Portable Barcode Scanner with Dual-Color Status Lights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tracking devices do not effectively prevent misplacement of personal items and accidental leaving of children in vehicles, as they lack a comprehensive solution for confirming the presence or absence of tagged items and individuals.
Innovation Solution
A portable tracking device with a rectangular base unit equipped with a display screen, video camera, keypad, pair of lights, bar code scanner, and securing members, which uses barcode scanning to indicate the presence or absence of tagged items and individuals, with lights signaling the scanning status and allowing secure attachment to various objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tracking device is designed to scan barcodes and provide visual confirmation, then the reliability of tracking personal items and children is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple components (barcode scanner, lights, display screen, video camera)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple tracking functions (barcode scanning, visual confirmation through lights, video recording, and display) into a single integrated base unit. The barcode scanner, first light, second light, display screen, video camera, and other components are merged into one device that can simultaneously perform tracking, confirmation, and recording functions, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The base unit is designed as a universal tracking device that can monitor multiple different objects (personal items and children) using the same hardware platform. The device performs multiple functions including barcode scanning, visual signaling through different colored lights, video recording, and display operations, allowing one device to serve multiple tracking purposes rather than requiring separate specialized devices.
2Measurement precision
If the device includes multiple functional components (barcode scanner, lights, video camera, display), then the measurement precision of tracking status is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple controls and settings
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the device provide different types of information locally: the first light provides immediate visual confirmation of successful scanning, the second light provides confirmation of account status, the display screen shows detailed information, and the video camera captures visual evidence. Each component handles a specific aspect of tracking confirmation, allowing the system to maintain high measurement precision while distributing operational complexity across specialized local functions.
3Loss of information
If the device provides comprehensive tracking confirmation with multiple indicators (lights, display, video), then the loss of information is reduced, but the use of energy increases due to multiple active components
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses periodic visual signals through the first and second lights to convey tracking status information. Rather than continuously operating all components, the system activates lights and display only when needed for confirmation (upon barcode scanning or status changes), thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining comprehensive information delivery when required.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device helps users prevent loss of personal items and accidental child abandonment in vehicles by providing a visual confirmation of items and individuals through barcode scanning and secure attachment options, enhancing safety and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
The bar code scanner is configured to scan the barcode of each of the plurality of tags
Implementation Method 2
A color of the first light is red
Implementation Method 3
a color of the second light is green
Data Source
AI summary
A portable tracking device including a substantially rectangular base unit. A display screen, a video camera, a keypad, a pair of lights, an activation control, a video control, a bar code scanner, and a camera control are disposed on the base unit. The pair of lights includes a first light and a second light. The bar code scanner is configured to scan the barcode of each of a plurality of tags. The first light of the pair of lights is configured to activate when a user scans the barcode of one of the plurality of tags a first time. The first light of the pair of lights is configured to deactivate and the second light of the pair of lights is configured to simultaneously activate when the user scans the barcode of one of the plurality of tags a second time.