Abstract:
An indicia reading apparatus includes an interconnect cable and an indicia reading device. The indicia reading device is configured so that, if the indicia reader device is not configured to any interconnect cable and detects an indicia which does not contain one of a plurality of specified sequences of data elements that the indicia reading device will recognize and use to configure itself to operate with the interconnect cable, the indicia reading device will indicate to the user of the indicia reading device that the indicia reading device needs to be configured to operate with the interconnect cable.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to indicia reading devices, and more particularly to a method of programming the default cable interface software in an indicia reading device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Indicia reading devices (also referred to as optical indicia readers, scanners, RFID readers, etc.) typically read indicia data represented by printed indicia or data carrier indicia, (also referred to as symbols, symbology, bar codes, RFID tags, etc.) For instance one type of a symbol is an array of rectangular bars and spaces that are arranged in a specific way to represent elements of data in machine readable form. Another type of symbol is encoded as data in an RFID tag. Optical indicia reading devices typically transmit light onto a symbol and receive light scattered and/or reflected back from a bar code symbol. The received light is interpreted by an image processor to extract the data represented by the symbol. Laser indicia reading devices typically utilize transmitted laser light. RFID readers typically activate RFID tags which transmit data symbols to the RFID readers. 
     One-dimensional (1D) optical bar code readers are characterized by reading data that is encoded along a single axis, in the widths of bars and spaces, so that such symbols can be read from a single scan along that axis, provided that the symbol is imaged with a sufficiently high resolution along that axis. 
     In order to allow the encoding of larger amounts of data in a single bar code symbol, a number of 1D stacked bar code symbologies have been developed which partition encoded data into multiple rows, each including a respective 1D bar code pattern, all or most all of which must be scanned and decoded, then linked together to form a complete message. Scanning still requires relatively higher resolution in one dimension only, but multiple linear scans are needed to read the whole symbol. 
     A class of bar code symbologies known as two dimensional (2D) matrix symbologies have been developed which offer orientation-free scanning and greater data densities and capacities than 1D symbologies. 2D matrix codes encode data as dark or light data elements within a regular polygonal matrix, accompanied by graphical finder, orientation and reference structures. 
     Conventionally, an indicia reader, whether portable or otherwise, optical or wireless, may include a central processor which directly controls the operations of the various electrical components housed within the indicia reader. For example, the central processor controls detection of keyboard entries, display features, trigger detection, and indicia read and decode functionality. 
     Efforts regarding such systems have led to continuing developments to improve their versatility, practicality and efficiency. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises, in one form thereof, an indicia scanning apparatus including an interconnect cable, an indicia reading device configured to provide an indication to a user of the indicia reading device that the indicia reading device needs to be configured to operate with an interconnect cable if the indicia reader device detects an indicia which does not contain a specified sequence of data elements that the indicia reading device will recognize and configure itself to operate with the interconnect cable, and an indicia with, on or in the interconnect cable with the specified sequence of bar data elements. 
     In still another form, the invention includes a method for requiring a user of an indicia reader device to initially configure the indicia reader device for operating with an interconnect cable. The method comprises the steps of configuring the indicia reader device so that if the indicia reader device detects an indicia which does not contain one of a plurality of specified sequences of data elements that the indicia reading device will recognize and use to configure itself to operate with the interconnect cable, the indicia reading device will indicate to the user of the indicia reading device that the indicia reading device needs to be configured to operate with the interconnect cable, and providing an indicia with an interconnect cable which includes one of the plurality of specified sequences of data elements which is applicable to the interconnect cable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The aforementioned and other features, characteristics, advantages, and the invention in general will be better understood from the following more detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial cutaway view of an optical indicia reader in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the optical indicia reader of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  3 C, and  3 D are block diagrams of typical data processing systems with which the reading device shown in  FIG. 1  may be used; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are flow charts of alternate procedures for initially configuring the reading device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view on an interconnect cable in a plastic bag with a label for initially configuring the reading device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the label shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view on an interconnect cable in a plastic bag with an embedded RFID tag for initially configuring the reading device shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a label for a bag containing an interconnect cable which includes a RFID tag in the label. 
