Abstract:
A plurality of data collectors and/or a transceiver for transmitting data in a plurality of transmissions are actuated by independent, manual actuations of a triggering circuit, preferably comprising a plurality of trigger switches, or a single trigger switch having a plurality of trigger positions.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/711,850, filed Nov. 13, 2000, and is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/820,048, filed Mar. 18, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,791, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No 08/686,157, filed Jul. 24, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,371, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/407,577, filed Aug. 20, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,121, and is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/897,835, filed Jun. 12, 1992, now abandoned, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/542,517, filed Oct. 13, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,119, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/294,438, filed Aug. 23, 1994, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/037,143, filed Mar. 25, 1993, now abandoned, (which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/715,267, filed Jun. 14, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,167) and abandoned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/268,589, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/269,170, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,858, abandoned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/269,171 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/268,913, filed Jun. 30, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,203, respectively, entitled “Multiple Laser Indicia Reader Optically Utilizing A Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Detector And Operating Method Therefor”, “Apparatus And Method For Reading Indicia Using Charge Coupled Device And Scanning Lens Bar Technology”, “Tunnel Scanner With Multiple Scan Units Having Multiple Light Emitters And Optionally Utilizing A Charge Coupled Detector Or Sensor Array” and “Method And Apparatus For Reading Two-Dimensional Bar Code Symbols With An Elongated Laser Line.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to an arrangement for and a method of collecting data by various modalities, and transmitting the collected data by wireless transmission to a remote host and, more particularly, to independently manually triggering a plurality of the data collecting modalities and/or the data transmitting function. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Various optical readers and optical scanning systems have been developed heretofore for reading indicia such as bar code symbols appearing on a label or on the surface of an article. The bar code symbol itself is a coded pattern of indicia comprised of a series of bars of various widths spaced apart from one another to bound spaces of various widths, the bars and spaces having different light reflecting characteristics. The readers in scanning systems electro-optically transform the graphic indicia into electrical signals, which are decoded into alphanumeric characters that are intended to be descriptive of the article or some characteristic thereof. Such characteristics are typically represented in digital form and utilized as an input to a data processing system for applications in point-of-sale processing, inventory control and the like. Scanning systems of this general type have been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,251,798; 4,369,361; 4,387,297; 4,409,470; 4,760,248; 4,896,026, all of which have been assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. As disclosed in some of the above patents, one embodiment of such a scanning system resides, inter alia, in a hand held, portable laser scanning device supported by a user, which is configured to allow the user to aim the scanning head of the device, and more particularly, a light beam, at a targeted symbol to be read. 
     The light source in a laser scanner bar code reader is typically a gas laser or semiconductor laser. The use of semiconductor devices as the light source is especially desirable because of their small size, low cost and low voltage requirements. The laser beam is optically modified, typically by an optical assembly, to form a beam spot of a certain size at the target distance. It is preferred that the cross section of the beam spot at the target distance be approximately the same as the minimum width between regions of different light reflectivity, i.e., the bars and spaces of the symbol. At least one bar code reader has been proposed with two light sources to produce two light beams of different frequency. 
     The bar code symbols are formed from bars or elements typically rectangular in shape with a variety of possible widths. The specific arrangement of elements defines the character represented according to a set of rules and definitions specified by the code or “symbology” used. The relative size of the bars and spaces is determined by the type of coding used as is the actual size of the bars and spaces. The number of characters (represented by the bar code symbol) is referred to as the density of the symbol. To encode the desired sequence of the characters, a collection of element arrangements are concatenated together to form the complete bar code symbol, with each character of the message being represented by its own corresponding group of elements. In some symbologies, a unique “start” and “stop” character is used to indicate when the bar code begins and ends. A number of different bar code symbologies exist, these symbologies include UPC/EAN, Code 39, Code 128, Codeabar, and Interleaved 2 of 5, etc. 
     In order to increase the amount of data that can be represented or stored on a given amount of surface area, several new bar code symbologies have recently been developed. One of these new code standards, Code 49, introduces a “two dimensional” concept for stacking rows of characters vertically instead of extending the bars horizontally. That is, there are several rows of bar and space patterns, instead of only one row. The structure of Code 49 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,239, which is herein incorporated by reference. Another two-dimensional symbology, known as “PDF417”, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,786. 
