Instant portable bar code reader

A power-saving code reading system comprising:

• a decoder unit having a sensor for generating an electrical signal in response to light received by the sensor reflected from a code, and a processor for identifying the type of code represented by the electrical signal, for decoding the electrical signal into decoded data and for communicating the decoded data, the processor using an application program stored in memory, the application program enabling the identification and decoding of a plurality of different electrical signals representative of different code types;
• a terminal unit having a processor for receiving the decoded data;
• and
• a battery supply for the decoder unit and the terminal unit, the decoder unit using operating power from the battery supply only as needed for performing a code reading operation and for communicating decoded data in order to conserve battery power for the terminal unit.

A battery-powered code reader unit comprising:

• a light source for directing light toward a code to be read;
• a detector for receiving light reflected from the code and for generating therefrom an electrical signal;
• and
• a processor for identifying the type of code represented by the electrical signal, for decoding the electrical signal into decoded data and for communicating the decoded data to a portable host processor, the processor using an application program stored in memory, the application program enabling the identification and decoding of a plurality of different electrical signals representative of different code types.

A battery-powered, code reading system comprising:

• a light source for directing light toward a code to be read;
• a detector for receiving light reflected from the code and for producing an electrical signal therefrom;
• a first processor for identifying the type of code represented by the electrical signal, for decoding the electrical signal to decoded data and for communicating the decoded data, the processor using an application program stored in memory, the application program enabling the identification and decoding of a plurality of different electrical signals representative of different code types;
• and
• a second processor communicatively coupled to the first processor for receiving the communicated decoded data.

A method of conserving power in a battery powered, code reading system having a light emitter, a detector, a first processor and a second processor, the method comprising the steps of:

• emitting by the light emitter light toward a code;
• receiving by the detector light reflected back from the code;
• producing by the detector an electrical signal from the reflected light;
• determining by the first processor the type of code represented by the electrical signal from a plurality of different code types;
• decoding by the first processor the electrical signal into decoded data regardless of which of the plurality of different code types the electrical signal is determined to represent;
• communicating by the first processor the decoded data to the second processor;
• receiving by the second processor the decoded data;
• and
• entering by the first processor a low power mode.