Claims
- 1. 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.
- 2. 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.
- 3. The system of claim 2 in which said clock includes a frequency doubler circuit, whereby a clock signal may be increased in frequency.
- 4. The system of claim 2 in which said clock includes an external output such that said clock signal may be utilized with other circuitry.
- 5. 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.
- 6. 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.
- 7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an alternate external clock input for supplying an externally generated clock signal to said clock.
- 8. 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.
- 9. 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.
- 10. The system of claim 1 in which said integrated circuit further includes an interface for providing communication with said scanner controller.
- 11. 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.
- 12. 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.
- 13. 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.
- 14. 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.
- 15. 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.
- 16. 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.
- 17. The integrated circuit of claim 11 further comprising an alternate external clock input for supplying an externally generated clock signal to said clock.
- 18. 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.
- 19. 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.
- 20. 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.
- 21. The system of claim 20 in which said converter means includes a clock for providing a clock signal.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/488,107 filed Mar. 5, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,118.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
488107 |
Mar 1990 |
|