TERMINAL INCLUDING IMAGING ASSEMBLY

• US 20100090006A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, George S. II, McCall, Melvin D., Fitch, Timothy R., Sperduti, David, Gomez, Garrison, O'Donnell, James F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,544,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0013 by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers connectors in general H01R13/00; connectors for SIM cards used in mobile phones or the like H04B1/3816
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/01 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means

Abstract

A terminal includes a housing, a touch screen, and an imaging assembly. The imaging assembly in one embodiment is disposed in the housing so that an imaging axis extends externally from the housing. The imaging assembly can be utilized for capture of images disposed externally to the housing. In one embodiment a frame of image data captured utilizing an imaging assembly can be processed for attempting to decode a decodable indicia. In one embodiment a frame of image data captured utilizing an imaging assembly can be stored.

Claims

1. A terminal for use in capture of data, the terminal including:

a housing having top, a first end, a second end, and a bottom;

a display having an associated touch panel disposed at said top of said housing, the display extending in a first plane;

a first imaging assembly disposed in the housing having an image sensor, the terminal being operative for attempting to decode a decodable indicia by processing of a frame of image data captured utilizing the first imaging assembly, wherein an imaging axis of said first imaging assembly extends in a direction generally parallel to the first plane;

a color imaging assembly disposed in the housing for use in capture of images corresponding to objects disposed opposite the bottom of the housing, the color imaging assembly having a two dimensional color image sensor, the color imaging assembly having an associated lens assembly, the color imaging assembly having an imaging axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the first plane, wherein the terminal is operative for storing of frames of image data captured with use of the color imaging assembly;

a first actuator disposed at the top of the housing for actuating said first imaging assembly; and

a second actuator disposed at the top of the housing for actuating said color imaging assembly;

wherein the terminal includes a radio communication interface for providing wireless communication with an external device;

wherein the terminal includes a power supply for use in powering the terminal, the power supply in communication with a battery power source.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the lens assembly is a variable focus lens assembly for use in changing a best focus distance of the color imaging assembly.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal is operative to attempt to a decodable indicia symbol utilizing a frame of image data captured with use of the color imaging assembly.

4. The terminal of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second actuators is a displayed manual trigger button displayed on the display.

5. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal includes a visible indicator and wherein the terminal is operative in an operating mode in which the terminal, (a) captures a frame of image data utilizing the color imaging assembly;

(b) responsively to the capture function (a) transmits data to an external computer for processing;

(c) receives a signal from the external computer responsively to a result of the processing by the external computer and (d) responsively to the receipt of the signal activates the visible indicator.

6. The terminal of claim 5, wherein the visible indicator is a light source.

7. The terminal of claim 5, wherein the visible indicator is the display, and wherein for activation of the visible indicator the terminal displays a message on the display.

8. The terminal of claim 5, wherein the data transmitted by execution of function (b) is a decoded message.

9. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal is operative in a fixed position mode in which the terminal is detachably attached to an apparatus external to the terminal and wherein the terminal further operative in a mode in which the terminal is not attached to an apparatus external to the terminal.

10. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal is operative in a mode in which the terminal is attached to an apparatus external to the terminal.

11. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal further includes a card reader disposed at the first end of the housing, the card reader being operative for reading of cards selected from the group consisting of credit cards, debit cards, and customer loyalty cards.

12. A terminal for use in capture of data, the terminal including:

a housing having top, a first end, a second end, and a bottom;

a display having an associated touch panel disposed at said top of said housing, the display extending in a first plane, wherein the terminal is operative for display of a virtual keypad on the display; and

a color imaging assembly disposed in the housing for use in capture of images corresponding to objects disposed opposite the bottom of the housing, the color imaging assembly having a two dimensional color image sensor, the color imaging assembly having an associated lens assembly, the color imaging assembly having an imaging axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the first plane, wherein the terminal is operative for display of a displayed manual trigger button on the display, the displayed manual trigger button for actuation of the color imaging assembly;

wherein the terminal includes a first radio communication interface for providing wireless communication with an external device;

wherein the terminal further includes a second radio communication interface for providing wireless communication with an external device;

wherein the terminal includes a power supply for use in powering the terminal, the power supply in communication with a battery power source.

13. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the lens assembly is a variable focus lens assembly for use in changing a best focus distance of the color imaging assembly.

14. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the lens assembly includes fixed optics so that the color imaging assembly has a best focus distance of greater than two feet.

15. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the terminal is operative to attempt to a decodable indicia utilizing a frame of image data captured with use of the color imaging assembly.

16. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the terminal is operative in an operating mode in which the terminal stores a frame of image data captured with use of the color imaging assembly, wherein the terminal is further operative in an operating mode in which the terminal attempts to decode a decodable indicia by processing of a frame of image data captured with use of the color imaging assembly.

17. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the terminal includes a visible indicator and wherein the terminal is operative in an operating mode in which the terminal, (a) captures a frame of image data utilizing the color imaging assembly;

(b) responsively to the capture function (a) transmits data to an external computer for processing;

(c) receives a signal from the external computer responsively to a result of the processing by the external computer and (d) responsively to the receipt of the signal activates the visible indicator.

18. The terminal of claim 17, wherein the visible indicator is a light source.

19. The terminal of claim 17, wherein the visible indicator is the display, and wherein for activation of the visible indicator the terminal displays a message on the display.

20. The terminal of claim 17, wherein the data transmitted by execution of function (b) is a decoded message.

21. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the terminal is operative in a fixed position mode in which the terminal is detachably attached to an apparatus external to the terminal and wherein the terminal further operative in a mode in which the terminal is not attached to an apparatus external to the terminal.

22. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the terminal is operative in a mode in which the terminal is attached to an apparatus external to the terminal.

23. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the color imaging assembly includes a light source.

24. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the terminal is operative for display of a signature entry area on the display.

25. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the terminal further includes a card reader disposed at the first end of the housing, the card reader being operative for reading of cards selected from the group consisting of credit cards, debit cards, and customer loyalty cards.