,349 to Cherry; 4,825,057 to Swartz, et
al.; 4,903,848 to Knowles; 5,107,100 to Shepard, et al.; 5,080,456
to Katz, et al.; and 5,047,617 to Shepard, et al.
[0008] The second category of hand-held laser-based bar code symbol
readers includes automatically actuated systems having lightweight
triggerless hand-held laser scanners which can be supported in the
hand of the user. The user positions the hand-held laser scanner at
a specified distance from the object bearing the bar code, the
presence of the object is automatically detected, the presence of
the bar code symbol on the object is detected, and thereafter the
detected bar code symbol automatically read. Prior art illustrative
of this second category of laser-based bar code symbol reading
systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,639,606 to Boles, et al.,
and 4,933,538 to Heiman, et al.
[0009] Presently, there are basically two methods of
interconnecting the hand-held laser-based bar code scanner to its
base unit which, depending on the particular application, may be
either a controller, a keyboard-scanner interface device, or a
central or host computer. The first method of interconnection
employs physical wiring between each hand-held bar code scanner and
its; associated base unit. Typically, the physical wiring is
realized as flexible cord having a coiled structure to permit
elongation as required during bar code symbol reading
applications.
[0010] A major drawback with bar code symbol reading systems using
the physical-wiring method of interconnection is that the movement
of the portable hand-held laser scanning device is restricted by
the overall (extended) length of the flexible cord used. In many
applications, such as product inventory, the use of such bar code
symbol reading systems is simply unacceptable. The second method of
interconnection employs a "wireless" electromagnetic communication
link between each hand-held bar code scanner (or reader) and its
associated base unit. Typically, the electromagnetic communication
link is established by transmitting and receiving electromagnetic
signals over either the radio-frequency (RF) region or infra-red
(IR) region of the electromagnetic energy spectrum. Examples of
such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,418,277 to Tremmel,
et al. and 5,157,687 to Tymes, and in the U.S. Patents cited
therein.
[0011] While prior art bar code symbol reading systems employing
the wireless method of interconnection offer a marked degree of
flexibility over systems utilizing the physical wiring method of
interconnection, such prior art systems nevertheless suffer from a
number of shortcomings and drawbacks. In particular, these prior
art systems require two-way packet communications which involves
the use of complex data communications protocols and a separate
transmitter and a receiver (i.e., transceiver) at each hand-held
bar code symbol reader and base unit in the system. Typically,
these data communications requirements increase the cost of
manufacture of such systems, and substantially increase the
electrical power consumption at each hand-held bar code symbol
reader.
[0012] Thus, there is a great need in the bar code symbol reading
art for a bar code symbol reading system and method which overcomes
the above-described shortcomings and drawbacks without compromising
system performance and versatility.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention
to provide a bar code symbol reading system having at least one
hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device which, after each
successful reading of a code symbol, automatically synthesizes and
then transmits a data packet to a base unit positioned within the
data transmission range of the bar code symbol reading device, and
upon the successful receipt of the transmitted data packet and
recovery of symbol character data therefrom, the base unit
transmits an acoustical acknowledgement signal that is perceptible
to the user of the bar code symbol reading device residing within
the data transmission range thereof.
[0014] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
a system with one or more automatic (i.e., triggerless)
hand-supportable laser-based bar code symbol reading devices, each
of which is capable of automatically transmitting data packets to
its base unit after each successful reading of a bar code
symbol.
[0015] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
a bar code symbol reading system in which the hand-supportable bar
code symbol reading device can be used as either a portable
hand-supported laser scanner in an automatic hands-on mode of
operation, or as a stationary laser projection scanner in an
automatic hands-free mode of operation.
[0016] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
a bar code symbol system, in which the base unit is adapted to
support the hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device in its
automatic hands-free mode of operation.
[0017] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
a bar code symbol system in which the base unit contains a battery
recharging device that automatically recharges batteries contained
in the hand-supportable device when the hand-supportable device is
supported within the base unit.
[0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide
such an automatic bar code symbol reading system with a mode of
operation that permits the user to automatically read one or more
bar code symbols on an object in a consecutive manner.
[0019] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
an automatic bar code symbol reading system, in which a plurality
of automatic hand-supportable bar code symbol reading devices are
used in conjunction with a plurality of base units, each of which
is mated to a particular bar code symbol reading device.
[0020] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
an automatic bar code symbol reading system, in which radio
frequency (RF) carrier signals of the same frequency are used by
each hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device to transmit
data packets to respective base units.
[0021] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
an automatic bar code symbol reading system, in which a novel data
packet transmission and reception scheme is used to minimize the
occurrence of data packet interference at each base unit during
data packet reception.
[0022] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
an automatic bar code symbol reading system, in which the novel
data packet transmission and reception scheme enables each base
unit to distinguish data packets associated with consecutively
different bar code symbols read by a particular bar code symbol
reading device, without the transmission of electromagnetic-based
data packet acknowledgment signals after receiving each data packet
at the base unit.
[0023] A further object is to provide such an automatic bar code
symbol reading device, in which the automatic hand-supportable bar
code (symbol) reading device has an infrared (IR) based object
detection field which spatially encompasses at least a portion of
its visible laser light scan field along the operative scanning
range of the device, thereby improving the laser beam pointing
efficiency of the device during the automatic bar code reading
process of the present invention.
[0024] Another object of the present invention is to provide such
an automatic bar code symbol reading system, in which the base unit
has a support frame that supports the hand-supportable housing of
the device in a selected mounting position, and permits complete
gripping of the handle portion of the hand-supportable housing
prior to removing it from the support frame.
[0025] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
an automatic bar code symbol reading system, in which the
hand-supportable bar code reading device has long and short-range
modes of object detection, bar code symbol detection and bar code
symbol reading. The long and short range modes of object detection
may be manually selected by the user by way of manual activation of
a switch on the hand-supportable housing of the device. In one
illustrative embodiment, the long-range modes of object detection
may be automatically selected when the hand-supportable bar code
reading device is placed within the support stand during the
hands-free mode of operation. In this embodiment, the short-range
mode of object detection is automatically selected whenever the
hand-supportable bar code reading device is picked up from the
support stand and used in its hands-on mode of operation.
[0026] In another embodiment, the short range mode of bar code
presence detection may be automatically selected upon decoding a
predesignated bar code symbol preprogrammed to induce the
short-range mode of bar code presence detection. In the short-range
mode of bar code presence detection, the automatic bar code reading
device not only detects the presence of a bar code within the scan
field by analysis of collected scan data, but it further processes
the collected scan data to produce digital count data
representative of the measured time interval between bar and/or
space transitions. Bar code symbols present within the short-range
of the scan field, produce scan data having time interval
characteristics falling within a prespecified timing data range.
Using the results of this analysis, only bar code symbols scanned
within the short-range field are deemed "detected," and only bar
code symbols detected within the short-range of the scan field
activate the decoding module of the device and thus enable bar code
symbol reading.
[0027] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
an automatic bar code symbol reading system, in which the
hand-supportable bar code reading device has long and short range
modes of bar code symbol reading within its scan field. In the
short-range mode of bar code symbol reading, the only decoded bar
code symbols residing within the short-range portion of the scan
field, are deemed "read".
[0028] Another object of the present invention to provide an
automatic hand-supportable bar code reading device which has both
long and short-range modes of object detection and bar code symbol
reading that are automatically selectable by placing the
hand-supportable device within its support stand and removing it
therefrom. With this particular embodiment of the present
invention, the automatic bar code symbol reading system can be used
in various bar code symbol reading applications, such as, for
example, charge coupled device (CCD) scanner emulation and bar code
"menu" reading in the hands-on short-range mode of operation, and
counter-top projection scanning in the hands-free long-range mode
of operation.
[0029] An even further object of the present invention is to
provide an automatic hand-supportable bar code reading device which
prevents multiple reading of the same bar code symbol due to
dwelling of the laser scanning beam upon a bar code symbol for an
extended period of time.
[0030] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
point-of-sale station incorporating the automatic bar code symbol
reading system of the present invention.
[0031] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an automatic hand-supportable bar code reading device having a
control system which has a finite number of states through which
the device may pass during its automatic operation, in response to
diverse conditions automatically detected within the object
detection and scan fields of the device.
[0032] It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a portable, fully automatic bar code symbol reading system
which is compact, simple to use and versatile.
[0033] Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide
a novel method of reading bar code symbols using an automatic
hand-supportable laser scanning device.
[0034] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
wireless automatic bar code symbol reading device having a housing
that can be comfortably mounted to the wrist of its user, similar
to a wrist bracelet or a watch, and which can be reconfigured when
not in use to provide its user greater hand mobility.
[0035] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
a bar code symbol reading, in which the laser scanning plane
thereof extends upwardly, downwardly, or laterally transverse to
the pointing direction of the wearer's hand on which the device is,
mounted.
[0036] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
a bar code symbol reading system, in which the base unit functions
as a "desktop wedge" (i.e., keyboard interface device) for
interfacing a keyboard and the bar code symbol reading device, with
a host or like computer system, so that "keyboard-scan formatted"
data produced from the keyboard and the bar code reading device is
identically formatted for entry into the host computer system
through a single data input port, and subsequent processing
therein.
[0037] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
desk-top bar code symbol reading having a base unit with a small
bar code symbol printing engine.
[0038] An even further object of the invention is to provide such a
bar code reading system, in which the base unit is realized as a
PCMCIA card installable in the PCMCIA port of personal computer
system, including notebook computers, palm top computers, personal
digital assistant devices, desk-top computers and the like.
[0039] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
point-of-sale station incorporating the automatic bar code symbol
reading system of the present invention.
[0040] These and further objects of the present invention will
become apparent hereinafter and in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] For a fuller understanding of the Objects of the Present
Invention, the Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiments
of the Present Invention should be read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0042] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first illustrative
embodiment of the automatic bar code symbol reading device of the
present invention, shown supported within the scanner support stand
portion of its matching base unit, for automatic hands-free
operation;
[0043] FIG. 1A is an elevated front view of the automatic bar code
symbol reading device of FIG. 1, shown supported within the scanner
support stand portion of its base unit;
[0044] FIG. 1B is a plan view of the automatic bar code symbol
reading system shown in FIG. 1;
[0045] FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the automatic bar code symbol
reading system shown in FIG. 1;
[0046] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first illustrative
embodiment of the automatic hand supportable bar code symbol
reading device of the present invention, shown being used in the
automatic hands-on mode of operation;
[0047] FIG. 2A is an elevated, cross-sectional side view taken
along the longitudinal extent of the automatic bar code symbol
reading device of FIG. 2, showing the various components contained
therein, including the automatic bar code symbol reading engine of
the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional plan view taken along line
2B-2B of FIG. 2A, showing the various components contained
therein;
[0049] FIG. 3 is an elevated side view of the first illustrative
embodiment of the automatic bar code symbol reading device of the
present invention, illustrating the spatial relationship between
the object detection and scan fields of the device, and the long
and short-ranges of programmed object detection, bar code presence
detection, and bar code symbol reading;
[0050] FIG. 3A is a plan view of the automatic bar code symbol
reading device taken along line 3A-3A of FIG. 3;
[0051] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second illustrative
embodiment of the automatic bar code symbol reading device of the
present invention, shown mounted on the wrist of an operator with
its object and scan fields extending along the pointing direction
of the operator's hand during automatic hands-free operation;
[0052] FIG. 4A is an elevated, cross-sectional side view of the
automatic bar code symbol reading device of FIG. 4, taken along the
longitudinal extent thereof, while configured in its reading
configuration, showing the various components contained
therein;
[0053] FIG. 4B is an elevated, cross-sectional side view of the
automatic bar code symbol reading device of FIG. 4, taken along the
longitudinal extent thereof, while configured in its non-reading
configuration, showing the various components contained therein,
including the automatic bar code symbol reading engine of the
present invention;
[0054] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the third illustrative
embodiment of the automatic bar code symbol reading device of the
present invention, showing its wrist-mountable housing and the
various system components contained therein;
[0055] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the automatic bar code
symbol reading device of FIG. 5A, shown mounted on the wrist of an
operator with its object and scan fields extending laterally
transverse to the pointing direction of the operator's hand during
automatic hands-free operation;
[0056] FIG. 5C is a perspective view of the automatic bar code
symbol reading device of FIG. 5A, shown mounted on the wrist of an
operator with its object and scan fields extending upwardly
transverse to the pointing direction of the operator's hand during
automatic hands-free operation;
[0057] FIG. 5D is a perspective view of the automatic bar code
symbol reading device of FIG. 5A, shown mounted on the wrist of an
operator with its object and scan fields extending downwardly
transverse to the pointing direction of the operator's hand during
automatic hands-free operation;
[0058] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the fourth illustrative
embodiment of the automatic bar code symbol reading device of the
present invention, shown supported in its rechargeable base unit,
equipped with a bar code symbol printing engine connected
thereto;
[0059] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the fourth illustrative
embodiment of the bar code symbol reading device, taken along line
6B--6B of FIG. 6A, showing the device resting in its base unit:
during a battery recharging operation;
[0060] FIG. 6C is a plan view of the fourth illustrative
embodiment: of the bar code symbol reading device of the present
invention, shown reading a bar code symbol printed on a sheet of
paper;
[0061] FIG. 6D is a perspective view of the fourth illustrative
embodiment of the bar code symbol reading device of the present
invention, shown reading a bar code symbol printed on a sheet of
paper while in proximity with its mated base unit;
[0062] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the automatic laser-based
bar code symbol reading engine of the present invention, showing
its miniature "match-box" size housing;
[0063] FIG. 7B is an elevated front view of the automatic bar code
symbol reading engine of the present invention, showing the
geometrical characteristics of its light transmission window;
[0064] FIG. 7C is an elevated rear view of the automatic bar code
symbol reading engine of the present invention, showing its
input/output signal port;
[0065] FIG. 7D is a perspective view of the automatic bar code
symbol reading engine of the present invention, shown within the
upper portion of the miniature match-box size housing removed off
from the lower housing portion thereof;
[0066] FIG. 7E is a plan view of the underside of the upper portion
of the match-box size housing, showing the optical layout of the
laser beam scanning optics of the device;
[0067] FIG. 7F is a perspective exploded view of the automatic bar
code symbol reading engine of the present invention, showing the
spatial relationships among the printed circuit boards, the upper
and lower housing portions, and the laser beam scanning optics
thereof;
[0068] FIG. 7G is a perspective exploded view of an alternative
embodiment of the automatic bar code symbol reading engine of the
present invention, showing the spatial relationships among the
printed circuit boards, including the printed board supporting the
data packet transmission circuit of the present invention.
[0069] FIG. 8 is a system block functional diagram of the
automatic: bar code symbol reading system of the present invention,
illustrating the principal components integrated with the control
(sub)system thereof;
[0070] FIG. 8A is a functional logic diagram of the system override
signal detection circuit in the Application Specific Integrated
Circuit (ASIC) chip in the automatic bar code symbol reading engine
of the present invention;
[0071] FIG. 8B is a functional logic diagram of the oscillator
circuit in the ASIC chip in the automatic bar code symbol reading
engine of the present invention;
[0072] FIG. 8C is a timing diagram for the oscillator circuit of
FIG. 8B;
[0073] FIG. 8D is a block functional diagram of the object
detection circuit (i.e., system activation means) in the ASIC chip
in the automatic bar code symbol reading engine of the present
invention;
[0074] FIG. 8E is a functional logic diagram of the first control
circuit (C.sub.1) of the control system of the present
invention;
[0075] FIG. 8F is a functional logic diagram of the clock divide
circuit in the first control circuit C.sub.1 of FIG. 8E;
[0076] FIG. 8G is table setting forth Boolean logic expressions for
the enabling signals produced by the first control circuit
C.sub.1;
[0077] FIG. 8H is a functional block diagram of the analog to
digital (A/D) signal conversion circuit in the ASIC chip in the bar
code symbol reading engine of the present invention;
[0078] FIG. 8I is a functional logic diagram of the bar code symbol
(Presence) detection circuit in the ASIC chip in the bar code
symbol reading engine of the present invention;
[0079] FIG. 8J is a functional logic diagram of the clock divide
circuit in the bar code symbol detection circuit of FIG. 8I;
[0080] FIG. 8K is a schematic representation of the time window and
subintervals maintained by the bar code symbol detection circuit
during the bar code symbol detection process,
[0081] FIG. 8L is a functional logic diagram of the second control
circuit (C.sub.2) in the ASIC chip in the automatic bar code symbol
reading engine of the present invention;
[0082] FIG. 8M is Boolean logic table defining the functional
relationships among the input and output signals into and out from
the second control circuit C.sub.2 of FIG. 8N;
[0083] FIG. 8N is a schematic representation of the format of each
data packet transmitted from the data packet transmission circuit
of FIG. 9.
[0084] FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the data packet
transmission circuit of the bar code symbol reading system of the
present invention;
[0085] FIG. 10 is a schematic representation illustrating several
groups of data packets transmitted from the bar code symbol reading
device hereof in accordance with the principles of data packet
transmission and reception scheme of the present invention;
[0086] FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of an exemplary set of
groups of data packet pseudo randomly transmitted from neighboring
bar code symbol reading devices, and received at one base unit in
physical proximity therewith;
[0087] FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of an exemplary set of
data packets simultaneously transmitted from three neighboring bar
code symbol reading devices of the present invention, and received
at the associated base units assigned thereto;
[0088] FIGS. 13A to 13C, taken together, show a high level flow
chart of the control process performed by the control subsystem of
the bar code symbol reading device, illustrating various modes of
object detection, bar code presence detection and bar code symbol
reading; FIG. 14 is a state diagram illustrating the various states
that the automatic hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device
of the illustrative embodiment may undergo during the course of its
programmed operation;
[0089] FIG. 15A is a perspective view of the scanner support stand
housing of the countertop base unit of the present invention;
[0090] FIG. 15B is a perspective view of the base plate portion of
the countertop base unit of the present invention;
[0091] FIG. 15C is a perspective, partially broken away view of the
assembled countertop base unit of the present invention;
[0092] FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram of the data packet
receiving and processing circuitry and the acknowledgment signal
generating circuitry of the present invention realized on the
printed circuit board in the base unit shown in FIGS. 15A to
15C;
[0093] FIG. 16A is a functional block diagram of the radio receiver
subcircuit of the data packet receiving circuit of FIG. 16;
[0094] FIG. 16B is a functional block diagram of the digitally
controlled acoustical acknowledgment signal generating circuit of
the present invention;
[0095] FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating the steps undertaken
during the control process carried out in the base unit of FIG.
15C;
[0096] FIG. 18A is a perspective view of the portable data
collection base unit of the present invention, interfaceable with a
host computer system for transferring symbol character data
collected from the bar code symbol reading device of the present
invention;
[0097] FIG. 18B is an elevated side view of the portable data
collection base unit of the present invention;
[0098] FIG. 18C is an elevated end view of the portable data
collection base unit the present invention;
[0099] FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram of the data packet
receiving and processing circuit, the acknowledgment signal
generating circuit and the host computer interface circuit of the
present invention, realized aboard the printed circuit board in the
portable data collection base unit of the present invention;
[0100] FIGS. 20A to 20D is a flow chart illustrating the steps
performed during the control process carried out within the
portable data collection base unit of the present invention;
[0101] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the PCMCIA card base unit
of the present invention shown installed within the PCMCIA slot of
a portable lap-top computer system;
[0102] FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram of the data packet
receiving and processing circuit, the acknowledgment signal
generating circuit, and host interface circuit realized on the
printed PCMCIA circuit board of the card-type base unit shown in
FIG. 20;
[0103] FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed
during the control process conducted within the PCMCIA-card type
base unit shown in FIG. 20;
[0104] FIG. 24A is a perspective view of the housing for the
desktop base unit of the present invention;
[0105] FIG. 24B is a perspective view of the base plate portion of
the desktop base unit of the present invention;
[0106] FIG. 24C is a perspective view of the assembled desktop base
unit of the present invention, shown physically coupled to a bar
code symbol printing engine, and the serial communications port of
a host computer system;
[0107] FIG. 25 is a block functional diagram of the data packet
receiving and processing circuit and the acknowledgment signal
generating circuit realized on the printed circuit board aboard the
base unit shown in FIG. 24C;
[0108] FIG. 26 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed
during the control process carried out within the desktop base unit
of FIG. 24C;
[0109] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a desktop computer
workstation, with which the desktop bar code symbol reading system
of the present invention is installed;
[0110] FIG. 28A is a perspective view of the housing for the
keyboard-interface base unit of the present invention;
[0111] FIG. 28B is a perspective view of the base plate portion of
the keyboard-interface base unit of the present invention;
[0112] FIG. 28C is a perspective view of the assembled
keyboard-interface base unit of the present invention, shown
electrically interfaced with the keyboard and serial communications
port of a host computer system;
[0113] FIG. 29 is a block functional diagram of the data packet
receiving and processing circuit, the acknowledgment signal
generating circuit and the keyboard/bar-code reader interface
circuit realized on the printed circuit board aboard the
keyboard-interface base unit shown in FIG. 28C;
[0114] FIG. 30 is a flow chart illustrating the steps performed
during the control process carried out within the
keyboard-interface base unit of FIG. 28C;
[0115] FIGS. 31A to 31D are perspective views of a point-of-sale
system, showing the countertop base unit of FIG. 15C supported on a
horizontal countertop surface and operably connected to an
electronic cash register, with the automatic hand-supportable bar
code symbol reading device of FIG. 1 being used in its hand-held
short-range mode of operation;
[0116] FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a point-of-sale station
according to the present invention, showing the countertop base
unit of FIG. 15C pivotally supported above a horizontal counter
surface by way of a pedestal base mounted under an electronic cash
register, and the automatic hand-supportable bar code symbol
reading device of FIG. 1 received in the base unit while being used
in its automatic "hands-free" long-range mode of operation; and
[0117] FIGS. 33A and 33B are perspective views of a point-of-sale
station according to the present invention, showing the counter-top
base unit of FIG. 15C pivotally supported above a horizontal
counter surface by way of a pedestal base, and the automatic
hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device being used in its
automatic "hands-on" short range mode of operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
[0118] In FIGS. 1 to 6D, four different embodiments of the
automatic hand-supportable bar code symbol reading system of the
present invention are shown. In FIGS. 1 to 3A, the first embodiment
of the automatic bar code symbol reading system is illustrated. In
FIGS. 4 to 4B, the second embodiment of the automatic bar code
symbol reading system is illustrated. In FIGS. 5 to 5C, the third
embodiment of the automatic bar code symbol reading system is
illustrated. In FIGS. 6A to 6D, the fourth embodiment of the
automatic bar code symbol reading system is illustrated. In each of
these systems, the hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device
includes the automatic bar code symbol reading engine of the
present invention shown in FIGS. 7A to 7F and schematically
illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 9, in particular. The operation of these
embodiments of the automatic bar code symbol reading device of the
present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to
14.