     Still other symbologies have been developed in which the symbol is comprised of a matrix array made up of hexagonal, square, polygonal and/or other geometric shapes. Such symbols are further described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,276,315 and 4,794,239. Such matrix symbols may include Vericode, Datacode, and MAXICODE (all trademarks of their respective owners). 
     In the laser beam scanning systems known in the art, the laser light beam is directed by a lens or other optical components along the light path toward a target that includes a bar code symbol on the surface. The moving-beam scanner operates by repetitively scanning the light beam in a line or series of lines across the symbol by means of motion of a scanning component, such as the light source itself or a mirror disposed in the path of the light beam. The scanning component may either sweep the beam spot across the symbol and trace a scan line across the pattern of the symbol, or scan the field of view of the scanner, or do both. 
     Bar code reading systems also include a sensor or photo-detector which detects light reflected or scattered from the symbol. The photo-detector or sensor is positioned in the scanner in an optical path so that it has a field of view which ensures the capture of a portion of the light which is reflected or scattered off the symbol. This light is detected and converted into an electrical signal. Electronic circuitry and software decode the electrical signal into a digital representation of the data represented by the symbol that has been scanned. For example, the analog electrical signal generated by the photo-detector is converted by a digitizer into a pulse or modulated digitized signal, with the widths corresponding to the physical widths of the bars and spaces. Such a digitized signal is then decoded, based on the specific symbology used by the symbol, into a binary representation of the data encoded in the symbol, and subsequently to the alpha-numeric characters so represented. 
     The decoding process of known bar code reading system usually works in the following way. The decoder receives the pulse width modulated digitized signal from the digitizer, and an algorithm, implemented in the software, attempts to decode the scan. If the start and stop characters and the characters between them in the scan were decoded successfully and completely, the decoding process terminates and an indicator of a successful read (such as a green light and/or an audible beep) is provided to the user. Otherwise, the decoder receives the next scan, performs another decode attempt on that scan, and so on, until a completely decoded scan is achieved or no more scans are available. 
     Such a signal is then decoded according to the specific symbology into a binary representation of the data encoded in the symbol, and to the alpha-numeric characters so represented. 
     Moving-beam laser scanners are not the only type of optical instrument capable of reading bar code symbols. Another type of bar code reader is one which incorporates detectors based on solid state imaging arrays or charge coupled device (CCD) technology. In such prior art readers the sides of the detector are typically smaller than the symbol to be read because of the image reduction by the objective lens in front of the array or CCD. The entire symbol is flooded with light from a light source such as lighting light emitting diodes (LED) in the scanning device, and each array cell is sequentially read out to determine the presence of a bar or a space. 
     The working range of CCD bar code scanners is rather limited as compared to laser based scanners and is especially low for CCD based scanners with an LED illumination source. Other features of CCD based bar code scanners are set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/041,281 which is hereby incorporated by reference, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,398. These references are illustrative of the earlier technological techniques proposed for use in CCD type scanners to acquire and read indicia in which information is arranged in a two dimensional pattern. 
     In an attempt to enable the user readily to position the hand-held reader so as to readily read the symbol, a variety of techniques of aiming the laser light at the indicia are known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,374 describes an aiming light arrangement to assist the user in visually locating and aiming the head at each symbol, the aiming light being a visible non-laser light source. Although the use of a discrete aiming light arrangement did assist the user in reliably aiming the head at the symbol for some applications, another system, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,098, used a multi-position trigger switch in a hand-held laser scanner. The head was arranged to be aimed at the symbol to be scanned during a first operational state in which an aiming pattern was emitted. Once the user had aligned the head properly with respect to the location of the symbol, the trigger switch was actuated again to put the device into a second operational state in which the beam was scanned across the symbol in the normal scanning or reading mode, and the symbol decoded. The same laser was used both to create the aiming pattern and the scanning beam. 
     European Patent No. 0355355 describes a combination bar code reader and EAS tag deactivator, including an embodiment with a multi-position trigger. 
     Another bar code reader with a multi-position trigger switch (for a rather different purpose) is disclosed in the article by Grabowski and Wohl, an IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, page 78, Volume 5, No. 5, October 1962. 
     Yet other aiming and scanning arrangements in which changing from one mode to another is performed in an automatic (i.e., non-manual) manner are described in the series of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,933,538; 5,229,591; and 5,250,791 assigned to the present assignee. 
