Multi-port digital signal decoder

Claim 2

A digital signal processing device capable of decoding a plurality of digital data signals, wherein each said digital data signal is produced as output from a scanning device and has first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with a bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device, said digital signal processing device comprising: (a) a plurality of data input ports, each said data input port being operably connectable to one said scanning device, for supplying one said digital data signal to one said data input port for processing; (b) signal level transition detection means for detecting the signal level transitions in the digital data signal supplied to any one of said plurality of data input ports, and producing signal level transition data for the supplied digital data signal; (c) connection means for operably connecting said data input ports to said signal level transition detection means; (d) common timing means for measuring the time duration of the first and second signal levels between detected signal level transitions in the supplied digital data signal, and producing digital data related to the time duration of the first and second signal levels in the supplied digital data signal; (e) common control means for controlling the operation of said common timing means in response to signal level transition data produced from said signal level transition detection means; (f) common data processing means operably associated with said common timing means and programmed for processing said digital data from the supplied digital data signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of the bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device producing the supplied digital signal; and (g) a data output port operably associated with said common data processing means and for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectable to said data output port.

Claim 3

The digital signal processing device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of digital data signals comprises at least first and second digital data signals and said plurality of data input ports comprises at least first and second data input ports, and wherein said first data input port is adapted for receiving said first digital data signal produced from a first scanning device, and said first digital data signal has first and second signal levels which represent the bars and spaces, respectively, of a bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device.

Claim 4

The digital signal processing device of claim 2, wherein said second data input port is adapted for receiving said second digital data signal produced from a second scanning device, and wherein said second digital data signal has first and second signal levels which represent a bar code symbol being scanned by said second scanning device.

Claim 5

The digital processing device of claim 3, wherein at least one of said first and second scanning devices is selected from the group comprising countertop scanners, handheld scanners, light pen scanners and wand scanners.

Claim 6

The digital signal processing device of claim 1, wherein said common timing means comprises means for producing clock pulses at a predetermined frequency and means for counting the produced clock pulses so as to produce said digital data.

Claim 7

The digital signal processing device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of data input ports, said signal level transition detection means, said connection means, said common timing means, and said common control means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

Claim 8

The digital signal processing device of claim 6, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

Claim 9

The digital signal processing device of claim 3, wherein said plurality of data input ports, said signal level transition detection means, said connection means, said common timing means, and said common control means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

Claim 10

The digital signal processing device of claim 8, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

Claim 11

A digital signal processing device capable of decoding a plurality of digital data signals, wherein each said digital data signal is produced as output from a scanning device and has first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with a bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device, said digital signal processing device comprising: (a) a plurality of data input ports, each said data input port being operably connectable to one said scanning device, for supplying one said digital data signal to said data input port for processing; (b) signal level transition detection means operably associated with each said data input port, for detecting signal level transitions in the digital data signal supplied to any one of said plurality of data input ports and producing signal level transition data associated with the supplied digital data signal; (c) common digital count data producing means for measuring the time duration of the first and second signal levels between detected signal level transitions in the supplied digital data signal, and producing digital data related to the time duration of the first and second levels in the supplied digital data signal; (d) common data processing means operably associated with said common digital count data producing means, and programmed for processing data including said digital data from the supplied digital data signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of the bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device producing the supplied digital signal; and (e) a data output port operably associated with said common data processing means and for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectably to said data output port.

Claim 12

A digital signal processing device capable of decoding a plurality of digital data signals, wherein each said digital data signal is produced as output from a scanning device and has first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with a bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device, said digital signal processing device comprising: (a) a plurality of data input ports, each said data input port being operably connectable to one said scanning device, for supplying one said digital data signal to said data input port for processing; (b) signal level transition detection means operably associated with each said data input port, for detecting signal level transitions in the digital data signal supplied to any one of said plurality of data input ports and producing signal level transition data associated with the supplied digital data signal; (c) common digital count data producing means for measuring the time duration of the first and second signal levels between detected signal level transitions in the supplied digital data signal, and producing digital data related to the time duration of the first and second levels in the supplied digital data signal; (d) common data processing means operably associated with said common digital count data producing means, and programmed for processing data including said digital data from the supplied digital data signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of the bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device producing the supplied digital signal; and (e) a data output port operably associated with said common data processing means and for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectably to said data output port.

