BARCODE-READING SYSTEM

• US 20160180128A1
• Filed: 12/09/2015
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Utykanski, Philip, Deal, John, Hoobler, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 9,721,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/089 hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

This patent specification describes a barcode-reading enhancement accessory for a mobile device having a barcode-reading capability. The accessory may include an outer case and an inner carriage. A mobile device is encased in the inner carriage, and the combination of the inner carriage and the mobile device is accommodated in the outer case. The inner carriage is configured to accommodate a mobile device of a particular size such that a mobile device of a different size may be accommodated in the outer case using a different inner carriage. The accessory may also include an optic system to fold an optical path of a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device and/or a field of view of a camera of the mobile device.

Claims

1. An accessory for a mobile device having a barcode-reading capability, comprising:

an outer case having a first cavity;

an inner carriage configured to be accommodated in the first cavity of the outer case and having a second cavity configured to accommodate a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is secured in the outer case using the inner carriage; and

an optic system secured to the outer case and configured to fold an optical path of at least one of a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device or a field of view of a camera of the mobile device when the mobile device is accommodated in the outer case using the inner carriage.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the outer case comprises two mating parts that are secured to each other to form the outer case.

3. The accessory of claim 2, wherein the two mating parts include a sliding mechanism for sliding one of the two mating parts to the other and a latching mechanism to secure the two mating parts.

4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the inner carriage is configured to accommodate a mobile device of a particular size such that a mobile device of a different size is accommodated in the outer case using an inner carriage having a second cavity of a different size.

5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the outer case is configured to secure the inner carriage in position without room for movement in the first cavity in at least one of directions between a top wall and a bottom wall of the outer case, between a left wall and a right wall of the outer case, and between a face surface and a back surface of the outer case.

6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the outer case is configured to secure a combination of the inner carriage and the mobile device in position without room for movement in the first cavity in at least one of directions between a top wall and a bottom wall of the outer case, between a left wall and a right wall of the outer case, and between a face surface and a back surface of the outer case.

7. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising an impact-absorbing cover over at least a portion of the outer case.

8. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the outer case further includes a connector for connecting with a mating connector of the mobile device.

9. The accessory of claim 8, wherein dimensions of the inner carriage are selected to position the mobile device within the first cavity of the outer case such that the connector of the outer case is aligned with the mating connector of the mobile device.

10. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the inner carriage includes one or more apertures in one or more walls of the inner carriage to allow access to buttons or switches on the mobile device, and the outer case includes one or more aligning apertures aligned with the apertures on the one or more walls of the inner carriage.

11. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising:

a handle secured to the outer case and extended downward from a back surface of the outer case.

12. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the handle includes a trigger switch to allow a user to trigger reading of a barcode using the mobile device.

13. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the handle includes a battery for supplying power to components in the handle and charging power to the mobile device.

14. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the handle includes a supplemental illumination system for emitting illumination towards a target area.

15. The accessory of claim 14, wherein the supplemental illumination system emits targeting illumination and/or exposure illumination.

16. The accessory of claim 14, wherein a light source of the mobile device is used for exposure illumination and the supplemental illumination system is used for targeting illumination.

17. The accessory of claim 14, wherein a light source of the mobile device is used for targeting illumination and exposure illumination.

18. The accessory of claim 17, wherein the supplemental illumination system is used for additional diffuse bright field illumination or bright far field illumination.

19. The accessory of claim 14, wherein a light source of the mobile device is used for targeting illumination and the supplemental illumination system is used for diffuse bright field illumination and/or dark field illumination.

20. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the optic system is configured to fold the optical path from a back surface of the mobile device towards a target area positioned at a top side of the mobile device.

21. An accessory for a mobile device having a barcode-reading capability, comprising:

an outer case having a first cavity;

a plurality of inner cases, one of the inner cases being accommodated in the first cavity, and each inner case having a second cavity of a different size to accommodate a mobile device of a different size; and

an optic system secured to the outer case and configured to fold an optical path of at least one of a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device or a field of view of a camera of the mobile device when the mobile device is accommodated in the outer case using one of the inner cases.

22. The accessory of claim 21, wherein the outer case comprises two mating parts that are secured to each other to form the outer case.

