Method and apparatus to read different types of data carriers, such as RFID tags and machine-readable symbols, and a user interface for the same

Abstract

A data carrier reader includes an RFID tag reading section and a machine-readable symbol reading section, which can contain some common components. The reader is operable in an RFID tag reading mode and/or a symbol reading mode. The reader provides a consistent and intuitive user interface within, and between, the operating modes. The user interface can include visual, aural and tactile indicators. The visual indicators can include a pattern displayed by indicators on the reader, or projected onto or near the data carrier.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A multi-purpose data carrier reader, comprising: 
 a symbol reading section including an image sensor to image machine-readable symbols;    an RFID tag reading section including a radio to interrogate RFID tags;    a first set of human-perceptible indicators coupled to the symbol reading section for control thereby to produce human-perceptible indications in response to at least one symbol reading activity; and    a second set of human-perceptible indicators, different from the first set of human-perceptible indicators and coupled to the RFID tag reading section for control thereby to produce human-perceptible indications in response to at least one RFID tag reading activity.    
     
     
         2 . The reader of    claim 1    wherein each of the first and second sets of human-perceptible indicators include a respective light emitting diode of a first color, the first color light emitting diode in the first set of human-perceptible indicators being activated when a machine readable symbol is successfully read and the first color light emitting diode in the second set of human-perceptible indicators being activated when an RFID tag is successfully read.  
     
     
         3 . The reader of    claim 1    wherein the first set of human-perceptible indicators produces a first human-perceptible signal when a machine readable symbol is successfully read; and the second set of human-perceptible indicators produces the first human-perceptible signal when an RFID tag is successfully read.  
     
     
         4 . The reader of    claim 1    wherein the first set of human-perceptible indicators produces a first human-perceptible signal when a first symbol reading activity occurs; and the second set of human-perceptible indicators produces the first human-perceptible signal when a corresponding RFID reading activity occurs.  
     
     
         5 . The reader of    claim 1    wherein the first and second set of human-perceptible indicators are visual indicators.  
     
     
         6 . The reader of    claim 1    wherein the first and second set of human-perceptible indicators are light emitting diodes.  
     
     
         7 . The reader of    claim 1    wherein the first and second set of human-perceptible indicators are visual indicators are icons displayed on a display.  
     
     
         8 . The reader of    claim 1    wherein the first and second set of human-perceptible indicators are visual indicators are alpha-numeric characters displayed on a display.  
     
     
         9 . The reader of    claim 1    wherein the first and second set of human-perceptible indicators are sounds emitted from an audio source.  
     
     
         10 . The reader of    claim 1    wherein the first and second set of human-perceptible indicators are vibrations emitted by a tactile source.  
     
     
         11 . A multi-purpose data carrier reader, comprising: 
 a symbol reading section including an image sensor to image machine-readable symbols;    an RFID tag reading section including a radio to interrogate RFID) tags; and    a mode switch configured to switch operation between the symbology reader section and the RFID tag reader section.    
     
     
         12 . The reader of    claim 11    wherein the mode switch is a user selectable switch.  
     
     
         13 . The reader of    claim 11    wherein the mode switch is a user selectable membrane switch.  
     
     
         14 . The reader of    claim 11    wherein the mode switch is responsive to a command signal from an external host device.  
     
     
         15 . The reader of    claim 11    wherein the mode switch provides a command signal to an external host device.  
     
     
         16 . The reader of    claim 11    wherein the mode switch is responsive to at least a portion of data in a previously read data carrier.  
     
     
         17 . The reader of    claim 11    wherein the mode switch is a trigger responsive to select a mode based on a number of successive trigger activations.  
     
     
         18 . The reader of    claim 11    wherein the mode switch is a trigger responsive to select a mode based on a duration of trigger activation.  
     
     
         19 . The reader of    claim 11   , further comprising a first number of visual indications corresponding to a symbol mode and a second number of visual indicators corresponding to an RFID mode, wherein the mode switch has at least a first and a second positions, the first and second positions oriented to provide a visual indication consistent with the positions of the visual indicators.  
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a data carrier reader, comprising: 
 selecting one of at least two human-recognizable temporal indication patterns based on a current operation of the data carrier reader, where the human-recognizable temporal indication patterns each correspond to a respective temporal user indication; and    projecting light substantially outward of the data carrier reader to form the selected human-recognizable temporal indication pattern.    
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 20    wherein projecting the light includes successively flashing the light to produce the selected human-recognizable temporal indication pattern.  
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 20    wherein projecting the light includes selectively flashing a first color light and a second color light to produce the selected human-recognizable temporal indication pattern.  
     
     
         23 . The method of    claim 20    wherein projecting the light includes modulating a laser to produce the selected human-recognizable temporal indication pattern.  
     
     
         24 . The method of    claim 20   , further comprising: 
 modulating a laser while in an RFID reading mode to produce the selected human-recognizable temporal indication pattern; and    illuminating a symbol with the laser in a symbol reading mode to scan the symbol.    
     
     
         25 . A data carrier reader, comprising: 
 a first light source substantially alignable with a data carrier;    a processor coupled to control the first light source to produce a selected one of at least two human-recognizable temporal indication patterns based on a reader operation, where each of the human-recognizable temporal indication patterns correspond to a respective temporal user indication.    
     
     
         26 . The data carrier reader of    claim 25    wherein the processor is coupled to control the first light source to produce a scanning beam across the data carrier in a symbol reading mode, and to produce the selected human-recognizable indication pattern in an RFID reading mode.  
     
     
         27 . The data carrier reader of    claim 25    wherein the selected human-recognizable indication pattern includes a number of successively timed flashes of light.  
     
     
         28 . The data carrier reader of    claim 25    wherein the selected human-recognizable indication pattern includes a number of different color flashes of light, successively timed.  
     
     
         29 . A method of operating a data carrier reader having a laser, comprising: 
 producing a first scanning laser beam with the laser in a symbol reading mode; and    producing a human-recognizable temporal indication pattern based on a reader operation in an RFID reading mode.    
     
     
         30 . The method of    claim 29   , further comprising: 
 selecting the human-recognizable temporal indication pattern from a number of human-recognizable temporal indication patterns, the human-recognizable temporal indication patterns corresponding to respective temporal user indications.