[0119] As there are numerous possible embodiments of the automatic
bar code symbol reading device of the present invention, there are
also numerous possible embodiments of the base unit of the present
invention. For exemplary purposes only, four illustrative
embodiments of the base unit are shown in FIGS. 15A to 26. In FIGS.
15A to 17, the first embodiment of the base unit is illustrated. In
FIGS. 18A to 20D, the second embodiment of the base unit is
illustrated. In FIGS. 21A to 23, the third embodiment of the base
unit is illustrated. In FIGS. 24A to 26, the fourth embodiment of
the base unit is illustrated. In FIGS. 27 to 30, the fifth
embodiment of the base unit is illustrated. Each of these
illustrative embodiments of the present invention will be described
in great detail hereinafter to enable one with ordinary skill in
the art to practice the same in diverse user environments.
[0120] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, automatic bar code symbol reading
system 1 comprises an automatic (i.e., triggerless) portable bar
code (symbol) reading device 2 operably associated with a base unit
3 having a scanner support stand 4. Bar code symbol reading device
2 is operably connected with its the base unit 3 by way of a one
way electromagnetic link 5 that is momentarily created between bar
code symbol reading device 2 and its mated base unit 3 after the
successful reading of each bar code symbol by the bar code symbol
reading device. Operable interconnection between the base unit and
a host system (e.g., electronic cash register system, data
collection device, etc.) 6 is achieved by a flexible multiwire
communications cable 7 extending from the base unit and plugged
directly into the said data-input communications port of the host
computer system 6. In the illustrative embodiment, electrical power
from a low voltage direct current (DC) power supply (not shown) is
provided to the base unit by way of a flexible power cable 8.
Notably, this DC power supply can be realized in host computer
system 6 or as a separate DC power supply adapter pluggable into a
conventional 3-prong electrical socket. As will be described in
greater detail hereinafter, a rechargeable battery power supply
unit is contained with bar code symbol reading device 2 in order to
energize the electrical and electro-optical components within the
device.
[0121] As illustrated in FIG. 1 through 1C, scanner support stand 4
is particularly adapted for receiving and supporting portable bar
code symbol reading device 2 in a selected position without user
support, thus providing a stationary, automatic hands-free mode of
operation. In general, portable bar code reading device 2 includes
an ultra-light weight hand-supportable housing 9 having a contoured
head portion 9A and a handle portion 9B. As will be described in
greater detail hereinafter, head portion 9A encloses
electro-optical components which are used to generate and project a
visible laser beam 10 through a light transmissive window 11 in
housing head portion 9A, and to repeatedly scan the projected laser
beam across a scan field 12 defined external to the
hand-supportable housing.
[0122] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 1C, the scanner support:
stand portion 3 includes a support frame which comprises a base
portion 13A, a head portion support structure 13B, handle portion
support structure 13C and a finger accommodating recess 13D. As
shown, base portion 13A has a longitudinal extent and is adapted
for selective positioning with respect to a support surface, e.g.,
countertop surface, counter wall surface, etc. Head portion support
structure 13B is connected to base portion 13A, for receiving and
supporting the head portion of bar code symbol reading device 2.
Similarly, handle portion support structure 13C is connected to
base portion 13A, for receiving and supporting the handle portion
of the code symbol reading device. In order that the user's hand
can completely grasp the handle portion of the hand-supportable bar
code reading device, (i.e., prior to removing it off and away from
the scanner support stand), finger accommodating recess 13D is
disposed between head and handle portion support structures 13B and
13C and above base portion 13A of the support frame. In this way,
finger accommodating recess 13D is laterally accessible so that
when the head and handle portions 9A and 9B are received within and
supported by head portion support structure and handle portion
support structure, respectively, the fingers of a user's hand can
be easily inserted through finger accommodating recess 13D and
completely encircle the handle portion of the hand-supportable
device.
[0123] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 2B in particular, head
portion 9A continuously extends into contoured handle portion 9B at
an obtuse angle a which, in the illustrative embodiment, is about
146 degrees. It is understood, however, that in other embodiments
obtuse angle alpha. may be in the range of about 135 to about 180
degrees. As this ergonomic housing design is sculptured (i.e.,
form-fitted) to the human hand, automatic hands-on scanning is
rendered as easy and effortless as waving ones hand. Also, this
ergonomic housing design eliminates the risks of musculoskeletal
disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, which can result from
repeated biomechanical stress commonly associated with pointing
prior art gun-shaped scanners at bar code symbols, squeezing a
trigger to activate the laser scanning beam, and then releasing the
trigger.
[0124] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 3A, the head portion of
housing 9 has light transmission aperture 11 formed in upper
portion of front panel 14A, to permit visible laser light to exit
and enter the housing, as will be described in greater detail
hereinafter. The lower portion of front panel 14B is optically
opaque except at optical wavelengths over the infra-red (IR) region
of the electromagnetic spectrums, as are all other surfaces of the
hand supportable housing.
[0125] As best shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the automatic bar code
symbol reading engine 18 of the present invention is securely
mounted within the head portion of hand-supportable housing 9,
while a printed circuit board 19 and a rechargeable battery supply
unit 20 are mounted within the handle portion of the
hand-supportable housing. As will be described in greater detail
hereinafter, the data packet transmission circuit of the present
invention is realized on PC board 19 and is operably connected to
bar code symbol reading engine 18 by way of a first flexible wire
harness 21, while electrical power is supplied from rechargeable
battery 20 to the data packet transmission circuit and the bar code
symbol reading engine by way of a second flexible wire harness 22.
As shown, a transmitting antenna 23 is operably connected to the
data packet transmission circuit on PC board 19 and is mounted
within hand-supportable housing 9 for transmission of a data packet
modulated RF carrier signal. The structure and the functionalities
of the automatic bar code symbol reading engine will be described
in greater detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 7A to 14.
[0126] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 4B, the second illustrative
embodiment of the bar code symbol reading device, indicated by
reference numeral 25 comprises a wrist-mountable housing 26 having
a head portion 26A with a light transmission window 27, and a tail
portion 26B that is hingedly connected to the head portion 26B by
way of a hinge mechanism 28. As shown, housing tail portion 26B is
mountable to the wrist of its user by way of a wrist band or strap
35 that may be made from one or more different types of material.
Also, an elastic gasket 29 is disposed about the physical interface
of the housing head portion and the housing tail portion in order
to seal off the housing interior from environmental debris, such as
dust and the like.
[0127] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, an automatic bar code symbol
reading engine 18 is mounted within the head portion of the housing
26A, whereas a small PC board 30 and a miniature rechargeable
battery supply unit 31 are mounted within the tail portion of the
housing 26B. The data packet transmission circuit of the present
invention is realized on PC board 30. Electrical power is provided
from the battery supply unit 31 to PC board 30 by way of a first
flexible wire harness 32, and from PC board 30 to bar code symbol
reading engine 18 by way of a second flexible wire harness 33, as
shown. In order to selectively connect and disconnect the flow of
electrical power from PC board 30 to bar code symbol reading engine
18, a rotatable switch 34 associated with hinge mechanism 28 is
connected in series with the electrical power lines extending along
the second wire harness. In this way, when housing head portion 26A
and housing tail portion 26B are both configured to extend in the
same plane as shown in FIG. 4A, switch 34 is closed and electrical
power is permitted to flow from PC board 30 to the bar code symbol
reading engine. When the housing head portion and housing tail
portion are configured in slightly different planes, as shown in
FIG. 4B, then switch 34 is opened and electrical power is prevented
from flowing from PC board 30 to the bar code symbol reading
engine.
[0128] In general, bar code symbol reading device 25 can be used in
conjunction with any of the base units of the present invention.
However, in the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4, bar code
symbol reading device 25 is used in conjunction with portable data
collection base unit 37 in order to receive data packets that have
been transmitted by the bar code symbol reading device upon the
successful reading of each bar code symbol. The method of data
packet transmission between the bar code symbol reading device and
the portable base unit, will be described in detail
hereinafter.
[0129] As illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the third illustrative
embodiment of the bar code symbol reading device of the present
invention indicated by reference numeral 40, comprises a U-shaped
wrist-mountable housing 41 having an upper housing portion 41A, a
lower housing portion 41B, and a C-shaped housing portion 41C
connecting the upper and lower housing portions, as shown. In the
illustrative embodiment, each of these housing portions has a
hollow interior of volumetric expanse which is laterally accessible
by a side wall opening 42 shown in FIG. 5A that is typically closed
off by a U-shaped side panel 43 that snap fits over side wall
opening 42. As shown, the front side wall of the upper portion of
the housing has a light aperture window 44 through which laser
light is permitted to pass to and from a bar code symbol reading
engine 18 mounted within the interior of the upper portion of the
U-shaped housing. A small PC board 45, on which the data packet
transmission circuit is realized, is mounted within the interior of
the C-shaped portion of the housing along with transmitting antenna
23, while a rechargeable battery power supply unit 46 is mounted
within the interior of the lower portion of the housing, as shown
in FIG. 5A. Electrical power is provided from battery supply unit
46 to PC board 45 by way of a first flexible wire harness 48, and
from PC board 45 to the bar code symbol reading engine by way of a
second flexible wire harness 47. As shown, a first passageway 49 is
provided between the interior volume within the upper housing
portion and the C-shaped housing portion in order to permit wire
harness 47 to extend between PC Board 45 and the bar code symbol
reading engine 18. Similarly, a second passageway 50 is provided
between the lower housing portion and the C-shaped housing portion
in order to permit wire harness 48 to extend between the battery
supply unit 46 to PC board 45.
[0130] As shown in FIG. 5A, a flexible strap 51 extends from the
bottom of the front panel of the upper portion of the housing and
has a piece of hook-type material 52 attached to the free end
portion thereof. A piece of loop-type material 53 is securely
affixed to the bottom side of the lower portion of the housing.
With such an arrangement, the free end of strap 51 can be fastened
to the bottom side of the lower portion of the housing, and thus
securely attach the housing to the wrist of the user. Foam or
cushioning material 54 can be used to line the interior surfaces of
the housing in order to comfortably mount bar code reading device
40 on the wrist of its user.
[0131] In FIGS. 5B, 5C, and SD three different wrist mounting
arrangements are shown for bar code symbol reading device 40. As
shown in FIG. 5B, the laser scan and object detection fields extend
laterally transverse to the pointing direction of the user's hand
on which the bar code symbol reading device is mounted. With this
laser scanning arrangement, the user reads a bar code symbol 55 on
an object by either presenting the bar code symbol to the light
transmission window of the bar code symbol reading device, or by
moving the light transmission window of the bar code symbol reading
device such that the laser scanning beam projects across the bar
code symbol to be read. This scanning arrangement is advantageous
in various applications where the user desires to read a bar code
symbol on a detected object that is not located along the natural
pointing direction of the user's hand.
[0132] As shown in FIG. 5C, the laser scan and object detection
fields extend upwardly transverse to the pointing direction of the
user's hand on which the bar code symbol reading device is mounted.
This scanning arrangement is advantageous in various applications
where the user desires to read a bar code symbol 55 on a detected
object 56 that is not located along the natural pointing direction
of the user's hand or laterally disposed thereto, as in FIG. 5B.
With this alternative mounting arrangement, the user reads a bar
code symbol by presenting the bar code symbol on the object to the
object bearing the bar code symbol.
[0133] As shown in FIG. 5D, the laser scan and object detection
fields extend downwardly transverse to toward the pointing
direction of the user's hand on which the bar code symbol reading
device is mounted. This scanning arrangement is advantageous in
various applications where the user desires to read a bar code
symbol 55 on a detected object 56 that is not located along the
pointing direction of the user's hand or laterally disposed
thereto, as in FIG. 5B. With this alternative mounting arrangement,
the user reads a bar code symbol by presenting the bar code symbol
on the object to light transmission window of the bar code symbol
reading device.
[0134] In general, bar code symbol reading device 40 can be used in
conjunction with any one of the base units of the present
invention. However, in the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5B,
bar code symbol reading device 40 is used in conjunction with
portable computer system 364, equipped with PCMCIA-card base unit
360. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, PCMCI-card
base unit 360 is capable of receiving data packets transmitted from
device 40 upon the successful reading of each bar code symbol. The
method of data packet transmission and reception between bar code
symbol reading device 40 and base unit 360 will be described in
detail hereinafter.
[0135] In FIGS. 6A to 6D, another embodiment of the bar code symbol
reading system of the present invention is shown. In general, bar
code symbol reading system 60 comprises a base unit 61 operably
connected to a bar code symbol printing engine 62, and a portable
automatic bar code symbol reading device 63. As shown, system 60 is
interfaced with a host computer system (e.g., desk-top computer) 64
by way of a serial data communications cable 65. An electrical
power signal is provided to the base unit by way of power cable 66,
and is supplied to a primary transformer 67, by way of PC board 68
and wires 69. As in the other described embodiments of the
invention, the function of primary inductive coil 67 is to
inductively transfer electrical power to a rechargeable battery 70
contained within the compact housing 71 of the bar code reading
device when the base portion thereof is placed within matched
recess 72 formed in the top portion of housing 73. Bar code symbol
printing engine 62 is provided so that the user can easily print
bar code symbols on adhesive labels or the like, as desired, using
a conventional bar code application program executed by the
processor in the host computer system and a suitable print driver
program executed by the processor within the base unit. The
internal structure and functionalities of base unit 61 will be
described in greater detail hereinafter.
[0136] As shown in FIG. 6B, the compact housing 71 of bar code
symbol reading device has a wedge-like geometry when observed from
its side view and an oval-like geometry when observed along its
plan view. As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D, a large eccentrically
located "viewing aperture" 75 is formed through the entire housing
of the device. As best illustrated in FIG. 6D, the function of the
viewing aperture is to permit the user to encircle a bar code
symbol 76 within the viewing aperture while the bar code symbol is
being viewed along the line of sight 77 of the user. As shown in
FIG. 6B, bar code symbol reading device 18 is disposed at an angle
of about 45 to 60 degrees from the planer base of the housing. A PC
board 78 supporting the data packet transmission circuit of the
present invention and the like is disposed below the engine and
above rechargeable battery unit 70. As such, the laser scanning
plane 79 projected from light transmission window 80 in housing 71
bisects the oval opening formed through the base of the housing, as
shown. This permits the user to easily align the visible laser beam
across the bar code symbol encircled within and along the viewing
window of the bar code symbol reading device. Thus, to read a bar
code symbol, all the user has to do is encircle the bar code symbol
to be read through the viewing aperture of the device, align the
projected visible laser beam with encircled bar code symbol, and
automatically the bar code symbol is detected, scanned, and decoded
by the bar code symbol reading engine 18, and the produced symbol
character data is automatically transmitted to the receiver
circuitry in the base unit. When the transmitted symbol character
data is received by the base unit and retransmitted to the host
computer system, an acoustical acknowledgement signal S.sub.ACK is
emitted to the ambient environment for the user to hear.
Thereafter, the user may leave the bar code symbol reading device
to rest anywhere on the desk top, or may place it within recess 72
in order to automatically recharge the battery unit within the bar
code symbol reading device.
[0137] When using any of the bar code symbol reading devices of the
present invention in commercial environments, such as retail
stores, the wireless nature of the bar code symbol reader/base unit
interface permits the operator thereof to accidently or
deliberately walk off with the bar code symbol reading device. This
could have serious financial consequences which could prevent
commercially successful utilization of the system in such operating
environments. In the illustrative embodiments, this problem is
solved by providing each bar code symbol reader with an
electrically-passive tuned resonant circuit 500 (i.e., target),
realized on an ultra-thin adhesive label 501 affixed to either the
exterior or interior of the hand supportable housing. The tuned
resonant circuit 500 is identical to those used on products such as
library books, compact discs, and other valuable goods sold in
retail outlets. When the bar code symbol reader is moved through
the exit door of the store, the tuned resonant circuit 500 absorbs
energy from the magnetic field produced by magnetic field
generation panels 502 and 503 installed of an electronic article
surveillance system 504 installed at the store exit. When a bar
code symbol reader bearing tuned resonant circuit 500 is moved
through the magnetic interrogation field produced by panels 502 and
503, the tuned resonant circuit absorbs power from the magnetic
field and the corresponding current fluctuation is detected by
current sensing circuitry which triggers an audible alarm 505,
notifying store management that the bar code symbol reader has been
removed from the store without authorization. Various types of
targets, interrogation field panels and electronic current sensing
circuitry may be used to practice this aspect of the present
invention. Suitable anti-theft detection (or electronic article
surveillance) systems for practicing this aspect of the present
invention can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,870,391 to Cooper;
4,751,500 to Minasy, et al.; and 4,684,930 to Minasy, et al., which
are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. This method
provides an inexpensive way of securing bar code symbol scanning
devices, and is less expensive and much simpler than providing a
signal receiver within the bar code symbol scanner itself.
[0138] Having described the four illustrative embodiments of the
bar code symbol reading device hereof, it is appropriate at this
juncture to describe in greater detail the laser scan and object
detection fields thereof.
[0139] As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6C in particular, each
embodiment of the bar code symbol reading device generates from its
bar code symbol reading engine, two different types of fields
external to its hand-supportable housing. As explained below, these
fields function to carry out a novel bar code symbol reading
process according to the principles of the present invention. The
first field, referred to as the "object detection field", indicated
in FIG. 2 by broken and dotted lines 15, is provided external to
the housing for detecting energy reflected off an object (bearing a
bar code symbol) located in the object detection field. The second
field, referred to as the "scan field", has at least one laser beam
scanning plane 10, as shown in FIG. 2, and is provided external to
the housing for scanning a bar code symbol on the object in the
object detection field. In the preferred embodiment, bar code
symbol scanning is achieved using a visible laser beam which, after
reflecting off the bar code symbol in the scan field, produces
laser scan data that is collected for the purpose of automatically
detecting the bar code symbol and subsequently reading (i.e.,
scanning and decoding) the same.
[0140] In general, detected energy reflected from an object during
object detection can be optical radiation or acoustical energy,
either sensible or non-sensible by the user, and may be either
generated from the automatic bar code reading device or an external
ambient source. However, as will be described in greater detail
hereinafter, the provision of such energy is preferably achieved by
transmitting a wide beam of pulsed infrared (IR) light away from
transmission aperture 11, in a direction substantially parallel to
longitudinal axis 16 of the hand-supportable housing. In the
preferred embodiment, the object detection field, from which such
reflected energy is collected, is designed to have a narrowly
diverging pencil-like geometry of three-dimensional volumetric
expanse, which is spatially coincident with at least a portion of
the transmitted infrared light beam. This feature of the present
invention ensures that an object residing within the object
detection field will be illuminated by the infrared light beam, and
that infrared light reflected therefrom will be directed generally
towards the transmission aperture of the housing where it can be
automatically detected to indicate the presence of the object
within the object detection field. In response, a visible laser
beam is automatically generated within the interior of the bar code
symbol reading engine, projected through the light transmission
aperture of the housing and repeatedly scanned across the scan
field, within which at least a portion of the detected object lies.
At least a portion of the scanned laser light beam will be
scattered and reflected off the object and directed back towards
and through light transmissive window 11 for collection and
detection within the interior of the bar code symbol reading
engine, and subsequently processed in a manner which will be
described in detail hereinafter.
[0141] To ensure that the user can quickly align the visible laser
beam with the bar code symbol on the detected object, the object
detection field is designed to spatially encompass at least a
portion of the scan field along the operative scanning range of the
device, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3A, for the first
illustrative embodiment of the present invention. This structural
feature of the present invention provides the user with an
increased degree of control, as once an object is detected, minimal
time will be required by the user to point the visible laser beam
towards the bar code symbol for scanning. In effect, the laser beam
pointing efficiency of the device is markedly improved during the
automatic bar code reading process, as it is significantly easier
for the user to align the laser beam across the bar code symbol
upon object detection.
