Range extension for RFID hand-held mobile computers

• US 20020170969A1
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Bridgelall, Raj
• Granted Patent: US 7,175,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader

Abstract

Described is a mobile computer and a reader that may be constructed as a standard modular attachment (e.g. sled) for the computer that may be used only when RFID interrogation is desired. The sled may carry an antenna loop, integrated RFID reader electronics, and a dedicated battery that are separate from the actual mobile computer.

Claims

1. A sled device comprising:

a battery;

circuitry capable of performing radio frequency identification functionality; and

an modular attachment interface capable of association with a mobile computer.

2. The sled device as in claim 1, further comprising:

a scanner for scanning optical codes; and

a programmed controller for controlling the scanner and receiving scanned data therefrom.

3. The sled device as in claim 1, wherein the circuitry capable of performing radio frequency identification functionality comprises an electromagnetic transceiver.

4. The sled device as in claim 3, wherein the circuitry capable of performing radio frequency identification functionality further comprises a radio frequency identification air interface decoder.

5. A system comprising:

a mobile computer, the mobile computer including a first modular attachment interface;

a sled device comprising;

a battery;

circuitry capable of performing radio frequency identification functionality; and

a second modular attachment interface capable of association with the first modular attachment interface.

6. The system as in claim 5, wherein the sled device further comprises:

a scanner for scanning optical codes; and

a programmed controller for controlling the scanner and receiving scanned data therefrom.

7. The system as in claim 5, wherein the circuitry capable of performing radio frequency identification functionality comprises an electromagnetic transceiver.

8. The system as in claim 7, wherein the circuitry capable of performing radio frequency identification functionality further comprises a radio frequency identification air interface decoder.

9. The system as in claim 7, further comprising at least one radio frequency identification tag and wherein the sled device is capable of scanning the at least one radio frequency identification tag when the sled device and the at least one identification tag are beyond about 12 inches apart.

12. The method as in claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting the identification data to a wired computer network via a wireless medium.

10. A method of processing data, comprising:

coupling (1) a mobile computer, the mobile computer including a first modular attachment interface, and (2) a device comprising a battery;

circuitry capable of performing radio frequency identification functionality, and a second modular attachment interface capable of association with the first modular attachment interface;

scanning a radio frequency identification tag for identification data.

11. The method as in claim 10, wherein the scanning a radio frequency identification tag for identification data occurs when the mobile computer and the identification tag are beyond about 12 inches apart.

13. The method as in claim 12, wherein the wired computer network is connected to the Internet and the transmitting the identification data to a wired computer network via a wireless medium uses a TCP/IP protocol.

15. The system as in claim 14, wherein the transmission data and the reception data use a TCP/IP protocol, and wherein the wired network is connected to the Internet.

16. The system as in claim 14, wherein the sled device further comprises:

a scanner for scanning optical codes; and

a programmed controller for controlling the scanner and receiving scanned data therefrom.

17. The system as in claim 14, wherein the circuitry capable of performing radio frequency identification functionality comprises an electromagnetic transceiver.

18. The system as in claim 17, wherein the circuitry capable of performing radio frequency identification functionality further comprises a radio frequency identification air interface decoder.

19. The system as in claim 18, further comprising at least one radio frequency identification tag and wherein the sled device is capable of scanning the at least one radio frequency identification tag when the sled device and the at least one identification tag are beyond about 12 inches apart.

14. A system comprising:

(1) a mobile computer, the mobile computer including a first modular attachment interface and a radio module capable of receiving and transmitting transmission data;

(2) a sled device comprising;

(a) a battery;

(b) circuitry capable of performing radio frequency identification functionality; and

(c) a second modular attachment interface capable of association with the first modular attachment interface;

(3) a wired network; and

(4) one or more access points;

wherein the one or more access points are capable of transmitting transmission data from the wired network to the one or more mobile computers via a wireless medium and receiving reception data from the one or more mobile computers to the wired network via a wireless medium; and

wherein the one or more access points form a transmission area, the transmission area including the space where association to at least one of the one or more access points is possible by at least one of the one or more mobile scanning units.