Method and apparatus for low power optical sensing and decoding of data

An optical data reader, comprising:

• timing signal generating means for producing first timing signals at a first frequency and second timing signals at a second frequency, the second timing signals being generated by selecting predetermined first timing signals;
• optical emitting means electrically connected to said timing signal generating means for emitting optical radiation responsive to said timing signal generating means and in an optical path to the optical data carrier at one of the first or second frequencies;
• and
• optical detecting means for detecting optical radiation emerging from the optical data carrier and for producing an electrical signal responsive thereto.

A method of reading optical data, comprising the steps of:

• generating a timing signal having a predetermined frequency;
• emitting optical radiation responsive to the generating timing signal in an optical data path to an optical data carrier;
• detecting optical radiation emerging from the optical data carrier;
• producing an electrical signal responsive to the detected optical data;
• and
• providing non-zero amplification of low frequencies and greater amplification of higher frequencies of the electrical signal.

A method of reading optical data, comprising the steps of:

• generating first timing signals having a first frequency;
• generating second timing signals having a second frequency by selecting predetermined first timing signals;
• emitting optical radiation responsive to the first or second generated timing signals in an optical data path to an optical data carrier;
• detecting optical radiation emerging from an optical data carrier;
• and
• producing an electrical signal responsive to detected optical radiation emerging from the optical data carrier.