U.S. patent application number 13/447801 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-11 for indicia reading system with improved battery charging.
This patent application is currently assigned to HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.. Invention is credited to James Ledwith, James F. O'Donnell, Michael Scollan, Daniel Van Volkinburg.
Application Number | 20120256002 13/447801 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45931313 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120256002 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
O'Donnell; James F. ; et
al. |
October 11, 2012 |
INDICIA READING SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED BATTERY CHARGING
Abstract
Embodiments of an indicia reading system comprise a terminal and
a cradle that communicate via wireless technology and are
configured to charge a battery in the terminal using power supplied
by a host device when the terminal is operated in a presentation
mode.
Inventors: |
O'Donnell; James F.;
(Camillus, NY) ; Scollan; Michael; (Auburn,
NY) ; Ledwith; James; (Syracuse, NY) ;
Volkinburg; Daniel Van; (Syracuse, NY) |
Assignee: |
HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
Skaneateles Falls
NY
|
Family ID: |
45931313 |
Appl. No.: |
13/447801 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13017909 |
Jan 31, 2011 |
8157177 |
|
|
13447801 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/472.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 7/10386
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/472.01 |
International
Class: |
G06K 7/14 20060101
G06K007/14 |
Claims
1. A system comprising: a terminal comprising a battery and having
an image sensor array comprising a plurality of pixels, a first
light source for use in generating a first pattern to illuminate
decodable indicia on a target, a second light source for use in
generating a second pattern, a lens assembly for use in focusing an
image onto the image sensor array, and a housing incorporating the
battery and the image sensor array; a cradle with a socket sized
and configured to receive a portion of the housing therein, the
cradle having a input port that is connectable to a host device
from which an input current can be received; and a server external
to the terminal and the cradle; wherein the terminal is operative
for capture of a frame of image data, the frame of image data
representing the target and the decodable indicia disposed thereon,
wherein the terminal is operative to transmit the frame of image
data to the server, and wherein responsive to docking the terminal
in the socket of the cradle the terminal is configured to operate
in a first mode characterized by the first light source generating
the first pattern to provide illumination for use in capturing
images by the terminal, the first mode further being characterized
by the second light source being disabled, the first mode further
being characterized by the battery is being charged via an
electrical signal conducted from the cradle to the terminal.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the input current is 500
mA or less at about 5 V.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is operative
for capture of the frame of image data in the first mode without
the trigger signal.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the cradle comprises an
auxiliary connection that is connectable to an adapter, and wherein
the auxiliary connection is empty in the first mode.
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises a
second light source that is disabled in the first mode.
6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the first light source is
deactivated when the terminal is removed from the socket.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/017,909 filed Jan. 31, 2011 entitled,
"Indicia Reading System with Improved Battery Charging." The above
application is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field of the Disclosure
[0003] The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to
indicia reading systems, and more particularly, to indicia reading
systems configured for wireless communication between the terminal
and corresponding cradle, where the systems have improved battery
charging performance in various operating modes.
[0004] 2. Discussion of Related Art
[0005] Indicia reading terminals and scanners (collectively,
"terminals") are available in multiple varieties. These terminals
are useful to read and decode the information encoded in decodable
or information bearing indicia. Such decodable indicia are utilized
generously, from encoding shipping and tracking information for
packages, patient identification in hospitals, retail applications,
and use on any number of forms and documents including, but not
limited to, tax forms, order forms, transaction forms, survey
forms, delivery forms, prescriptions, receipts, newspapers, product
documents, reports, and the like.
[0006] In various environments, the use of decodable indicia, such
as bar code symbols, has become the norm for identifying products
and inventory. Typically, each item is marked with decodable
indicia associated with a description of the item and other
attributes (for example, price or patient identification) that are
stored in a database of a host device or network system. The
terminals are used to read the indicia and provide that reading as
input information to host devices. In some cases, the data is
provided to the host devices via base units or cradles, which
communicate with the indicia reader. Examples of host devices
include a hospital patient care system, a computer (fixed or
portable), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable data
terminal (PDT), a point of sale (POS) terminal, a transaction
terminal, cash register, server, or similar device.