[0142] As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7F, the automatic bar code symbol
reading engine 18 of the present invention contains a number of
electronic, electro-optical and optical components arranged in a
strategic manner within a miniature housing 85. In the illustrative
embodiment, the miniature housing has match-book size dimensions
(e.g., a width along light transmission window of 1.8", a depth of
1.6", and a height of 0.6") and an interior volume of about 1.7
cubic inches. As shown, housing 85 has an upper portion 85A and a
lower portion 85B. The underside 86 of the upper housing portion
85A functions as an optical bench (i.e., platform) upon which the
majority of optical and electro-optical components of the engine
are mounted. The lower housing portion 85B supports two PC boards
87 and 88 on which the circuits of FIG. 8 are realized using
surface-mount componentry and like technology known in the art. In
order to permit the laser beam produced within housing 85 to exit
the housing and to allow reflected laser light enter the same for
detection, a first light transmission aperture 89 is provided in
the front side panel of the upper housing portion 85A. In order to
permit IR light to exit and enter the housing, a second light
transmission aperture 90 is formed in the front side panel of the
lower housing portion 85B, as shown. To permit flexible wire
harness 21, 28 or 47 (between the bar code symbol reading engine
and the data packet transmission circuit on the PC board) to
interconnect with the circuitry on PC board 88 by way of a
conventional connector 91, an input/output aperture 92 is formed in
the rear side panel of the lower housing portion 60B, as shown.
With PC boards 87 and 88 installed within the interior 93 of the
lower housing portion, as shown in FIG. 7A, the upper housing is
snap-fitted with the lower housing portion 85B by way of tabs 94
that engage against tie interior surfaces of the side panels of the
lower housing portion 85B. Additional details regarding the optical
layout and construction details of the preferred embodiment of bar
code reading engine 18, will be described hereinafter.
[0143] In FIG. 7G, an alternative embodiment of the miniature
automatic bar code symbol reading engine 18' is shown. As
illustrated, this embodiment of the device further includes PC
board 45 (shown in FIG. 5A) mounted between PC boards 87 and 88,
contained within matchbox size housing 60. With data transmission
circuit 121 realized on PC board 45, all that is required to
operate automatic bar code symbol reading engine 18' is a supply of
low voltage D.C. power, which can be provided by attaching a
subminiature battery pack onto the end portion, bottom portion, top
portion, or side portion of the housing 60. The transmitting
antenna 23, connected to PC board 45, is mounted onto the exterior
of housing 60 and the produced output from this embodiment of the
bar code symbol reading engine is a RF carrier signal modulated by
a serial data stream representative of the data packet group
produced by the data packet transmission circuit in response to the
successful reading of a bar code symbol. In alternative embodiments
of the present invention, the battery pack may be physically
incorporated within the interior of the housing modified in
dimensions to accommodate the dimensions of the battery supply, and
battery power recharging circuitry used in recharging the same.
[0144] As shown in FIG. 8, automatic bar code reading engine 18 is
a system comprising a number of cooperating components, namely: a
system override signal detection circuit 100 for detecting the
production of a system override signal and producing in the
presence thereof control activation signal A.sub.0=1; a primary
oscillator circuit 101 for producing a primary clock signal CLK for
use by the system override signal detection circuit and object
detection circuit 107; a first RC timing network 102 for setting
the oscillation frequency of the primary oscillator circuit; means
(e.g., Hall-effect sensor) 103 for producing a system override
signal; first control means 104, realized as a first control
circuit C.sub.1, for performing localized system control functions;
a second RC timing network 105 for setting a timer T.sub.1 in
control circuit C.sub.1; means (e.g., an object sensing circuit 106
and an object detection circuit 107) for producing a first
activation control signal A.sub.1=1 upon the detection of an object
bearing a bar code in at least a portion of the object detection
field; a laser beam scanning mechanism 108 for producing and
scanning a visible laser beam across the bar code symbol on the
detected object:; photoreceiving circuit 109 for detecting laser
light reflected off the scanned bar code symbol and producing an
electrical signal D.sub.1 indicative of the detected intensity; a
analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion circuit 110 for converting
analog scan data signal D.sub.1 into a corresponding digital scan
data signal D.sub.2; a bar code presence detection circuit 111 for
processing digital scan data signal D.sub.2 in order to
automatically detect the digital data pattern of a bar code symbol
on the detected object and produce control activation signal
A.sub.2=1; a third RC timing network 112 for setting a timer
T.sub.BCD in the bar code symbol detection circuit; second control
means 113, realized as a second control circuit C.sub.2, for
performing local system control operations in response to the
detection of the bar code symbol; third control means 114, realized
as third control module C.sub.3; a range selection circuit 115 for
supplying range selection signals to the object detection circuit;
second control circuit C.sub.2 and third control module C.sub.3;
timers T.sub.2, T.sub.3, and T.sub.4 identified by reference
numerals 116, 117 and 118, respectively; a symbol decoding module
119 for processing digital scan data signal D.sub.2 so as to
determine the data represented by the detected bar code symbol,
generate symbol character data representative thereof, and produce
activation control signal A.sub.3 for use by third control module
C.sub.3; a data packet synthesis module 120 for synthesizing a
group of formatted data packets for transmission to its mated base
unit; and a data packet transmission circuit 121 for transmitting
the group of data packets synthesized by the data packet synthesis
module. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, second
control circuit C.sub.2 is capable of "overriding" (i.e., inhibit
and/or enable) first control circuit C.sub.1, whereas third control
module C.sub.3 is capable of overriding first and second control
circuits C.sub.1 and C.sub.2, respectively. As shown in FIG. 8,
such control override signals are carried out by the generation of
control override signals (i.e., C.sub.2/C.sub.1, C.sub.3/C.sub.2
and C.sub.3/C.sub.1) transmitted between respective control
structures. Owing to the unique architecture of the control
subsystem hereof, the automatic bar code symbol reading device of
the present invention is capable of versatile performance and
ultra-low power operation. The structure, function and advantages
of this control subsystem architecture will become apparent
hereinafter.
[0145] As shown in FIG. 8, electrical power is provided to the
components of the bar code reading device by battery power supply
unit (20) contained within the housing of the device. In the
illustrative embodiment, the battery power supply unit is realized
as a power supply distribution circuit 125 fed preferably by
replaceable or rechargeable batteries 126. In the case of
rechargeable batteries, a secondary inductive coil 127, bridge
rectifier 128 and voltage regulation circuit 129 are contained
within the hand-supportable housing, and configured as shown in
FIG. 8. The function of second inductive coil 128 is to establish
an electromagnetic coupling with the primary inductive coil
contained in the base unit associated with the bar code reading
device whenever the device is supported in the recharging portion
of the base unit. In this configuration, electrical power is
inductively transferred from the primary inductive coil in the base
unit to secondary inductive coil 127, rectified by bridge rectifier
128, and filtered by voltage regulation circuit 129 to provide a
regulated DC power supply for recharging rechargeable batteries
126. In addition, an externally accessible ON/OFF power switch 130
or functionally equivalent device is provided in series between
battery supply unit 126 and power distribution circuitry 125 so as
to permit the user to selectively energize and deenergize the
device, as desired or required. Range selection circuit 115 may
include a manual switch externally accessible to the housing, which
the user can depress to select long or short-range modes of object
detection, bar code presence detection and/or bar code symbol
reading. Alternatively, Range Selection Circuit 115 can be
activated to a particular range setting by symbol decoding module
119. In this mode of operation, the range setting can be set by
decoding a bar code symbol predesignated to activate the long or
short range modes of detection, as the case may be.
[0146] In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention,
system override signal detection circuit 100, primary oscillator
circuit 101, object detection circuit 107, first control circuit
C.sub.1, analog-to-digital conversion circuit 110, bar code symbol
detection circuit 111, and second control circuit C.sub.2 are all
realized on a single Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)
chip 133 using microelectronic circuit fabrication techniques known
in the art. In the illustrative embodiment, the ASIC chip and
associated circuits for laser scanning and light detection and
processing functions, are mounted on PC board 87 Symbol decoding
module 119, data packet synthesis module 120, timers T.sub.2,
T.sub.3, T.sub.4, and T5 and third control module C.sub.3 are
realized using a single programmable device, such as a
microprocessor having accessible program and buffer memory, and
external timing circuitry, collectively depicted by reference
numeral 134 in FIG. 8. In the illustrative embodiment, these
components and devices are mounted on PC board 88.
[0147] In the illustrative embodiment, when power switch 130 is
engaged to its ON position, power from battery power unit 126 is
provided to first control circuit C.sub.1, system override
detection circuit 100, primary oscillator circuit 101 and IR object
sensing circuit 106 and object detection circuit 107 so as to
enable their operation, while only biasing voltages are provided to
all other system components so that they are each initially
disabled from operation. In accordance with the principles of the
present invention, the consumption of electrical power to all other
system components occurs under the management of the control
architecture formed by the interaction of distributed control
centers C.sub.1, C.sub.2 and C.sub.3.
[0148] In some embodiments, it is desired to override (i.e.,
disable) the entire system from operation, such as when a
hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device is placed in a
holster worn on the user's belt. In such instances, the bar code
symbol reading device of the present invention can be simply
disabled by activating the system override signal producing device
(e.g., Hall-effect sensor in the presence of a magnetic field) 103
mounted within the hand-supportable housing. As shown in FIG. 8A,
system override signal detection circuit 100 comprises AND gates
136 and 137, an invertor 138, an S-R latch circuit 139 and a
logical driver 140, configured as shown. As illustrated in FIG. 8A,
the clock oscillator signal CLK (i.e., a periodic pulsed signal) is
provided as one input of AND gate 136, one input of AND gate 137,
and the input of logic driver 140. The system override signal SO
from Hall-effect sensor 103 is provided to the input of invertor
138 and the second input of AND gate 136. The output of invertor
138 is provided to the input of AND gate 137. As shown, the output
of AND gate 137 is provided to the RESET input of S-R latch 139,
whereas the output of AND gate 136 is provided to the SET input of
S-R latch 139. The output of S-R latch 139 is activation signal
A.sub.0 provided to first control circuit C.sub.1, whereas the
output of logic driver 140 is the driver signal SO DR which is used
to drive (i.e., provide the supply voltage for) the Hall-effect
sensor 103 mounted within the hand-supportable housing.
[0149] As shown in FIG. 8, primary clock oscillator circuit 101
supplies a periodic pulsed signal to both the system override
signal detection circuit and the object detection circuit. In the
illustrative embodiment, the primary oscillation circuit is
designed to operate at a low frequency (e.g., about 1.0 Khz) and a
very low duty cycle (e.g, about 1.0%). The "ON" time for the system
override signal producing means and the IR object sensing circuit
is proportional to the duty cycle of the primary oscillation
circuit. This feature allows for minimal operating current when the
bar code symbol reading engine is in the object detection mode and
also when the system override signal producing device is activated
(i.e., produces a system override signal).
[0150] As shown in FIG. 8B, primary oscillation circuit 101
comprises a Schmidtt trigger 142, invertors 143 and 144, and a NMOS
Field-Effect Transistor(FET) 145. As shown, the output of trigger
142 is connected to the inputs of both invertors 143 and 144. The
output of invertor 143 produces clock signal CLK which is provided
to system override signal detection circuit 100 and object
detection circuit 107. The primary oscillation circuit is connected
to first RC network 102 which comprises resistors R.sub.1 and
R.sub.2, and capacitor C.sub.1 configured as shown in FIG. 8B. The
function of the RC network 102 is to establish the duty cycle and
the oscillation period of the primary oscillator circuit. As shown,
two time constants (i.e., loads) are established by the network
using capacitor C.sub.1 and resistors R.sub.1 and R.sub.2. The RC
combination of R.sub.1 and C.sub.1 establishes the period of the
oscillator. The ratio of the R.sub.2 to R.sub.1 provides the duty
cycle of the oscillator. The value of R.sub.2 is approximately 100
times smaller than R.sub.1 to establish a 1.0% duty cycle. As shown
in the timing diagram of FIG. 8C, the clock signal CLK remains low
while the V.sub.1 1 signal ramps up. This ramp up time is the time
it takes for the capacitor C.sub.1 to charge through R.sub.1. The
clock signal CLK then goes HIGH for the shorter discharge time of
the capacitor through R.sub.2. By adjusting the duty cycle (i.e.,
increasing or decreasing the value of resistor R.sub.2), the
sensitivity of the object detection circuit can be tuned such that
it activates consistently at a specified distance from the light
transmission window of the bar code symbol reading device.
[0151] In accordance with the present invention, the purpose of
object detection circuit 107 is to produce a first control
activation signal A.sub.1=1 upon determining that an object (e.g.,
product, document, etc.) is present within the object detection
field of the bar code symbol reading device, and thus at least a
portion of the scan field thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the
object detection circuit is activated (i.e., enabled) by enabling
signal E.sub.0 supplied from first control circuit C.sub.1, and the
object detection circuit provides the first control circuit C.sub.1
with first control activation signal A.sub.1=1 when an object
residing in the scan field is detected. In the illustrative
embodiment, an "active" technique of automatic object detection is
employed, although it is understood that "passive" techniques may
be used with acceptable results. As shown in FIG. 8, the object
detection means of the system comprises two major subcomponents,
namely object sensing circuit 106 and object detection circuit 107,
both of which are locally controlled by control circuit C.sub.1. In
the illustrative embodiment, object sensing circuit comprises an IR
LED 148 driven by an IR transmitter drive circuit 149, and an IR
phototransistor (or photodiode) 150 activated by an IR receive
biasing circuit 151. As shown in FIGS. 7D and 7F, these components
are arranged and mounted on PC board 87 so as to provide an object
detection field that spatially encompasses the laser scanning
plane, as described above. As shown in FIG. 8, the object detection
circuit 107 produces an enable signal IR DR which is provided to
the IR transmitter drive circuit 149. The signal produced from IR
phototransistor 151, identified as IR REC, is provided as input
signal to the object detection circuit 107 for signal processing in
a manner which will be described in detail below. In the
illustrative embodiment, infrared LED 148 generates a 900 nanometer
signal that is pulsed at the rate of the primary oscillation
circuit 101 (e.g., 1.0 KHZ) when the object detection circuit is
enabled by enable signal E.sub.0 produced from the first control
circuit C.sub.1. Preferably, the duty cycle of the primary
oscillation circuit 101 is less than 1.0% in order to keep the
average current consumption very low.
[0152] As shown in FIG. 7F, in particular, this pulsed optical
signal is transmitted from infrared LED 148 to broadly illuminate
the scan field. When an object is present within the object
detection portion of the scan field, a reflected optical pulse
signal is produced and focussed through focusing lens 153 onto
photodiode 150. The function of photodiode 150 is to receive (i.e.,
sense) the reflected optical pulse signal and, in response thereto,
produce a current signal IR REC.
[0153] As shown in FIG. 8D, produced current signal IR REC is
provided as input to the current-to-voltage amplifier (e.g.,
transconductance amplifier) 155 in the object detection circuit,
and is converted into a voltage signal Vo. Within the object
detection circuit 107, the infra-red LED drive signal IR DR is
produced as the output of AND gate 157, whose inputs are enabling
signal E.sub.0 supplied from the first control circuit C.sub.1 and
the pulsed clock signal CLK supplied from the primary oscillation
circuit 101.
[0154] As shown in FIG. 8D, enabling signal E.sub.0 is also
provided to current-to-voltage amplifier circuit 155, and the
output voltage signal from AND gate 157 is provided as the second
input to the synchronous transmitter/receiver circuit 156. Notably,
the output voltage signal from AND gate 157 and the output voltage
signal V.sub.0 from the current-to-voltage amplifier correspond to
the IR pulse signal trains transmitted from and received by object
sensing circuit 106. The function of the synchronous
transmitter/receiver circuit is to cyclically compare the output
voltage signal from AND gate 157 and the output voltage signal
V.sub.0 from the current-to-voltage amplifier, and if these voltage
signals synchronously match each other for a minimum of three (3)
consecutive cycles of the primary oscillation circuit 101, then
synchronous transmitter/receiver circuit 156 produces as output, a
first control activation signal A.sub.1=1, indicative that an
object is present in the scan field of the bar code symbol reading
device. Conversely, whenever first control activation signal
A.sub.1=0 is produced, then this condition indicates that an object
is not present in the scan field.
[0155] Alternatively, the automatic bar code reading device of the
present invention can be readily adapted to sense ultrasonic energy
reflected off an object present within the scan field. In such an
alternative embodiment, object sensing circuit 106 is realized as
an ultrasonic energy transmitting/receiving mechanism In the
housing of the bar code reading engine, ultrasonic energy is
generated and transmitted forwardly into the scan field. Then,
ultrasonic energy reflected off an object within the object
detection field is detected adjacent to the transmission window
using an ultrasonic energy detector that produces an analog
electrical signal (i.e., UE REC) indicative of the detected
intensity of received ultrasonic energy. Preferably, a focusing
element is disposed in front of the energy detector in order to
effectively maximize the collection of ultrasonic energy reflected
off objects in the scan field. In such instances, the focusing
element essentially determines the geometrical characteristics of
the object detection field of the device. Consequently, the energy
focusing (i.e., collecting) characteristics of the focusing element
will be selected to provide an object detection field which
spatially encompasses at least a portion of the scan field. The
electrical signal produced from the ultrasonic-energy based object
sensing circuit is provided to object detection circuit 107 for
processing in the manner described above. In the illustrative
embodiments, object detection circuit 107 is provided with two
different modes of detection, namely, a long-range mode of object
detection and a short-range mode of object detection. As shown in
FIGS. 8 and 8D, these modes are set by range selection circuit 115
using mode enable signal R.sub.1. When induced into the long-range
mode of object detection, object detection circuit 107 will
generate first control activation signal A. sub.1=1 whenever an
object has been detected within the operative range of the object
detection field, independent of the particular distance at which
the object resides from the transmissive window. When induced into
the short-range mode of object detection, the object detection
circuit will generate first activation control signal A.sub.1=1
only when an object is detected at a distance within the
short-range of the object detection field.
[0156] As schematically indicated in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the long-range
specification for object detection is preferably preselected to be
the full or entire range of sensitivity provided by
current-to-voltage amplifier (e.g., 0 to about 10 inches).
Preferably, the short-range specification for object detection is
preselected to be the reduced range of sensitivity provided by the
IR sensing circuit when mode enable signal E.sub.IRT=1 is provided
to the desensitization port of amplifier 155. In the illustrated
embodiment, the short-range of object detection is about 0 to about
3 inches or so to provide CCD-like scanner emulation. As will
become apparent hereinafter, the inherently limited depth and width
of field associated with the short-range mode of object detection
prevents laser scanning mechanism 108 from flooding the scan field
with laser scanning light and thus inadvertently detecting
undesired bar code symbols. Particular uses to which object
detection range selection can be put, will be described in greater
detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 27A to 29B in
particular.
[0157] As shown in FIG. 8D, the sensitivity (i.e., gain) of
current-to-voltage amplifier 155 is controlled by a sensitivity
control signal E.sub.IRT produced from range control signal
generating circuit 158. In the illustrative embodiment, the
sensitivity control signal E.sub.IRT 160 is produced by a
resistance network whose values are selected using an analog switch
that is responsive to a range select signal R.sub.1 produced by
range selection circuit 115. As such, the sensitivity of the
current-to-voltage amplifier is simply adjusted by selecting one of
two resistance values within the resistance network used to realize
range control signal generating circuit 158. The short range mode
of object detection is enabled by selecting a resistance value that
produces an amplifier gain that is lower than that produced during
the long-range mode of object detection where detectable objects
can reside further away from the light transmission window of the
bar code symbol reading device.
[0158] In general, first control logic block C.sub.1 provides the
first level of system control. This control circuit activates the
object detection circuit 107 by generating enable signal E.sub.0=1,
it activates laser beam scanning circuit 108, photoreceiving
circuit 109 and A/D conversion circuit 110 by generating enable
signal E.sub.1=1, and it activates bar code symbol detection
circuit 111 by generating enable signal E.sub.2=1. In addition, the
first control circuit C.sub.1 provides control lines and signals in
order to control these functions, and provides a system override
function for the low power standby mode of the bar code symbol
reading engine. In the illustrative embodiment, the specific
operation of first control circuit C.sub.1 is dependent on the
state of several sets of input signals (i.e., activation control
signal A.sub.0 and A.sub.1, and override signals C.sub.2/C.sub.1,
C.sub.3/C.sub.1-1 and C.sub.3/C.sub.1-2) and an internally
generated digital timer signal B. A preferred logic implementation
of the first control circuit C.sub.1 is set forth in FIGS. 8E and
8F. The functional dependencies among the digital signals in this
circuit are represented by the Boolean logic expressions set forth
in the Table of FIG. 8G, and therefore are sufficient to uniquely
characterize the operation of first control circuit C.sub.1. As
shown in FIG. 8E, first control circuit comprises a pair of logic
invertors 161 and 162, an OR gate 163, a NAND gate 164, a NOR gate
165, an AND gate 166, and a digital timer circuit 167 which
produces as output, a digital output signal B. As shown, digital
timer circuit 167 comprises a flip-flop circuit 170, a NOR gate
171, a clock divide circuit 173, a comparator (i.e., differential)
amplifier 172, and a NPN transistor 174. As illustrated, activation
control signal A.sub.1 is provided to the CLK input of flip-flop
170 by way of invertor 161. The QNOT output of the flip-flop is
provided as one input to NOR gate 171, whereas the other input
thereof is connected to the CLK input of clock divide circuit 173
and the output of comparator amplifier 172. The output of the NOR
gate is connected to the base of transistor 174, while the emitter
thereof is connected to electrical ground and the collector is
connected to the negative input of comparator amplifier 172 as well
as the second timing network 105, in a manner similar to the
interconnection of first timing network 102 to primary oscillation
circuit 101. Also, the divided clock output (i.e., CLK/2048)
produced from clock divide circuit 173 is provided to the CL input
of flip-flop 170. As shown, the Q output of flip-flop 170 is
connected to the reset (RST) input of the clock divide circuit 173
as well as to one input of OR gate 163, one input of NOR gate 165,
and one input of AND gate 166. Notably, the Q output of the
flip-flop is the digital output signal B indicated in each of the
Boolean expressions set forth in the Table of FIG. 8G.
