Optical code reader for producing video displays

1. An optical code decoding system comprising:

an imaging apparatus for obtaining and displaying video image signals comprising:

an optical code reader including:

a two dimensional image sensor for sensing light incident on the image sensor and generating image data corresponding to the sensing when operating in an optical code reading mode, the image data including data corresponding to at least a portion of a captured optical code, and video data corresponding to the sensing when operating in a video data communication mode, the video data output at least three frames per second;

means for compressing said video data;

a host terminal with a communication port and display;

a narrow band width data link over which compressed video data from the optical code reader are communicated to the communication port of the host terminal; and

at least one processor for decoding the optical code captured at least partially by at least the image data.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging apparatus further comprises means for detecting and processing a command bar code for switching the optical code reader between the optical code reading mode and the video data communication mode.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the optical code reader includes a microprocessor and output driver for communication with the host terminal, and wherein the communication port of the host terminal is a serial communication port for receiving the compressed video data and for receiving decoded information corresponding to optical codes read by the optical code reader.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the narrow band width data link is a cable connected between the optical code reader and the communication port of the host terminal.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the narrow band width data link is a radio frequency transmitter and receiver.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the narrow band width data link is an infrared transmitter and receiver.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging apparatus further comprises means for detecting motion in a field of view of the optical code reader.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein motion is detected by monitoring the bandwidth of the compressed video signal.

9. A method for reading an optical code disposed on an object and obtaining at least one physical parameter of said object, comprising the steps of:

providing an optical code reader configured for acquiring image data including data corresponding to at least a portion of a target optical code and video data, and outputting the video data at least three frames per second; and

performing motion detection using the optical code reader comprising the steps of:

positioning an image sensor of the optical code reader so that a field of view of the image sensor includes a region to be monitored for motion;

switching the optical code reader from an optical code reading mode for processing the image data to a video mode for processing the video data;

analyzing video data corresponding to the field of view of the image sensor comprising:

identifying changes between sets of frames of the video data corresponding to the field of view; and

monitoring the frequency of the changes between the sets of frames of the video data corresponding to the field of view to identify frequency changes indicative of the movement of objects of interest in the field of view.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:

compressing the video data corresponding to the field of view;

transmitting the compressed video data from the optical code reader to a terminal; and

displaying an image corresponding to the field of view of the image sensor at the terminal based on detection of motion in the field of view in accordance with the identification of frequency changes.