[0007] While stationary presentation-type scanners were the norm,
advances upon fixed scanners use terminals that are hardwired to a
companion device (e.g., host device). This configuration permits
the user to manually move the terminal into position to scan
decodable indicia on an item, rather than having to move the item
into the field of view of the terminal as required with the
stationary presentation-type scanner. The scanned information from
decodable indicia is then transmitted to the companion device via
the hardwired connection between the two components. Unfortunately,
this approach does not eliminate the problems associated with
scanning items that are out of reach of the wire that secures
communication between the terminal and the companion device. These
problems often require that item is repositioned so that the reader
may scan the decodable indicia.
[0008] In order to eliminate the limitations imposed by hardwiring
the terminal to the companion device, another proposed approach is
to deploy wireless technology into the terminal. This technology
permits the terminal to communicate wirelessly with its companion
device. In one example of this approach, the terminal is held in a
cradle until needed to read decodable indicia that are normally out
of the view of the stationary presentation-type and/or hardwired
terminals. The user may manually move the terminal into position to
scan the decodable indicia as long as the reader is within a
distance where it may communicate wirelessly with its cradle. The
scanned information is then transmitted to the cradle over the
wireless connection.
[0009] Further improvements in wireless terminals are needed such
as, for example, there is a need for a wireless terminal with
improved battery charging performance and, in particular, improved
charging during various operating modes including presentation
modes.
SUMMARY
[0010] Embodiments of an indicia reading system comprise a terminal
and a cradle that communicate via wireless technology and are
configured to charge a battery in the terminal using power supplied
by a host device when the terminal is operated in a presentation
mode.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] So that the manner in which the above recited features of
the present invention can be understood in detail, a more
particular description of the invention briefly summarized above,
may be had by reference to the embodiments, some of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted,
however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical
embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be
considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to
other equally effective embodiments. Moreover, the drawings are not
necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon
illustrating the principles of certain embodiments of
invention.
[0012] Thus, for further understanding of the concepts of the
invention, reference can be made to the following detailed
description, read in connection with the drawings in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of
an indicia reading system;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded, assembly view an imaging
module for use with indicia reading systems such as the indicia
reading system of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective, assembled, assembly view of the
imaging module of FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary
embodiment of an indicia reading system;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of yet another exemplary
embodiment of an indicia reading system; and
[0018] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary hardware platform
for use in a terminal in an indicia reading system such as the
indicia reading systems of FIGS. 1, 4, and 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an indicia
reading system 100 which includes a terminal 102 and a base or
cradle 104. The terminal 102 may be any device capable of reading
decodable indicia which bear information and data encoded therein.
The cradle 104 may be a docking cradle capable of interacting with
the terminal 102 when the terminal 102 is positioned in the cradle
104 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The cradle 104 is often connectable
to a host device (not shown). Exemplary host devices include, but
are not limited to, a computer, register, point-of-sale (POS)
terminal, a transaction terminal, cash register, or similar
device.
[0020] The terminal 102, the cradle 104, and the host device
communicate amongst and between one another. For example, the
terminal 102 and the cradle 104 may communicate via wireless
technology, e.g., wireless Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b, or other
standardized proprietary and recognized RF devices. These wireless
features permit data such as captured image data of remote
decodable indicia to be transmitted from the terminal 102 to the
cradle 104. Communication of data between the cradle 104 and the
host device (and/or the terminal 102 and the host device) may be by
way of these wireless devices. Alternative or additional
configurations may, on the other hand, utilize wired and wire-type
connections such as wires that are configured on one end for a USB
connection, a FireWire (IEEE 1394) connection, a RS-232 connection,
and the like
[0021] The indicia reading system 100 can operate in a variety of
modes, including manual trigger mode and presentation mode. In
manual trigger mode, an operator initiates reading and decoding of
decodable indicia such as by actuating a trigger or switch on the
terminal 102. The terminal 102 is often removed from the cradle 104
for transport by an operator, which is useful in, e.g., retail
settings, to capture and decode data from decodable indicia located
on objects in locations removed from the cradle 104. In
presentation mode the terminal 102 is held stationary and decodable
indicia are passed by terminal 102 to initiate reading and decoding
thereof. The presentation mode is most often associated with the
terminal 102 at rest and orientated or "docked" in the cradle 104
as depicted in FIG. 1. When the terminal 102 is docked with the
cradle 104, the operator positions decodable indicia proximate the
terminal 102 rather than the operator moving the terminal 102 to
the object on which decodable indicia are disposed. Unlike the
manual trigger mode, however, the terminal 102 in presentation mode
is often operated continuously such as to decode (and attempt to
decode) decodable indicia seriatim.