[0159] As shown in FIG. 8E, enable signal A.sub.0 from the system
override signal detection circuit 100 is provided as the second
input to OR gate 163, and the output thereof is provided as input
to NAND gate 164. The override signal C.sub.2/C.sub.1 from second
control circuit C.sub.2 is provided as the input to invertor 162,
whereas the output thereof is provided as the second input to AND
gate 166. The override signal C.sub.3/C.sub.1-1 from third control
module C.sub.3 is provided as the second input to NAND gate 164,
whereas the output thereof produces enable signal E.sub.0 for
activating the object detection circuit 107. The override signal
C.sub.3/C.sub.1-2 is provided to the second input to NOR gate 165,
whereas the output thereof produces enable signal E.sub.1 for
activating laser scanning and photoreceiving circuits 108 and 109
and A/D conversion circuit 110. The output of AND gate 166 produces
enable signal E.sub.2 for activating bar code symbol detection
circuit 111.
[0160] Referring to FIG. 8E, the operation of digital timer circuit
will be described. The output voltage of comparator amplifier 172
keeps transistor 174 in its non-conducting state (i.e., OFF), via
NOR gate 171, thus allowing the external RC network 105 to charge
to capacity. When comparator input voltage vx exceeds reference
voltage VCC/2, the comparator output voltage biases (i.e., switches
ON) transistor 174 so as to begin discharging the RC timing network
105, until input voltage vx falls below reference voltage VCC/2
upon which the process repeats, thus generating a digital clock
oscillation at the comparator output. The timing cycle of digital
output signal B is initiated by a transition on the activation
control signal A.sub.1 which toggles flip-flop 170. This toggling
action sets the digital output signal B to its logical HIGH state,
resetting clock divide circuit 173 and starting the digital clock
oscillator described above by toggling the Q output of flip-flop
170. As shown in FIG. 8F, clock divide circuit 173 is constructed
by cascading eleven flip-flop circuits together in a conventional
manner. Each stage of the clock divider circuit divides the input
clock signal frequency by the factor 2. Thus the clock divider
circuit provides an overall division factor of 2048. When the clock
output CLK/2048 toggles, the flip-flop circuit is cleared thus
setting the digital signal B to logical LOW until the next pulse of
the activation control signal A.sub.1.
[0161] As reflected in the Boolean expressions of FIG. 8G, the
state of each of the enable signals E.sub.0 , E.sub.1 and E.sub.2
produced by the first control circuit C.sub.1 is dependent on
whether the bar code symbol reading system is in its override state
of operation. To better understand the operation of control circuit
C.sub.1, it is helpful to consider a few control strategies
preformed thereby.
[0162] In the override state of operation of the system, enable
signal E.sub.0 can be unconditionally set to E.sub.0=0 by the third
control circuit C.sub.3 setting override signal C.sub.3/C.sub.1=0.
Under such conditions, the object detection circuit is enabled.
Also, when the system override signal detection circuit is
activated (i.e., A.sub.0=1) or the laser scanning and
photoreceiving circuits activated (i.e., B=1) and override signal
C.sub.3/C.sub.1-1=1, then enable signal E.sub.0=1 and therefore the
object detection circuit is automatically deactivated. The
advantage of this control strategy is that it is generally not
desirable to have both the laser scanning circuit 108 and
photoreceiving circuit 109 and the object sensing circuit 105
active at the same time, as the wavelength of the infrared LED 148
typically falls within the optical input spectrum of the
photoreceiving circuit 109. In addition, less power is consumed
when the object detection circuit 107 is inactive (i.e.,
disabled).
[0163] As illustrated in FIG. 8, laser scanning circuit 108
comprises a light source 177 which, in general, may be any source
of intense light suitably selected for maximizing the reflectivity
from the object bearing a bar code symbol. In the preferred
embodiment, light source 177 comprises a solid-state visible laser
diode (VLD) which is driven by a conventional driver circuit 178.
In the illustrative embodiment, the wavelength of visible laser
light produced from the laser diode is preferably about 670
nanometers. In order to repeatedly scan the produced laser beam
over the scan field (having a predetermined spatial extent in front
the light transmission window), a planar scanning mirror 179 is
rapidly oscillated back and forth by a flipper or stepper motor 180
driven by a conventional driver circuit 181, as shown. A.
stationary mirror 182 is mounted on the underside of housing
portion 85A along an optical path between laser diode 177 and
planar mirror 179, in order to direct the laser beam from the laser
diode to the oscillating planar mirror 179. To selectively activate
both laser light source 177 and motor 180, laser diode and scanning
motor enable signal E.sub.1 is provided as input to driver circuits
178 and 181. When enable signal E.sub.1 is a logical "high" level
(i.e., E.sub.1=1) a laser beam is generated and projected through
the light transmissive window, when the projected laser beam is
repeatedly scanned across the scan field, and an optical scan data
signal is thereby produced off the object (and bar code) residing
within the scan field. When laser diode and scanning motor enable
signal E.sub.1 is a logical "low" (i.e., E.sub.1=0), there is no
laser beam produced, projected, or scanned across the scan
field.
[0164] When a bar code symbol is present on the detected object at
the time of scanning, the user visually aligns the visible laser
beam across the bar code symbol and incident laser light on the bar
code will be scattered and reflected. This scattering/reflection
process produces a laser light return signal of variable intensity
which represents a spatial variation of light reflectivity
characteristic of the pattern of bars and spaces comprising the bar
code symbol. Photoreceiving circuit 109 detects at least a portion
of the reflected laser light of variable intensity and produces an
analog scan data signal D. sub.1 indicative of the detected light
intensity. In the illustrative embodiment, photoreceiving circuit
109 generally comprises a number of components, namely: laser light
collection optics (i.e., planar mirror 179 and focusing lens 184)
for focusing reflected laser light for subsequent detection; a
photoreceiver 185 (e.g., a silicon photosensor) mounted onto PC
board 87, as shown in FIG. 7F, for detecting laser light focused by
the light collection optics; and a frequency selective filter 186A,
mounted in front of photoreceiver 185, for transmitting thereto
only optical radiation having wavelengths up to a small band above
670 nanometers.
[0165] In order to prevent optical radiation slightly below 670
nanometers from passing through light transmission aperture 110 and
entering the housing, a light transmissive window realized as a
plastic filter lens 186B is installed over the light transmission
aperture of the housing. This plastic filter lens has optical
characteristics which transmit only optical radiation from slightly
below 670 nanometers. In this way, the combination of plastic
filter lens 186B at the transmission aperture and frequency
selective filter 186A before photoreceiver 185 cooperate to form a
narrow band-pass optical filter having a center frequency
f.sub.c=670 nanometers. By permitting only optical radiation
associated with the visible laser beam to enter the housing, this
optical arrangement provides improved signal-to-noise ratio for
detected scan data signals D.sub.1.
[0166] In response to reflected laser light focused onto
photoreceiver 185, photoreceiver 185 produces an analog electrical
signal which is proportional to the intensity of the detected laser
light. This analog signal is subsequently amplified by preamplifier
187 to produce analog scan data signal D.sub.1. In short, laser
scanning circuit 108 and photoreceiving circuit 109 cooperate to
generate analog scan data signals D.sub.1 from the scan field, over
time intervals specified by first control circuit C.sub.1 during
normal modes of operation, and by third control module C.sub.3
during "control override" modes of operation.
[0167] As illustrated in FIG. 8, analog scan data signal D.sub.1 is
provided as input to A/D conversion circuit 110, shown in FIG. 8H.
In a manner well known in the art, A/D conversion circuit 110
processes analog scan data signal D.sub.1 to provide a digital scan
data signal D.sub.2 which has a waveform that resembles a pulse
width modulated signal, where logical "1" signal levels represent
spaces of the scanned bar code and logical "0" signal levels
represent bars of the scanned bar code. A/D conversion circuit 110
can be realized using any conventional A/D conversion techniques
well known in the art. Digitized scan data signal D.sub.2 is then
provided as input to bar code presence detection circuit 111 and
symbol decoding module 119 for use in performing particular
functions required during the bar code symbol reading process of
the present invention.
[0168] The primary purpose of bar code presence detection circuit
111 is to determine whether a bar code is present in or absent from
the scan field, over time intervals specified by first control
circuit C.sub.1 during normal modes of operation and by third
control module C.sub.3 during control override modes of operation.
In the illustrative embodiment, bar code presence detection circuit
111 indirectly detects the presence of a bar code in the scan field
by detecting its bar code symbol "envelope". In the illustrative
embodiment, a bar code symbol envelope is deemed present in the
scan field upon detecting a corresponding digital pulse sequence in
digital signal D.sub.2 that A/D conversion circuit 110 produces
when photoreceiving circuit 109 detects laser light reflected off a
bar code symbol scanned by the laser beam produced by laser beam
scanning circuit 108. This digital pulse sequence detection process
is achieved by counting the number of digital pulse transitions
(i.e., falling pulse edges) that occur in digital scan data signal
D.sub.2 within a predetermined time period T.sub.1 clocked by the
bar code symbol detection circuit. According to the laws of physics
governing the laser scanning operation, the number of digital
(pulse-width modulated) pulses detectable at photoreceiver 185
during time period T.sub.1 is a function of the distance of the bar
code from the light transmission window 111 at the time of
scanning. Thus a bar code symbol scanned at 6" from the light
transmission window will produce a larger number of digital pulses
(i.e., digital count) at photoreceiver 185 during time period
T.sub.1 than will the same bar code symbol scanned at 3" from the
light transmission window.
[0169] In the illustrative embodiment, the bar code symbol
detection circuit 111 is provided with the capacity to detect the
presence of a bar code symbol in either the long or short range
portions of the scan field, as specified in FIGS. 3 and 3A. This is
achieved by counting the digital pulse transitions present in
digital scan signal D.sub.2 within predetermined time period
T.sub.1 and producing second control activation signal A.sub.2S
(i.e., A.sub.2S=1) when the counted number of pulse transitions
equals or exceeds a first prespecified digital pulse transition
count corresponding to a bar code symbol scanned in the short range
portion of the scan field., and producing second control activation
signal A.sub.2L (i.e., A.sub.2L=1) when the counted number of pulse
transitions equals or exceeds a second prespecified digital pulse
transition count corresponding to a bar code symbol scanned in the
long range portion of the scan field. As shown in FIG. 8, both of
these second control activation signals A.sub.2L and A.sub.2S are
produced and provided as input to second control circuit C.sub.2.
However, second control circuit C.sub.2 selectively provides (e.g.,
gates) the second control activation signal that corresponds to
range-mode of operation selected by the user. When the long range
mode of operation has been selected by range selection circuit 115,
the device will automatically undergo a transition from bar code
presence detection state to bar code symbol reading state upon
receiving control activation signal A.sub.2L=1. Similarly, when the
short range mode of operation has been selected by the range
selection circuit 115, the device will automatically undergo a
transition from bar code presence detection state to bar code
symbol reading state upon receiving control activation signal
A.sub.2S=1.
[0170] In the illustrative embodiment, bar code symbol presence
detection circuit 111 comprises a digital pulse transition counter
190 for counting digital pulse transitions during time period
T.sub.1 and a digital clock circuit (i.e., T.sub.BCD circuit) 191
for measuring (i.e., counting) time period T.sub.BCD and producing
a count reset signal CNT RESET at the end of each such time period,
as shown in FIG. 8K. As shown in FIG. 8K, the function of digital
clock circuit 191 is to provide a time period T.sub.BCD (i.e., time
window subdivision) within which the bar code symbol detection
circuit attempts, repeatedly during time period T.sub.1, to detect
a bar code symbol in the scan field. In the preferred embodiment,
T.sub.BCD is about 0.1 seconds, whereas T.sub.1 is about 1.0
second. As shown in FIG. 8I, in order to establish such "bar code
search" time subintervals within time period T.sub.1, the digital
clock circuit 191 generates the first count reset pulse signal CNT
RESET upon the detection of the first pulse transition in digital
scan data signal D.sub.2. The effect of this reset signal is to
clear or reset the digital pulse transition (falling edge) counter.
Then at the end of each time subinterval T.sub.BCD, digital clock
signal 191 generates another count reset pulse CNT RESET to reset
the digital pulse transition counter. If during time window
T.sub.1, a sufficient number of pulse transitions in signal D.sub.2
are counted over a subinterval T.sub.BCD, then either control
activation signal A.sub.2L or A.sub.2S will be set to "1". In
response to the detection of this condition, second control circuit
C.sub.2 automatically enables control activation C.sub.3 in order
to initiate a transition from the bar code symbol detection state
of operation to the bar code symbol reading state of operation.
[0171] As shown in FIG. 8I, digital pulse transition counter 191 is
formed by wiring together a series of four flip-flop circuits 192
to 195, such that each flip flop divides the clock signal frequency
of the previous stage by a factor of 2. As indicated in the drawing
of FIG. 8I, the Q output of flip flops 192 to 194 represent the
binary digits 2, 4, 8, and 16 respectively, of a binary number
(i.e., counting) system. As shown, enable signal E.sub.2 from first
control circuit C.sub.1 is provided as input to NOR gate 197, while
the second input thereto is the counter reset signal CNT RESET
provided from the digital counter circuit 191. In order to reset or
clear the pulse transition counter circuit 190 upon the generation
of each CNT RESET pulse, the output of the NOR gate 197 is
connected to the clear line (CL) of each flip flop 192 to 195, as
shown.
[0172] As illustrated in FIG. 81, digital clock circuit 191
comprises a flip-flop circuit 198, a NOR gate 199, a clock divide
circuit 200, a comparator 201, and a NPN transistor 202. As
illustrated, digital scan data signal D.sub.2 is directly provided
to the CLK input of flip-flop 198. The QNOT output of the flip-flop
is provided as one input to NOR gate 199, whereas the Q output
thereof is connected to the CLK input of clock divide circuit 200
and the second input of NOR gate 197. The other input of NOR gate
199 is connected to the input line CLK of clock divide circuit 200
and to the output of comparator 201, as shown. The output of the
NOR gate is connected to the base of transistor 202, while the
emitter thereof is connected to electrical ground and the collector
is connected to the negative input of comparator 201 as well as to
the third timing network 112, in a manner similar to the
interconnection of the first timing network 102 to primary
oscillation circuit 101. As shown in FIG. 8J, clock divide circuit
200 is realized as series of five flip-flops 200A to 200E wired
together so as to divide digital clock input signal CLOCK by 32,
and be resettable by pulsing reset line RESET in a conventional
manner.
[0173] When an object is detected in the scan field, first control
circuit C.sub.1 produces enable signal E.sub.2=1 so as to enable
digital pulse transition counter 190 for a time duration of
T.sub.1. As shown, the digital scan data signal D.sub.2
(representing the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code) drives
the clock line of first flip flop 192, as well as the clock line of
flip flop 198 in the T.sub.BCD timer circuit. The first pulse
transition in digital scan data signal D.sub.2 starts digital timer
circuit 191. The production of each count reset pulse CNT RESET
from digital timer circuit 191 automatically clears the digital
pulse transition counter circuit 190, resetting it once again to
count the number of pulse transitions present in the incoming
digital scan data signal D.sub.2 over a new time subinterval
T.sub.BCD. The Q output corresponding to eight pulse transitions
counted during time period T.sub.BCD, provides control activation
signal A.sub.2S for use during the short range mode of operation.
The Q output corresponding to sixteen pulse transitions counted
during time period T.sub.BCD, provides control activation signal
A.sub.2L for use during the long range mode of operation. When the
presence of a bar code in the scan field is detected, second
activation control signal A.sub.L2 or A.sub.2S is generated, third
control circuit C.sub.3 is activated and second control circuit
C.sub.2 is overridden by third control circuit C.sub.3 through the
transmission of control override signals (i.e., C.sub.3/C.sub.2
inhibit and C.sub.3/C.sub.1 enable signals) from the third control
circuit C.sub.3.
[0174] As illustrated in FIG. 8L, second control circuit C.sub.2 is
realized using logic circuitry consisting of NAND gates 205 to 208,
invertors 209 and 210, NOR gates 211 to 213, NAND gates 214 and
215, AND gate 216, configured together as shown. As shown, second
control activation signals A.sub.2S and A.sub.2L are provided to
the first inputs of NAND gates 214 and 215, respectively, whereas
the outputs of NOR gates 211 and 212 are provided to the second
inputs of NAND gates 214 and 215 respectively. The outputs of NAND
gates 214 and 215 are provided to the inputs of AND gate 216 and
the output thereof provides enable signal E.sub.3 for enabling
third control module C.sub.3.
[0175] As shown in FIG. 8L, the third control module C.sub.3
provides override signals C.sub.3/C.sub.2-1 and C.sub.3/C.sub.2-2
to the first and second inputs of NAND gate 205 and to the first
input of NAND gate 207 and the first input of NAND gate 208,
respectively. The range selection signal R produced from range
selection circuit 115 is provided as input to NAND gate 206. As
shown, output of NAND gate 205 is provided as the second input to
NAND gate 206. The output of NAND gate 206 is provided as the
second input to NAND gate 207 and the second input to NAND gate
208. As shown in FIG. 8L, the output of NAND gate 207 is provided
as an input to NOR gate 211 and invertor 209, whereas the output of
NAND gate 208 is provided as inputs to NOR gates 211 and 212 and
invertor 210. The output of invertor 209 is provided as the other
input to NOR gate 212 and one input to NOR gate 213. The output of
invertor 210 is provided as another input to NOR gate 213, whereas
the output thereof provides control override signal
C.sub.2/C.sub.1. So configured, the combinational logic of the
second control circuit C.sub.2 maps its input signals to its output
signals in accordance with the logic table of FIG. 8M. Upon
entering the bar code symbol reading state, third control module
C.sub.3 provides override control signal C.sub.3/C.sub.1 to first
control circuit C.sub.1 and second control circuit C.sub.2. In
response to control signal C.sub.3/C.sub.1, the first control
circuit C.sub.1 produces enable signal E.sub.1=1 which enables
scanning circuit, 109 photoreceiving circuit 109 and A/D conversion
circuit 110. In response to control signal C.sub.3/C.sub.2, the
second control circuit C.sub.2 produces enable signal E.sub.2=0,
which disables bar code symbol detector circuit 111. Thereafter,
third control module C.sub.3 produces enable signal E.sub.4 to
enable symbol decoding module 119. In response to the production of
such signals, the symbol decoding module decode processes, scan
line by scan line, the stream of digitized scan data contained in
signal D.sub.2 in an attempt to decode the detected bar code symbol
within the second predetermined time period T.sub.2 established and
monitored by the third control module C.sub.3. If the symbol
decoding module 119 successfully decodes the detected bar code
symbol within time period T.sub.2, then symbol character data
D.sub.3 (representative of the decoded bar code symbol and
typically in ASCII code format) is produced. Thereupon symbol
decoding module 119 produces and provides the third control
activation signal A.sub.3 to the third control module C.sub.3 in
order to induce a transition from the bar code symbol reading state
to the data packet transmission state. In response thereto, a two
distinct events occur. First the third control module C.sub.3
produces and provides enable signal E.sub.5 to data packet
synthesis module 120. Secondly, symbol decoding module 119 stores
symbol character data D.sub.3 in a memory buffer associated with
data packet synthesis module 120.
[0176] In the illustrated embodiment, symbol decoding module 119,
data packet synthesis module 120, and timers T.sub.2, T.sub.3,
T.sub.4 and T5 are each realized using programmed microprocessor
and accessible memory 134. Similarly, third control module C.sub.3
and the control functions which it performs at Blocks I to GG in
FIGS. 13A and 13C, are realized as a programming implementation
using techniques well known in the art.
[0177] The function of data packet synthesis module 120 is to use
the produced symbol character data to synthesize a group of data
packets for subsequent transmission to its mated base unit by way
of data packet transmission circuit 121.
[0178] In the illustrative embodiment, each synthesized data packet
is formatted as shown in FIG. 8N. In particular, each data packet
in each data packet group comprises a number of data fields,
namely: Start of Packet Field 220 for containing a digital code
indicating the beginning of the transmitted data packet;
Transmitter Identification Number Field 221 for containing a
digital code representative of the Transmitting Bar Code Symbol
Reader; Data Packet Group Number Field 222 for containing a digital
code (i.e., a first module number) assigned to each particular data
packet group being transmitted; Data Packet Transmission No. Field
223 for containing a digital code (i.e., a second module number)
assigned to each data packet in each data packet group being
transmitted; Symbol Character Data Field 224 for containing digital
code representative of the symbol character data being transmitted
to the base unit; Error Correction Code Field 225 for containing a
digital error correction code for use by the receiving base unit to
determine if error in data packet transmission has occurred; and
End of Packet Field for 226 for containing a digital code
indicating the end of the transmitted data packet.
