Portable data input/transmission apparatus

• US 5,065,003 A
• Filed: 03/12/1990
• Issued: 11/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1989
• 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): duBois, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US07/491,856
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472, 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 343/702, 343/767, 343/783-787, 343/900-903, 455/351
• US Class Current: 235/472.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0283 for data storage and retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/08 Means for collapsing antennas or parts thereof collapsible loop antennas H01Q7/02; means for collapsing H-antennas or Yagi antennas H01Q19/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2755 by optical scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

A casing of a portable data input/transmission apparatus has an end portion, the size of which is determined such that the end portion can be held by one hand. A pen-scanner type bar code reader for reading a bar code is attached to one end of the casing in the longitudinal direction. A keyboard for enabling at least numerical data to be input is attached near the other end of the casing in the longitudinal direction. A transmitter/receiver is stored within the casing, the transmitter/receiver being designed to output wirelessly to an external data processing apparatus code data read by the bar code reader and at least numerical data input from the keyboard. A pair of antenna-containing grooves are formed in a pair of facing side surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction of the casing, such that the grooves extend in the longitudinal direction of the casing to said other end of the casing. An antenna is provided such that it is freely inserted into and drawn from the antenna-containing grooves from the other end of the casing, the antenna being formed of a substantially U-shaped, electrically conductive elastic material and being fitted in the grooves by virtue of the elastic force of the antenna.

Claims

1. A portable data input/transmission apparatus comprising:

a casing having an end portion, the size of which is determined such that the end portion can be held by one hand;

a pen-scanner type bar code reader, attached to one end of the casing in the longitudinal direction, for reading a bar code;

a keyboard, attached near the other end of the casing in the longitudinal direction, for enabling at least numerical data to be input;

a transmitting/receiving means, stored within the casing, for outputting wirelessly to an external data processing apparatus code data read by said bar code reader and at least numerical data input from the keyboard;

a pair of substantially linearly extending antenna-containing grooves formed in a pair of opposite side surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction of the casing, such that the grooves extend linearly in the longitudinal direction of the casing to and open through said other end of the casing; and

a generally U-shaped antenna having legs in and slidable along said grooves in said longitudinal direction enabling linear longitudinal sliding movement of said antenna relative to said casing between an antenna stored position with said antenna legs lying substantially wholly within said grooves and a withdrawn operative position with only portions of said legs in said grooves and a base of the U-shaped antenna between said legs spaced longitudinally from said other end of said casing, said antenna being formed of electrically conductive elastic material.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting/receiving means includes a transmitter/receiver for receiving response data output from said external data processing apparatus.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one leg of said antenna is biased in said groove toward said casing to assert a clamping force on said casing.

4. A portable data input/transmission apparatus comprising:

a casing having an end portion, the size of which is determined such that the end portion can be held by one hand;

a pen-scanner type bar code reader, attached to one end of the casing in the longitudinal direction, for reading a bar code;

a keyboard, attached near the other end of the casing in the longitudinal direction, for enabling at least numerical data to be input;

a transmitting/receiving means, stored within the casing, for outputting wirelessly to an external data processing apparatus code data read by said bar code reader and at least numerical data input from the keyboard;

a pair of antenna-containing grooves formed in a pair of facing side surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction of the casing, such that the grooves extend in the longitudinal direction of the casing to said other end of the casing;

an antenna freely inserted into and drawn from said antenna-containing grooves from said other end of the casing, said antenna being formed of a substantially U-shaped, electrically conductive elastic material and being fitted in the grooves by virtue of the elastic force of the antenna;

said transmitting/receiving means including a transmitter/receive for receiving response data output from said external data processing apparatus;

a large-diameter portion, provided at one end of the antenna, for preventing the antenna from being removed; and

a removal-preventing member provided in one of the antenna-containing grooves, which is closer to said other end of the casing in the longitudinal direction, said removal-preventing member being designed to be engaged with said large-diameter portion of the antenna.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein at least one leg of said antenna is biased in said groove toward said casing to assert a clamping force on said casing.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said removal-preventing member comprises an annular stopper through which only that part of the antenna, which is other than the large-diameter portion, can pass.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said annular stopper is formed of an electrically conductive material connected to said transmitter/receiver, and wherein said antenna is passed through the annular stopper, such that the antenna is constantly put in contact with annular stopper.