Claim 13

The digital signal processing device of claim 10, wherein said plurality of digital data signals comprises at least first and second digital data signals and said plurality of data input ports comprises at least first and second data input ports, and wherein said first data input port is adapted for receiving said first digital data signal produced from a first scanning device, and wherein said first digital data signal has first and second signal levels which represent the bars and spaces, respectively, of a bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device.

Claim 14

The digital signal processing device of claim 11, wherein said second data input port is adapted for receiving said second digital data signal produced from a second scanning device, and wherein said second digital data signal has first and second signal levels which represent the bars and spaces, respectively, of a bar code symbol being scanned by said second scanning device.

Claim 15

The digital signal processing device of claim 12, wherein at least one of said first and second scanning devices is selected from the group comprising countertop scanners, hand-held scanners, light pen scanners and wand scanners.

Claim 16

The digital signal processing device of claim 11, wherein said common digital count data producing means comprises means for producing clock pulses at a predetermined frequency and means for counting the produced clock pulses so as to produce said digital data.

Claim 17

The digital signal processing device of claim 10, wherein said plurality of data input ports, said signal level transition detection means and said common digital count data producing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

Claim 18

The digital signal processing device of claim 15, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

Claim 19

The digital signal processing device of claim 11, wherein said plurality of data input ports, said signal level transition detection means, and said common digital count data producing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

Claim 20

The digital signal processing device of claim 17, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

Claim 21

A digital signal processing device capable of decoding a plurality of digital data signals, wherein each said digital data signal is produced as output from a scanning device and has first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with a bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device, said digital signal processing device comprising: (a) a plurality of data input ports, each said data input port being operably connectable to one said scanning device, for supplying one said digital data signal to one said data input port; (b) common signal processing means in operable association with each said data input port, for processing the digital data signal supplied to any one of said plurality of data input ports, said common signal processing means including (i) signal level transition detection means for detecting the signal level transitions in the supplied digital data signal and producing signal level transition data associated with the supplied digital data signal, and (ii) common timing means for measuring the time duration of the first and second signal levels between detected signal level transitions in the supplied digital data signal, and producing digital data related to the time duration of the first and second signal levels in the supplied digital signal; (c) common data processing means operably associated with said common signal processing means, and programmed for processing said digital data produced from the supplied digital signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of the bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device producing the supplied digital signal; and (d) a data output port operably associated with said common data processing means and for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectably to said data output port.

Claim 22

A digital signal processing device capable of decoding a plurality of digital data signals, wherein each said digital data signal is produced as output from a scanning device and has first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with a bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device, said digital signal processing device comprising: (a) a plurality of data input ports, each said data input port being operably connectable to one said scanning device, for supplying one said digital data signal to one said data input port; (b) common signal processing means in operable association with each said data input port, for processing the digital data signal supplied to any one of said plurality of data input ports, said common signal processing means including (i) signal level transition detection means for detecting the signal level transitions in the supplied digital data signal and producing signal level transition data associated with the supplied digital data signal, and (ii) common timing means for measuring the time duration of the first and second signal levels between detected signal level transitions in the supplied digital data signal, and producing digital data related to the time duration of the first and second signal levels in the supplied digital signal; (c) common data processing means operably associated with said common signal processing means, and programmed for processing said digital data produced from the supplied digital signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of the bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device producing the supplied digital signal; and (d) a data output port operably associated with said common data processing means and for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectably to said data output port.

Claim 23

The digital signal processing device of claim 19, wherein said common timing means comprises means for producing clock pulses at a predetermined frequency and means for counting the produced clock pulses so as to produce said digital data.