     
    
    
     It will be appreciated that for purposes of clarity and where deemed appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated in the figures to indicate corresponding features. Also, the relative size of various objects in the drawings has in some cases been distorted to more clearly show the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. This invention, however, may be embodied in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these representative embodiments are described in detail so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope, structure, operation, functionality, and potential of applicability of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary hand held indicia reading device or scanner  112  (referred to as “scanner  112 ”) has a number of subsystems for capturing images, interrogating RFID tags, and decoding dataforms within such images and tags. The scanner  112  has an imaging reader assembly  114 , an electronics assembly  116 , an inner cable  118  from the electronics assembly  116  to a connector (not shown) at the end of a handle  120 , and two LEDs,  122  and  124 , positioned behind translucent windows  126 , and a housing  128  which encloses the electrical parts and is connected to the handle  120 . The electronics assembly includes an RFID assembly  130 , a vibrator  132 , and a sound generator  134 . A trigger  136  is used to activate and deactivate the scanner  112 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the image reader assembly  114  and electronics assembly  116  generally comprises a receive optical system  140 , an illumination assembly  150 , an aiming pattern generator  160 , an RFID reader unit  170 , and a variety of control and communication modules. The receive optical system  140  generates frames of data containing indications of the intensity of light received by the read optical system  140 . The illumination assembly  150  illuminates a target T creating reflections that are received by the receive optical system  140 . The aiming pattern generator  160  projects an aiming light pattern to assist with aiming the scanner  112 . While the present description employs an imager based data collection subsystem (the image reader assembly  114  and electronics assembly  116 ), it is to be recognized that the data collection subsystem may take other forms such as a laser scanner. 
     The receive optical system  140  generally comprises image receive optics  142  and an image sensor  144 . The image optics  142  receives light reflected from a target T and projects the reflected light on to the image sensor  144 . The image sensor  144  may comprise any one of a number of two-dimensional, color or monochrome solid state image sensors using such technologies as CCD. CMOS, NMOS, PMOS, CD, CMD, etc. One possible sensor is the MT9V022 sensor from Micron Technology Inc. Such sensors contain an array of light sensitive photodiodes (or pixels) that convert incident light energy into electric charges. 
     Many image sensors are employed in a full frame (or global) shutter operating mode, wherein the entire imager is reset prior to an image capture operation to remove any residual signal in the photodiodes. The photodiodes (pixels) then accumulate charge for some period of time (exposure period), with the light collection starting and ending at about the same time for all pixels. At the end of the integration period (time during which light is collected), all charges are simultaneously transferred to light shielded areas of the sensor. The light shield prevents further accumulation of charge during the readout process. The signals are then shifted out of the light shielded areas of the sensor and read out. Image sensor  144  may also employ a rolling shutter. 
     The illumination assembly  150  generally comprises a power supply  152 , an illumination source  154  and illumination optics  156 . The illumination optics  156  directs the output of the illumination source  154  (generally comprising LEDs or the like) onto the target T. The light is reflected off the target T and received by the receive optical system  140 . It is to be noted that the illumination provided by the illumination assembly  150  may be combined with (or replaced by) other sources of illumination, including ambient light from sources outside of the scanner  112 . 
     The aiming pattern generator  160  generally comprises a power supply  162 , an aimer light source  164 , an aperture  166 , and aimer optics  168 . The aiming pattern generator  160  creates an aiming light pattern projected on or near the target which spans a portion of the receive optical system&#39;s  140  operational field of view with the intent of assisting the operator to properly aim the scanner at the bar code pattern that is to be read. A number of representative generated aiming patterns are possible and not limited to any particular pattern or type of pattern, such as any combination of rectilinear, linear, circular, elliptical, etc., figures, whether continuous or discontinuous, i.e., defined by sets of discrete dots, dashes, and the like. Alternately, the aimer pattern generator may be a laser pattern generator. 