23. The accessory of claim 21, wherein the two mating parts include a sliding mechanism for sliding one of the two mating parts to the other and a latching mechanism for securing the two mating parts.

24. The accessory of claim 21, wherein the outer case is configured to secure one of the inner cases in position without room for movement in the first cavity in at least one of directions between a top wall and a bottom wall of the outer case, between a left wall and a right wall of the outer case, and between a face surface and a back surface of the outer case.

25. The accessory of claim 21, wherein the outer case is configured to secure a combination of one of the inner cases and the mobile device in position without room for movement in the first cavity in at least one of directions between a top wall and a bottom wall of the outer case, between a left wall and a right wall of the outer case, and between a face surface and a back surface of the outer case.

26. The accessory of claim 21, further comprising an impact-absorbing cover over at least a portion of the outer case.

27. The accessory of claim 21, wherein the outer case includes a connector for connecting with a mating connector of the mobile device.

28. The accessory of claim 27, wherein dimensions of each inner case are selected to position the mobile device within the first cavity of the outer case such that the connector of the outer case is aligned with the mating connector of the mobile device.

29. The accessory of claim 21, wherein each inner case includes one or more apertures within one or more walls of the inner case to allow access to buttons or switches on the mobile device, and the outer case includes one or more aligning apertures aligned with the apertures on the one or more walls of each inner case.

30. The accessory of claim 21, further comprising:

a handle connected to the outer case and extended downward from a back surface of the outer case.

31. The accessory of claim 30, wherein the handle includes a trigger switch to allow a user to trigger reading of a barcode using the mobile device.

32. The accessory of claim 30, wherein the handle includes a battery for supplying power to components in the handle and charging power to the mobile device.

33. The accessory of claim 30, wherein the handle includes a supplemental illumination system for emitting illumination towards a target area.

34. The accessory of claim 33, wherein the supplemental illumination system emits targeting illumination and/or exposure illumination.

35. The accessory of claim 33, wherein a light source of the mobile device is used for exposure illumination and the supplemental illumination system is used for targeting illumination.

36. The accessory of claim 33, wherein a light source of the mobile device is used for targeting illumination and exposure illumination.

37. The accessory of claim 36, wherein the supplemental illumination system is used for additional diffuse bright field illumination or bright far field illumination.

38. The accessory of claim 33, wherein a light source of the mobile device is used for targeting illumination and the supplemental illumination system is used for diffuse bright field illumination and/or dark field illumination.

39. The accessory of claim 21, wherein the optic system is configured to fold the optical path from a back surface of the mobile device towards a target area positioned at a top side of the mobile device.

40. An accessory for a mobile device having a barcode-reading capability, comprising:

a case for encapsulating substantially a back surface and one or more side edges of the mobile device, wherein the case comprises an outer case and an inner case accommodated within the outer case, and the inner case is configured to accommodate a mobile device of a specific size such that a mobile device of a different size is accommodated in the case using a corresponding inner case fit for the mobile device; and

an optic system secured to the case and configured to fold an optical path of at least one of a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device or a field of view of a camera of the mobile device when the mobile device is accommodated in the case.

41. The accessory of claim 40, wherein the outer case comprises two mating parts that are secured to each other to form the outer case.

42. The accessory of claim 41, wherein the two mating parts include a sliding mechanism for sliding one of the two mating parts to the other and a latching mechanism to secure the two mating parts.

43. The accessory of claim 40, further comprising:

a handle secured to the outer case and extended downward from a back surface of the outer case.

44. The accessory of claim 43, wherein the handle includes a trigger switch to allow a user to trigger reading of a barcode using the mobile device.

45. The accessory of claim 43, wherein the handle includes a battery for supplying power to components in the handle and charging power to the mobile device.

46. The accessory of claim 43, wherein the handle includes a supplemental illumination system for emitting illumination towards a target area.

47. The accessory of claim 46, wherein the supplemental illumination system emits targeting illumination and/or exposure illumination.

48. The accessory of claim 40, wherein the optic system is configured to fold the optical path from a back surface of the mobile device towards a target area positioned at a top side of the mobile device.