Claim 24

The device of claim 20, wherein said plurality of digital data signals comprises at least first and second digital data signals and said plurality of data input ports comprises at least first and second data input ports, and wherein said first data input port is adapted for receiving said first digital data signal produced from a first scanning device, and wherein said first digital data signal has first and second signal levels which represent the bars and spaces, respectively, of a bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device.

Claim 25

The device of claim 21, wherein said second data input port is adapted for receiving said second digital data signal produced from a second scanning device, and wherein said second digital data signal has first and second signal levels which represent a bar code symbol being scanned by said second scanning device.

Claim 26

The device of claim 22, wherein at least one of said first and second scanning devices is selected from the group comprising countertop scanners, handheld scanners, light pen scanners, and wand scanners.

Claim 27

The digital signal processing device of claim 19, wherein said plurality of data input ports and said common signal processing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

Claim 28

The digital signal processing device of claim 24, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

Claim 29

The digital signal processing device of claim 21, wherein said plurality of data input ports and said common signal producing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

Claim 30

The digital signal processing device of claim 26, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

Claim 31

A digital signal processing device capable of decoding a plurality of digital data signals, wherein each said digital data signal is produced as output from a scanning device and has first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with a bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device, said digital signal processing device comprising: (a) a plurality of data input ports, each said data input port being operably connectable with one said scanning device for supplying one said digital data signal to one said data input port for processing; (b) clock signal generating means for generating a plurality of predetermined clock signals, each said predetermined clock signal having a frequency which is suitable for use in measuring the time duration of the first and second levels of at least one of said digital data signals; (c) timing means for measuring the time duration of each of said first and second levels of the supplied digital data signal using one of said plurality of predetermined clock signals and producing digital data representing said measured time durations; (d) common data processing means operably associated with said timing means and programmed for processing said digital data from the supplied digital data signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of the bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device producing the supplied digital signal; and (e) data output port operably associated with said common data processing means, for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectable to said data output port.

Claim 32

A digital signal processing device capable of decoding a plurality of digital data signals, wherein each said digital data signal is produced as output from a scanning device and has first and second signal levels of variable time duration which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with a bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device, said digital signal processing device comprising: (a) a plurality of data input ports, each said data input port being operably connectable with one said scanning device for supplying one said digital data signal to one said data input port for processing; (b) clock signal generating means for generating a plurality of predetermined clock signals, each said predetermined clock signal having a frequency which is suitable for use in measuring the time duration of the first and second levels of at least one of said digital data signals; (c) timing means for measuring the time duration of each of said first and second levels of the supplied digital data signal using one of said plurality of predetermined clock signals and producing digital data representing said measured time durations; (d) common data processing means operably associated with said timing means and programmed for processing said digital data from the supplied digital data signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of the bar code symbol being scanned by said scanning device producing the supplied digital signal; and (e) data output port operably associated with said common data processing means, for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectable to said data output port.

Claim 33

The digital signal processing device of claim 28, wherein said plurality of digital data signals comprises at least first and second digital data signals and said plurality of data input ports comprises at least first and second data input ports, and wherein said first data input port is adapted for receiving said first digital data signal produced from a first scanning device, and said first digital data signal has first and second signal levels which represent the bars and spaces, respectively, of a bar code symbol being scanned by said first scanning device.

Claim 34

The digital signal processing device of claim 29, wherein said second data input port is adapted for receiving said second digital data signal produced from a second scanning device, and wherein said second digital data signal has first and second signal levels which represent a bar code symbol being scanned by said second scanning device.

Claim 35

The digital processing device of claim 30, wherein at least one of said first and second scanning devices is selected from the group comprising countertop scanners, handheld scanners, light pen scanners and wand scanners.

