Optical and passive electromagnetic reader for reading machine-readable symbols, such as bar codes, and reading wireless tags, such as radio frequency tags, and corresponding method
AssigneeIntermec IP Corp.
InventorsMichael Ohanian, Pavel Maltseff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A document or object includes resonant tags, such as thin dipoles, and a machine-readable symbol, such as an area symbol, secured thereto. A reader reads the symbol and determines response characteristics encoded therein for the dipoles. The reader then can interrogate the dipoles and, together with the response characteristics and determined orientation (derived from the symbol), accurately determine resonant response characteristics received from the dipoles. Alternatively, a printer may interrogate the document to determine the response characteristics of the dipoles in the document, and then print the corresponding symbol.
Claims26
A data input apparatus that obtains information relative to an object, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- a two-dimensional image capture device coupled to the processor;
- a memory coupled to the processor and storing an image of at least an image of a two-dimensional machine-readable symbol on the object, and wherein the two-dimensional machine-readable symbol stores data corresponding to response characteristic information versus position for at least one resonator secured to the object;
- a wireless data transceiver coupled to the processor, wherein the wireless data transceiver transmits an energizing signal to, and receives electromagnetic data received from, the at least one resonator secured to the document;
- and
- wherein the memory stores instructions for the processor for (a) determining an orientation and decoding the image of the two-dimensional machine-readable symbol to obtain at least the response characteristic information, (b) processing the received electromagnetic data, and (c) correlating the response characteristics with the received electromagnetic data.
A data input apparatus that obtains information relative to a target, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- a wireless data receiver coupled to the processor, wherein the wireless data receiver receives electromagnetic data received from at least one resonator positioned relative to the target;
- an associated data capture engine having a two-dimensional image capture device and being coupled to the processor that receives data from an associated data carrier, including a machine-readable symbol, positioned relative to the target, and wherein the data carrier stores resonator characteristic data versus position for the at least one resonator positioned relative to the target;
- and
- wherein the processor is programmed to determine an orientation of the associated data carrier or target, interpret the data received from the associated data carrier to obtain at least the response characteristic data, process the received electromagnetic data, and correlate the response characteristic data with the received electromagnetic data.
A data output apparatus that provides information relative to a target, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- an associated data output engine coupled to the processor that produces an associated data carrier for positioning relative to the target, wherein the associated data carrier includes a machine-readable symbol for being read by a two-dimensional image capture device, and stores resonator characteristic data versus position for at least one resonator positioned relative to the target, and wherein the resonator characteristic data may be automatically received;
- and
- wherein the processor is programmed to receive information of an orientation of the associated data carrier or target and a corresponding response characteristic of the at least one resonator and instruct the associated data output engine to produce the associated data carrier that stores the resonator characteristic data versus position for the at least one resonator, process the received electromagnetic data, and correlate the response characteristic data with the received electromagnetic data.
An article of manufacture comprising:
- a substrate;
- at least one resonator positioned relative to the substrate, wherein the at least one resonator emits a data signal at a selected frequency based on a wirelessly received energizing signal, wherein the emitted data signal has corresponding response characteristics based on a plurality of orientations, relative to the at least one resonator, of the wirelessly received energizing signal;
- and
- an associated data carrier at a selected position on the substrate and including a machine-readable symbol for being read by a two-dimensional image capture device, wherein the associated data carrier stores automatically-readable information corresponding to the response characteristics of the at least one resonator based on the plurality of orientations of the received energizing signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.