[0022] The terminal 102 can be equipped with a battery (not shown)
such as a lithium ion battery to provide power, e.g., during
periods when the terminal 102 is removed from the cradle 104 and
used in manual trigger mode. Power to operate the terminal 102 when
docked with the cradle 104 can originate from the host device such
as via a wired connection associated therewith. Electrical
terminals and conductive contacts can be used to facilitate
communication of an electrical signal between the terminal 102 and
the cradle 104. These contacts and their configuration on, e.g.,
the terminal 102 and the cradle 104, are recognized among artisans
with skill in the related register and indicia (e.g., bar code)
reading arts, and thus details of their fabrication and integration
into the devices of the indicia reading system 100 are not
necessary.
[0023] The inventors note, however, that because power from the
host device may be limited, the indicia reading system 100, and the
terminal 102 in particular, is configured to operate at an input
current of about 500 mA or less at about 5 V. This is the amount of
power typically available via standard USB connections. In one
construction the indicia reading system 100 is configured to
operate at an input current of only about 400 mA at about 5 V.
Pertinent to the discussion that follows below, the input current
available from the host device often precludes some of the features
and functions of the indicia reading system 100. For example, power
provided only from the host device may not be sufficient to operate
the cradle 104, the terminal 102 in presentation mode, and
concurrently charge (or recharge) the battery of the terminal 102.
In one solution, an auxiliary device such as an adapter that is
connected to, e.g., an outlet, may be used to supplement (or in
place of) the input current from the host device. But while the
adapter may provide at least 1 A of input current, the auxiliary
device is not effective because this solution requires additional
hardware (e.g., the adapter).
[0024] Embodiments of the indicia reading system 100 are configured
to charge the battery while the terminal 102 is operated in one or
more presentation mode using only power from the host device. These
configurations minimize loss of battery charge, maintaining at or
near optimal level the battery charge when the terminal 102 and the
cradle 104 are utilized in normal or substantially normal
operation. Normal operation in, e.g., retail settings, describes
use of the indicia reading system 100 wherein the terminal 102 and
the cradle 104 are in presentation mode for a majority of operation
and in manual trigger mode only to image and decode decodable
indicia that are on large, bulky items or items that may be placed
on the bottom of a customer's shopping cart.
[0025] To further illustrate these features reference is directed
back to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the terminal 102 is depicted in a
gun-style form factor 106 that has a handle 108 and trigger 110
disposed thereon and positioned for comfortable grip and hand held
operation and activation of the various features of the terminal
102. The cradle 104 has a housing 112 and can include a status
indicator 114 such as one or more lights and a socket 116 that may
be complimentarily shaped and configured to receive the terminal
102 in the cradle 104. In one exemplary construction the terminal
102 and socket 116 are configured so that the lower portion of the
handle 108 may be inserted into the socket 116 which may then hold
and support the terminal 102. Configurations of the housing 112
will generally dictate the position, orientation, and location of
the socket 116 as well as the operative interface between the
handle 108 and the socket 116. For example, the socket 116 may be
formed as the generally semi-circular arrangement of features on
which rest the forward surfaces of the handle 108. Alternatively,
the socket 116 may be formed as a depression or cavity within the
housing 112, whereby the resulting cavity is of sufficient depth to
receive the bottom portion of the handle 108 but maintain the
terminal 102 in a generally upright or slightly downwardly-angled
orientation.
