Light pipe extension between a mobile device and an imaging device

• US 20030175035A1
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hunt, Edward Brett
• Application Number:
  US10/100,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20030175035A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/156
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25 Arrangements specific to fibre transmission

Abstract

This invention relates to light pipe extensions. Such structures of this type, generally, allow for machine-readable data to be transmitted from a mobile device, such as a laptop computer, to an imaging device, such as a printer. Also, this structure provides a means for which the machine-readable data can be transmitted around obstacles. For example, the obstacle might be the fact that the imaging device is located on top of a media-handling device and the mobile device does not have a direct line of sight to the imaging device.

Claims

1. A light pipe extension system, comprising:

a mobile device which is capable of emitting machine-readable data contained in an electronic signal;

an imaging device located substantially out of a line of sight of said mobile device wherein said imaging device is capable of receiving said machine-readable data; and

a light pipe extension means operatively connected to said mobile device and said imaging device for transmitting said machine-readable data.

2. The system, as in claim 1, wherein said mobile device is further comprised of:

a personal digital assistant.

3. The system, as in claim 1, wherein said mobile device is further comprised of:

a laptop computer.

4. The system, as in claim 1, wherein said machine-readable data is further comprised of:

discrete bits of machine-readable data.

5. The system, as in claim 1, wherein said light pipe extension means is further comprised of:

a light pipe extension;

a light pipe extension support means operatively connected to one end of said light pipe extension; and

a light pipe extension mounting bracket means operatively connected to another end of said a light pipe extension.

6. The system, as in claim 5, wherein said light pipe extension is further comprised of:

a rigid light pipe extension.

7. The system, as in claim 5, wherein said light pipe extension is further comprised of:

a flexible light pipe extension.

8. The system, as in claim 1, wherein said imaging device is located substantially on top of a media-handling device.

9. The system, as in claim 1, wherein said imaging device is substantially recessed in a workstation.

10. The system, as in claim 1, wherein said imaging device is further comprised of:

an IR window.

11. The system, as in claim 8, wherein said light pipe extension means is substantially located within said imaging device and said media-handling device.

12. The system, as in claim 8, wherein said light pipe extension means is substantially located along the outside of said imaging device and said media-handling device.

13. The system, as in claim 9, wherein said light pipe extension means is substantially located within said imaging device and said media-handling device.

14. The system, as in claim 9, wherein said light pipe extension means is substantially located along the outside of said imaging device and said media-handling device.