     Radio frequency (RF) tags or targets bear data that can be electronically written and rewritten, and that can interrogated or polled remotely, even through opaque surfaces. The tags have RF resonators such as quartz crystals or dipoles. An RF reader activates an RF source and detects the RF response characteristics of the tag to generate data relating to an object with which the tag is associated. 
     Magnetic stripes bear data that can be electromagnetically written and rewritten, and that can be read by magnetic stripe readers or sensors. The stripes are provided on cards, such as credit, debit or identification cards, each stripe extending along a longitudinal direction generally parallel to a longitudinal edge of a respective card. 
     In the automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) industry, certain form factors, i.e., specific space allocations for devices having known functionalities, have become standards. One such form factor for a scan engine module known as the “SE 1200” has been adopted by the AIDC industry and is produced by Symbol Technologies, Inc. of Holtsville, N.Y., the assignee of the instant application. The SE 1200 module is used in hand-held scanners for reading bar code symbols and has a parallelepiped shape measuring 1-½ inches in length, 1 inch in width, and ¾ of an inch in height. 
     However, because this form factor is standardized and, therefore, the space allocated is limited to a certain, fixed size and shape, the functionality of the SE 1200 module is limited as well since additional circuits and functions cannot readily be added to the existing allocated space and circuitry. Also, the input and output interfaces of this module are fixed, and any new functions or circuits must employ the given interfaces. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to collect data from a plurality of collectors, and to independently activate the collectors. 
     It is another object of the invention to transmit data by wireless communication to a remote host, and to independently activate the data transmissions. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to collect and transmit data by independent triggering actions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In keeping with these objects, and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of this invention resides, briefly stated, in an arrangement for, and a method of, processing information. In one embodiment, a plurality of data collectors is provided on a support, each data collector being operative for collecting respective data. A triggering circuit, in accordance with the invention, is operative for independently, manually actuating the plurality of data collectors. 
     In another embodiment, an actuatable transceiver is provided on the support, and is operative for transmitting data by wireless communication to a host remote from the support. In this case, the triggering circuit is operative for independently, manually actuating one of the data collectors and the transceiver. 
     In still another embodiment, the triggering circuit is operative for independently, manually actuating the transceiver to transmit one of the data during a first actuation of the triggering circuit, and to transmit another of the data during a second actuation of the triggering circuit. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment, which is described by way of example only, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a view of a bar code reader system with dual trigger switches in a point-of-sale application environment according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 a  is an enlarged top plan view of a bar code reader with a trackball (joystick) and a graphical user interface display according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 b  is a perspective view of the bar code reader of FIG. 2 a;    
     FIG. 2 c  is an enlarged top plan view of the display of FIG. 2 a;    
     FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the internal optical and electronic elements of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an RF reader circuit and a magnetic stripe reader circuit together with a bar code symbol reader circuit in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view, from the front and below, of a module for supporting the circuits of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view, from the rear and below, of the module of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a data collection terminal having the module of FIGS. 5-6 therein during a card reading procedure; and 
     FIG. 8 is a part perspective, part schematic, diagrammatic view of a card slidable in a slot of a housing, the card having a plurality of data collectors and a transceiver. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention, in one embodiment, takes the form of a portable, hand held optical reader contained within a housing (or body)  10  of appropriate shape. The exact form of the housing  10  is not of importance, and may depend upon the particular application. A conventional gun-shaped housing would be suitable in many cases. The reader may also be arranged for hands-free use and could be fixed instead of being portable. 
     In one implementation, the invention provides a system for reading coded symbols with a light source for generating a beam directed toward a symbol to be read, a detector for receiving reflected light from the symbol to produce electrical signals corresponding to data represented by the symbol, a first actuator manually displaceable from an off position to a first selectable position for initiating reading of the symbol, and an independently operable second actuator is manually displaceable from a first position to a second position to transfer said data represented by the symbol. As an example, the data may be transferred to a printer, or to a display for visually displaying the data. The data may also be transferred to a radio frequency or IF transmitter for wireless communication of the data to a remote receiver. 
     In the point-of-sale system depicted in FIG. 1, merchandise or articles  85  having a one-dimensional bar code symbol  14  are arranged on a counter  87  on which the bar code reader  10  is mounted. The articles  85  are shown placed in a shopping tote  86  which includes an RF identification (ID) tag  88 . In one application, the bar code symbols may identify the merchandise, while the RF ID tag  88  may identify the shopper or customer. In another application, the tote  86  may be a shipping container, and the RF ID tag denotes the destination, routing, or shipping address. An RF ID tag detector  69  (shown in FIG. 3) may be included as part of the system. The system may employ both methods of identification, as will be subsequently described. 