[0179] After the data packet synthesis module synthesizes a group
of data packets as described above, the third control module
C.sub.3 provides enable signal E.sub.7 to data packet transmission
circuit 121. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the data packet transmission
circuit comprises a carrier signal generation circuit 230, a
carrier signal frequency modulation circuit 231, a power amplifier
232, a matching filter 233, and a quarterwave (.lambda./4)
transmitting antenna element 234. The function of the carrier
signal generation circuit 230 is to generate a carrier signal
having a frequency in the RF region of the electromagnetic
spectrum. In the illustrative embodiment, the carrier frequency is
about 912 Mhz, although it is understood that this frequency may
vary from one embodiment of the present invention, to another
embodiment thereof. As the carrier signal is being transmitted from
transmitting antenna 234, frequency modulation circuitry 231
modulates the instantaneous frequency of the carrier signal using
the digital data sequence (i.e., digital data stream) 235
constituting the group of data packets synthesized by the data
packet synthesis module 120. The function of the power amplifier is
to amplify the power of the transmitted modulated carrier signal so
that it may be received by a base unit of the present invention
located within a predetermined data transmission range (e.g., from
about 0 to about 30 feet), illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 5A, and 6D,
in particular.
[0180] In general, each base unit of the present invention performs
a number of functions. First, the base unit receives the modulated
carrier signal transmitted from a hand-supportable bar code symbol
reading device within the data reception range of the base unit.
Secondly, the base unit demodulates the received carrier signal to
recover the data packet modulated thereunto during signal
transmission. Thirdly, the base unit analyzes each of the recovered
data packets to determine whether the received carrier signal was
transmitted from a hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device
preassigned to the receiving base unit. Fourthly, the base unit
recovers the symbol character data from at least one data packet in
a transmitted group of data packets, and ascertaining the
reliability of the recovered symbol character data. Fifthly, the
base unit generates an acoustical acknowledgement signal S.sub.ACK
that can be audibly perceived by the operator of the transmitting
bar code symbol reading device while located in the data reception
range of the base unit. Finally, the base unit transmits the
received symbol character data to a host computer system or like
device. Each of these functions will be described in greater detail
during the detailed description of the Main System Control Routine
set forth in FIGS. 13A to 13C.
[0181] In order to better understand the functions performed by the
bar code symbol reading device and base unit of the present
invention, it will be helpful to first describe the principles
underlying the data communication method of the present invention,
and thereafter discuss the role that the base unit plays in
carrying out this communication method.
[0182] In a typical application of the present invention, a
(resultant) system of bar code symbol reading subsystems are
installed in physical proximity with each other. Typically each
system is a point of sale (POS) station including a host computer
system interfaced with a base unit of the present invention and an
automatic hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device
preassigned to one of the base units. To register (i.e., associate)
each bar code symbol reading device with a preassigned base unit,
each bar code symbol reading device is preassigned a unique
"Transmitter Identification Code" which is stored in a memory in
the assigned base unit during a set-up procedure. In the
illustrative embodiment, the carrier frequency of the data packet
transmitter in each bar code symbol reading device is substantially
the same for all bar code symbol reading devices in the resultant
system. Also, the data packet transmission range of each bar code
symbol reading device will be substantially greater than the
distance between each bar code symbol reading device and a
neighboring base unit to which the bar code symbol reading unit is
not assigned. Consequently, under such operating conditions, at any
instance in time, any base station in the resultant system may
simultaneously receive two or more packet modulated carrier signals
which have been transmitted from two or more bar code symbol
reading devices being used in the resultant system. These bar code
symbol reading devices may include the bar code symbol reading
device preassigned to the particular base unit as well as
neighboring bar code symbol reading devices. Thus due to the
principles of data packet transmission of present invention, there
exists the possibility that any particular base unit may
simultaneously receive two or more different data packets at any
instant in time, thereby creating a "packet interferences"
situation.
[0183] In order to ensure that each base unit in the resultant
system is capable of receiving at least one data packet from a data
packet group transmitted by its preassigned bar code symbol reading
device (i.e., without risk of interference from neighboring bar
code symbol reading device transmitters), the unique "data packet
group" transmission scheme shown in FIG. 10 is employed. As shown,
upon the successful reading of a first bar code symbol and the
production of its symbol character data D.sub.3, data packet
synthesis module 120 aboard the bar code symbol reading device
automatically produces a first (i.e., N=1) group of (three) data
packets, each having the packet format shown in FIG. 9. Thereafter,
the data packet transmission circuit 121 uses the digital data bit
stream, representative of the synthesized data packet group, to
modulate a carrier signal transmitted from the hand-supportable bar
code symbol reading device.
[0184] In the illustrative example shown FIG. 10, only the second
and third data packets of the group sent over the modulated carrier
signal are shown as being received by the preassigned base unit. As
shown in this drawing, the base unit transmits the recovered symbol
character data D.sub.3 to its host computer system, upon receiving
the second data packet in the transmitted group of data packets.
Thereafter, the base unit produces an acoustical acknowledgement
signal S.sub.ACK of sufficient intensity that it can be easily
heard by the operator of the bar code symbol reading device that
transmitted the received data packet. The function of the
acoustical acknowledgment signal is to provide the operator with an
audible acknowledgement that the symbol character data D.sub.3
(associated with the recently read bar code symbol) has been
received by the base unit and transmitted to its host computer
system for processing and or subsequent storage. Notably, while the
third data packet N.sub.3 is also received by the base unit, the
available acknowledgement signal S.sub.ACK and symbol character
data transmission is not produced as packet N.sub.3 contains
redundant information already received by the second packet N.sub.2
of the same group.
[0185] In the preferred embodiment, the pitch of the transmitted
acoustical acknowledgement signal S.sub.ACK is uniquely specified
and assigned to a particular bar code symbol reading unit. This way
the operator of each bar code symbol reading (sub)system can easily
recognize (i.e., discern) the audible acoustical acknowledgement
signal produced from the base unit preassigned to his or her bar
code symbol reading device. At the same time, this pitch assignment
scheme allows each operator to ignore audible acoustical
acknowledgment signals produced from neighboring base units not
mated with his or her portable bar code symbol reading device. If
after reading a bar code symbol, the operator does not see the
visual "good read" indication light on its device "flash" or
"blink" and immediately thereafter hear its preassigned acoustical
acknowledgement signal emanate from its base unit, then the
operator is implicitly informed that the symbol character data of
the read bar code symbol was not successfully received by the base
unit. In response to such an event, the operator simply rereads the
bar code symbol and awaits to hear the acoustical acknowledgment
signal emanating from the base unit.
[0186] Notably, it may even be desirable in some operating
environments to produce acoustical acknowledgement signals in the
form of a unique series of notes preassigned to a bar code symbol
reading device and its "mated" base unit. The pitch or note
sequence assigned to each mated base unit and bar code symbol
reading device can be stored in a memory (e.g., EPROM) realized in
the base unit, and can be programmed at the time of system set-up
and modified as required. Preferably, each pitch and each note
sequence is selected so that it can be readily distinguished and
recognized by the operator to which it is uniquely directed.
[0187] Also shown in FIG. 10 is the case where the bar code symbol
reading device reads a second bar code symbol and then transmits a
second (N=2) group of data packets. However, due to interference
only the third data packet in the second transmitted group of data
packets is received at the respective base unit. Despite such group
transmission errors (e.g., due to channel corruption or non-radio
transmissive obstructions), the base unit as shown is nevertheless
able to recover the transmitted symbol character data. Upon
receiving the third data packet, recovering the packaged symbol
character data and transmitting the same to the host computer
system, the bar code symbol reading device generates an acoustical
acknowledgement signal having a pitch or note sequence that the
operator can hear and recognize as an indication that the data
packet reception was successful.
[0188] In FIGS. 11 and 12, the data packet transmission and
reception scheme of the present invention is shown for the case of
three station system. In the best case scenario shown in FIG. 11,
the group of data packets transmitted from each bar code symbol
reading device is transmitted at a time when there are no
neighboring bar code symbol reading devices transmitting data
packets. This case will occur most frequently, as the total
transmission times for each group of data packets is selected to be
substantially smaller than the random time durations lapsing
naturally between adjacent data packet transmissions from
neighboring bar code symbol reading devices. This fact is
illustrated in FIG. 11, in which (i) a group of data packets from
bar code reading device No. 1 are transmitted between adjacent
groups of data packet transmitted from bar code symbol reading
devices Nos. 2, 3 and 4 without the occurrence of data packet
interference (i.e., collision). In most instances, the time delay
between consecutive groups of data packets transmitted from any
particular bar code symbol reading device, will be sufficient to
permit a neighboring bar code symbol reading device to transmit at
least one data packet to its base unit without the occurrence of
data packet interference.
[0189] In accordance with the data transmission scheme of the
present invention, data packet interference is minimized by the
random presence of interference-free time slots, during which a
transmitted data packet can be received at its respective base unit
without neighboring packet interference. However, the present
invention employs additional measures to further reduce the
likelihood of data packet interference. Such measures are best
appreciated when considering a high-density data packet
transmission environment, in which a number of closely situated
neighboring bar code symbol readers are each attempting to transmit
a group of data packets to its preassigned base unit. In general,
such operating conditions would present a worst case scenario for
the data packet transmission scheme of the present invention.
[0190] In the worst case scenario shown in FIG. 12, each of the
four neighboring bar code symbol reading devices is assumed to
consecutively read two bar code symbols and simultaneously begin
the transmission of the first data packet in the first group of
data packets corresponding to the first read bar code symbol. As
mentioned above, each data packet is formatted essentially the same
way, has substantially the same packet width, and is transmitted on
a carrier signal having a frequency which is substantially the same
as all other carrier signals transmitted throughout the system. In
accordance with the principles of the present invention, the data
packet transmission circuit 121 in each bar code symbol reading
device is preprogrammed to transmit adjacent data packets with a
different "time delay", as shown in FIG. 12. This condition is
achieved throughout the resulting system by assigning a different
Packet Time Delay to each having a different Transmitter
Identification Number, and then programming the bar code symbol
reading device with the preassigned Packet Time Delay parameter. As
illustrated in FIG. 12, the value of the Packet Time Delay
parameter programmed in each bar code symbol reading device is
selected so that, when the neighboring bar code symbol reading
devices simultaneously transmit groups of data packets, each base
unit in the resulting system is capable of receiving at least one
data packet (in a group thereof) that has been transmitted from its
preassigned bar code symbol reading device. In general, the data
packet delay scheme of the present invention involves selecting and
programming the Packet Time Delay parameter in each bar code symbol
reading device so that each base unit is periodically provided a
vacant time slot, during which one transmitted data packet in each
group thereof can be received free of "data packet interference",
as shown in FIG. 12. The advantage of providing a packet time delay
among the data packets of each transmitted group thereof is that
rereading and retransmission of bar code symbols is effectively
minimized under the data packet transmission scheme of the present
invention.
[0191] Having described the detailed structure and internal
functions of automatic bar code symbol reading device of the
present invention, the operation of the control system thereof will
now be described while referring to the system block diagram shown
in FIG. 8 and control Blocks A to GG in FIGS. 13A to 13C.
[0192] Beginning at the START block of Main System Control Routine
and proceeding to Block A of FIG. 13A, the bar code symbol reading
system is "initialized". This initialization step involves
activating system override circuit 100, first control circuit
C.sub.1 and oscillator circuit 101. It also involves deactivating
(i.e., disabling): (i) all external system components except the
range selection circuit 115 and system override signal producing
means 103 (i.e., infrared sensing circuit 105, laser scanning
circuit 108, and photoreceiving circuit 109); (ii) all subcircuits
aboard ASIC chip 133 not associated with the system override
circuit 100, such as object detection circuit 107, A/D conversion
circuitry 110, second control circuit C.sub.2 and bar code presence
detection circuit 111; and (iii) third control module 114, symbol
decoding module 119 and data packet synthesis module 120. In
addition, all timers T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.3, T.sub.4, and
T.sub.5 are reset to t=0.
[0193] Proceeding to Block B in FIG. 13A, the first control circuit
C.sub.1 checks to determine whether it has received control
activation signal A.sub.0=1 from system override detection circuit
100. If this signal is received, then the first control circuit
C.sub.1 returns to Block A. If control activation signal A.sub.0=1
is not received, then at Block C the first control circuit C.sub.1
activates (i.e., enables) the object detection circuit by producing
E.sub.0. At Block D, the object detection circuit receives either
the long range mode selection signal or the short range mode
selection signal produced by the range selection circuit 115 and
sets the appropriate sensitivity level of the circuit. At Block E,
the first control circuit C.sub.1 determines whether it has
received control activation signal A.sub.1=1, indicating that an
object has been detected within the selected range of the scan
field. If this control activation signal is not received, then at
Block F the first control circuit C.sub.1 determines whether its
has received control activation signal A.sub.0=1. If the first
control circuit C.sub.1 has received control activation signal
A.sub.0=1, then the control system returns to Block A in FIG. 13A,
as shown. If the first control circuit C.sub.1 has not received
control activation signal A.sub.0=1, then the control system
returns to Block E, as shown.
[0194] If at Block E the first control circuit C.sub.1 has received
first control activation signal A.sub.1=1, then at Block G the
first control circuit C.sub.1 (i) deactivates (i.e., disables) the
object sensing circuit and the object detection circuit using
disabling signal E.sub.0=0, (ii) activates (i.e., enables) laser
scanning circuit 108, photoreceiving circuit 109 and A/D signal
conversion circuit 110 using enable signal E.sub.1=1, (iii)
activates bar code detection circuit 111 and second control circuit
C.sub.2 using enable signal E.sub.2=1, and (iv) starts timer
T.sub.1 maintained in the first control circuit C.sub.1. This
permits the bar code symbol reading device to collect and analyze
scan data signals for the purpose of determining whether or not a
bar code is within the scan field. If at Block H the second control
circuit C.sub.2 does not receive control activation signal
A.sub.2S=1 or A.sub.2L=1 from the bar code detection circuit within
time period T.sub.1, indicating that a bar code symbol is detected
in the selected range of the scan field, then the control system
returns to Block A thereby returning system control to the first
control unit C.sub.1, as shown in FIG. 13A. If at Block H the bar
code symbol detection circuit 111 provides the second control
circuit C.sub.2 with control activation signal A.sub.2S=1 or
A.sub.2L=1, as the case may be, then second control circuit C.sub.2
activates (i.e., enables) third control module C.sub.3 (i.e.,
microprocessor 134) using enable signal E.sub.3=1.
[0195] At Block J, the third control module C.sub.3 polls (i.e.,
reads) the parameter R set by range selection circuit 115 and sets
a range limit flag in the symbol decoding module 119. At Block K
third control module C.sub.3 activates the symbol decoding module
119 using enable signal E.sub.4, resets and restarts timer T.sub.2
permitting it to run for a second predetermined time period (e.g.,
0<T.sub.2<1 second), and resets and restarts timer T.sub.3
permitting it to run for a third predetermined time period (e.g.,
0<T.sub.3<5 seconds). At Block L, the third control module
checks to determine whether control activation signal A.sub.3=1 is
received from the symbol decoding module 119 within T.sub.2=1
second, indicative that a bar code symbol has been successfully
read (i.e., scanned and decoded) within the allotted time period.
If control activation signal A.sub.3=1 is not received within the
time period T.sub.2=1 second, then at Block M third control module
C.sub.3 checks to determine whether control activating signal
A.sub.2=1 is received. If a bar code symbol is not detected, then
the control system returns to Block A, causing a state transition
from bar code reading to object detection. However, if at Block M
the third control module C.sub.3 receives control activation signal
A.sub.2=1, indicative that a bar code once again is within the scan
field, then at Block N the third control module C.sub.3 checks to
determine whether time period T.sub.3 has elapsed. If it has, then
the control system returns to Block A. If, however, time period
0.1toreq.T.sub.3 .1toreq.5 seconds has not elapsed, then at Block K
the third control module C.sub.3 resets and restarts timer T.sub.2
to run once again for a time period 0.1toreq.T.sub.2 .1toreq.1
second, while T.sub.3 continues to run. In essence, this provides
the device at least another opportunity to read a bar code present
within the scan field when the control system is at control Block
L. During typical bar code reading applications, the control system
may progress through the control loop defined by Blocks K-L-M-N-K
several times before a bar code symbol in the scan field is read
within the time period allotted by timer T.sub.3.
[0196] Upon receiving control activation signal A.sub.3=1 from
symbol decoding module 119, indicative that a bar code symbol has
been successfully read, the control system proceeds to Block O in
FIG. 13B. At this stage of the system control process, the third
control module C.sub.3 continues activation of laser scanning
circuit 108, photoreceiving circuit 109, and A/D conversion circuit
110, while deactivating symbol decoding module 119 and commencing
activation of data packet synthesis module 120. While the laser
beam is continuously scanned across the scan field, the operations
at Blocks P to V described below, are carried out in a high speed
manner under the orchestration of control module C.sub.3.
[0197] As indicated at Block P, data packet synthesis module 120
first sets the Packet Number to "1", and increments the Packet
Group Number from the previous number. Preferably, the data packet
synthesis module keeps track of (i.e., manages) the "Packet Number"
using a first modulo-N counter realized by programmable
microprocessor 134, while it manages the "Packet Group Number"
using a second modulo-M counter also realized by programmed
microprocessor 134. In the illustrative embodiment, the first
modulo counter has a cyclical count range of N=2 (i.e., 0, 1, 2, 0,
1, 2, . . . ), whereas the second modulo counter has a cyclical
count range of M=10 (i.e., 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, 1, 2, .
. . ). At Block Q, the data packet synthesis module synthesizes or
constructs a data packet having a packet format as shown in FIG. 9,
i.e., consisting of symbol character data, a Transmitter
Identification Number, a Packet Number, a Packet Group Number,
check character, and Packet Start and End (i.e., framing)
Characters. After the data packet has been formed and the digital
data sequence constituting the same is buffered, the third control
module C.sub.3 activates at Block R the data packet transmission
circuit. Thereafter at Block S, the data packet synthesis module
outputs the buffered digital data sequence (of the first
synthesized data packet of the group) to the data packet
transmission circuit, which uses the digital data sequence to
modulate the frequency of the carrier signal as it is being
transmitted from the bar code symbol reading device, to its mated
base unit, as described hereinabove, and then automatically
deactivates itself to conserve power.
[0198] At Block T, the third control module C.sub.3 determines
whether the Packet Number counted by the first module counter is
less than "3". If the Packet Number of the recently transmitted
data packet is less than "3", indicative that at most only two data
packets in a specific group have been transmitted, then at Block U
the data packet synthesis module 120 increments the Packet Number
by +1. At Block V, the third control module then waits for a time
delay T.sub.5 to lapse prior to the control system returning to
Block Q, as shown in FIG. 13B. Notably, the occurrence of time
delay T.sub.5 causes a delay in transmission of the next data
packet in the data packet group. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the
duration of time delay T.sub.5 is a function of the (last two
digits of the) Transmitter Number of the current data packet group,
and thus is a function of the bar code symbol reading device
transmitting symbol character data to its mated base unit. For the
case of three data packet groups, time delay T5 will occur between
the transmission of the first and second data packets in a packet
group and between the transmission of the second and third data
packets in the same packet group.
[0199] Returning to Block Q, the data packet synthesis module
synthesizes or constructs the second data packet in the same data
packet group. After the second data packet has been formed and the
digital data sequence constituting the same is buffered, the third
control module C.sub.3 reactivates at Block R the data packet
transmission circuit. Thereafter at Block S, the data packet
synthesis module outputs the buffered digital data sequence (of the
second synthesized data packet) to the data packet transmission
circuit, which uses the digital data sequence to modulate the
frequency of the carrier signal as it is being transmitted from the
bar code symbol reading device, to its mated base unit, and
thereafter automatically deactivates itself. When at Block T third
control module C.sub.3 determines that the Packet Number is equal
to "3", the control system advances to Block W in FIG. 13C.
[0200] At Block W in FIG. 13C, the third control module C.sub.3
continues activation of laser scanning circuit 108 photoreceiving
circuit 109, and A/D conversion circuit 110 using control override
signals C.sub.3/C.sub.1, and deactivates symbol decoding module
119, data packet synthesis module 120 and the data packet
transmission circuit 121 using disable signals E.sub.4=0, E.sub.5=0
and E.sub.6=0, respectively. Then at Block X the third control
module C.sub.3 determines whether control activation signal
A.sub.1=1, indicating that an object is present in the selected
range of the scan field. If this control activation signal is not
provided to the third control module C.sub.3, then the control
system returns to Block A, as shown. If control activation signal
A.sub.1=1 is received, then at Block Y the third control module
C.sub.3 reactivates the bar code symbol detection circuit using
override signal C.sub.3/C.sub.2, and resets and restarts timer
T.sub.3 to start running over its predetermined time period, i.e.,
0<T.sub.3<5 seconds, and resets and restart timer T.sub.4 for
a predetermined time period 0<T.sub.4<3 seconds.