     Generally, the aimer light source  164  may comprise any light source which is sufficiently small or concise and bright to provide a desired illumination pattern at the target. For example, the aimer light source  164  may comprise one or more LEDs, such as part number NSPG300A made by Nichia Corporation. Illumination and aiming light sources with different colors and combination of colors may be employed, for example white, green and red LEDs. The colors may chosen based on the color of the symbols most commonly imaged by the image reader. Different colored LEDs may be each alternatively pulsed at a level in accordance with an overall power budget. 
     The aimer light sources  164  may also be comprised of one or more laser diodes such as those available from Rohm. In this case a laser collimation lens (not shown in these drawings) will focus the laser light to a spot generally forward of the scanning head and approximately at the plane of the target T. This beam may then be imaged through a diffractive interference pattern generating element, such as a holographic element fabricated with a desired pattern in mind. Examples of these types of elements are known, commercially available items and may be purchased, for example, from Digital Optics Corp. of Charlotte, N.C. among others. 
     The RFID reader unit  170  generally comprises an RFID data processing circuit  172 , an RF oscillator and receiver  174 , and an RFID antenna  176 . The RFID reader unit  170  may be configured to read RF encoded data from a passive RFID tag, such as tag  262  ( FIG. 7 ). Where RFID reader unit  170  is configured to read RF encoded data from a passive RFID tag  262 , RF oscillator and receiver circuit  174  transmits a carrier signal from antenna  176  to passive tag  262 . Passive RFID tag  262  converts the carrier energy to voltage form and a transponder of tag  262  is actuated to transmit a radio signal representing the encoded tag data. RF oscillator and receiver circuit  174 , in turn, receives the radio signal from the tag and converts the data into a digital format. RFID data processing circuit  172 , typically including a low cost microcontroller IC chip, decodes the received radio signal information received by RF oscillator and receiver circuit  147  to decode the encoded identification data originally encoded into RFID tag  262 . The decoded digital data is passed to bus  182   a.    
     A scanner processor  180  provides overall control of the image reader assembly  114  and electronics assembly  116 . The scanner processor  180  and other components of the image reader assembly are generally connected by one or more buses  182   n  and/or dedicated communication lines. In the illustrated example a parallel bus  182   a  connects the scanner processor  180  to a cable interface circuit  183  which includes a cable connector and to a main system memory  184  used to store processed (and unprocessed) image data from the image sensor  144 . The scanner processor  180  utilizes an I 2 C bus  182   b  to communicate exposure settings to the image sensor  144  and illumination parameters to a microcontroller  186 . A dedicated 8 to 10 bit parallel bus  182   c  is used to transfer image data from the image sensor  144  to the scanner processor  180 . The width of the bus  182   c  may be dependant on the bit size recorded by each pixel in the image sensor  144 . The output of the image sensor  144  is processed by the scanner processor  180  utilizing one or more functions or algorithms, which may be stored in an EEPROM  187 , to condition the signal appropriately for use in further processing downstream, including being digitized to provide a digitized image of target T. 
     Another function of the scanner processor  180  is to decode machine readable symbology represented within an image captured by the image sensor  144 . Information respecting various reference decode algorithms is available from various published standards, such as by the International Standards Organization (“ISO”). The scanner processor  180  also controls the scanner housing status indicator device drivers  189  which drives the LEDs  122  and  124 , the vibrator  132 , and the sound generator  134 . 
     The microcontroller  186  maintains illumination parameters, used to control operation of the illumination assembly  150  and the aiming pattern generator  160 , in a memory  188 . For example, the memory  188  may contains tables indicative of power settings for the power supplies  152  and  162  corresponding to various states of the signal from the image sensor  144 . Based upon signals from the scanner processor  180  and/or the image sensor  144 , the microcontroller  186  sends signals to the power supplies  152  and  162  based on values stored in the table in memory  188 . An exemplary microcontroller  150  is the CY8C24223A made by Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. 
       FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  3 C, and  3 D are four block diagrams of exemplary systems with which the scanner  112  may be used. Although the optical scanner  112  is used in the drawings, a wireless or RFID scanner may also be used with the present invention. In  FIG. 3A  the scanner  112  is coupled to a local host processor  190  by means an interconnect cable  192 , which in  FIG. 3A  may have a USB connection to the host processor  190 . Host processor  190  may be connected to a display  194 , to a printer  196 , and a keyboard  198 . As used herein, the term “local host processor” will be understood to include both stand alone host processors and host processors which comprise only one part of a local computer system. 
