MANY industrial barcode readers are WEDGES. That is a term used to decribe the fact that the reader "wedges" in between normal input components, such as between a keyboard and a serial terminal (ALA VT100) or in between a keyboard and a PS2 Port like the Cue Cat. They tend to be very specific to the application and not flexible. I have one that ONLY works with a DEC VT420, for example.
If you have a CUE CAT style, you just need to emulate what it would normally plug into (PS2 PORT) and read the data stream in it's native format. Probable not do-able in PBASIC as I have not seen a PS2 interface to the STAMP yet... (maybe I missed it)
The only kind I know about that would be slightly simpler are the 5-PIN DIN Barcode WANDS (I have one somewhere) that has pin 1=5V PIN 2=DATASTREAM PIN 3=GND and you get a serial data stream that matches the scanned code in 1's and 0's.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
There's nothing like a new idea and a warm soldering iron.
I agree with everything above. as far as connecting you need to treat it like a keyboard. which does use a PS2 port. you would be able to easily plug any "standard" bar code reader to a propeller chip.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
A complex design is the sign of an inferior designer. - Jamie Hyneman, Myth Buster
If you do a search on Ebay you might find a suitable scanner. Some of the scanners have multiple communication options. To interface with a Stamp ideally you would need·to find one that has the option of TTL serial output or RS232 serial output
I have done this with a sick 9000 series scanner a few years back. It was easy as the scanner could be programmed in hyperterminal to only send the data I needed so the stamp work was easy. Looks like the CLV series would also work. Watch Ebay for a deal.
I don't know if this is what you would need for a scanner, but it is for reading a keyboard. I have not used it but it looks like it might help you on your way. http://www.multilabs.net/ezKEY.html
Comments
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
- Stephen
If you have a CUE CAT style, you just need to emulate what it would normally plug into (PS2 PORT) and read the data stream in it's native format. Probable not do-able in PBASIC as I have not seen a PS2 interface to the STAMP yet... (maybe I missed it)
The only kind I know about that would be slightly simpler are the 5-PIN DIN Barcode WANDS (I have one somewhere) that has pin 1=5V PIN 2=DATASTREAM PIN 3=GND and you get a serial data stream that matches the scanned code in 1's and 0's.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
There's nothing like a new idea and a warm soldering iron.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
A complex design is the sign of an inferior designer. - Jamie Hyneman, Myth Buster
Jeff T.
Al