[0201] At Block Z in FIG. 13C, the third control module C.sub.3
then determines whether control activation signal A.sub.2=1 is
produced from the bar code symbol detection circuit 111 within time
period T.sub.4, indicating that a bar code symbol is present in the
selected range of the scan field during this time period. If this
signal is not produced within time period T.sub.4, then at Block AA
the third control module C.sub.3 deactivates the bar code symbol
detection circuit using override signal C.sub.3/C.sub.2, and
reactivates the bar code symbol decoding module 119 using enable
signal E.sub.4=1. At Block BB, the third control module C.sub.3
resets and restarts timer T.sub.2 to run over its predetermined
time period, i.e., 0<T.sub.2<1 second. At Block CC the third
control module C.sub.3 determines whether control activation signal
A.sub.3=1 is produced by the symbol decoding module within time
period T.sub.2, indicating that the detected bar code symbol has
been successfully decoded within this time period. If this control
activation signal is not produced within time period T.sub.2, then
at Block DD the third control module C.sub.3 determines whether
control activation signal A.sub.2=1 is being produced from the bar
code symbol detection circuit, indicating that either the same or
another bar code symbol resides within the selected range of the
scan field If control activation signal A.sub.2=1 is not being
produced, then the control system returns to Block A, as shown.
However, if this control signal is being produced, then at Block EE
the third control module C.sub.3 determines whether or not timer
T.sub.3 has lapsed, indicating that time window to read a bar code
symbol without redetecting the object on which it is disposed, is
closed. When this condition exists, the control system returns to
Block A in FIG. 13A. However, it time remains on timer T.sub.3,
then at Block BB the third control module C.sub.3 resets and
restarts timer T.sub.2 and returns to Block CC. As mentioned above,
the control system may flow through the control loop defined by
Blocks BB-CC-DD-EE-BB a number of times prior to reading a bar code
within time period T.sub.3. When the symbol decoding module
produces control activation signal A.sub.3=1 within time period
T.sub.2, the third control module C.sub.3 determines at Block FF
whether the decoded bar code symbol is different from the
previously decoded bar code symbol. If the decoded bar code symbol
is different than the previously decoded bar code symbol, then the
control system returns to Block O in FIG. 13B. If the currently
decoded bar code symbol is not different than the previously
decoded bar code symbol, then the third control module C.sub.3
determines whether timer T.sub.3 has lapsed. If the timer T.sub.3
has not lapsed, then the control system returns to Block BB and
reenters the control flow defined at Blocks BB through GG,
attempting once again to detect and read a bar code symbol on the
detected object. However, if at Block GG timer T.sub.3 has lapsed,
then the control system returns to Block A in FIG. 13A.
[0202] Having described the operation of the illustrative
embodiment of the automatic hand-supportable bar code reading
device of the present invention, it will be helpful to describe at
this juncture the various conditions which cause state transitions
to occur during its operation. In this regard, reference is made to
FIG. 14 which provides a state transition diagram for the
illustrative embodiment.
[0203] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the automatic hand-supportable
bar code reading device of the present invention has four basic
states of operation namely: object detection, bar code symbol
presence detection, bar code symbol reading, and symbol character
data transmission/storage. The nature of each of these states has
been described above in great detail.
[0204] Transitions between the various states are indicated by
directional arrows. Besides each set of directional arrows are
transition conditions expressed in terms of control activation
signals (e.g., A.sub.1, A.sub.2S or A.sub.2L and A.sub.3, and where
appropriate, state time intervals (e.g., T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.3,
T.sub.4, and T.sub.5). Conveniently, the state diagram of FIG. 14
expresses most simply the four basic operations occurring during
the control flow within the system control program of FIGS. 13A to
13C. Significantly, the control activation signals A.sub.1,
A.sub.2S A.sub.2L and A.sub.3 in FIG. 14 indicate which events
within the object detection and/or scan fields can operate to
effect a state transition within the allotted time frame(s), where
prescribed.
[0205] Referring now to FIGS. 15 to 15C, the base unit of the first
illustrative embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown, base unit 3 is realized in the form of a scanner stand
comprising support frame 240 releasibly connected to a base
support/mounting plate 241 by way of a snap fit fastening mechanism
illustrated in FIGS. 15B and 15C. In the illustrative embodiment,
support frame 240 is formed as an injection molded shell, in which
a handle portion support structure is realized by a first support
recess 243; whereas a head portion support structure is realized by
a second support recess 245. As shown in FIG. 15, first support
recess 243 is disposed above base portion 245 and inclined at a
first acute angle B.sub.1 with respect thereto, while second
support recess 245 is disposed above base portion 245 and inclined
at a second acute angle B.sub.2 with respect thereto.
[0206] As best shown in FIG. 15, first support recess 243 is formed
by a first substantially planar support surface 246 surrounded by
the projection of opposing side walls 247A and 247B and rear wall
247C, extending above planar support surface 246 in a perpendicular
fashion. The function of first support recess 243 is to receive and
support the handle portion of handsupportable bar code reading
device. Similarly, second support recess 245 is formed by a second
substantially planar support surface 248 surrounded by the
projection of opposing side walls 249A and 249B and front wall
surface 249C extending above planar support surface 248 in a
perpendicular fashion.
[0207] The function of support recess 245 is to receive and support
the head portion of handsupportable bar code reading device 2.
Front wall projection 249C is slightly lower than side wall
projections 249A and 249B to ensure that the transmitted IR signal
from IR LED 148 is freely transmitted through an aperture stop 250
formed in the head portion of the housing, whereas the reflected IR
signal passes through an aperture stop 251 and is detected by IR
photodiode 150 in the head portion of the hand-supportable housing.
At the same time, this structural feature of the scanner support
stand ensures that visible laser light is projected and collected
through light transmissive window 11 without obstruction, i.e.,
when the automatic bar code reading device is operated in its
automatic hands-free mode, shown in FIG. 28, in particular.
[0208] In order to ensure that bar code reading device 2 is
securely, yet releasably supported within support recesses 243 and
245 and not easily knocked out of the scanner support stand during
the hands-free mode of operation, first and second magnetic
elements 255 and 256 are permanently mounted to the underside of
planar support surfaces 246 and 248, respectively, as illustrated
in FIG. 15C. With this arrangement, magnetic flux of constant
intensity continuously emanates from support recesses 243 and 245.
As a result, when the handle and head portions of the bar code
reading device are placed within support recesses 243 and 245, a
ferrous element 257 in handle portion 9B is magnetically attracted
to magnetic element 255, while ferrous element 258 on head portion
9A is magnetically attracted to magnetic element 256. The magnetic
force of attraction between these elements is selected so that a
desired degree of force is required to lift the automatic bar code
reading device out of scanner support stand, while preventing
accidental displacement of the device from the scanner support
stand during use in the hands-free mode of operation.
[0209] As illustrated in FIGS. 15B and 15C, base mounting plate 241
is formed as a thin planar structure having perimetrical dimensions
substantially equal to the perimetrical dimensions of the base
portion of support frame 240. At the front and rear end portions of
base plate 241, a pair of projections 259 and 260 extend
perpendicularly, as shown. These projections have horizontal
flanges which are adapted to snap fit into horizontal grooves
formed on the interior surfaces of front and rear walls 261 and
262, as shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C.
[0210] To facilitate mounting of base plate 241 on a vertical
planar mounting surface, a pair of spaced apart mounting holes 263A
and 263B are provided. To facilitate attachment of base plate 241
to a pivotal joint assembly 265 associated with pedestal base 266,
as illustrated in FIGS. 28 to 29B, a set of mounting holes (not
shown) are formed in the base plate itself. To facilitate support
of base plate 241 upon a horizontal support surface, as illustrated
in FIGS. 27A TO 27D, a set of four rubber feet (not shown) may be
adhesively applied to the underside corners of the base plate.
[0211] In order to perform the data packet reception, processing,
retransmission, and acknowledgement functions of base unit 3
described above, a circuit board 270 populated with electronic
circuitry is concealed within the interior volume contained between
the interior surface of support stand portion 245 and the upper
surface of base plate 241. In the illustrated embodiment, PC board
270 contains electronic circuitry for realizing each of the
functions represented by the block shown in the system diagram of
FIG. 16. As shown in FIG. 15A, flexible communication and power
supply cables 7 and 8 are routed through aperture 271 formed in the
lower portion of rear wall of the support frame, as shown in FIG.
15C, and connect to the electronic circuitry on PC board 270.
[0212] In FIG. 16, the system architecture of base unit 3 is
schematically represented. As shown, base unit 3 comprises a number
hardware and software components, namely: a power supply circuit
273; a receiving antenna element 274; an RF carrier signal receiver
circuit 275 base unit identification number storage unit 276; a
data packet storage buffer 277; a base unit system controller 278;
a data packet frame check module 279; a transmitter number
identification module 280; a data packet number identification
module 28 1; a symbol character data extraction module 282; a data
format conversion module 283; a serial data transmission circuit
284; and an acoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit
285. In the illustrative embodiment, a programmed microprocessor
and associated memory (i.e., ROM and RAM), indicated by reference
numeral 286, are used to realize the base unit system controller
278 and each of the above-described data processing modules 277 to
283. The details of such a programming implementation are known by
those with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention
pertains.
[0213] As shown in FIG. 16, receiving antenna element 274 is
electrically coupled to an input signal port of radio receiver
circuit 275 in a conventional manner. In general, the function of
radio receiver circuit 275 is to receive and process the
data-packet modulated carrier signal transmitted from a remote bar
code symbol reader to its mated base unit. The radio receiver
circuit of the illustrative embodiment can be realized by
configuring several commercially available IC chips together,
although it is understood that there are certainly other ways in
which to realize the basic functions of this circuit. As shown in
FIG. 16A, receiving antenna 274 is connected to a matching filter
circuit 287 realized using miniature inductive and capacitive
components. The matching filter circuit is tuned to pass a 912 MHz
RF carrier signal transmitted from the data packet transmission
circuit 121 of the bar code symbol reading device. The output of
matching filter circuit 287 is connected to the input of a first IC
chip 288 which converts (i.e., translates) the frequency spectrum
of the received modulated carrier signal down to an intermediate
frequency band, for subsequent signal processing. In the
illustrative embodiment, the first IC chip 288 is realized using
the MAF2001 IC chip from Motorola, Inc., and provides a low noise
amplifier 289, an double balanced mixer 290. A local oscillator 292
is needed to provide a local oscillator signal of about 922.7 MHZ
for use in frequency down-conversion in the double balanced mixer
290. Typically, a matching filter 291 is commonly required between
local oscillator 292 and mixer 290. As shown in FIG. 16A, the
output of the first IC chip is provided to a band-pass filter 293
tuned to about 10.7 MHZ, the intermediate frequency band of each
base unit. The intermediate signal is then provided as input to a
second IC chip 294. In the illustrative embodiment, the second IC
chip 294 is realized using the MC13156 IC chip commercially
available from Motorola, and provides inter alia an amplification
circuit, a quadrature demodulation circuit 295, a binary
thresholding circuit 296, and carrier signal detection circuit 297.
The function of the second IC chip is four-fold. The first function
of the second IC chip is to filter and amplify the intermediate
signal to produce in-phase and quadrature phase signal components
for use in digital data recovery. The second function of the second
IC chip is to recover an analog data signal at the base band
portion of the spectrum, by providing the in-phase and
quadrature-phase signal components to the quadrature demodulation
circuit 295. Suitable quadrature demodulation circuitry for use in
practicing the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,979,230 to Marz, which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety. As illustrated in FIG. 16A, the third function of the
second IC chip is to convert the analog data signal produced from
quadrature demodulation circuit 295 into a digital data signal
using a binary-level thresholding circuit 296. The fourth function
of the second IC chip is to analyze the incoming signal from the
output of band-pass filter 293 in order to detect the incoming
carrier signal and produce a carrier detect signal A.sub.7 to the
base unit system controller 278. In order to produce a CMOS
compatible signal, the recovered digital data signal produced from
second IC chip 294 is amplified by a current amplification circuit
298 that is operative whenever a carrier signal is detected (i.e.,
A.sub.7=1). As shown in FIG. 16, the output of current
amplification circuit 298 is a serial data stream that is clocked
into data packet storage buffer 277 under the control of base unit
system controller 278. In general, the data packet storage buffer
277 can be realized using a commercially available Universal
Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) device. The primary
function of data packet buffer memory 277 is to buffer bytes of
digital data in the produced digital data stream.
[0214] In the illustrative embodiment, it necessary to provide a
means within the base unit housing, to recharge the batteries
contained within the hand-supportable housing of the portable bar
code symbol reading device. Typically, DC electrical power will be
available from the host computer system 6, to which the base unit
is operably connected by way of flexible cables 7 and 8. An
electrical arrangement for achieving this function is set forth in
FIG. 16. As shown, power supply circuit 273 aboard the base unit of
the present invention comprises a conventional current chopper
circuit 299, a high-pass electrical filter 300 in parallel
therewith, and a primary inductive coil 301 in parallel with the
high-pass electrical filter. Low voltage DC electrical power
provided from the host computer system by way of power cable 8 is
provided to direct current (DC) chopper circuit 299, which is
realized on PC board 270 using high-speed current switching
circuits. The function of current chopper circuit 299 is to convert
the input DC voltage to the circuit into a high-frequency
triangular-type (time-varying) waveform, consisting of various
harmonic signal components. The function of the high-pass
electrical filter is to filter out the lower frequency signal
components and only pass the higher frequency signal components to
the inductive coil 301. As such, the high frequency electrical
currents permitted to flow through inductive coil 301 induce a high
voltage thereacross and produce time-varying magnetic flux (i.e.,
lines of force). In accordance with well known principles of
electrical energy transfer, the produced magnetic flux transfers
electrical power from the base unit to the rechargeable battery
aboard the bar code symbol reading device, whenever the primary and
secondary inductive coils aboard the base unit and the mated device
are electromagnetically coupled by the magnetic flux. In order to
maximize energy transfer between the base unit and its mated device
during battery recharging operations, high permeability materials
and well known principles of magnetic circuit design can be used to
increase the amount of magnetic flux coupling the primary and
secondary inductive coils of the battery recharging circuit.
[0215] Referring to FIG. 16, the function of each of the data
processing modules of base unit 3 will now be described in
detail.
[0216] Upon reception of an incoming carrier signal and the
recovery of the digital data stream therefrom, base unit system
controller 278 orchestrates the processing of the recovered digital
data stream. As shown in FIG. 16, the operation of data processing
modules 279, 280, 281, 282 and 283 are enabled by the production of
enable signals E.sub.PFC, E.sub.TID, E.sub.DPID, E.sub.DE, and
E.sub.DFC, respectively, from the base unit system controller.
[0217] The primary function of data packet frame check module 279
is to analyze all of the data bytes in the received data packet,
including the Start and End of Packet Fields, and determine whether
a complete frame (i.e., packet) of digital data bytes has been
recovered from the incoming modulated carrier signal. If so, then
data packet frame check module 279 produces activation control
signal A.sub.PFC=1, which is provided to the base unit system
controller, as shown in FIG. 16.
[0218] The primary function of the transmitter number
identification module 280 is to analyze the data bytes in the
Transmitter ID Field of the received data packet and determine the
Transmitter ID Number preassigned to the bar code reading device
that transmitted the data packet received by the base unit. If the
Transmitter ID Number of the received data packet matches the
preassigned Base Unit Identification No. stored in non-volatile
memory (i.e., EPROM) 302 aboard the base unit, then the transmitter
number identification module generates control activation signal
A.sub.TID=1 which is provided to the base unit system
controller.
[0219] The primary function of the packet number identification
module 281 is to analyze the data bytes in the Packet Number Field
of the received data packet and determine the Packet Number of the
data packet received by the base unit. This module then advises the
base unit system controller that a different packet number was
received, representing a new group (e.g., now seen) by producing an
encoded signal A.sub.DPID during the system control process.
[0220] The primary function of the symbol character data extraction
module 282 is to analyze the data bytes in the Symbol Character
Data Field of the received data packet, determine the code
represented by the symbol character data, and provided this symbol
character data to the data format conversion module 283 under the
control of the base unit system controller during the system
control process.
[0221] The primary function of the data format conversion module
283 is to convert the format of the recovered symbol character
data, into a data format that can be used by the host computer
symbol 6 that is to ultimately receive and use the symbol character
data. In the bar code symbol reading system of first illustrative
embodiment, the data format conversion is from ASCII format to
RS232 format, although it is understood that other conversions may
occur in alternative embodiment of the present invention.
Typically, the data format conversion process is carried out using
a data format conversion table which contains the appropriate data
structure conversions.
[0222] The primary function of the serial data transmission circuit
284 is to accept the format-converted symbol character data from
the data format conversion module 283, and transmit the same as a
serial data stream over data communication cable 7, to the data
input port of the host computer system 6 (e.g., cash register, data
collection device, inventory computer). Preferably, an RS-232 data
communication protocol is used to facilitate the data transfer
process. Thus the construction of serial data transmission circuit
284 is conventional and the details thereof are well within the
knowledge of those with ordinary skill in the art.
[0223] The primary function of acoustical acknowledgement signal
generation circuit 285 is to produce an acoustical acknowledgement
signal SA in response to the successful recovery of symbol
character data from a transmitted data packet. The purpose of the
acoustical acknowledgement signal is to notify the user that the
transmitted data packet has been successfully received by its mated
base unit. In the illustrative embodiment, the intensity of the
acoustical acknowledgement signal is such that the remotely
situated user of the portable bar code symbol reader can easily
hear the acoustical acknowledgement signal in an expected work
environment having an average noise floor of at least about 50
decibels. Preferably, the pitch of the acoustical acknowledgement
signal is within the range of about 1 to about 10 kilohertz, in
order to exploit the sensitivity characteristics of the human
auditory apparatus of the user. In the exemplary embodiment, the
pitch is about 2.5 kilohertz. Under such conditions, the intensity
of such an acoustical acknowledgement signal at its point of
generation will typically need to have an output signal power of
about 70 decibels in order to be heard by the user in a working
environment having an average noise floor of about 50 decibels and
an average noise ceiling of about 100 decibels. Acoustical
acknowledgement signals of such character can be produced from
acoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit 285, shown in
FIG. 285.
[0224] As shown in FIG. 16B, acoustical acknowledgement signal
generation circuit 285 comprises a number of subcomponents, namely:
a decoder circuit 305; a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) driver
circuit 306; a VCO circuit 307; an output amplifier circuit 308;
and a piezo-electric type electro-acoustic transducer 303 having an
output signal bandwidth in the audible range. The operation (i.e.,
duration) of the acoustical acknowledgment signal generation
circuit 285 is controlled by base unit system controller 278 using
enable signal E.sub.AA. In the illustrative embodiment, enable
signal E.sub.AA is a digital word encoded to represent one of a
number of possible audible pitches or tones that are to be
generated upon each successful reception of a transmitted data
packet at a mated base station. The function of decoder circuit 305
is to decode the enable signal EAA produced by the base unit system
controller and produce a set of voltage signals {V.sub.1 1, V2, . .
. , Vn} which correspond to a specified pitch sequence to be
produced by electro-acoustic transducer 309. The function of VCO
driver circuit 306 is to sequentially drive VCO circuit 307 with
the produced set of voltages {V.sub.1 1, V2, . . . , Vn} so that
VCO circuit produces over a short time period (e.g., 0.5-1.5
seconds), a set of electrical signals having frequencies that
correspond to the specified pitch sequence to be produced from the
electro-acoustic transducer 309. The function of amplifier circuit
308 is to amplify these electrical signals, whereas the function of
electro-acoustical transducer 309 is to convert the amplified
electrical signal set into the specified pitch sequence for the
user to clearly hear in the expected operating environment. As
shown in FIGS. 1 and 15A, the base housing is preferably provided
with an aperture or sound port 304 so as to permit the energy of
the acoustical signal from transducer 309 to freely emanate to the
ambient environment of the user. In particular application, it may
be desired or necessary to produce acoustical acknowledgement
signal of yet greater intensity levels that those specified above.
In such instances, electro-acoustical transducer 309 may be used to
excite one or more tuned resonant chamber(s) mounted within or
formed as part of the base unit housing.
[0225] Having described the structure and general functional
components of base unit 3, it is appropriate at this juncture to
now describe the overall operation thereof with reference to the
control process shown in FIG. 17.
[0226] As illustrated at Block A in FIG. 17, radio receiving
circuit 275 is the only system component that is normally active at
this stage of the base unit system control process. All other
system components are inactive (i.e., disabled), including base
unit system controller 278; data packet storage buffer 277, data
packet frame check module 279, transmitter number identification
module 280, data packet number Identification module 281, symbol
character data extraction module 282, data format conversion module
283, serial data transmission circuit 284, and acoustical
acknowledgement signal generation circuit 285. With the radio
receiving circuit activated, the base unit is capable of receiving
any modulated carrier signal transmitted from any of the bar code
symbol reading devices within the data transmission range of the
base unit.
[0227] At Block B in FIG. 17, radio receiving circuit 275
determines whether it has received a transmitted carrier signal on
its receiving antenna element 274. If it has, then the radio
receiving circuit generates a system controller activation signal
A.sub.7, which activates base unit system controller 278 and signal
amplifier 276 shown in FIG. 16 and 16a, respectively. Then at Block
C, the base unit system controller activates (i.e., enables) data
packet storage buffer 277 and data packet frame check module 279 by
producing activation control signals ESB=1 and E.sub.PFC=1,
respectively. At Block D, the base unit system controller
determines whether it has received an acknowledgement (i.e.,
control activation signal A.sub.PFC=1) from the data packet frame
check module, indicating that the received data packet is properly
framed. If the received data packet is not properly framed, then
the base unit returns to Block A in order to redetect an incoming
carrier signal. However, if the received data packet is properly
framed, then at Block E the base unit system controller enables the
transmitter number identification module by generating enable
signal E.sub.TID=1.
