Improvement in the optical wand scanner.

0001The invention relates to an ontical wand scanner of improved type, particularly suitable for collecting data for several uses, in the shops and warehouses, by means of either the bar code reading or the optical characters recognizing (OCR).

0002The optical wand scanners which are now used are substan tially of two types only, which respectively are working in the two following ways: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>- a) in fixed positions, where the optical wand scanner(s) are connected to terminal ends through a cable. When the optical wand scanner is utilized in this way, i.e. in the more typical and frequent case con stituted by the supermarket cashes, the operator the reof works in a sitting position and the labels to be read flow from and towards him. Pratically, the operator (which is normally a cashier) by means of the optical wand scanner reads the code from each packing and on the terminal connected thereto by means of a local processor obtains: the description, price, discounts etc. concerning the sold wares.</li><li>- b) in positions which may be defined mobile positions, as the optical wand scanner is associated to a portable microprocessor of per se known type and used for the data collecting with manual input. This second utilization type is much less diffused than the first one and requires that the labels with the code to be optically read are applied in the effective zone where the wares are lying. Normally, the microprocessors of this type, which are expressly designed for the data manual input, comprise: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none"><li>- a great and handy keyboard,</li><li>- a memory with a large storage capacity for storing such data and for the relevant control program,</li><li>- a data and/or controls display,</li><li>- output elements for discharging the inputted data (generally to a telephonic line through an acoustic coupler),</li><li>- a rechargeable piles autonomous voltage supply,</li><li>- optionally, sometimes it is foreseen the possibility to connect an optical wand scanner by means of a cable.</li></ul></li></ul>

0003Normally, such microprocessors are relatively encumbering (typical size is about: cm. 22 x 12 x 8 and the weight is about 600/800 grammes) and it is indispensable that the operator works with both hands, the one for holding the microprocessor and the other one for operating the keyboard or. alternatively, the optical wand scanner. This working manner relates to the same purposes for which the microprocessor has been designed, that is the utilization by persons which sole purpose is the data input into the microprocessor.

0004Assuming on the contrary that an optical wand scanner system as just described is to be utilized by the shopmen or by other operators, whose main purpose isn't the data collection but for instance taking the ware from the schel ves. bringing it on the bench, to do sums etc.it is essential that such persons have the hands free and are not impeded by complicated structures, such as the optical wand scanner connected to the portable microprocessor just described.

0005On the other hand such operators may require at intervals to collect data in a simply, rapidly and certainly way, just as it may be permitted by an optical wand scanner. Therefore it might be appropriate to have available a "really portable and personal" optical wand scanner, which like a fountain pen may be introduced in the small pocket and extracted from it only when it is required. Namely, the data collecting system should be adapted to the user person without causing to him any encumbrance. Therefore, the user shouldn't notice at all to have such a data collecting system more than how he notice to have a fountain pen, that is his hands must remain both free and only when required he must be able to extract the on tical wand scanner, for short time and with a hand only. as well as to utilize and put it back.

0006Such aims of praticality, lightness and economicity are adequately attained by the improvements on which this invention is based.

0007To this purpose a portable optical wand scanner (and not a microprocessor with keyboard) has been expressly designed. which is able to operating in an autonomous manner (namely without the need to be connected to something) and which structure comprises: a very small memory, the logic system for reading and discharging and the autonomous voltage supply..

0008Obviously, the data stored in the optical wand scanner must be periodically discharged towards means which are able to elaborate them and for this aim the portable opti cal wand scanner as conceived by this invention may be directly discharged into the computers today most utilized in commerce (micro and minicomputers; etc_o), provided that they utilize standard interfacing systems, the relevant control programme and suitable connectors.

