Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-06
2003-04-22
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S462150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06550680
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to optical scanners and, more particularly, to devices and methods by which optical scanners communicate over data networks.
BACKGROUND ART
Various data communications networks have been developed to link together a plurality of bar code scanners, so as to permit these scanners to communicate with a host device through a single communications port. In this manner, data generated by any of the bar code scanners may be retrieved at the host device. An example of a typical prior art data communications network is shown in FIG.
1
. For purposes of illustration, the hardware configuration of
FIG. 1
uses several different types of scanners, including a slot scanner
123
, a hand scanner
125
, and a counter scanner
127
. Each of these scanners is powered by a corresponding power supply
117
,
119
,
121
, respectively.
Each scanner is connected to a corresponding network communication device which allows the scanner to transfer its data to the network in an orderly and controlled manner. Slot scanner
123
is connected to network communication device
103
, hand scanner
125
is connected to network communication device
105
, and counter scanner
127
is connected to network communication device
107
. Network communication device
103
is powered by power supply
111
, network communication device
105
is powered by power supply
113
, and network communication device
107
is powered by power supply
115
. Communication devices
103
,
105
, and
107
are coupled through network wiring to a network controller
101
which manages communications on the network and initiates the uploading of data from all of the scanners
123
,
125
,
127
via corresponding network communication devices
103
,
105
,
107
. The network controller
101
sends accumulated uploaded data to the host device. This accumulated data may be sent to the host device using any of a plurality of known data formats, and using any of a plurality of known data transmission methods, depending upon the specifics of a given system application. Network controller
101
is powered by power supply
109
.
In the configuration of
FIG. 1
, each network communication device is designed to operate independently of the scanner to which it is connected. Thus, network communication device
103
is equipped to operate independently of slot scanner
123
, network communication device
105
is equipped to operate independently of hand scanner
125
, and network communication device
107
is equipped to operate independently of counter scanner
127
. This independent operation makes it necessary to utilize separate power supplies
117
,
119
,
121
for each of the scanners, as well as separate power supplies
111
,
113
,
115
for each of the network communication devices. Moreover, it is necessary to provide each network communication device
103
,
105
,
107
with some type of a processing mechanism, such as a microprocessor and any associated program and data memory devices required to manage communications between a respective scanner
123
,
125
,
127
and its corresponding network communications device
103
,
105
,
107
.
The use of “intelligent” network communications devices, each having separate power supplies and separate processing mechanisms, adds unnecessary expense and complexity to network communication devices
103
,
105
,
107
. By way of example, refer to
FIG. 2A
which is a hardware block diagram setting forth an illustrative network communication device
203
for interfacing a scanner
201
with a communications network. Scanner
201
includes a photocell
205
coupled to a signal processor
207
. Signal processor
207
amplifies, filters, and processes the output of the photocell
205
so that the processed signal is in a form suitable for digitization by digitizer
209
. The digitized signals are sent to a scanner processing mechanism that includes a microcontroller
215
, program memory
211
, data memory
213
, and a communications interface
217
.
The communications interface
217
of scanner
201
is connected to another communications interface
225
in the network communication device
203
. Network communication device
203
also includes a microcontroller
223
, program memory
219
, and data memory
221
. Both the network communication device
203
and the scanner
201
are “intelligent” in the sense that both contain processing mechanisms. Such a hardware configuration is inherently inefficient, because it requires the use of two separate microcontrollers
215
,
223
, two separate program memories
211
,
219
, and two separate data memories
213
,
221
. Moreover, the use of multiple processing mechanisms, such as microcontrollers
215
,
223
, adds significantly to the cost and complexity of the overall system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My invention eliminates the requirement of using intelligent network interface devices to access data generated by any of a plurality of bar code scanners coupled to a communications network. This objective is accomplished by using an enhanced scanner equipped with a novel interfacing mechanism for communicating directly with the communications network. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, this interfacing mechanism includes a program stored on a memory device within the scanner and executed by a scanner processing mechanism. In this manner, the scanner processing mechanism is adapted to perform two functions—bar code scanning and network communications—thereby reducing the cost and complexity of a communications network that includes one or more bar code scanners coupled to a host device through the network.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4894522 (1990-01-01), Elliott
patent: 5029183 (1991-07-01), Tymes
patent: 5157687 (1992-10-01), Tymes
patent: 5258604 (1993-11-01), Behrens et al.
patent: 5536928 (1996-07-01), Seigel
patent: 5708680 (1998-01-01), Gollnick et al.
patent: 5710416 (1998-01-01), Belknap et al.
patent: 6290131 (2001-09-01), Kolis et al.
patent: 42 21 410 (1994-01-01), None
“3-Wire RS-232 to RS-485 Converter” by W. Stepthen Woodward, Electronic Design, Penton Publishing, vol. 44 No. 12, Jun. 10, 1996, p. 106-108.
W. Stephen Woodward, 3-Wire RS-232 To RS-485 Converter; Electronic Design, US, Penton Publishing, Cleveland, OH, vol. 44, No. 12, Jun. 10, 1996 p. 106, 108 XP000620137; ISSN: 0013-4872, the whole document.
Furlong John
Kolis George
Lee Michael G.
Metrologic Instruments Inc.
Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Taylor Larry D
LandOfFree
Optical scanner adapted for interfacing to a data... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Optical scanner adapted for interfacing to a data..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical scanner adapted for interfacing to a data... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3096585