[0228] At Block F, the base unit system controller determines
whether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control activation
signal A.sub.TID<1) from the transmitter number identification
module that the received data packet contains the correct
transmitter identification number (i.e., the same number assigned
to the base unit and stored in storage unit 276). If the
Transmitter Identification Number contained within the received
data packet does not match the base unit identification number
stored in storage unit 276, then the base unit system controller
returns to Block A whereupon it resumes carrier signal detection.
If, however, the transmitter packet number contained within the
received data packet matches the base unit identification number,
then at Block G the base unit system controller enables the data
packet number identification module 289 by generating enable signal
E.sub.DPID=1.
[0229] At Block H, the base unit system controller determines
whether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control activation
signal A.sub.DPID=1) from the data packet identification module
indicating that the received data packet is not a redundant data
packet (i.e., from the same transmitted data packet group). If the
received data packet is a redundant data packet, then the base unit
system controller returns to Block A, whereupon carrier signal
detection is resumed. If, however, the received data packet is not
redundant, then at Block I the base unit system controller enables
the symbol character data extraction module by generating enable
signal E.sub.DE=1. In response to the generation of this enable
signal, the symbol data extraction module reads at Block J the
symbol character data contained in the received data packet, checks
the data for statistical reliability, and the writes the extracted
symbol character data bytes into a storage buffer (not explicitly
shown).
[0230] As indicated at Block K in FIG. 17, the base unit system
controller then enables the data format conversion module by
generating enable signal E.sub.DFC=1. In response to this enable
signal, the data format conversion module converts the data format
of the recovered symbol character data and then buffers the
format-converted symbol character data bytes in a data buffer (not
explicitly shown). At Block L the base unit system controller
enables the serial data transmission circuit 284 by generating
enable signal E.sub.DT=1. In response to this enable signal, the
serial data transmission circuit transmits the format-converted
symbol character data bytes over communication cable 7 using serial
data transmission techniques well known in the art, as discussed
above. When the serial data transmission process is successfully
completed, the base unit system controller enables at Block M the
acoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit 285 by
producing enable signal E.sub.AA=1. In response to the production
of this enable signal, acoustical acknowledgment signal generation
circuit 285 generates a high intensity acoustical signal having
characteristics of the type described above, thereby informing the
user that a transmitted data packet has been received and that the
symbol character data packaged therein has been successfully
recovered and transmitted to the host computer system. Thereafter,
the base unit system controller returns to the Block A, as
shown.
[0231] The second illustrative embodiment of the base unit shown in
FIGS. 4 to 4B will now be described in greater detail with
reference to FIGS. 18A to 20D. In general, the base unit of the
second illustrative embodiment is similar to the base unit of the
first illustrative embodiment described above, except for the
following differences described below which reflect additional
functionalities provided by the data collection aspect of the
portable base unit.
[0232] As illustrated in FIGS. 18A to 18C, data collection base
unit 37 comprises a hand-holdable housing 320 which houses the
operative elements of the device to be described below. Housing 320
has a top panel 320A, bottom panel 320B, front and rear panels 320C
and 320D, and two opposing side panels 320E and 320F, as shown. A
4.times.4 membrane keypad 321 is mounted through the lower portions
of top panel 320E for manual entry of alphanumeric type data
including, for example, data related to bar code symbols. Notably,
a separate switch is provided for turning the device ON and OFF.
Above the keypad, there is mounted an LCD type 1.times.16 character
display 322 for visually displaying data including (i) data being
manually entered through keypad 321, (ii) operator messages and
(iii) data entry verification messages which will be described in
greater detail hereinafter.
[0233] Through front panel 320C adjacent character display 322, a
data-output communication port 323 is provided. In the illustrative
embodiment, data-output communication port 323 includes a 9-pin
male connector 324, to which one end of communication cable 7 is
connected, while the other end thereof is connected to the
data-input port of a host computer system, such as point of sale
(POS) cash register/computer 6. As will be described in greater
detail hereinafter, data-output communication port 323 is
particularly adapted for transmitting collected symbol character
data stored in base unit 37, over communication cable 7 and through
the data-input communication port of host computer system.
[0234] As shown in FIG. 18A, a pair of D-rings 325A and 325B are
rotatably mounted to the rear end of the housing for conveniently
supporting the data collection base unit on the operator's body
while, for example, taking inventory. In this way, a cord, shoulder
strap or belt strap can be attached to the D-rings. With this
housing support arrangement, the user can simply pickup the
hand-holdable data collection base unit in one hand and manually
enter data through the keypad using one's thumb, while viewing the
character display screen.
[0235] While not visually shown in FIGS. 18A, 18B or 18C, data
collection base unit 37 includes a battery-power storage unit 326
realized, in the illustrative embodiment, as four AA type 1.5 volt
batteries. These batteries are contained within a battery carrier
attached to a hinged panel formed on the bottom panel 320B of the
housing. Access to the battery carrier is achieved by simply
opening the hinged panel, which after replacement of batteries, can
be snapped shut.
[0236] In FIG. 19, the system architecture of data collection base
unit 37 is schematically represented. As shown, data collection
base unit 37 comprises a number hardware and software components,
namely: a power supply circuit 326; low battery detection circuit
327; power conversion circuit 328; a data entry means in the form
of 4.times.4 keyboard 321; LCD display 323; host detection circuit
329; power switch 330; 9 pin connector 324; a non-volatile data
storage means (e.g., EPROM) 331; data storage memory (e.g., 32
Kilobyte RAM) 332; power fail RAM protection circuit 333; storage
capacitor 334; receiving antenna element 335; an RF carrier
receiving circuit 336; a data packet storage buffer 338; a base
unit system controller 339; a data packet frame check module 340; a
transmitter number identification module 341; a packet group number
identification module 342; a symbol character data extraction
module 343; a data format conversion module 344; a serial data
transmission circuit 345; and an acoustical acknowledgement signal
generation circuit 346. In the illustrative embodiment, a
programmed microprocessor and associated memory (i.e., ROM and
RAM), indicated by reference numeral 347, are used to realize the
base unit system controller 340 and each of the above-described
data processing and storage modules 339 to 344. Notably, a base
unit ID register for storing the unique ID Number preassigned to
the base unit, is realized using available memory in EPROM 331. The
details of such a programming implementation are known by those
with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention
pertains. System elements 335 to 346 in base unit 37 are
structurally and functionally the same as system elements 274 to
285 in base unit 3, and thus do not require further description or
explanation.
[0237] As shown in FIG. 19, data entry keypad 321 and character
display 322 are each operably connected to base unit system
controller 340, for entering and displaying data, respectively, as
hereinbefore described. Data-output communication port 324 is
connected to data transmission circuit 346, as shown.
[0238] The function of power conversion circuit 328 is to
up-convert the battery voltage to +5 V supply, 349, whereas the
function of power switching circuitry 330 is to disable the
receiver by removing its power, during the downloading of data to a
host device. When battery detect circuit 327 detects low battery
power levels, it sends the base unit system controller a
low-battery-level detect signal to initiate an alarm to the
user.
[0239] The function of the host detect circuit 329 is to determine
whether the data-output communication port of the base unit is
physically (and electrically) connected to data-input communication
port of host computer system. Thus, when host device detect circuit
329 detects a host device plugged into data-output communication
port 323, it will provide a host device detect signal A.sub.DL to
the system controller which automatically activates the system
controller to begin initializing for "downloading" of collected bar
code symbol character data, from the data collection device into
the host device. To permit the host device to supply power to the
data collection device during data downloading operations, and thus
conserve battery power, a power supply line 350 is provided between
a pin of data-output communication connector 224 and the positive
side of battery supply 326. To restrict power flow from the data
collection device to the host device, a diode 351 is inserted in
series along this power supply line 350, as shown.
[0240] Symbol character data recovered by symbol character data
extraction module 343, is stored within RAM 332. To facilitate
transfer of such data from module 342 to RAM storage unit 332, a
data bus 352 is provided, as shown. Also associated with data bus
352 is EEPROM 331. The base unit system controller will typically
store particular data items, such as set-up parameters and the
like, in non-volatile RAM 331 as such data can be retained therein
for the lifetime of the data collection base unit.
[0241] RAM storage unit 332 is protected by power-fail/RAM-protect
circuit 333 which, as shown in FIG. 19, is operably associated with
storage capacitor 334 and the write line of RAM storage unit 353.
RAM storage unit 332 is protected in two ways. Firstly, during
power transitions, circuit 333 inhibits write signals to RAM
storage unit 332, and consequently stored symbol character data is
protected from corruption. Secondly, during periods of battery
power failure, circuit 333 enables storage capacitor 334 to provide
power to RAM storage unit 332 for minimally one hour in order to
maintain the integrity of stored symbol character data.
[0242] Having described the structure and function of data
collection base unit 37, its versatile operation will now be
described with reference to the system control program illustrated
in FIGS. 20A to 20D.
[0243] As indicated in FIG. 20A, upon enabling the POWER-ON switch,
the (base unit) system controller advances to Block A. At Block A,
the system controller checks to determine whether the output of
host detect circuit 329 indicates that a host device is plugged
into data-output communication port 324. If it detect this
condition, then at Block B the system controller enables power
switching circuit 330 and uses the same to disconnect the power
supply from the RF signal receiving circuit. Then at Block C, the
system controller checks to determine whether there is any data
stored in RAM storage unit 332 for downloading to the connected
host device. If there is no data stored in RAM storage unit 332,
then the system controller proceeds to Block D, and writes "MEMORY
EMPTY" to character display 322. Thereafter, the system controller
remains at Block E until it receives host detect signal A.sub.DL=0
indicative that the host device is no longer plugged into
data-output communications port 324. Upon the occurrence of this
event, the system controller returns to Block A, as shown.
[0244] If, at Block C, the system controller determines that there
is data stored in RAM storage unit 332 for downloading into the
host device, then at Block F the system controller writes "TO COM
HIT ENTER" to character display 322. At Block G, the system
controller polls the keypad for the occurrence of a key press
operation, and at Block H determines whether the ENTER key has been
pressed. If any key other than the ENTER is pressed, then the
system controller returns to control Block A. If the ENTER key is
pressed, the system controller proceeds to Block I and writes the
message "TRANSMITTING" to character display 322. Then at Blocks J
through M, data in RAM storage unit 332 is downloaded to the host
device connected to data-output communication port 324.
[0245] Specifically, at Block J in FIG. 20B, the base unit system
controller enables data format conversion module 344 by generating
enable signal E.sub.DFC=1. In response to this enable signal, the
data format conversion module converts the data format of the
recovered symbol character data and then buffers the
format-converted symbol character data bytes in data buffer 332.
Then at Block K the base unit system controller enables the serial
data transmission circuit by generating enable signal E.sub.DT=1.
In response to this enable signal, the serial data transmission
circuit transmits the format-converted symbol character data bytes
over communication cable 7 using serial data transmission
techniques well known in the art, as discussed above. At Block L,
the system checks to determine if all data in RAM storage unit 332
has been transmitted, and if so, writes the message "MEMORY EMPTY"
or "DOWNLOAD COMPLETE" to character display 322, as indicated at
Block D in FIG. 20C. Thereafter, the system controller remains at
Block E until the host device is disconnected from data-output
communication port 324, and thereupon returns to Block A.
[0246] However, if it is determined at Block L in FIG. 20D that
data transfer from RAM storage unit 332 is not complete, then as
indicated at Block M the system controller checks to determine
whether the host device is still connected to data-output
communication port 324 (i.e., A.sub.DL=1). If host device has been
disconnected (i.e., A.sub.DL=0), then the system controller returns
to Block A, as shown. If, on the other hand, the host device
remains connected to data-output communications port 324, the
system controller returns to Block J to form a control loop within
which the system controller will remain so long as there remains
data in RAM storage unit 332 and the host device remains connected
to data-output communication port 324.
[0247] As indicated at Block A in FIG. 20A, if the system
controller does not receive host detect signal A.sub.DL=1 from host
detect circuit 329, indicative that a host device is not plugged
into the data-output communication port, then the system controller
proceeds to Block N. At Block N, the system controller first checks
the output of low battery circuit 327 to determine that sufficient
power is available. If insufficient battery strength is indicated,
then at Block O the system controller disconnects battery power
supply 326 from data-output communication port 324 by way of power
switching circuit 320. Thereafter at Block P in FIG. 20A, the
system controller writes "LOW BATTERIES" to character display 322.
The system controller remains at Block Q until it receives host
detect signal A.sub.DL=1, indicative that the host device is
plugged into data-output communication port 324. If so, the system
controller advances to Block C, as hereinbefore described. Notably,
this choice of control flow is based on the fact that, during data
downloading operations, power is supplied to the data collection
base unit by the host device, and the battery level of the data
collection device is of no consequence during such operations.
[0248] If a LOW battery level is not detected at Block N, then the
system controller proceeds to Block R and polls both the receiver
circuit and the keypad for entry of data. If the system controller
determines that no data is being presented for collection, then the
system controller returns to Block A, as shown. However, if one of
these components has data fox collection, then at Block S in FIG.
20B the system controller determines which one has data for entry.
If the keypad has data for entry and collection, then the system
controller proceeds to Block T in FIG. 20C.
[0249] At Block T, the system controller uploads such data by first
writing the data to character display 323, and then at Block U
storing the data in RAM storage unit 332. Then, at Block V, the
system controller determines whether RAM storage unit 332 is filled
to capacity. If it is, then at Block W the system controller writes
"MEMORY FULL" to character display 332. Thereafter, the system
controller remains at Block X until it receives host detect signal
A.sub.DL=1, indicative that a host device is connected to
data-output communications port 324 for downloading collected data
thereto. When a host device is detected at the data-output
communications port 324, the system controller proceeds to Block C
for participating in downloading of a collection data, in a manner
described above. If, at Block V, the system controller determines
that RAM storage unit 332 is not full, then the system controller
returns to Block A, as shown.
[0250] If at Block S the RF receiver circuit has data for entry,
then the system controller proceeds to Block Y in FIG. 20D. At this
Block, the system controller enables data packet storage buffer 338
and data packet frame check module 340 by producing activation
control signals E.sub.SB=1 and E.sub.PFC=1, respectively. At Block
Z, the base unit system controller determines whether it has
received an acknowledgement (i.e., control activation signal
A.sub.PFC-1) from the data packet frame check module, indicating
that the received data packet is properly framed. If the received
data packet is not properly framed, then the base unit returns to
Block R in order to redetect the incoming carrier signal. However,
if the received data packet is properly framed, then at Block AA
the base unit system controller enables the transmitter number
identification module by generating enable signal E.sub.TID=1.
[0251] At Block BB in FIG. 20D, the base unit system controller
determines whether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control
activation signal A.sub.TID=1) from the transmitter number
identification module 341 that the received data packet contains
the correct transmitter identification number (i.e., the same
number assigned to the base unit). If the Transmitter
Identification Number contained within the received data packet
does not match the Base Unit Identification Number preassigned to
the base unit, then the base unit system controller returns to
Block R whereupon it resumes carrier signal detection. If, however,
the Transmitter Identification Number contained in the received
data packet matches the Base Unit Identification Number stored in
EPROM 331, then at Block CC the base unit system controller enables
the data packet group number identification module 342 by
generating enable signal E.sub.DPID=1.
[0252] At Block DD in FIG. 20D, the base unit system controller
determines whether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control
activation signal A.sub.DPID=1) from the data packet group
identification module 342 indicating that the received data packet
is not a redundant data packet (i.e., from the same transmitted
data packet group). This is achieved by analyzing the Packet Group
Number of the previous and currently received data packets. If the
received data packet is a redundant data packet, then the base unit
system controller returns to Block R, whereupon carrier signal
detection is resumed. If, however, the received data packet is
determined not redundant at Block DD, then at Block EE the base
unit system controller enables the symbol character data extraction
module 343 by generating enable signal E.sub.DE=1. In response to
the generation of this enable signal, symbol data extraction module
343 reads the bytes of symbol character data contained in the
received data packet, checks the data for statistical reliability,
and the writes the extracted symbol character data bytes into
storage buffer 338.
[0253] At Block FF in FIG. 20D, the base unit system controller
enables at Block FF the acoustical acknowledgement signal
generation circuit 346 by producing enable signal E.sub.AA=1. In
response to the production of this enable signal, acoustical
acknowledgment signal generation circuit 346 generates a high
intensity acoustical signal having characteristics of the type
described above, thereby informing the user that a transmitted data
packet has been received and that the symbol character data
packaged therein has been successfully recovered and transmitted to
the host computer system. Thereafter, the base unit system
controller proceeds to Block T in FIG. 20C, as shown.
[0254] In the event that the operator desires to clear RAM storage
unit 332 of collected data, the operator must enter a preset code
word or alphanumeric code by way of keypad 321. This feature
prevents accidental erasure of collected data. Also, the data
collection device of the present invention automatically down-loads
the stored data to the host computer system upon detection of the
data-receive port. Rather than programming the data collection
device for such data "downloading" transfers, data downloading
routines are programmed into the host computer system. Preferably,
these downloading routines are designed to accept downloaded
symbols and create an ASCII file.
[0255] The third illustrative embodiment of the base unit shown in
FIGS. 5A to 5D will now be described in greater detail with
reference to FIGS. 21 to 23.
[0256] As shown in FIG. 21, base unit 360 is realized as a PCMCIA
card 361, including a PC board 362, which as a single device
inserts into the PCMCIA (TYPE II or III) port 363 of a portable or
desk-top computer system 364. In general, the system architecture
of base unit 360 is similar to base unit 3 of the first
illustrative embodiment described above. As shown in FIG. 22, base
unit 360 comprises a number hardware and software components,
namely: a power supply circuit 373; a receiving antenna element
374; an RF carrier signal receiver circuit 375; a data packet
storage buffer 377; a base unit system controller 378; a data
packet frame check module 379; a transmitter number identification
module 380; a data packet number identification module 381; a
symbol character data extraction module 382; a
serial-data-to-PCMCIA-bus conversion module 383; a PCMCIA bus
interface circuit 384; and an acoustical acknowledgement signal
generation circuit 385. In the illustrative embodiment, a
programmed microprocessor and associated memory (i.e., ROM and RAM)
mounted on PC board 362, indicated by reference numeral 386, are
used to realize base unit system controller 378 and each of the
above-described data processing modules 377 to 383 in a similar
manner hereinbefore described. The details of such a programming
implementation are known by those with ordinary skill in the art to
which the present invention pertains.
[0257] As shown in FIG. 22, the output of the symbol character data
extraction module 382 is provided to the input of the
serial-data-to-PCMCIA-bus-conversion module 383. The function of
this conversion module is to convert the format of the recovered
symbol character data so that it may be placed on the PCMCIA bus of
host computer 364, via PCMCIA bus interface circuit 384. The
function of PCMCIA bus interface circuit 384 is to realize the
interface between the PCMCIA bus aboard host computer 364 and the
circuitry on PC board 362 which realizes the structures and
functions of the base unit. Electro-acoustical transducer 388,
which forms part of the acoustical acknowledgment signal generation
circuit 385, and RF receiving antenna 374, are both mounted on a
selected portion of PC board 362 that extends from the PCMCIA port
363, as shown. In this way, the receiving antenna element is free
to detect RF carrier signals, while the electro-acoustical
transducer is free to transmit acoustical acknowledgment signals to
the ambient environment for the user to hear. In all other
respects, the base unit 360 is structurally and functionally
similar to base unit 3 described above.
[0258] The overall operation of the base unit of the third
illustrative embodiment will be described below with reference to
the control process shown in FIG. 23.
[0259] As illustrated at Block A in FIG. 23, radio receiving
circuit 375 is the only system component that is normally active at
this stage of the base unit system control process; all other
system components are inactive (i.e., disabled) including base unit
system controller 378; data packet storage buffer 377, data packet
frame check module 379, transmitter number identification module
380, data packet number Identification module 381, symbol character
data extraction module 382, serial-data-to-PCMCIA-bus-conversion
module 383, PCMCIA bus interface circuit 384, and acoustical
acknowledgement signal generation circuit 385. With the radio
receiving circuit activated, base unit 360 is capable of receiving
any modulated carrier signal transmitted from any of the bar code
symbol reading devices within the data transmission range of the
base unit.
[0260] At Block B in FIG. 23, radio receiving circuit 375
determines whether it has received a transmitted carrier signal on
its receiving antenna element 374. If it has, then the radio
receiving circuit generates a system controller activation signal
A.sub.7, which activates base unit system controller 378 shown in
FIG. 21. Then at Block C, the base unit system controller activates
(i.e., enables) data packet storage buffer 377 and data packet
frame check module 379 by producing activation control signals
E.sub.SB=1 and E.sub.PFC=1, respectively. At Block D, the base unit
system controller determines whether it has received an
acknowledgement (i.e., control activation signal A.sub.PFC=1) from
the data packet frame check module, indicating that the received
data packet is properly framed. If the received data packet is not
properly framed, then the base unit returns to Block A in order to
redetect an incoming carrier signal. However, if the received data
packet is properly framed, then at Block E the base unit system
controller enables the transmitter number identification module by
generating enable signal E.sub.TID=1.
[0261] At Block F in FIG. 23, the base unit system controller
determines whether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control
activation signal A.sub.TID=1) from the transmitter number
identification module that the received data packet contains the
correct transmitter identification number (i.e., the same number
assigned to the base unit and stored in storage unit 376). If the
Transmitter Identification Number contained within the received
data packet does not match the Base Unit Identification Number
stored in storage unit 376, then the base unit system controller
returns to Block A whereupon it resumes carrier signal detection.