[0026] Attached to the handle 108 is a head portion 118 with data
capture hardware 120 which can comprise an optical reader or laser
scanner. Either of these devices may facilitate data acquisition
from the decodable indicia. For purposes of the present example,
the data capture hardware 120 is configured with an optical reader
in the form of an imaging module 122 having features and elements
responsive to a trigger signal generated by operator actuation of
the trigger 110. These elements enable the terminal 102 to capture
an image or frame of data respecting the decodable indicia at which
the terminal 102, and particularly the data capture hardware 120,
is directed or aimed.
[0027] An example of the imaging module 122 is depicted in FIGS. 2
and 3. In one construction of the terminals of the present
disclosure, the imaging module 122 can comprise a focus element 124
and an image sensor integrated circuit 126 that is disposed on a
printed circuit board 128 together with a first light source 130
and a second light source 132. Here, each of the first light source
130 and the second light source 132 is provided as a single light
source. The imaging module 122 can also include an optical plate
134 that has optics for shaping light from the first light source
130 and the second light source 132 into predetermined
patterns.
[0028] As discussed above, the indicia reading system 100 can
operate in a variety of modes. In one example, manual trigger mode
is a mode wherein scanning and/or decoding stops or is interrupted
and initiated with an actuation event such as operator actuation of
the trigger 110. When initiated by depressing the trigger 110, the
imaging module 122 may expose (or capture) images continuously and
decode (or read) images continuously. Capture and decode may stop
once the trigger 110 is released. In presentation mode the terminal
102 is held stationary and decodable indicia are passed by the
imaging module 116.
[0029] Variations in the presentation mode can also be implemented
for use with the indicia reading system 100. Such variations may
incorporate changes to the operation of the imaging module 122 such
as by selectively changing operation of the first light source 130
and/or the second light source 132. The light sources can be turned
on and/or off, dimmed, or otherwise have reduced lighting abilities
based on the desired operation. The changes in operation can occur
by way of, for example, if no decodable indicia have been sensed
for a period of time. Still other variations in the presentation
mode may, on the other hand, continuously energize one or more of
the first light source 130 and second light source 132. In one
example, the indicia reading system 100 operates in a first
presentation mode in which one of the first light source 130 and
the second light source 132 is continuously energized and the
imaging module 122 continuously searches for decodable indicia.
[0030] To accommodate for first presentation mode, the terminal 102
can be configured to change one or more pre-defined operating
characteristics of the first light source 130 and the second light
source 132. In one embodiment, the predefined operating
characteristic is selected so that one of the first light source
130 or the second light source 132 is disabled and/or is operated
in diminished or reduced operating state. In one example, if the
first light source 130 is activated, then the second light source
132 is deactivated. Alternatively, the terminal 102 is configured
to permit the operator to select, modify, or change the pre-defined
operating characteristic to change the operating state of the
non-activated light source. For example, if the first light source
130 is activated, than the operator may select various
configurations for the operating state of the second light source
132 such as deactivated, intermittent activation based on, e.g., a
pre-determined period of time, and/or reduced brightness based on,
e.g., a pre-determined operating current to the second light source
132. The operator may adjust the configuration to change the
charging characteristics, wherein certain configurations may be
better suited to charge the battery in one or more of the
modes.
[0031] The cradle 104 can also be configured to operate the status
indicator 114 to reduce power consumption. This configuration can
accommodate the selection of various low-power or reduced-power
indicator lights and/or circuitry that supplies a reduced amount of
power to the status indicator 114 in the first presentation mode.
In one example, operation of the status indicator 114 is modified
so the status indicator 114 is activated in a pre-determined
pattern or frequencies that utilize less power. These patterns may
be arranged to energize the status indicator 114 at a frequency
less than about 0.5 Hz and a duty cycle less than about 15%.
