Transmitting Enhanced Scanner Signals on a Single Channel

Abstract

A system and method for encoding scanner signal strength and timing information provided, possibly on multiple signal lines, from a digitizer circuit into a signal that can be transmitted on a single line to a modified decoder. A multiplexing device multiplexes the multiple signals, which can be multi-bit or dual-DBP signals, into a single signal.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . A method for decoding an encoded scanner signal comprising:
 receiving a series of pulses representing timing and strength information about a given transition in a detected light signal;   comparing the duration of a first pulse in the series of pulses to a minimum pulse duration, and if the duration of the first pulse is less than the minimum pulse duration, registering the start of a detected light signal pulse having a polarity the same as a polarity of the first pulse;   determining a duration of a second pulse in the series of pulses;   registering a strength of the detected light signal as proportional to the duration of the second pulse;   determining a duration of a third pulse in the series of pulses; and   registering a duration of the pulse in the detected light signal as the sum of the duration of the first, second, and third pulses.   
   
   
       24 . A method for decoding an encoded scanner signal comprising:
 receiving a series of pulses representing timing and strength information about a given transition in a detected light signal;   comparing a duration of a first pulse and a duration of a second pulse with a minimum pulse duration and if the first and second pulses have duration less than the minimum pulse duration, registering a strong pulse in the detected light signal having a same polarity as a polarity of the first pulse and having a pulse duration equal to a sum of the durations of the first and second pulses and a duration of a third pulse, the third pulse following the second pulse in the series of pulses.