If, however, the Transmitter Identification Number contained in the
received data packet matches the Base Unit Identification Number,
then at Block G the base unit system controller enables the data
packet number identification module 389 by generating enable signal
E.sub.DPID=1.
[0262] At Block H in FIG. 23, the base unit system controller
determines whether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control
activation signal A.sub.DPID=1) from the data packet identification
module indicating that the received data packet is not a redundant
data packet (i.e., from the same transmitted data packet group). If
the received data packet is a redundant data packet, then the base
unit system controller returns to Block A, whereupon carrier signal
detection is resumed. If, however, the received data packet is not
redundant, then at Block I the base unit system controller enables
the symbol character data extraction module by generating enable
signal E.sub.DE=1. In response to the generation of this enable
signal, the symbol data extraction module reads at Block J the
symbol character data contained in the received data packet, checks
the data for statistical reliability, and the writes the extracted
symbol character data bytes into a storage buffer (not explicitly
shown). Thereafter, as indicated at Block K, the base unit system
controller enables serial-data-to-PCMCIA-bus conversion module 383
by generating enable signal E.sub.DFC=1. In response to this enable
signal, the serial-data-to-PCMCIA-bus conversion module 383
converts the data format of the recovered symbol character data and
then transfers the format-converted data to the PCMCIA bus of the
host computer 364 by way of bus interface circuitry 384. When the
serial data transmission process is successfully completed, the
base unit system controller enables at Block L the acoustical
acknowledgement signal generation circuit 385 by producing enable
signal E.sub.AA=1. In response to the production of this enable
signal, acoustical acknowledgment signal generation circuit 235
generates a high intensity acoustical signal having characteristics
of the type described above, thereby informing the user that a
transmitted data packet has been received and that the symbol
character data packaged therein has been successfully recovered and
transmitted to the host computer system. Thereafter, the base unit
system controller returns to the Block A, as shown. The fourth
illustrative embodiment of the base unit of FIGS. 6A to 6D will now
be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 24A to
26.
[0263] As shown in FIG. 24C, a base unit 61 is operably connected
to a bar code symbol printing engine 62. As shown, base unit 61 is
interfaced with host computer system (e.g., desk-top computer 64 by
way of serial data communications cable 65. Power cable 65 is
connected to a connector jack on PC board 68 and supplies
electrical power to primary transformer 67 by way of a conventional
current chopper circuit 412 realized on PC board 68, and wires 69
extending therebetween. As shown, PC board 68 is mounted on a base
plate 400 having a pair of spaced apart projections 401A and 401B
disposed within the plane of the base plate. Base unit housing 73
is adapted to snap-fit onto base plate 400. A circular aperture 404
is provided in the top panel of housing 73 to permit the energy of
acoustical acknowledgment signals emanate from the
electroacoustical transducer mounted on PC board 68.
[0264] As shown in FIG. 24A and 24B, bar code symbol printing
engine 62 comprises a base plate 405 on which a conventional bar
code printing engine 406 is mounted, and a printing engine housing
407 that encloses the engine and connects to base plate 405 in a
snap-fit manner. Housing 407 has an aperture 408 in its top panel
to permit the substrate 409 on which bar code labels 410 are
printed. Base plate 405 has a pair of spaced apart slots 411A and
411B, which are adapted to receive and engage projections 401A and
401B, respectively.
[0265] As shown in FIG. 25, base unit 61 comprises a number
hardware and software components, namely: a power supply circuit
273; a receiving antenna element 415; an RF carrier signal receiver
circuit 416; a data packet storage buffer 418; a base unit system
controller 419; a data packet frame check module 420; a transmitter
number identification module 421; a data packet number
identification module 422; a symbol character data extraction
module 423; a data format conversion module 424; an acoustical
acknowledgement signal generation circuit 425; serial data
transceiver circuit 426; and input/output (I/O) register 428. In
the illustrative embodiment, a programmed microprocessor and
associated memory (i.e., ROM and RAM) mounted on PC board 68,
indicated by reference numeral 430, are used to realize base unit
system controller 419 and each of the above-described data
processing modules 420 to 424. The details of such a programming
implementation are known by those with ordinary skill in the art to
which the present invention pertains.
[0266] As shown in FIG. 25, the output of the symbol character data
extraction module is provided to data format conversion module 424.
The output of data format conversion module 424 is connected to
serial data transceiver circuit 426. In turn, serial data
transceiver circuit 426 is connected to the serial data input port
of host computer 64, as shown. Notably, serial data transceiver
circuit 426 is enabled by an enable signal E.sub.DST=1 produced by
the base unit system controller. In all other respects, the
architecture of base unit 61 is substantially similar to the base
unit of the first illustrative embodiment.
[0267] The overall operation of base unit 61 will be described,
below with reference to the control process shown in FIG. 26.
[0268] Prior to entering Block A in FIG. 26, only serial data
transceiver circuit 426, base unit system controller 419 and radio
receiver circuit 416 are activated, while all other system
components are disabled. As illustrated at Block A in FIG. 26, the
base unit system controller 419 determines whether activation
control signal A.sub.SD=1 has been received. If this control
activation signal is received, then at Block B, the base unit
system controller enables the I/O register 428 to direct the
received serial data to the printing engine 406. Thereafter, the
base unit system controller returns to Block A in FIG. 26.
[0269] If at Block A, the base unit system controller does not
receive control activation signal A.sub.SD 32 1, but rather
A.sub.SD=0, then the base unit system controller proceeds to Block
C in FIG. 26. At this control block, radio receiving circuit 416,
system controller 419, and serial data transceiver 426 are the only
active system components; all other system components are inactive
(i.e., disabled) including base unit system controller 419, data
packet storage buffer 418, data packet frame check module 420,
transmitter number identification module 421, data packet number
identification module 422, symbol character data extraction module
423, data format conversion module 424, acoustical acknowledgement
signal generation circuit 425, and serial data transceiver circuit
426. With the radio receiving circuit 416 activated, base unit 61
is capable of receiving any modulated carrier signal transmitted
from any of the bar code symbol reading devices within the data
transmission range of the base unit.
[0270] At Block D in FIG. 26, radio receiving circuit 416
determines whether it has received a transmitted carrier signal on
its receiving antenna element 415. If it has, then the radio
receiving circuit generates a system controller activation signal
A.sub.7 which activates base unit system controller 419 shown in
FIG. 25. Then at Block E, the base unit system controller activates
(i.e., enables) data packet storage buffer 418 and data packet
frame check module 420 by producing activation control signals
E.sub.SB=1 and E.sub.PFC=1, respectively. At Block D, the base unit
system controller determines whether it has received an
acknowledgement (i.e., control activation signal A.sub.PFC=1) from
the data packet frame check module, indicating that the received
data packet is properly framed. If the received data packet is not
properly framed, then the base unit returns to Block A in order to
redetect an incoming carrier signal. However, if the received data
packet is properly framed, then at Block G the base unit system
controller enables the transmitter number identification module by
generating enable signal E.sub.TID=1.
[0271] At Block H, the base unit system controller determines
whether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control activation
signal A.sub.TID=1) from the transmitter number identification
module that the received data packet contains the correct
transmitter identification number (i.e., the same number assigned
to the base unit and stored in storage unit 417). If the
Transmitter Identification Number contained within the received
data packet does not match the Base Unit Identification Number
stored in storage unit 417, then the base unit system controller
returns to Block A, whereupon it resumes carrier signal detection.
If, however, the Transmitter Identification Number contained in the
received data packet matches the Base Unit Identification Number,
then at Block I the base unit system controller enables the data
packet number identification module 422 by generating enable signal
E.sub.DPID=1.
[0272] At Block J in FIG. 26, the base unit system controller
determines whether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control
activation signal A.sub.DPID=1) from the data packet identification
module indicating that the received data packet is not a redundant
data packet (i.e., from the same transmitted at a packet group). If
the received data packet is a redundant data packet, then the base
unit system controller returns to Block A, whereupon carrier signal
detection is resumed. If, however, the received data packet is not
redundant, then at Block K the base unit system controller enables
symbol character data extraction module 423 by generating enable
signal E.sub.DE=1. At Block L, the symbol data extraction module
reads the symbol character data contained in the received data
packet, checks the data for statistical reliability, and the writes
the extracted symbol character data bytes into a storage buffer
(not explicitly shown). Then as indicated at Block M, the base unit
system controller enables the data format conversion module 424 by
generating enable signal E.sub.DFC=1. In response to this enable
signal, data format conversion module 424 converts the data format
of the retrieved symbol character data and then buffers the
format-converted symbol character data bytes.
[0273] When the data format conversion process is successfully
completed, the base unit system controller proceeds to Block N and
enables the serial data transceiver circuit 426 by generating
enable signal E.sub.DSW=1. At this stage of the control process,
the format-converted data is transmitted from serial data
transceiver circuit 426, to the serial data input port of host
computer system 64 using serial data transmission techniques well
known in the art. When the serial data transmission process is
successfully completed, the base unit system controller enables at
Block O the acoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit
425 by producing enable signal E.sub.AA-1. In response to the
production of this enable signal, acoustical acknowledgment signal
generation circuit 425 generates a high intensity acoustical
signal, as described above, in order to inform the user that a
transmitted data packet has been received and that the symbol
character data packaged therein has been successfully recovered and
transmitted to the host computer. Thereafter, the base unit system
controller returns to the Block A, as shown.
[0274] The fifth illustrative embodiment of the base unit of the
present invention will now be described in greater detail with
reference to FIGS. 27 to 30.
[0275] As shown in FIG. 27, base unit 61' is similar in many
respects to the fourth illustrative embodiment of the base unit,
shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D and FIG. 24C. As shown, base unit 61' is
interfaced with host computer system (e.g., desk-top computer) 64
having a CPU 64A, video display monitor 64B and a keyboard 64C. CPU
64A is interfaced with base unit 61' by way of serial data
communication cable 65, and keyboard 64C is interfaced with base
unit 61 by way of serial data communication cable 440. Power cable
66 is connected to a connector jack on PC board 68' inside base
unit 61' and supplies electrical power to primary transformer 67 by
way of wires 69 and a conventional current chopper circuit 412 on
PC board 68'. As shown, PC board 68' is mounted on base plate 400,
whereas keyboard cable input jack 440 is mounted on base plate 400,
for receiving the connector cable of a conventional keyboard. Base
unit housing 73' is adapted to snap-fit onto base plate 400. As
shown, base unit housing 73 has a keyboard jack aperture 441 to
permit a keyboard connector insert into keyboard cable input jack
440. Circular aperture 404 is provided in the top panel of housing
73' to permit the energy of acoustical acknowledgment signals
emanate from the electroacoustical transducer 445 mounted on PC
board 68'.
[0276] As shown in FIG. 29, base unit 61' comprises substantially
the same hardware and software components employed in the fourth
illustrative embodiment of the base unit shown in FIG. 25, namely:
power supply circuit 273; receiving antenna element 415; RF carrier
signal receiver circuit 416; base unit identification number
storage unit 417; data packet storage buffer 418; base unit system
controller 419; data packet frame check module 420; transmitter
number identification module 421; data packet number identification
module 422; symbol character data extraction module 423; an
ASCII-Data-to-Keyboard-Scancode conversion module 442; acoustical
acknowledgment signal generation circuit 425; and data switching
circuit 443. In the illustrative embodiment, a programmed
microprocessor and associated memory (i.e., ROM and RAM) mounted on
PC board 68', indicated by referenced numeral 430, are used to
realize base unit system controller 419 and each of the
above-described data processing modules 418 to 424 and 442. The
details of such a programming implementation are known by those
with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention
pertains.
[0277] As shown in FIG. 29, the output of the symbol character data
extraction module is provided to ASCII-Data-to-Keyboard-Scancode
conversion module 442. Also, the serial data output port of
ASCII-Data-to-Keyboard-Scancode conversion module 442 is connected
to one data input port of data switching circuit 443, whereas the
serial data output port of keyboard 64C is connected to the other
data input port of the data switching circuit 443. In turn, the
serial data output port of the data switching circuit 443 is
connected to the serial data input port of host computer 64, as
shown. Notably, the operation of data switching circuit 443 is
normally activated (i.e., enabled) independent of base unit system
controller 119 so that serial data output from the keyboard is
routed through the data switching circuit to the host computer
keyboard port. In all other respects, the architecture of base unit
61' is substantially similar to the base unit of the fourth
illustrative embodiment.
[0278] The overall operation of base unit 61' will be described
below with reference to the control process shown in FIG. 30.
[0279] At control Block A in FIG. 30, radio receiving circuit 415
is the only active system component; all other system components
are inactive (i.e., disabled) including base unit system controller
419, data packet storage buffer 418, data packet frame check module
420, transmitter number identification module 421, data packet
number identification module 422, symbol character data extraction
module 423, ASCII-Data-to-Keyboard-Scancode format conversion
module 424, and acoustical acknowledgment signal generation circuit
425. With the radio receiving circuit 416 activated, base unit 61'
is capable of receiving any modulated carrier signal transmitted
from any of the bar code symbol reading devices within the data
transmission range of the base unit.
[0280] At Block B in FIG. 30, radio receiving circuit 415
determines whether it has received a transmitted carrier signal on
its receiving antenna element 415. If it has, then the radio
receiving circuit generates a system controller activation signal
A.sub.7, which activates base unit system controller 419. Then at
Block C, the base unit system controller activates (i.e, enables)
data packet storage buffer 418 and data packet frame check module
420 by producing activation control signals E.sub.SB=1 and
E.sub.PFC=1, respectively. At Block D, the base unit system
controller determines whether it has received an acknowledgment
(i.e., control activation signal A.sub.PFC=1) from the data packet
frame check module, indicating that the received data packet is
properly framed. If the received data packet is not properly
framed, then the base unit returns to Block A in order to redetect
an incoming carrier signal. However, if the received data packet is
properly framed, then at Block E the base unit system controller
enables the transmitter number identification module by generating
enable signal E.sub.TID=1.
[0281] At Block F, the base unit system controller determines
whether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control activation
signal A.sub.TID=1) from the transmitter number identification
module that the received data packet contains the correct
transmitter identification number (i.e., the same number assigned
to the base unit and stored in storage unit 417). If the
Transmitter Identification Number contained within the received
data packet does not match the Base Unit Identification Number
stored in storage unit 417, then the base unit system controller
returns to Block A, whereupon it resumes carrier signal detection.
If, however, the Transmitter Identification Number contained in the
received data packet matches the preassigned Base Unit
Identification Number, then at Block G the base unit system
controller enables the data packet number identification module 422
by generating enable signal E.sub.DPID=1.
[0282] At Block H in FIG. 26, the base unit system controller
determines whether it has received an acknowledgment (i.e., control
activation signal A.sub.DPID=1 from the data packet identification
module indicating that the received data packet is not a redundant
data packet (i.e., from the same transmitted data packet group). If
the received data packet is a redundant data packet, then the base
unit system controller returns to Block A, whereupon carrier signal
detection is resumed. If, however, the received data packet is not
redundant, then at Block I the base unit system controller enables
symbol character data extraction module 423 by generating enable
signal E.sub.DE=1. At Block J, the symbol data extraction module
reads the symbol character data contained in the received data
packet, checks the data for statistical reliability, and then
writes the extracted symbol character data bytes into a storage
buffer (not explicitly shown). Then as indicated at Block K, the
base unit system controller enables the ASII-data-to-Keyboard-Data
format conversion module 442 by generating enable signal
E.sub.DFC=1. In response to this enable signal, data format
conversion module 442 converts the data format of the retrieved
symbol character data and then buffers the format-converted symbol
character data bytes.
[0283] When the data format conversion process is successfully
completed, the base unit system controller proceeds to Block L and
enables data switching circuit 443 to output the converted scan
codes to the host keyboard port, by generating enable signal
E.sub.DSW=1. At this stage of the control process, the
format-converted data is transmitted through data switching circuit
443 to the serial data keyboard input port of host computer system
64, using serial data transmission techniques well known in the
art. When the serial data transmission process is successfully
completed, the base unit system controller enables, at Block M, the
acoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit 425 by
producing enable signal E.sub.AA=1. In response to the production
of this enable signal, acoustical acknowledgment signal generation
circuit 425 generates a high intensity acoustical signal, as
described above, in order to inform the user that a transmitted
data packet has been received and that the symbol character data
packaged therein has been successfully recovered and transmitted to
the host computer. Thereafter, the base unit system controller
returns to the Block A, as shown.
[0284] It is appropriate at this juncture to illustrate the
automatic hands-on and hands-free modes of operation of the system
while utilized in different mounting installations. For purposes of
illustration only, the system of the first illustrative embodiment
shown in FIGS. 1 to 3A will be used to illustrate such mounting
illustrations.
[0285] A point-of-sale station is shown in FIGS. 31A to 31D, as
comprising an electronic cash register 6 operably connected to the
automatic bar code reading system of the first illustrative
embodiment by way of flexible communication cable 7. Low voltage DC
power is provided to base unit 3 by way of flexible power supply
cable 8. In this particular mounting installation, base unit 3 is
supported on a horizontal countertop surface. If necessary or
desired in such mounting installations, the base plate of base unit
3 may be weighted by affixing one or more dense mass elements to
the upper surface of the base plate.
[0286] With automatic bar code reading device 2 supported within
scanner support stand portion of the base unit, as shown in FIG.
31A, the system is automatically induced into its automatic long
range hands-free mode of operation. However, owing to the
positioning of both object detection and scan fields in this
mounting installation, only bar code symbols located on small, very
low profile objects can be easily read. In order to induce the
system into its short-range hands-on mode of operation, the user
simply encircles the handle portion of the hand-supportable device
with his or her fingers, and then lifts the device out of the
scanner support stand, as shown in FIGS. 31B. Upon lifting the
device out of its stand, the range selection circuit 115 (e.g.,
including a Halt-effect magnetic flux sensor (mounted in the handle
of the housing) detects the absence of magnetic flux produced from
a permanent magnet mounted in the support stand, and automatically
generates the short-range control activation signal (i.e.,
R.sub.1=0). The details of this range mode-selection mechanism can
be found in copending application Ser. No. 07/761,123, supra.
[0287] With the automatic bar code reading device held in the
user's hand, and a bar coded object 435 in the other hand, the
object is moved into the short-range portion of the object
detection field as shown in FIG. 31C, where the object is
automatically detected, and bar code symbol 436 automatically
scanned while the visible laser beam is repeatedly scanned across
the scan field. After the bar code symbol has been successfully
read (i.e., detected and decoded) and a transmitted data packet
containing symbol character data has been received and processed at
base unit 3 in a manner described hereinabove, a highly audible
acoustical acknowledgement signal sack of a predetermined pitch is
produced from the base unit. Thereafter, the bar code reading
device is placed back within the scanner support stand, as shown in
FIG. 31D, where it is once again induced into its long-range
hands-free mode of operation.
[0288] In FIGS. 32 to 33B, a point-of-sale station is shown
comprising the automatic bar code reading system of the present
invention operably connected to electronic cash register 6 by way
of flexible communication and power supply cables 7 and 8. In this
particular mounting installation, base unit 3 and its associated
scanner support stand are pivotally supported above a horizontal
counter surface by way of a pivotal joint assembly 265 connected to
pedestal base 266 mounted under the electronic cash register, as
shown. When installed in the manner illustrated, scanner support
stand 3 can be adjustably positioned and locked into virtually any
orientation in three-dimensional space, owing to the three
principle degrees of freedom provided by the pivotal joint
assembly.
[0289] With automatic bar code reading device positioned within
scanner stand portion of base unit 3 as shown in FIG. 32, the
system is automatically induced into its long-range hands-free mode
of operation by way of the magnetic flux sensing technique
disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 07/761,123. By simply
moving object 435 into the object detection field, the bar code
symbol 436 is repeatedly scanned by the visible laser beam scanned
across the scan field. To induce the automatic bar code reading
system into its short-range hands-on mode of operation, the user
simply grasps the automatic bar code reading device and lifts it
out of the scanner support stand, as illustrated in FIG. 33A. Then,
by placing object 435 into the short-range portion of the object
detection field as shown in FIG. 33B, the object is automatically
detected and bar code symbol 436 scanned by the visible laser beam
repeatedly scanned across the scan field. After the bar code symbol
has been successfully read and an audible acoustical acknowledgment
signal produced as herebefore described, the automatic bar code
reading device can be placed back into the scanner support stand,
automatically inducing the system into its long-range hands-free
mode of operation.
[0290] Having described the preferred embodiments of the present
invention, several modifications come to mind.
[0291] For example, in alternative embodiments of the present
invention, the automatic portable bar code symbol reading device
may not incorporate within its housing, electronic circuitry for
carrying out control, decoding and other data processing functions.
Instead such electronic circuitry may be contained within a remote
unit operably associated with the hand-supportable device by way of
the flexible scanner cable. In such embodiments, the
hand-supportable device will function as an automatic
hand-supportable laser scanner, rather than a bar code symbol
reader.
[0292] The automatic bar code reading system of the present
invention is capable of performing a wide variety of complex
decision-making operations in real-time, endowing the system with a
level of intelligence hitherto unattained in the bar code symbol
reading art. Within the spirit of the present invention, additional
decision-making operations may be provided to further enhance the
capabilities of the system.
[0293] While the particular illustrative embodiments shown and
described above will be useful in many applications in code symbol
reading, further modifications to the present invention herein
disclosed will occur to persons with ordinary skill in the art. All
such modifications are deemed to be within the scope and spirit of
the present invention defined by the appended claims to
invention.
* * * * *