IMAGE MODULE INCLUDING MOUNTING AND DECODER FOR MOBILE DEVICES
First Claim
1. A handheld vision system module comprising:
- a body constructed and arranged to be gripped by a hand of a user, the body having a base assembly that is adapted to removably attach a mobile device thereinto;
a processor located within the base assembly, the processor arranged to generate processed image data;
an imager located relative to the base assembly, and operatively connected with the processor circuitry, the imager being arranged to acquire images of a scene and transmit image data to the processor;
a module application running on the mobile device that allows receipt of, and manipulation of, the processed image data;
a base assembly charging circuit within the base assembly that recharges a battery within the module, the base assembly charging circuit interconnected to a base assembly induction coil to deliver power to the charging circuit from an EM power signal;
a base assembly EM signal converter, interconnected the base assembly charging circuit, that injects and extracts an EM data signal with respect to the EM power signal;
an external charging unit having a charging unit charging circuit and an associated charging unit induction coil that generates the EM power signal, wherein the charging unit interconnects via a network with other data handling devices/processors; and
a charging unit EM signal converter, interconnected to the charging unit charging circuit, that inserts and extracts the EM data signal with respect to the EM power signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides a module for a handheld device. The module includes an imager with optics and image acquisition/processing processors that provide high speed acquisition and handling of acquired image data. The acquired image data is processed by the device processor using a module application that resides within the device. A removable retaining component mounts within the module'"'"'s base portion. The retaining component varies to accommodate different devices. The base portion includes appropriate ports enabling optical transmission to, for example, cameras and illuminators so that various native functions of the device can be employed as desired. The base portion also houses a battery and charging assembly e.g. an inductive charging unit. The inductive charging unit can be adapted to pass data, in addition to power, between the inductive coils and the charging unit can be interconnected to a data network with attached devices that employ data from the module.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A handheld vision system module comprising:
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a body constructed and arranged to be gripped by a hand of a user, the body having a base assembly that is adapted to removably attach a mobile device thereinto; a processor located within the base assembly, the processor arranged to generate processed image data; an imager located relative to the base assembly, and operatively connected with the processor circuitry, the imager being arranged to acquire images of a scene and transmit image data to the processor; a module application running on the mobile device that allows receipt of, and manipulation of, the processed image data; a base assembly charging circuit within the base assembly that recharges a battery within the module, the base assembly charging circuit interconnected to a base assembly induction coil to deliver power to the charging circuit from an EM power signal; a base assembly EM signal converter, interconnected the base assembly charging circuit, that injects and extracts an EM data signal with respect to the EM power signal; an external charging unit having a charging unit charging circuit and an associated charging unit induction coil that generates the EM power signal, wherein the charging unit interconnects via a network with other data handling devices/processors; and a charging unit EM signal converter, interconnected to the charging unit charging circuit, that inserts and extracts the EM data signal with respect to the EM power signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16)
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13. A method for charging a handheld vision system module comprising:
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providing a body constructed and arranged to be gripped by a hand of a user, the body having (a) a base assembly and a processor located within the base assembly, the processor arranged to generate processed image data and (b) an imager located relative to the base assembly, and operatively connected with the processor; acquiring images of a scene with the imager, image data being transmitted to the processor; operating a module application running on the mobile device that allows receipt of, and manipulation of, the processed image data; removably docking the base assembly with respect to an external charging unit so that a base assembly charging circuit within the base assembly recharges a battery within the module with a base assembly induction coil that delivers power to the base assembly charging circuit from an EM power signal; providing a base assembly EM signal converter, interconnected the base assembly charging circuit, that injects and extracts an EM data signal with respect to the EM power signal; generating the EM power signal with a charging unit charging circuit and an associated charging unit induction coil, wherein the charging unit interconnects via a network with other data handling devices/processors; and providing a charging unit EM signal converter, interconnected to the charging unit charging circuit, that inserts and extracts the EM data signal with respect to the EM power signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 17)
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Specification