[0032] In yet another embodiment of the indicia reading system 100,
the cradle 104 is configured to operate under conditions indicative
of an auxiliary device, but without the auxiliary device connected
to the cradle. This bypass configuration, implemented in one
example via circuitry internal to the cradle 104, is useful to
raise or overcome certain design limitations such as the 400 mA
power limitation discussed above. In one example, the cradle 104
comprises a bypass circuit or similar configuration of components
and elements.
[0033] It is further noted that while discussed as discrete
solutions, each of the configurations of the terminal 102 and the
cradle 104 can be combined to improve and/or optimize the operation
of the indicia reading system 100. For example, in the first
presentation mode, the second light source 132 can be deactivated
and the status indicator 114 operated in specific patterns to
increase available power that can be directed to the battery.
Additional details of these and other configurations are discussed
below in connection with FIG. 4.
[0034] FIG. 4 depicts another exemplary embodiment of an indicia
reading system 200 in schematic form. Like numerals are used to
identify like components as between FIGS. 1-4, but the numerals are
increased by 100. For example, the indicia reading system 200
comprises a terminal 202 and a cradle 204. The cradle 204 comprises
a status indicator 214 and a socket 216. The terminal 202 comprises
data capture hardware 220 including an imaging module 222 with a
first light source 230 and a second light source 232.
[0035] The status indicator 214 comprises a first indicator 236 and
a second indicator 238. Each of the terminal 202 and the socket 216
has a contact interface 240 through which data and information is
exchanged and current is communicated between the terminal 202 and
the cradle 204. The contact interface 240 comprises a data
interface 242 and a charge interface 244 that is used to direct
current from the cradle 204 to the terminal 202 to charge a battery
246 arranged therein. The indicia reading system 200 is connectable
with a host device 248 such as via an input port 250 on the cradle
204. The host device 248 generates an input current 252 such as the
500 mA input current discussed above. In the present example, the
cradle 204 includes a host connection 254, which is connectable to
the host device 248 and receives the input current 252, and an
auxiliary connection 256 that can receive, e.g., an adaptor 258
that is connectable to an external power supply 260.
[0036] The terminal 202 is configured to read and decode decodable
indicia 262 disposed on an object or target 264. In one embodiment,
the first light source 230 is configured to generate a first light
beam 266, which projects in an illumination pattern 268 (also
"first pattern 268") towards the target 264 to provide proper
illumination for images to be captured by the imaging module 222.
The second light source 232 is configured to generate a second
light beam 270 that creates an aiming pattern 272 (also "second
pattern 272") for assisting an operator to align target 264 with
the field of view of the imaging module 222. A number of
representative patterns are possible and not limited to any
particular pattern or type of pattern for the aiming pattern 272
such as any combination of rectilinear, linear, circular,
elliptical, and the like.
[0037] Each of the terminal 202 and the cradle 204 comprises a
memory 274 and a processor 276, such as a central processing unit
(CPU) or microcontroller that may perform a number of functions.
The processor 276 can execute one or more machine readable
instructions, e.g., software and/or firmware. Such instructions are
provided for operation of the terminal 202, the cradle 204, as well
as the combination and interaction thereof. These instructions may
be stored in memory 274 which may be any type of memory such as
RAM, ROM, EEPROM, and the like. One of these functions of the
processor 276 may be to decode the relevant symbology of decodable
indicia 262. Decoding is a term used to describe, in one example,
the interpretation of the symbology contained in the image captured
by the imaging module 222. Information respecting the various
reference decode algorithms is available from various published
standards, such as the International Standards Organization (ISO).
Examples may comprise one dimensional (or linear) symbologies,
stacked symbologies, matrix symbologies, Composite symbologies, or
other machine readable indicia. One dimensional (or linear)
symbologies which may include very large to ultra-small, Code 128,
Interleaved 2 of 5, Codabar, Code 93, Code 11, Code 39, UPC, EAN,
MSI, or other linear symbologies. Stacked symbologies may include
PDF, Code 16K, Code 49 or other stacked symbologies. Matrix
symbologies may include Aztec, Datamatrix, Maxicode, QR Code or
other 2D symbologies. Composite symbologies may include linear
symbologies combined with stacked symbologies. Other symbology
examples may comprise OCR-A, OCR-B, MICR types of symbologies.