     FIG. 1 shows a bar code reader  10  capable of both stationary and hand-held operation with dual triggers according to the present invention. The reader housing is depicted in the shape similar to the gun-shaped housings known in the prior art. The reader  10  may be picked up by the user for portable use, or mounted in a stand  80  in which the reader can function operating in a fixed mode. In the fixed mode, it is positioned to read the bar code symbol  14  on a target within the field of view of the reader, such as a region of the counter  87 . The reader  10  may make electrical contacts to the stand  80 , which in turn may be connected to a cash register  89  and/or host computer  82  which may include elements such as a display  83  and a printer  84 . In the present invention, the handle position  72  of the housing  10  (i.e., the portion of the housing which is gripped by the user&#39;s hand in normal use) includes two discrete trigger switches  70  and  71 . The upper switch  70 , designed to be activated by the index finger, controls one function or operation, while the lower switch  71 , designed to be activated by different fingers, controls a different operation, as will be described below. The switches  70 ,  71  are independently operable and, hence, either one can be operated before, after, or simultaneously with, the other. 
     Alternatively, in another embodiment, a single two-position trigger switch may be used in place of dual trigger switches. Examples of functions that may be performed by activation of the first and second positions of a dual or two-position trigger switches are as follows: 
     1) Position One—aim; Position Two—scan. 
     2) Position One—scan; Position Two—EAS deactivate. 
     3) Position One—scan; Position Two—RF ID. 
     4) Position One—scan; Position Two—transfer data or operate peripheral (e.g., printer, communication and display) 
     Examples of functions that may be performed with a single trigger with three trigger positions are as follows: 
     1) Position One—aim; Position Two—scan; Position Three—EAS deactivate. 
     2) Position One—aim; Position Two—scan; Position Three—RF ID. 
     3) Position One—scan; Position Two—RFID; Position Three—EAS deactivate. 
     As used above, the term “EAS deactivate” refers to an operation of deactivating an EAS tag on the article. Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,125 to describe EAS systems and tags, and their method of deactivation, and to European Patent No. 0355355. The term “RF ID” refers to reading an RF ID tag, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,328. 
     In another embodiment, a single switch may be used to activate one or more different functions. For example, the manual depression of a single momentary action switch from a first to a second position is used to activate a function. This switch need not, and typically is not, held in the second position to execute the function. The manual release of the switch does not perform any function. 
     In still another embodiment, the manual depression of a single switch from a first to a second position is used to activate a first function, e.g., aiming. Thereupon, 
     the manual release of the switch is used to activate a second function, e.g., scanning. 
     The sequence and operations described above are merely illustrative, and a particular point-of-sale check-out, shipping, a distribution system or other application may use other sequences or combinations rather than the ones described above. 
     FIG. 2 a  illustrates the top plan view and FIG. 2 b  a perspective view of the reader  10  now shown as incorporating a display  100  and a trackball, also known as a joystick  101 . The joystick may be moved by the user&#39;s thumb to move an arrow-shaped pointer  102  or indicating cursor on the display screen  100 . As best shown in FIG. 2 c , the display  100  may display icons  103  which in a particular programming environment or graphical user interface may be used to refer to specific program applications, documents, or data records that may be accessed by the system. Thus, FIG. 2 c  shows an “AIM” icon  103   a , a “SCAN” icon  103   b , a “DEACTIVATE” icon  103   c , and a “DATA TRANSFER” icon  103   d . When the pointer  102  is moved among the phantom line positions shown in FIG. 2 c , and is aligned with the desired icon, the user can select the application or document represented by the icon by activating a switch by pressing the joystick  101  to cause it to “click” and thereby register to the system the selected icon as representing the particular application, document, or data record desired to be accessed, executed or displayed. Thus, aiming, scanning, tag deactivating and data transferring are executed in response to selecting icons  130   a - d , respectively. As examples of the type of documents which may be displayed, two “windows” representing distinct programs P 1  and P 2  are displayed with the “active” or overlapping one  105  displaying data  106 . 
     FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  also illustrate a solar cell collector  107  which functions to power the reader and/or charge a battery contained within the reader housing  10 . In applications in which the stand  80  may be utilized in a location remote from the host computer  82  or other power source, it is advantageous to provide separate means for powering the reader. A solar power battery charger coupled to the solar cell collector  107  achieves this objective in one embodiment of the present invention. 