0009It is proper to maintain that said an optical wand scanner permits to extend to the optical wand scanners the revolution which has been produced by the fountain pens with respect to the pens with the ink-stand. Also in that fact, indeed, the old system was suitable for sedentary and/or full time operators, while the new one was suitable to moving operators, which were requiring to be free and to use the pen sometimes. Like the fountain pen which sometimes requires to be filled in with ink, the considered optical wand scanner must be sometimes discharged of the data stored in it_o However, it is completely autonomous for a very long time, similarly to the fountain peno

0010The present optical wand scanner is also independent from the utilized standard bar code system, as it may be provided with different reading programs (proper to that par ticular standard system). It is evident that with this system one may also achieve to have an optical wand scanner which is able to read the O.C.R. codes.

0011Hence, resuming, it may be said that as far as the mentioned uses are concerned, that is shops and warehouses which wares are provided either with optical bar labels, or with O.C.R., which may be taken by means of the shopmen which must have both hands free, the system referred to in the present application represents a considerable technical improvement, as it permits to employ the optical reading system in some utilization fields which were till now impossible or anyhow difficult and discourageable to be per formed, by simplifying in this way the operations to be completed and reducing the relevant times in a considerable manner.

0012There are now described some possible examples of application: <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none"><li>- When the shopman which is retracting a product or more products from the shelves, notices that any product stored on hand is under a minimal level and them must be reodered, he reads with his optical wand scanner the label referred to. In this way, the code is tranferred into the memory of the same optical wand scanner and the shopman may pursue his work. Similarly, the amount may be read by deducing it from a list provided with 10 decimal numbers which are bar-coded. After a determined time period, for instance at the day end, the data stored in the several optical wand scanners are discharged in a microcomputer which collects, controls (for instance by eliminating the possibility of double reorders) and then transfers such a data to a remote computer, generally near the ware storage, through a telephonic line, in order that the reordered ware may be adequately sent and reckoned.</li><li>- A client arrives at the bench and orders a certain number of products. The shopman take them from the shelves and progressively reads with the optical wand scanner also the relevant code and amount thereof.When the products have been collected, the shopman returns to the bench with the same and the relevant codes thereof which have been stored into the optical wand scanner. Afterwards, he connects the latter to a local processor and depending on the necessities and the available informations may obtain: account, invoice, fiscal receipt, note. etc.</li></ul>

0013Moreover the processor may utilize the data for an automatic warehouse administration, for effecting statistics on the sales and so on.

0014These and other features of the invention will be better unterstood in the following description, on a merely exemplifying and non-limiting title and with reference to the annexed figures in which: <ul id="ul0004" list-style="none"><li>Fig. 1 shows the improved optical wand scanner according to the invention, in a perspective view;</li><li>Fig. 2 shows a block diagram thereof;</li><li>Fig. 3 shows, in a simplified cross-section, the main components of the wand scanner of Fig. 1.</li></ul>

0015The same elements have been provided in the figures with the same numeral references.

0016Here is described the improved optical wand scanner accor ding to the present invention, by examining in detail its parts:

a) Means for reading, codifying and controlling the data represented by means of the bar code or OCR

0017An optical head 1 similar to that one produced by Hewlett-Packard and called HEDS-1000, is utilized for the reading. Such a head, obviously known in the literature, comprises a light - emitting photodiode, a phototransistor sensiti- ves to the luminous intensity changes and a focusing lens. It is applied in the fore part of the optical wand scanner and suitably spaced apart from the end limit thereof. When the wand scanner is slided at a suitable speed and inclination on a bar coded label, the light emitted by the photodiode hits the label and is reflected in a diffe rent manner by the white or black vertical bars. These changes are intercepted by the phototransistor, which con verts them into two different levels of electric signal. Downstream of the optical head is connected an amplification threshold circuit 2, which amplifies the high-level signal corresponding to the black bars and eliminates the low-level signal relative to the white bars.

0018Afterwards, the signal interpretation and transcoding is depending on the used bar codifying system.

0019At the present time this task is developed by the control program. In this way the optical wand scanner is phisical- ly independent from the used bar codifying system. The change which only occurs is solely in the control program, which on the contrary may logically foresee also the reading in a time of more codifications, the size of the relevant memory being the solely limit thereto.