     If the software for the scanner  112  is available locally as, for example, on a diskette or CD-ROM, it may be loaded using a suitable drive unit  200 . The local host processor  190  may be in communication with a remotely located processor  202  through a suitable transmission link  204 , such as an electrical conductor link, a fiber optic link, or a wireless transmission link through a suitable communication interface  206 , such as a modem. As used herein, the term “transmission link” will be understood to refer broadly to any type of transmission facility, including an RS-232 capable telephone line, an RF link, or a computer network, e.g., ETHERNET although other types of transmission links or networks may also be used. For example, transmission link  204  could be provided by a coaxial cable or any other non-RF electromagnetic energy communication link including a light energy infrared or microwave communication link. Link  204  could also be an acoustic communications link. 
     The connection to the host processor  190  must be of a type to provide electrical data between the scanner  112  and the host process  190 , and provide power to the scanner  112 . A USB connection can perform these functions, as can a keyboard connection.  FIG. 3B  shows the scanner  112  connected to the host processor  190  by an interconnection cable  213  with a keyboard wedge  214  at one end to permit the use of a keyboard with the scanner  112 . In  FIG. 3C  the scanner  112  is connected to the host processor  190  by an interconnect cable  215  at a connection  218  to the host processor  190  which cannot provide the power needed by the scanner  112 . For example, a serial port on the host processor  190  is a connection which cannot power the scanner  112 . In  FIG. 3C  a separate power supply  216  is needed for the scanner  112 . The power supply  216  is connected to a power connector  217  which, in turn, is connected to the connector  218  which replaces the connector  212  in  FIG. 3A . In  FIG. 3D  the scanner  112  is connected by an interconnect cable  219  directly to a local area network (LAN)  220 , such as an ETHERNET LAN, which is also connected to the local host processor  190 . The interconnect cable  219  couples the scanner  112  to the LAN  220  at a LAN connector  222 . Power supply  216  connected to a power connector  217  which, in turn, is connected to the LAN connector  222  to provide power to the scanner  112 . 
     In the past scanners may have been preprogrammed to operate with a specific interface cable which may be part of a scanner kit. However, in some cases the preprogrammed scanner does not match the interconnect cable in the kit. For example, a customer may buy a USB kit, but the scanner is programmed for a keyboard wedge, and consequently the scanner does not work “out of the box.” Once connected, the scanner seems to be ready and there is no indication that further setup is required. The problem is that in mass production the manufacturer sometimes does not know in what kit a scanner will end up. Another downside of the preprogrammed scanners is that if the “factory defaults” indicia is scanned, the scanner defaults to the device&#39;s default interface, which isn&#39;t necessarily the interface the user requires or expects. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are flow diagrams showing alternate embodiments of the steps used to initially configure the scanner  112  by an end user for a particular type of interconnect cable when the scanner  112  is in a “boot mode new” (BMN) mode meaning that an interface default variable has not been set, and there is no interconnection cable configuration set in the scanner  112 . Turning to  FIG. 4A , whenever the scanner  112  is powered up while in the BMN mode, an initial boot sequence is performed as indicated in box  230 . The boot sequence includes a test of the interface default variable to determine if it is filled as shown in box  232 . If the interface default variable has not been filled, the scanner  112  indicates to the user that the variable has not been filled as shown in box  234 . The indication may be illumination of one or both of the LEDs  122 ,  124  shown in  FIG. 1 , either constantly or intermittently. The indication may also be a sequence of prerecorded sounds generated by the sound generator  134  and/or a movement in the scanner  112  by the vibrator  132 . In addition, since the scanner  112  has not completed the boot sequence in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the scanner  112  will not be configured to read and interpret product indicia, such as bar codes and RFID tags, or perform any other functions that the scanner is capable of when it has completed the boot sequence. The scanner  112  than waits until a flash default interface (FDI) indicia is received as indicated in box  236 . The FDI indicia provides software commands which the scanner  112  uses to configure itself to an interconnect cable associated with the FDI indicia. After the FDI indicia is detected, the scanner fills the interface default variable as shown in box  238 , and resumes the boot sequence including loading the interface default programmed in the FDI indicia as shown in box  240 . 