     As alternatives to the use of solar cells, microwave or heat energy sources could also be used. In the first variant, a microwave transmitter is installed in the close vicinity of the device (e.g., in the cash register around which a cordless scanner is used). This could be either the transmitter utilized to communicate with the portable device or one which is specific to this task. For both cases, its frequency could be either the same as the one utilized for the communication channel or a different one. Because of regulatory and safety/health issues, in most practical situations only low power levels should be generated. 
     Alternatively, heat generated in the device could be used, derived from the inherent inefficiency of its components. For example if Ω 1  is the device inefficiency (which results in heat generation), and Ω 2  is the process efficiency of converting heat to electricity, then a fraction of Ω 1 ×Ω 2  of the battery energy can be used for its charging. 
     Thus, another feature of the present invention is to provide a system for electro-optically reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, a scanning head with a housing; a DC voltage-powered light source mounted in the housing for generating a light beam that may be directed toward an indicium for reflection therefrom; a sensor for detecting light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia and for generating a signal indicative of the indicia; a battery in the housing for supplying DC voltage to the light source; and a solar cell powered charger for charging the battery in the housing. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a primary battery is placed in the device: Primary (non-rechargeable) batteries generally have energy density larger than that of secondary batteries (e.g., ≅100 Wh/kg for an alkaline cell vs. ≅30 Wh/kg for a standard Ni—Cd cell). However, this large capacity is substantially reduced at large discharge rates. Devices that operate in short “bursts” during the session (e.g., bar code scanners), do create a high rate of drain on the battery. In the preferred embodiment, the primary battery provides a substantially small charge current to the second battery. The secondary (rechargeable) battery is the power source which directly powers the device, and is continuously recharged at a low level (“trickle charge”) throughout the session, while maintaining the cordless mode of operation. The secondary battery can be used to deliver the same overall apparent capacity to the user. In this particular case, at the end of the session the primary battery is replaced and the secondary battery is recharged. However, the overall combination provides for a session which is longer than if a single battery type were used (assuming the same total battery weight). 
     The following is an illustrative example (specific values used are approximate only). Assume that a device is powered by a 3.6V battery (a series combination of three 1.2V cells) and a maximum of 100 g is allocated for the battery. If only a primary cell is used, then its density is 40 Wh/kg (because of the assumed high drain rate). This will translate to a capacity of (40 Wh/kg×(0.1 kg)/(3.6V)=1.11 Ah. Similarly, if a secondary battery is used, the resulting capacity is (30 Wh/kg)×(0.1 kg)/(3.6V)=0.83 Ah. If a combination of 50 g primary and 50 g secondary are used, (where the primary battery is used to trickle charge the secondary one, and thus its higher density is achieved), then the total capacity for this case is (100 Wh/kg)×(0.05 kg)/(3.6V)+(30 Wh/kg)×(0.05 kg)/(3.6V)=1.39 Ah+0.42 Ah=1.81 Ah, which is a substantial increase over the previous alternatives. 
     The following is another illustrative example. Assume a device which normally operates at 3V with a 500 mAh battery in 8-hour shifts (“sessions”). Using the concept of this invention, the device is redesigned to operate with a 250 mAh battery. The additional 250 mAh capacity is to be supplied via the trickle charge. The required charging current is thus (250 mAh)/(8 hours)=30 mA. At 3V operation, this corresponds to 90 mW. Assuming 10% power conversion efficiency of solar cells, about 900 mW of ambient light is required to impinge upon the solar cell area. In full sunlight, the intensity is approximately 100 mW/cm 2 , and in this case a total solar cell area of 9 cm 2  will be required. Indoor operation with normal lighting conditions will require substantially larger areas. 
     Turning to FIG. 3, the housing  10  has a window  12  therein, which is arranged to be positioned by the user opposite a bar code symbol or other indicia  14  to be read. Behind the window  12  is an illumination source, such as a laser  16 , with optics  18 , an illuminating LED or laser  20 , with optics  22 , and collection optics  24 . Behind the collection optics  24  is a detector or a two-dimensional imaging array  26  such as a CCD array which is arranged to be read out by signal processing circuitry  28 . Instead of being a CCD array, the array  26  could comprise any two-dimensional solid-state imaging device; it could, for example, comprise a random-access device. Also provided is a detector  30  coupled to range finder circuitry  32 , the purpose of which is to automatically determine the distance d between the window  12  and the indicia  14  which is to be read. The range finder may operate by any desired means, such as by ultrasound or optically. There is also an ambient illumination detector  34  which senses the ambient illumination conditions. The solar cells  107 , battery recharger  110 , primary battery  111 , and secondary battery  112  are also depicted. 
