Portable data input apparatus with different display modes

• US 5,023,438 A
• Filed: 11/24/1989
• Issued: 06/11/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nitto Kohki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nitto Kohki Company Limited
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Hajime, Shimizu, Giichiro, Wakatsuki, Yoshio, Shimizu, Misao, Okuyama, Toshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stuart S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/440,764
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472, 235/375, 235/383, 235/454, 340/707, 340/711, 340/727, 341/22, 341/23
• US Class Current: 235/462.46
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/00 Cash registers alarm indicators G07G3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0081 the reader being a portable scanner or data reader G07G1/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable data input apparatus comprises an elongated casing. A pen-scanner type bar code reader reads a bar code provided according to the kind of a commodity, and outputs a corresponding code data unit. A keyboard is designed to input at least a numerical data unit representative of the amount of the commodity. A display device displays the code data unit and the numerical data unit. A display mode changing circuit is designed to invert the image of the data units displayed on the display device in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, in response to a detection signal, which is output when the code data and numerical data are inversely displayed.

Claims

1. A portable data input apparatus comprising:

a pen-scanner type bar code reader for reading a bar code provided according to the king of a commodity and for generating a corresponding code data;

a keyboard for inputting at least numerical data representative of the amount of the commodity;

a display device for displaying the code data generated by said bar code reader and the numerical data input through said keyboard;

means for detecting whether the code data and numerical data are inversely or erectly displayed, and for generating a corresponding detection signal; and

display mode inverting means for vertically and horizontally inverting display states of the code data and numerical data displayed by said display device, in response to the detection signal generated by said detecting means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bar code reader includes a photosensor for detecting light reflected from the bar code.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display mode inverting means is a central processing unit (CPU).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for confirming that the bar code has been correctly read by the bar code reader.

5. A portable data input apparatus comprising:

a pen-scanner type bar code reader for reading a bar code;

a display for displaying code data corresponding to the bar code read by said bar code reader;

a keyboard for key-inputting various data, said bar code reader, said display unit, and said keyboard being sequentially arranged along a longitudinal direction of an outer surface of an elongated case;

a reverse mechanism for mechanically reversing a first case portion including said display through 180°

with respect to a second case portion including said keyboard;

reverse detecting means for detecting a state of said first case portion reversed by said reverse mechanism and for detecting whether said display is inverted; and

display state reverse means for reversing a display state of data displayed on said display in vertical and horizontal directions in response to detection of reversing by said reverse detecting means, and displaying the reversed data.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said reverse mechanism includes a means for mounting said first case portion detachably on said second case portion so as to reverse said first case portion mechanically through 180°

with respect to said second case portion.

7. A portable data input apparatus comprising:

a pen-scanner type bar code reader for reading a bar code;

a display for displaying code data corresponding to the bar code read by said bar code reader;

a keyboard for key-inputting various data, said bar code reader, said display unit, and said keyboard being sequentially arranged along a longitudinal direction of an outer surface of an elongated case;

a reverse mechanism for mechanically reversing a first case portion including said display through 180°

with respect to a second case portion including said keyboard;

reverse detecting means for detecting a state of said first case portion reversed by said reverse mechanism by detecting whether a terminal to be detected which is formed on said first case portion in advance is electrically grounded; and

display state reverse means for reversing a display state of data displayed on said display in vertical and horizontal directions in response to detection of reversing by said reverse detecting means, and displaying the reversed data.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising first and second detection terminals which correspond to said terminal to be detected, and which are respectively formed at positions to be point symmetrical with each other about the central axis perpendicular to the surface of said first case portion which opposes said second case portion, a reverse state of said first case portion being detected by detecting whether said terminal to be detected is connected to said first or second detection terminal.

9. A portable data input apparatus comprising:

an elongated casing;

a pen-scanner type bar code reader, attached at one end of the casing in its longitudinal direction, for reading a bar code provided according to the king of a commodity and generating a corresponding code data unit;

a keyboard, attached on the other side of the casing it its longitudinal direction, for inputting at least numerical data units representative of the amount of the commodity;

a transmitter/receiver for wirelessly outputting the code data unit read by the bar code reader and the numerical data units key-input from the keyboard, and receiving a response signal representative of the fact that the wirelessly transmitted data units have been received;

a display device attached to the surface of the casing for displaying the code data units and the numerical data units;

a display mode selecting switch generating a signal indicative of whether the said pen scanner is being held in the right or left hand of the scanner operator; and

display mode inverting means for vertically and horizontally inverting display states on the data units displayed on the display device, in response to said signal generated by the display mode selecting switch.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said bar code reader includes a photosensor for detecting light reflected from the bar code reader.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said display mode inverting means is a central processing unit (CPU).

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising display means for confirming that the bar code has been correctly read by the bar code reader, and that the code data unit and numerical data unit have been correctly transmitted.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said display mode selecting switch comprises two switches.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a handle portion formed on one side of the casing in its longitudinal direction.