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US5247161A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Bar code scanning system with converter means and microprocessor means contained in a single integrated circuit

Assignee: Datalogic Scanning Inc
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Filing: 1992-01-06
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Granted: 1993-09-21
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Expires: 2012-01-06
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Abstract

Abstract A system for scanning bar code labels and for providing data related thereto includes scanning means for optically scanning bar code labels and providing an electrical, binary scan signal in response thereto. The scanning means includes a scanner and a scanner controller, and an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a converter means, responsive to the scanning means, for translating the electrical, binary scan signal into a related sequence of digital words. The integrated circuit further includes a microprocessor means, responsive to the converter means, for translating the related sequence of digital words into data. The microprocessor means has first and second microprocessor circuits for independently translating the sequence of digital words into data. The microprocessor means also has a random access memory for storing the appropriate software to control operation of the first and second microprocessor circuits.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert J. Actis
  • 👤 Craig D. Cherry
  • 👤 Andrew P. Taussig

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 10:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10851

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 76 words
A system for scanning bar code labels and for providing data related thereto, comprising: scanning means for optically scanning bar code labels and providing an electrical, binary scan signal in response thereto, and an integrated circuit including converter means, responsive to said scanning means, for translating said electrical, binary scan signal into a related sequence of digital words, and microprocessor means, responsive to said converter means, for translating said related sequence of digital words into data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 76 words
A system for scanning bar code labels and for providing data related thereto, comprising: scanning means for optically scanning bar code labels and providing an electrical, binary scan signal in response thereto, and an integrated circuit including converter means, responsive to said scanning means, for translating said electrical, binary scan signal into a related sequence of digital words, and microprocessor means, responsive to said converter means, for translating said related sequence of digital words into data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 72 words
The system of claim 1 in which said converter means includes a clock for providing a clock signal, a counter circuit, responsive to said electrical, binary scan signal and to said clock signal, for measuring the time between successive transitions of said clock signal and providing a digital word related thereto, and a first random access memory, responsive to said counter circuit, for storing successive digital words received from said counter circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system of claim 2 in which said clock includes a frequency doubler circuit, whereby a clock signal may be increased in frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 2 in which said clock includes an external output such that said clock signal may be utilized with other circuitry.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 36 words
The system of claim 2 in which said converter means contains a divider circuit such that said clock signal can be adjusted in frequency to match the rate at which said bar code labels are scanned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary scan signal input to said converter means such that scan signals from sources other than said scanner may be supplied to said converter means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising an alternate external clock input for supplying an externally generated clock signal to said clock.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 29 words
The system of claim l in which said microprocessor means further comprises a program storage random access memory for storing control software to control operation of said microprocessor means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 31 words
The system of claim l in which said integrated circuit further comprises a random access memory, responsive to said microprocessor means, for providing storage for data translated by said microprocessor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 1 in which said integrated circuit further includes an interface for providing communication with said scanner controller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 111 words
An integrated circuit for use in a system for scanning bar code labels and for providing data related thereto, such system including scanning means for optically scanning bar code labels and providing an electrical, binary scan signal in response thereto, said scanning means including a scanner and scanner controller, said integrated circuit comprising: converter means, responsive to said scanning means, for translating said electrical, binary scan signal into a related sequence of digital words, and microprocessor means, responsive to said converter means, for translating said related sequence of digital words into data, said microprocessor means being programmable by said scanner controller for independently translating said sequence of digital words into data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 111 words
An integrated circuit for use in a system for scanning bar code labels and for providing data related thereto, such system including scanning means for optically scanning bar code labels and providing an electrical, binary scan signal in response thereto, said scanning means including a scanner and scanner controller, said integrated circuit comprising: converter means, responsive to said scanning means, for translating said electrical, binary scan signal into a related sequence of digital words, and microprocessor means, responsive to said converter means, for translating said related sequence of digital words into data, said microprocessor means being programmable by said scanner controller for independently translating said sequence of digital words into data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 73 words
The integrated circuit of claim 11 in which said converter means includes a clock for providing a clock signal, a counter circuit, responsive to said electrical, binary scan signal and to said clock signal, for measuring the time between successive transitions of said clock signal and providing a digital word related thereto, and a first random access memory, responsive to said counter circuit, for storing successive digital words received from said counter circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 40 words
The integrated circuit of claim 12 in which said clock includes a frequency doubler circuit, whereby a low frequency signal may be provided to said frequency doubler circuit, producing a higher frequency clock signal for application to said counter circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
The integrated circuit of claim 12 in which said clock includes an external output such that said clock signal may be utilized with other circuitry.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 37 words
The integrated circuit of claim 12 in which said converter means contains a divider circuit such that said clock signal can be adjusted in frequency to match the rate at which said bar code labels are scanned.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 34 words
The integrated circuit of claim 11 further comprising an auxiliary scan signal input to said converter means such that scan signals from sources other than said scanner may be supplied to said converter means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 23 words
The integrated circuit of claim 11 further comprising an alternate external clock input for supplying an externally generated clock signal to said clock.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 34 words
The integrated circuit of claim 11 in which said microprocessor means further comprises a random access memory means, responsive to said scanner controller, for storing control software to control operation of said microprocessor means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 121 words
A system for scanning bar code labels and for providing data related thereto, comprising: scanning means for optically scanning bar code labels and providing an electrical, binary scan signal in response thereto, said scanning means including a scanner and scanner controller, and an integrated circuit, responsive to said scanning means, for providing said data in response to said binary scan signal, said integrated circuit including microprocessor means for translating a sequence of digital words related to said binary scan signal into said data, said microprocessor means including a first microprocessor circuit and a first program storage random access memory, responsive to said scanner controller, for storing control software received from said scanner controller, to control operation of said first microprocessor circuit.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 121 words
A system for scanning bar code labels and for providing data related thereto, comprising: scanning means for optically scanning bar code labels and providing an electrical, binary scan signal in response thereto, said scanning means including a scanner and scanner controller, and an integrated circuit, responsive to said scanning means, for providing said data in response to said binary scan signal, said integrated circuit including microprocessor means for translating a sequence of digital words related to said binary scan signal into said data, said microprocessor means including a first microprocessor circuit and a first program storage random access memory, responsive to said scanner controller, for storing control software received from said scanner controller, to control operation of said first microprocessor circuit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 33 words
The system of claim 19, in which said integrated circuit further comprises converter means, responsive to said scanning means, for translating said electrical, binary scan signal into said related sequence of digital words.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 20 in which said converter means includes a clock for providing a clock signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4104514A Cited
US4679154A Cited
US4902883A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-09-20 1997-03-22 1997-09-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-09-20 2001-03-22 2001-09-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-09-20 2005-03-22 2005-09-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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