     Operation of the device is overseen by a common microprocessor or controller  36 , operated by means of a keypad  38  and a trigger mechanism  40 . The trigger mechanism incorporates dual trigger switches  70 ,  71 , such as shown in FIG. 1, having first switch contact  42  and second switch contact  44 . 
     In use, the operator first pulls the first trigger  70  back to a first position, in which it meets the contact  42 . This causes the controller  36  to actuate the laser  16  to produce a visible aiming beam  46  which the operator then manually aligns with the indicia  14 . The aiming beam preferably produces a static pattern, or designation pattern, preferably a point or a line which is easily visible. Ideally, the optical system  18  incorporates a cylindrical lens, such as that previously described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/268,913 noted above in the Reference to Related Applications, to produce a solid line of light which can quite easily be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bar code symbol. 
     Once the operator has properly aligned the reader, the operator then pulls the second trigger  71  which closes the contact  44 . This causes the controller  36  to instruct the range finder  32  to determine the distance d. On the basis of that determination, and on the basis of information provided by the ambient illumination detector  34 , the controller  36  determines the optimal focusing, magnification and illumination parameters that will be required to decode the image. The controller then sends signals to a focus and magnification control mechanism  48 , which adjusts the imaging optics  24 , to an illumination control  50 , which adjusts the illumination provided by the laser  20 , and to a further control  52  for adjusting the optics  22 , thereby adjusting the area and/or intensity of the illuminating beam  54  which will subsequently be produced. 
     Once all the parameters have been determined, and the necessary adjustments made, the controller  36  switches off the laser  16  and switches on the LED or laser  20  for a predetermined period, thereby illuminating the indicia  14  with the beam  54 . If the adjustments have correctly been made, the beam will be an optimized match with the size of the code at the measured distance d. An estimate of the apparent size of the code, as seen from the window, can be determined from the known actual size of the code (where available), which may have been entered in advance by means of the keyboard  38 . 
     The indicia  14  is imaged onto the two-dimensional semiconductor array  26 , which is then read out by the signal processing circuitry  28 . The signals are then decoded by a decoder  56 . Feedback is provided to the operator by means of a display  58  and/or audio feedback means  60 . 
     Once the image has been satisfactorily captured, processed and decoded, the controller may automatically instruct the reader to switch itself off, or alternatively to move into a low-power quiescent mode. 
     In a first variation of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the rangefinder  32  and the detector  30  may be omitted. Instead, determination of the distance d may be achieved by analyzing the reflected light  62  which is returned from the symbol as it is being illuminated by the target beam  46 . For example, the beam  46  may be pulsed, and temporal measurements may be taken to determine the distance. Alternatively, the beam  46  may be scanned across the indicia, in which case the spectral characteristics of the received signal may provide some indication of the distance. Yet a further alternative is to calculate phase relationships within the reflected light. 
     A further variation is to replace the lasers  16 , 20  with a single laser, and the optics  18 , 22  with a single set of optics. In such an arrangement, the same laser operates to produce the aiming beam (designating pattern)  46  and the imaging illuminating beam  54 . Such an arrangement is, of course, only of assistance where the laser produces light of a wavelength which can easily be seen by the operator. 
     Instead of the trigger  40  being a dual trigger, or two-position trigger, it could be a multi-position trigger. The various trigger positions could undertake a variety of functions; for example, one trigger position might produce a first static pattern (designation pattern), with a second position producing a second pattern, and a third position producing the measurement illumination. This type of arrangement could be useful where the device is to be used in a variety of situations, or with a variety of different bar code symbols, since it would then be possible for the operator to choose an appropriate designation pattern for the indicia which is to be measured. Other trigger positions of a multi-position trigger could provide an on/off function, or other functions for controlling the information shown on the display  58 , such as deactivation of an EAS tag, reading of an RF ID tag, or activation of a peripheral device, such as a modem, radio, infrared transmission unit or other communications device, or a peripheral device such as a printer. One example would be initiating wireless communication of the data represented by the symbol through a communication unit  113  connected to the controller  36 . Different trigger positions could also be provided to alter the measurement characteristics of the device, for example to provide at least a certain level of manual control over the focusing and/or magnification, such as zooming or spot size adjustment. All of these features will, of course, be controlled by the controller  36 . 
