System and method for charging a barcode scanner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9997935-B2
Application number	US-201614990861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2016
Priority date	Jan 8, 2015
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

Cordless indicia readers may use a rechargeable energy storage unit (RESU) for power. The RESU may include either at least one lithium-ion battery or at least one super capacitor. Problems may arise when an RESU containing a lithium-ion battery is charged using a super-capacitor charging-scheme. The present invention embraces a system and method for charging a barcode scanner that includes determining the RESU type and then charging the RESU with a charging process that is appropriate for the RESU type.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for selecting a charging process, the method comprising:
connecting a rechargeable energy storage unit (RESU) to a charger, the RESU configured to supply electrical energy to a barcode scanner, and the charger configured to perform a first charging process for charging a supercapacitor and a second charging process for charging a battery, wherein the charger comprises a detection circuit configured to interface with a pin on the RESU and to output a digital signal indicative of a voltage from the pin;
ascertaining with a processor whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a supercapacitor or whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a battery;
selecting the first charging process when the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a supercapacitor; and
selecting the second charging process when the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a battery;
wherein the charger comprises one interface configured to receive both an RESU comprising a supercapacitor or an RESU comprising a battery, wherein the RESU comprises a uniform mechanical shape and size and a uniform electrical interface as between the RESU comprising a supercapacitor and the RESU comprising a battery, the uniform electrical interface comprising the pin;
wherein the digital signal corresponds to a terminal resistance at the pin; and
wherein the terminal resistance at the pin approximates the resistance of a short-circuit to ground when the RESU comprises a supercapacitor, and wherein the terminal resistance at the pin approximates 10,000 ohms when RESU comprises a battery, the approximates being sufficiently different such that the processor may ascertain whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a supercapacitor or whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a battery.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit comprises a P-channel MOSFET.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
charging the RESU using the first charging process when the processor selects the first charging process; and
charging the RESU using the second charging process when the processor selects the second charging process.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the charger comprises a cradle configured to hold and charge the RESU.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the charger comprises a cradle configured to hold and charge the RESU while the RESU is connected to the barcode scanner.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a plurality of lithium-ion batteries.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pin comprises a thermistor pin at least when the RESU comprises a battery.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal resistance at the pin corresponds to the terminal resistance at a thermistor in the RESU.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to ascertain that the RESU comprises a battery when the terminal resistance at the pin varies with temperature.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to ascertain whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a battery at least in part by ascertaining whether the digital signal corresponds to a resistance of a thermistor.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the charger comprises multiple charging bays, each of the multiple charging bays configured to perform both the first charging process and the second charging process.

13. A charging system for a barcode scanner, comprising:
a rechargeable energy storage unit (RESU) configured to supply electrical energy to a barcode scanner;
a charger configured to perform a first charging process for charging a supercapacitor and a second charging process for charging a battery, wherein the charger comprises a detection circuit configured to interface with a pin on the RESU and to output a digital signal corresponding to a voltage from the pin; and
a processor configured to:
ascertain whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a supercapacitor or whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a battery;
select the first charging process when the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a supercapacitor; and
select the second charging process when the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a battery; and

wherein the charger is configured to:
charge the RESU using the first charging process when the processor selects the first charging process; and
charge the RESU using the second charging process when the processor selects the second charging;

wherein the charger comprises one interface configured to receive both an RESU comprising a supercapacitor or an RESU comprising a battery, wherein the RESU comprises a uniform mechanical shape and size and a uniform electrical interface as between the RESU comprising a supercapacitor and the RESU comprising a battery, the uniform electrical interface comprising the pin;
wherein the digital signal corresponds to a terminal resistance at the pin; and
wherein the terminal resistance at the pin approximates the resistance of a short-circuit to ground when the RESU comprises a supercapacitor, and wherein the terminal resistance at the pin approximates 10,000 ohms when RESU comprises a battery, the approximates being sufficiently different such that the processor may ascertain whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a supercapacitor or whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a battery.

14. The charging system according to claim 13 , wherein the terminal resistance at the pin corresponds to the resistance of a thermistor in the RESU.

15. The charging system according to claim 13 , wherein the signal corresponds to a voltage-level indicative of the terminal resistance at the pin.

16. The charging system according to claim 13 , wherein the charger comprises a cradle having a housing configured to mechanically and electrically mate with the RESU, and wherein the housing contains the detection circuit and the processor.

17. The charging system according to claim 13 , wherein the pin comprises a thermistor pin at least when the RESU comprises a battery.

18. The charging system according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to ascertain that the RESU comprises a battery when the terminal resistance at the pin varies with temperature.

19. The charging system according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to ascertain whether the digital signal indicates that the RESU comprises a battery at least in part by ascertaining whether the digital signal corresponds to a resistance of a thermistor.

20. The charging system according to claim 13 , wherein the charger comprises multiple charging bays, each of the multiple charging bays configured to perform both the first charging process and the second charging process.

Assignees

• Hand Held Prod Inc

Inventors

• Allen Christopher
• Colavito Stephen J
• Haggerty Thomas

Classifications

• H02J7/443

  using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors (identification by mechanical connections H02J7/751) · CPC title

• H02J7/731 Primary

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/485

  with provisions for charging different types of batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/0044 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J7/0006

  Electricity · mapped topic