Claim 36

The digital signal processing device of claim 28, wherein said plurality of data input ports, said clock signal generating means, said timing means, and said common data producing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

Claim 37

The digital signal processing device of claim 32, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

Claim 38

The digital signal processing device of claim 30, wherein said plurality of data input ports, said clock signal generating means, said timing means, and said common data producing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

Claim 39

The digital signal processing device of claim 34, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

Claim 40

A digital signal processing device capable of decoding first and second digital data signals produced as output from a bar code scanning device and a magnetic medium scanning device, respectively, wherein said first digital data signal has first and second signal levels which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with the bar code symbol being scanned by said bar code scanning device and said second digital data signal has first and second signal levels which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with the digital code being scanned by said magnetic medium scanning device, said digital signal processing device comprising: (a) first and second data input ports, wherein said first data input port is operably connectable to said bar code scanning device for supplying said first digital data signal to said first data input port for processing, and wherein said second data input port is operably connectable to said magnetic medium scanning device for supplying said second digital data signal to said second data input port for processing; (b) common digital signal processing means operably connected to said first and second data input ports, said common digital signal processing means including (i) transition detection means for detecting the signal level transitions in the digital data signal being supplied to said common digital signal processing means, and producing signal level transition data associated with the supplied digital data signal, (ii) signal level detection means for detecting the signal level between detected signal level transitions in the supplied digital signal, and producing digital data related to detected signal level [transitions]in the supplied digital signal, and (iii) control means for controlling the operation of said signal level detection means in response to the signal level transition data produced from said signal transition detection means; (c) common data processing means operably associated with said common digital signal processing means, and programmed for processing the digital data produced from the supplied digital signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of said bar code symbol when said bar code scanning device provides the supplied digital data signal, and produces decoded symbol data representative of said digital code when said magnetic medium scanning device provides the digital data signal; and (d) a data output port operably associated with said common data processing means, for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectable to said data output port.

Claim 41

A digital signal processing device capable of decoding first and second digital data signals produced as output from a bar code scanning device and a magnetic medium scanning device, respectively, wherein said first digital data signal has first and second signal levels which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with the bar code symbol being scanned by said bar code scanning device and said second digital data signal has first and second signal levels which undergo signal level transitions in accordance with the digital code being scanned by said magnetic medium scanning device, said digital signal processing device comprising: (a) first and second data input ports, wherein said first data input port is operably connectable to said bar code scanning device for supplying said first digital data signal to said first data input port for processing, and wherein said second data input port is operably connectable to said magnetic medium scanning device for supplying said second digital data signal to said second data input port for processing; (b) common digital signal processing means operably connected to said first and second data input ports, said common digital signal processing means including (i) transition detection means for detecting the signal level transitions in the digital data signal being supplied to said common digital signal processing means, and producing signal level transition data associated with the supplied digital data signal, (ii) signal level detection means for detecting the signal level between detected signal level transitions in the supplied digital signal, and producing digital data related to detected signal level [transitions]in the supplied digital signal, and (iii) control means for controlling the operation of said signal level detection means in response to the signal level transition data produced from said signal transition detection means; (c) common data processing means operably associated with said common digital signal processing means, and programmed for processing the digital data produced from the supplied digital signal, so as to produce decoded symbol data representative of said bar code symbol when said bar code scanning device provides the supplied digital data signal, and produces decoded symbol data representative of said digital code when said magnetic medium scanning device provides the digital data signal; and (d) a data output port operably associated with said common data processing means, for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connectable to said data output port.

Claim 42

The digital processing device of claim 36, wherein said bar code scanning device is selected from the group comprising countertop scanners, handheld scanners, light pen scanners, and wand scanners.

Claim 43

The digital signal processing device of claim 36, wherein said first and second data input ports and said common digital signal processing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

Claim 44

The digital signal processing device of claim 38, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.

Claim 45

The digital signal processing device of claim 37, wherein said plurality of data input ports and said common digital signal processing means are physically realized in an integrated circuit device.

Claim 46

The digital signal processing device of claim 40, wherein said common data processing means and said data output port are physically realized using a programmed microprocessor, and wherein said programmed microprocessor is operably connected to said integrated circuit device for transferring said digital data from said integrated circuit device to said programmed microprocessor for processing.