     Instead of, or in addition to, the trigger  40 , the aforementioned graphical user interface depicted in FIGS. 2 a ,  2   b  and  2   c , is useful in performing system functions. Thus, as described above, the user&#39;s thumb is used to move the joystick  101  and position the pointer  102  on a selected icon, thereby “highlighting or selecting” the function associated with that icon. Thereupon, either the thumb, is used again to depress the joystick, or one of the user&#39;s other fingers is used to depress one of the trigger switches  71  or  72 , thereby “choosing or executing” the selected function. 
     While the preferred form of the optical reader, already described, is a portable, hand-held device, various other options are possible. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 could, instead, represent a fixed embodiment which is arranged to be built into a point-of-sale unit, for example above a conveyor. The automatic magnification/focus controls enable the device to deal with a variety of different sized packages, passing along the conveyor, thereby presenting bar code symbols at a variety of different distances from the device. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, reference numeral  210  generally identifies a block diagram of a module according to this invention. Module  210  includes an RF reader circuit  212  having a wireless data transceiver  214  for emitting RF energy via a transmitting antenna  216  to interrogate or poll at least one resonant element or resonator  218  associated with a target  220 . 
     The resonator  218  may be a quartz crystal or preferably a dipole. The dipole may be a metal-coated fiber resonant at a frequency dependent on the fiber length. The dipole may be embedded in, or affixed to, any target. Preferably, the dipole is carried on a tag or label that is attached, usually by an adhesive, to an object. 
     The interrogated dipole emits an RF response characteristic which is detected by a receiving antenna  220 . The received RF signal is conducted to the wireless transceiver  214  and thereupon is processed in a signal processor  222  which comprises an amplifier, a bandpass filter, a multiplier for sampling the received signal at a rate controlled by a counter to produce a sampled signal, a peak detector for determining the magnitude and duration of the peaks in the sampled signal, an automatic gain controller, and a digitizer for converting the analog sampled signal to a digital signal. The digital signal is then conducted to a central processor unit (CPU)  224  for processing in accordance with a stored algorithm. A memory  226  is connected to the CPU for data storage and retrieval. An output signal from the CPU is conducted therefrom through an interface, typically a single eight-pin connector  228 . 
     Reference numeral  230  generally identifies a magnetic stripe reader circuit having at least one sensor  232 , and preferably a plurality of sensors, connected to a signal processor and digitizer circuit  234 . A card  240  such as a credit, debit or identification card of generally rectangular form includes an elongated magnetic stripe  236  that has information encoded therein. 
     The card  240  may have user identification thereon in human-readable form such as name and address data  238 , or a photograph  242  of the card&#39;s owner, or other information relating to the user, such as insurer data (in the case of a medical or patient card), motor vehicle data (in the case of a vehicle license and registration card), financial institution data (in the case of bank, credit or debit cards), etc. The card  240  may have any or all of the above data in machine-readable form such as bar code symbols in either one-or two-dimensional format. 
     The card  240  may have an integrated chip embedded therein as in the case of “smart” cards, or may even have the resonant elements discussed above in connection with RF readers supported by the cards. In each case, the card has a longitudinal edge  244  extending in a longitudinal direction generally parallel to the longitudinal direction along which the stripe  236  extends. This edge  244  serves as a guide and insures that the stripe  236  is correctly positioned relative to the sensor  232  as the card is slid past the sensor as is common with magnetic stripe technology. 
     The sensor  232  detects the data encoded in the stripe and generates an electrical data signal which is then processed and digitized to obtain a digital signal which is conducted to the CPU  224  for processing in accordance with a stored algorithm. The output signal from the CPU is fed to the output interface  228 . 