0020There is effected the description, by way of example, of the codifying system which is used at the present time. Datum lenght, from 1 to 16 characters.

00214 bit codified characters in binary code (there are possi ble 16 characters, the digital ones plus the letters A,B, C,D,E,F).

0022To each datum are associated three service characters: synchronism. lenght and control character.

0023The black bars width may be of two type. the one being the double of the other one, but with a non fixed size. <ul id="ul0005" list-style="none"><li>The width 1 represents 0</li><li>The width 2 represents 1</li></ul>

0024The white bars act as separating bars only.

0025As far as the control of the read code is concerned, the same is effected by utilizing a suitable mathematical formula (which is beyond the subject of this invention, but is ncrmal for a skilled person) for the datum characters and by obtaining a result which is then compared with the check digit.

0026When these data compared each other are equal, the read datum is admitted and is started the acoustic signal.

0027For the sake of brevity there isn't now described the OCR reading principle, to which it is referred to only to explain that the principle of portability of the wand scanner may also be applied to the readers of this kind.

b) Data manual input means and relevant display

0028This unit has been especially designed depending on its portability and practicality, therefore considering its very small size and weight. Due to this reason, it has been intentionally renounced to use the handy decimal manual keyboard, which has represented one of the main encumbering causes of the modern data collecting microprocessors. Therefore, the wand scanner according to this invention is a means which is particularly specialized to input data by an optical way. Nevertheless,in some cases it may be more suitable to effect a manual input by means of some keys, of the data logically connected with the following optical reading.

0029There are two types thereof foresee at the present time: <ul id="ul0006" list-style="none"><li>1) a key 3 and five luminous indicators 4. The key, which is operated by subsequent or continuous pressure, allows the input of a number comprises from 1 to 5, which is then visualized by a corresponding number of luminous indicators</li><li>2) Two keys, a two-digit display (alternative system which hasn't been represented).</li></ul>

0030The keys, which are operated by subsequent or continuous pressure, allow the input of two numbers comprise frcm 0 to 9. In this case it is requested an integrated circuit (16) for the display control.

0031In both cases the numbers are obtained from the program by adding a unit at a time in a proper memory register. At the moment of the subsequent optical reading, the register content is transferred into the data memory together with the datum obtained by the optical way. This operation causes the register to be cleared and resets the outer indicators.

c) Input data storage means

0032The data which have been inputted into the portable unit, by optical and manual way, are stored sequentially in a RAM - memory 5.

0033At the present time the RAM memory of the unit foresees a storage capacity of 1024 bytes (a byte = 8 - bits - character) and is constituted by two chips of 512 bytes. Such a memory may however be also utilized for 8 K ( 8 x 1024 bytes).

d) Means for phisially connecting of a portable unit to a processor and for transferring the stored data

0034This system is designed for periodically transferring the stored data to the outer processors. This is done by introducing the end part of the optical wand scanner, in which a comb connector 6 is foresee and is normally protected by an extractable cover 15 in a plastic material, into a spring receptacle connected to the processor. When this mechanical connection has been done, the processor starts the data transferring which is controlled by the optical wand scanner and the processor control programs. The connection system at present time is a parallel interface of the Centronics - type.

0035If the processor is provided with serial gates only, it is possible to connect an outer appliance for the parallel-serial transforming downstream of the receptacle. Normally, the processor control program foresees the control of the received data and gives a message indicating correct or not correct transmission, with one or more totals, depending on the members of gates and simultaneous transmissions. At the present time, the connected processor foresees until 5 simultaneously transmissions.

0036When each transmission which has been effected in a satisfactory manner is ended, the data memory is cleared, this operation being not permitted on the contrary in case of wrong or incomplete transmission.

e) Means for surveying and controlling the several functions.

0037The control functions are performed by a microprocessor 7 and the control program of an EPROM-memory 8.