UPC/EAN symbology or barcodes are standardly used to mark retail
products throughout North America, Europe and several other
countries throughout the world.
[0038] Referring back to FIG. 4, the indicia reading system 200 is
part of a system 2000 having in addition to the host device 248 at
least one server such as a local server 2250, a remote server 2500,
and a network 2750 through which the local server 2250 and the
remote server 2500 can communicate. The configuration of the system
2000 is utilized for processing data such as captured data acquired
with, e.g., the data capture hardware 220. For example, one or more
of the local server 2250 and the remote server 2500 is utilized to
entirely process the captured image data and operate the terminal
202 in a manner consistent with the present disclosure. In one
embodiment, one or more of the processor 276 and the memory 274, or
complementary ones thereof, are located outside of the terminal 202
such as at the remote server 2500. Captured data is transferred
between the terminal 202 to, e.g., the corresponding remote server
2500 for immediate and/or further processing of the captured data.
In another embodiment, processing steps disclosed, described, and
contemplated herein can be distributed as between the terminal 202,
the cradle 204, the host device 248, the local server 2250, and the
remote server 2500, with still other embodiments being configured
for the image processing steps to be executed entirely by the
terminal 202 and/or the cradle 204.
[0039] As discussed above, embodiments of the indicia reading
system 200 are configured to charge the battery 246 concurrently
while the illumination pattern 268 is maintained at a level that
permits capture of images for decoding of decodable indicia 262
during one or more of the presentation modes. In one embodiment,
the terminal 202 is configured to reduce the amount of operating
current impressed on the second light source 232 in the first
presentation mode. This configuration may modify the operation of
the second light source 232 to change various aspects of the aiming
pattern 272. In one example, the second light source 232 is
disabled during the first presentation mode. Disabling eliminates
the aiming pattern 272 from view. Re-activation of the second light
source 232 may require additional interaction with the indicia
reading system 200 such as by removing the terminal 202 from the
cradle 204 and/or operation of the trigger (e.g., the trigger 110
(FIG. 1)). In another example, the operator selects from among
various settings for the second light source 232. Each setting may
modify certain behaviors of the second light source 232 to reduce
the amount of current required to generate the aiming pattern 272.
One setting may disable the second light source 232 for a specific
and/or pre-determined time period. Other settings may vary the
operation of the second light source 232 such as the intensity,
duration, patterning (e.g., the aiming pattern 272), and other
aspects of operation contemplated herein.
[0040] In another embodiment, the cradle 204 is configured to
reduce the amount of current required to operate the status
indicator 214 during the first presentation mode. This
configuration may modify the operation and construction of the
first indicator 236 and the second indicator 238 (collectively,
"the indicators"). In one example, the indicators are activated in
accordance with pre-defined or pre-arranged patterns. Each of these
patterns determines the time for which the indicator is
illuminated, and more particularly the amount is selected so as to
reduce the consumption of current by the indicators. One pattern
may change the state of one or both of the indicators between an ON
or first state and an OFF or second state, illuminating (in the ON
state) for about 300 milli-seconds and darkening (in the OFF state)
for about 2 seconds. In another example, the intensity of one or
more of the indicators may be reduced by way of regulating the
amount of current supplied to the selected indicator.
[0041] Devices for use as the indicators include light-emitting
diodes (LEDs) and related semi-conductor-based devices that emit
light and may in some examples operate and/or facilitate
high-efficiency operation at reduced current levels. These devices
can have varying operating characteristics such as color, which
include green, red, blue, and combinations there of In one example,
the device that is selected has color characteristics that are most
visible to the human eye, and in one preferred construction the
device has both optimum color characteristics as well as dissipates
and/or requires the least amount of power for operation.