     As described so far, the RF reader circuit  212  and the magnetic stripe reader circuit  230  share the common CPU  224  and, in some cases, can share some of the signal processing and digitizer components in the signal processors  222  and  234 . As shown in FIG. 5, reference numeral  250  generally identifies a common support such as the aforementioned SE 1200 laser scan engine module on which the RF reader and magnetic stripe reader circuits  212 ,  230  are supported. The support  250  includes a generally planar base  252  and a printed circuit board  254  mounted in a plane generally parallel to and elevated relative to the base  252 . The support  250  also includes a standard laser scan engine circuit  264  depicted in FIG. 4, and including a laser diode  266  for emitting a laser beam, lenses  268  for focusing the laser beam, a scan mirror  270  for reflecting the beam outwardly of the module, a drive  272  for moving the scan mirror and sweeping the beam across a bar code symbol  280  for reflection therefrom, a photodiode  274  for detecting the reflected light, and a collection mirror  276  and collection optics  278  for collecting the reflected light and directing it to the photodiode, as well as signal processor and digitizer circuitry  282  for processing and digitizing a detected signal generated by the photodiode. Circuit components  234 ,  222  and  282  could be a single signal processor and digitizer circuit with switched inputs for different signal sources. 
     The symbol  280  is machine-readable and is one-or two-dimensional. The symbol  280  is associated with a target or object  284  and identifies the object. 
     FIG. 6 depicts an opposite side view of the support of FIG. 5, in which the magnetic stripe sensor  232  is depicted. The sensor  232  is recessed into the support so that the maximum form factor dimensions of the SE  1200  will not be exceeded. The RF reader circuit  212  is mounted on the printed circuit board  254 , or may be mounted on another printed circuit board mounted on the module. 
     FIG. 7 depicts a hand-held data collection terminal  260  in which the module of FIGS. 5 and 6 is mounted during swiping of the card  240  past the sensor  232 . A card reading slot  262  is formed in the terminal. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or any two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
     Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, the system components need not be mounted on a generally rectangular parallelepiped module as in FIGS. 5-6, but can be mounted on a plug-in card  300  of the type generally known as a PCMCIA card that is insertable in the direction of arrow A into a slot  338  commonly found in a laptop computer  336 . 
     The card or support  300  has a first mounting region  302  at which any data collector and, preferably, a plurality of data collectors is mounted. By way of example, the data collector can be a smart card reader  304  for reading a smart card chip, a magnetic stripe reader  306  of the type  230  described above, a biometric reader  308  for reading a physical characteristic of a user such as a fingerprint, a retina, or a voice, a CCD reader  310  of the type described above, an RF ID reader  312  of the type  212  described above, an IRDA reader  314  for detecting infrared data, a laser scanner  318  of the type  264  described above, or any generic data collector  316  for collecting data for subsequent use. 
     The card  300 , just like the module  250 , can be mounted in any housing, for example, the hand-held housing  10  of FIG. 1 which, it will be recalled, has a pair of triggers  71 ,  72 . One trigger can be used to actuate any one of the aforementioned data collectors, and the other trigger can be used to actuate any other one of the aforementioned data collectors. By way of example, activation of trigger  71  may serve to actuate the laser scanner  318  for reading the symbol  14 , and activation of trigger  72  may serve to actuate the RF ID reader  312  for reading the RF ID tag  88 . 
     As before, the triggering of the plurality of data collectors need not be accomplished by depressing two separate triggers, but can be achieved by depressing a single trigger  340  having two or more positions such as position  340 ′ in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 8, or by manipulating a pointer device on a graphical user interface. 
     The card  300  may also have a second mounting region  320  spaced from the first mounting region  302 . A wireless transceiver  322  is mounted at the second mounting region  320 , and includes a transmitter  324 , a transmitting antenna  326 , a receiver  328 , a receiving antenna  330 , a voltage controlled oscillator  332  and a crystal oscillator  334 . The transceiver preferably operates at a radio frequency of 2.4 GHz and employs the IEEE 802.11b protocol. 
     The transceiver  322  can be activated by one of the triggering actions described above, for transmitting data to and from a remote host by wireless communication. In an application where two of the data collectors, e.g.,  318  and  312 , have collected data, then the transceiver can be activated by one of the triggering actions to transmit the data from one of the collectors, and by another triggering action to transmit the data from the other of the collectors. 
     The data transmitted need not be data that was previously collected by one of the collectors, but can be data entered, for example, by a keyboard or data stored by a manufacturer. In one embodiment, data relating to opening a door, such as a garage door, can be input by the manufacturer or by the user, and thereupon, one of the triggering actions can cause the door to be opened, and another of the triggering actions can cause a garage or home lighting system to be activated. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a triggered data collector and data transmitter, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the following claims. 
     What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.