0038In this case a MC 6805 micronrocessor of Motorola Co. is utilized, which is realized on a single chip provided with 40 pins and can provide un to 8 K memory addresses. A 1 K bytes EPROM - memory is utilized, which is situated on a single chip provided with 28 pins.

0039At the present state of the art there are already existing EPROM chips of the same size and having a 2 K bytes of capacity and it is deemed that in a next future they may be produced from a 4 K bytes of capacity.

- Control program-

0040the control program controls almost all the unit functions and particularly: <ul id="ul0007" list-style="none"><li>- the reading and codifyng of the read data;</li><li>- the controlling of the read data through the check digit:</li><li>- the data transferring into the RAM - memory;</li><li>- the data transferring from the RAM - memory to the optical wand scanner outside (with a interface protocol):</li><li>- the RAM - memory clearing when the transmission has been correctly ended;</li><li>- the erasing of the last introduced datum and controlling of the relevant signaling;</li><li>- the optical wand scanner self-testing and controlling of the signaling thereof;</li><li>- the full-stored memory controlling and controlling of the signaling thereof;</li><li>- the generating and transferring of the manual imputed data into the RAM-memory. etc.</li></ul>

0041It has already been said that when the EPROM - memory is substituted by a similar memory, but provided with another program (or simply by substituting the program), it is possible to read and understand the coding systems provided with different bars. When the EPROM - memory is designed for a storage capacity of 2 K or 4 K bytes, it is possible to utilize a program which may recognize a lot of coding systems (or, alternatively, of the OCR charac ters by utilizing the same system).

f) Unit manual control means

0042The portable unit is operated by means of recessed spring keys having a short working path, which are: <ul id="ul0008" list-style="none"><li>- a key 9 for the working control of the optical wand scanner; it permits the optical wand scanner electrical circuit to be eletrically supplied, pre disposing so the whole unit to work;</li><li>- a key 3 for the manual data innut (see paragraph b);</li><li>- the unit self-testing control, which is situated in an inner position difficult to be reached, as it clears the data memory, is operated by connecting two positions by a screwdriver. This control starts the unit self testing and signals the trou bles which eventually may occur;</li><li>- a key 10 for erasing the last inputted datum: it attends to erase the last read datum from the memory as well as the manual datum eventually innutted subsequently.</li></ul>

g) Unit state outside signaling means

0043<ul id="ul0009" list-style="none"><li>- For a datum read with a correct control: an acoustical signal;</li><li>- For the wand scanner working after having applied a pressure on the start key: optical signaling 11;</li><li>- For the full-stored memory; optical signaling 12 and acoustical signaling 13 which is intermittently ^pro- longed;</li><li>- For the erasing which has already been done, the last datum having being inputted: acoustical signaling;</li><li>- For the self-testing OK (positive self-testing): optical and acoustical segnaling;</li><li>- For a manually inputted datum: optical signaling with luminous indicators 4 or display;</li><li>- For the discharged pile: the operating luminous indicator 11 lacks to ignite after having depressed the operating control key 9.</li></ul>

Unit voltage feeding means

0044The voltage feeding is obtained by means of a rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium cell 14.

0045For each introduction of the wand scanner into the receptacle for transferring the data on the connected processor, the wand scanner foresees a contemporary cell recharge. This function has already been foreseen on the present processor. This means in practice that the relevant optical wand scanners have an unlimited endurance and it will be never necessary to effect a separate cell recharge. In any case it is provided the possibility of detecting and signaling the discharged cell state and re charging the same cell through a separate recharging operation, in the case in which the processor does not provide itself to attend to this function.

Further miniaturizing

0046It is possible to have a further miniaturizing of the electronic circuits by utilizing thin film hybrid or LSI custom technologies, which are well known on the microelectronics field.

0047The technology to be selected defends on technical and economical factors. In any case it can be said that the result of this will be an optical wand scanner, which has been improved according to the present invention and is provided with size which are compatible with that ones of any traditional writing pen.

0048Obviously any suitable modifications within the capability of a skilled person may be effected to this preferential solution without departing from the protection field of the present invention.