[0042] FIG. 5 depicts yet another exemplary embodiment of an
indicia reading system 300. Like numerals are also used to identify
like components as between FIGS. 1-5. In FIG. 5, the indicia
reading system 300 comprises a terminal 302, a cradle 304, a
battery 346, a host device 354, and an adapter 358. The cradle 304
comprises a circuitry 378 that has a bypass circuit 380 with a
bypass device 382 and a power path management device 384 such as an
integrated circuit chip (e.g., an application specific integrated
circuit (ASIC)) with a number of pins 386. In the present example,
the pins 386 include a host pin 388 and an auxiliary pin 390
connectable with, respectively, the host device 354 and the adapter
358. The pins 386 also include a terminal pins 392 and cradle pins
394, through which current is provided for operating the terminal
302 and charging the battery 346 (e.g., the terminal pins 392) and
for operating the cradle 304 (e.g., the terminal pins 394). Other
pins not shown in the present diagram are often appropriately used
to implement one or more of the examples and embodiments disclosed
herein. However, artisans skilled in the relevant electrical arts
will understand the operation of ASIC and related integrated
circuitry that instantiate the power path management device 384,
therefore details not provided herein.
[0043] In one embodiment, the power path management device 384 is
configured to automatically select the input power source from
among the host device 354 (e.g., at host pin 388) and the adapter
358 (e.g., at auxiliary pin 390). The input power is routed to the
terminal 302 and, more particularly, at least a portion of the
input power is routed to the battery 346 via the battery pins 392.
In one example, the bypass device 382 is operative to route input
power from the host device 354 to the auxiliary pin 390, thereby
effectively masking the presence (or, more appropriately the lack
thereof) of the adapter 358. The bypass device 382 can comprise a
discrete element (e.g., a resistor) or, in one example, a relay
and/or switch (e.g., a field effect transistor (FET)) which is
connectable to the power path management device 384 to allow for
automated selection based on the configuration of the power path
management device 384 and/or related circuitry.
[0044] Illustrated in FIG. 6 is another example of a terminal 400
for use in the indicia reading systems of the present disclosure.
More particularly an exemplary platform for use as the data capture
hardware (e.g., the data capture hardware 120) is depicted. The
terminal 400 can include an image sensor 402 comprising a multiple
pixel image sensor array 404 ("the image sensor array") having a
plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns of pixels,
including column circuitry 406 and row circuitry 408. Associated
with the image sensor 402 can be amplifier circuitry 410, and an
analog to digital converter 412 which converts image information in
the form of analog signals read out of image sensor array 404 into
image information in the form of digital signals. Image sensor 402
can also have an associated timing and control circuit 414 for use
in controlling, e.g., the exposure period of image sensor 402,
and/or gain applied to the amplifier 410.
[0045] The noted circuit components 402, 410, 412, and 414 can be
packaged into an image sensor integrated circuit 416. In one
example, image sensor integrated circuit 416 can be provided by an
MT9V022 image sensor integrated circuit available from Micron
Technology, Inc. In another example, image sensor integrated
circuit 416 can incorporate a Bayer pattern filter. In such an
embodiment, CPU 418 prior to subjecting a frame to further
processing can interpolate pixel values intermediate of green pixel
values for development of a monochrome frame of image data. In
other embodiments, red, and/or blue pixel values can be utilized
for the monochrome image data.
[0046] In the course of operation of terminal 400 image signals can
be read out of image sensor 402, converted and stored into a system
memory such as RAM 420. A memory 422 of terminal 400 can include
RAM 420, a nonvolatile memory such as EPROM 424, and a storage
memory device 426 such as may be provided by a flash memory or a
hard drive memory. In one embodiment, terminal 400 can include CPU
418 which can be adapted to read out image data stored in memory
422 and subject such image data to various image processing
algorithms. Terminal 400 can include a direct memory access unit
(DMA) 428 for routing image information read out from image sensor
402 that has been subject to conversion to RAM 420. In another
embodiment, terminal 400 can employ a system bus providing for bus
arbitration mechanism (e.g., a PCI bus) thus eliminating the need
for a central DMA controller. A skilled artisan would appreciate
that other embodiments of the system bus architecture and/or direct
memory access components providing for efficient data transfer
between the image sensor 402 and RAM 420 are within the scope and
the spirit of the invention.
