PORTABLE TERMINAL AND PISTOL GRIP SLED WITH OPTIMIZED SCAN ANGLE

• US 20100025473A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Psion Inc (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Psion Teklogix (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boyd, Barry
• Granted Patent: US 8,567,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/472.10
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction

Abstract

A portable terminal, handheld computer and handle are provided. The portable terminal includes a handheld computer operable as a stand-alone device, including operational components having a display and a scanner, and an expansion connector capable of detachably coupling to a peripheral. The peripheral includes at least a handle held by an operator of the portable terminal. The handheld computer is electrically and mechanically coupled to the handle so that the angle between the viewing area of the display and a scanner beam from the scanner is optimized without tilting the viewing area of the display. The portable terminal includes: a handheld device operable as a stand-alone device, including: one or more operational components; and an expansion connector being capable of detachably coupling to a peripheral directly or via an external device connectable to the peripheral, the handheld device being electrically coupled to the peripheral via the expansion connector and identifies the peripheral. The handle for a handheld device, includes: a housing including a grip held by an operator of a handheld device, the handheld device being operable as a stand alone device; a coupling assembly being capable of mechanically and operationally coupling to the handheld device directly or via an external device connectable to the handheld device; and an actuator coupling to the coupling assembly for actuating at least one function of the handheld device, the actuator being configured so that the user operates the actuator while holding the grip.

Claims

1. A portable terminal, comprising:

a handheld computer operable as a stand-alone device, including;

operational components having a display and a scanner, operably coupling to a processor; and

an expansion connector being operably coupling to the processor and capable of detachably coupling to a peripheral, the peripheral including at least a handle held by an operator of the portable terminal,

the handheld computer being electrically and mechanically coupled to the peripheral via the expansion connector so that an angle between a viewing area of the display and a scanner beam from the scanner is optimized without tilting the viewing area of the display.

2. A portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handheld computer uniquely identifies the peripheral via the expansion connector.

3. A portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral comprises:

an actuator for operating at least one of the operational components.

4. A portable terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein the actuator is configured so that the user operates the actuator with a user'"'"'s hand holding the handle.

5. A portable terminal as claimed in claim 4, wherein the actuator comprises:

a pressure sensitive trigger area for detecting a pressure and providing a tactile feedback, at least one of the operational components being operated by applying the pressure on the trigger area.

6. A portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expansion connector is capable of mechanically and operably coupling to an external device and the peripheral via the external device, the peripheral having an actuator assembly for operating the external device and the handheld computer.

7. A handle for a handheld device, comprising:

a housing including a grip held by an operator of a handheld device, the handheld device being operable as a stand alone device;

a coupling assembly being capable of mechanically and operationally coupling to the handheld device directly or via an external device connectable to the handheld device; and

an actuator coupling to the coupling assembly for actuating at least one function of the handheld device, the actuator being configured so that the user operates the actuator while holding the grip.

8. A handle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the coupling assembly comprises:

a coupling area formed on the housing, the handheld device being docked onto the coupling area, the coupling area being angled against the grip so that the user of the handheld device monitors a display on the handheld device while operating the handheld device via the actuator.

9. A handle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the coupling area is formed so that an angle between a viewing area of the display and a scanner beam from the handheld device is optimized without tilting the viewing area of the display.

10. A handle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuator comprises:

a pressure sensitive trigger area for detecting a pressure and providing a tactile feedback, at least one function of the handheld device by applying the pressure on the trigger area.

11. A handle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the housing is formed so that the user of the handheld device applies the pressure on the trigger area with a user'"'"'s hand holding the grip.

12. A handle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuator comprising a module for operating the external device and the handheld device.

13. A handle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the handle is uniquely identified by the handheld device.

14. A portable terminal, comprising:

a handheld device operable as a stand-alone device, including;

one or more operational components; and

an expansion connector being capable of detachably coupling to a peripheral directly or via an external device connectable to the peripheral, the handheld device being electrically coupled to the peripheral via the expansion connector and identifies the peripheral.

15. A portable terminal as claimed in claim 14, wherein the peripheral comprises:

an additional operational component.

16. A portable terminal as claimed in claim 14, wherein the peripheral comprises:

a handle having a grip held by an operator.

17. A portable terminal as claimed in claim 16, wherein the handle comprises:

an actuator for operating at least one of the operational components.

18. A portable terminal as claimed in claim 17, wherein the user of the handheld device operates the actuator by a user'"'"'s hand holding the grip.

19. A portable terminal as claimed in claim 18, wherein the actuator comprises:

a pressure sensitive trigger area on the handle for detecting a pressure and providing a tactile feedback, at least one of the operational components being operated by applying the pressure on the trigger area with the user'"'"'s hand.

20. A portable terminal as claimed in claim 14, wherein the peripheral comprises:

an actuator assembly for operating the external device and the handheld device.