     In  FIG. 4B  the scanner  112  begins a boot sequence as indicated by box  230  and then checks to see if the interface default variable is set in box  232 . If the interface default variable has not been set, then the scanner  112  continues booting up to a first configuration indicated by box  242  and then signals an operator, either continuously or intermittently, in the manner described above, to scan a FDI indicia as indicated by box  234 . While the scanner  112  is signaling the user to scan a FDI indicia, the scanner  112  tests whether a FDI indicia has been scanned in box  236 . Once a FDI indicia has been scanned, the interface default variable is filled as indicated in box  238  and the interface default is loaded into the memory of the scanner  112  as indicated in box  244 . Then the boot sequence is restarted as indicated in box  230 , and whether or not the interface default variable has been set is once more been tested as indicated in box  232 . Since the interface default variable has been set, the scanner  112  continues booting up to a second configuration as indicated in box  246 . At this time the scanner  112  goes into an idle state waiting to scan and attempt to interpret any indicia. 
     After the initial interconnection cable configuration has been set, the interconnect cable interface may be changed to allow the scanner  112  to operate with other interface cables using programming indicia listed in a user&#39;s instruction manual. However, changing the interconnect interface in this manner may not change the interface default variable, and if a master reset indicia is scanned, the interconnect cable interface may revert to the initial interconnection cable configuration. Thus, if a user sets the default interface variable with a FDI indicia for a USB cable, later changes to an interconnect cable configuration for a keyboard wedge by scanning the indicia for a keyboard wedge interconnect cable in the user&#39;s manual, and then later scans a master reset indicia, the scanner  112  may revert back to the USB interconnect cable configuration. 
     However, the manufacturer may provide a hidden command available to the manufacturer&#39;s support personnel to erase the interconnection cable configuration putting the scanner back into the BMN mode. The user would then have to set the default interface variable using a process such as those shown in  FIG. 4A  or  4 B. By resetting the FDI variable, the scanner  112  would then be ready for sale to anew user or for use in a different location in a company, and the master reset command would not cause an unwanted change in the interface cable configuration. 
     The FDI indicia on the cable-bag may be a linear (1D) bar code in order to work with a basic scanner  112  which can only read linear (1D) bar codes. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the interconnect cable  192  in a plastic bag  250  with a label  252  with a FDI bar code  254  to be used for initially configuring the scanner  112  so that it is compatible with the cable  192 . The label  252  that instructs the user to scan the indicated bar code  254  on the label before trying to use the scanner  112  is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the interconnect cable  260  in aplastic bag  262 , similar to that shown in  FIG. 5 , with a RFID tag  264  embedded in a connector  266  of the cable  260  which can be used for initially configuring the scanner  112  so that it is compatible with the cable  260 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a label  270  which includes a RFID tag  272  and can be placed on the plastic bag  262  for an interconnect cable which may not have an imbedded RFID tag in the interconnect cable. The label  270  may be used with interconnect cables, such as an USB interconnect cable, which is used with scanners  112  which have different interface configurations. However, there may be some cables which are used only with scanners with the same designated cable interface, and the embedded RFID tag could be used. 
     The RFID tags  264  and  272  are FDI RFID tags in that they are used to initially configure the interconnect cables  260  and  272 . Because the RFID tag  264  embedded in the cable connector  266  may respond to the RFID reader in the scanner  112  after it has been configured and will therefore broadcast its data, the FDI RFID tags  264 ,  272  may be encoded to transmit an Application Family Identifier (AFI) which is different from the AFI of other RFID tags that are not used to configure the cable interface of the scanner  112 . The RFID reader in the scanner  112  would therefore recognize the AFI of transmitted signal from each RFID tag responding to the RFID reader, and ignore FDI RFID tags unless the scanner  112  does not have a configured cable interface or the scanner  112  has been programmed to receive a new default cable interface from an FDI RFID tag. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.