[0047] Referring to further aspects of terminal 400, terminal 400
can include an imaging lens assembly 430 for focusing an image of a
form barcode 432 located within a field of view 434 on a substrate
436 onto image sensor array 404. Imaging light rays can be
transmitted about an optical axis 440. The imaging lens assembly
430 can be adapted to be capable of multiple focal lengths and/or
multiple best focus distances.
[0048] Terminal 400 can also include an illumination pattern light
source bank 442 for generating an illumination pattern 444
substantially corresponding to the field of view 434 of terminal
400, and an aiming pattern light source bank 446 for generating an
aiming pattern 448 on substrate 436. In use, terminal 400 can be
oriented by an operator with respect to a substrate 436 bearing the
form barcode 432 in such manner that aiming pattern 448 is
projected on the form barcode 432. In the example of FIG. 6, the
form barcode 432 is provided by a 1D bar code symbol. Form barcode
could also be provided by 2D bar code symbols, stacked linears, or
optical character recognition (OCR) characters, etc.
[0049] Each of illumination pattern light source bank 442 and
aiming pattern light source bank 446 can include one or more light
sources. The imaging lens assembly 430 can be controlled with use
of lens assembly control circuit 450 and the illumination assembly
comprising illumination pattern light source bank 442 and aiming
pattern light source bank 446 can be controlled with use of
illumination assembly control circuit 452. Lens assembly control
circuit 450 can send signals to the imaging lens assembly 430,
e.g., for changing a focal length and/or a best focus distance of
imaging lens assembly 430. This can include for example providing a
signal to the piezoelectric actuator to change the position of the
variable position element of the focus element discussed above.
Illumination assembly control circuit 452 can send signals to
illumination pattern light source bank 442, e.g., for changing a
level of illumination output by illumination pattern light source
bank 442.
[0050] Terminal 400 can also include a number of peripheral devices
such as display 454 for displaying such information as image frames
captured with use of terminal 400, keyboard 456, pointing device
458, and trigger 460 which may be used to make active signals for
activating frame readout and/or certain decoding processes.
Terminal 400 can be adapted so that activation of trigger 460
activates one such signal and initiates a decode attempt of the
form barcode 432.
[0051] Terminal 400 can include various interface circuits for
coupling several of the peripheral devices to system address/data
bus (system bus) 462, for communication with CPU 418 also coupled
to system bus 462. Terminal 400 can include interface circuit 464
for coupling image sensor timing and control circuit 414 to system
bus 462, interface circuit 468 for coupling the lens assembly
control circuit 450 to system bus 462, interface circuit 470 for
coupling the illumination assembly control circuit 452 to system
bus 462, interface circuit 472 for coupling the display 454 to
system bus 462, and interface circuit 476 for coupling the keyboard
456, pointing device 458, and trigger 460 to system bus 462.
[0052] In a further aspect, terminal 400 can include one or more
I/O interfaces 473, 480 for providing communication with external
devices (e.g., a cash register server, a store server, an inventory
facility server, a peer terminal, a local area network base
station, a cellular base station, etc.). I/O interfaces 473, 480
can be interfaces of any combination of known computer interfaces,
e.g., Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), USB, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, CDMA,
GSM, IEEE 1394, RS232 or any other computer interface.
[0053] Where applicable it is contemplated that numerical values,
as well as other values that are recited herein are modified by the
term "about", whether expressly stated or inherently derived by the
discussion of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term
"about" defines the numerical boundaries of the modified values so
as to include, but not be limited to, tolerances and values up to,
and including the numerical value so modified. That is, numerical
values can include the actual value that is expressly stated, as
well as other values that are, or can be, the decimal, fractional,
or other multiple of the actual value indicated, and/or described
in the disclosure.
[0054] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, it will
be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in
detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by claims that can be
supported by the written description and drawings. Further, where
exemplary embodiments are described with reference to a certain
number of elements it will be understood that the exemplary
embodiments can be practiced utilizing either less than or more
than the certain number of elements.
* * * * *