Portable computer with interchangeable keypad and method for operating same

• US 5,576,981 A
• Filed: 11/17/1993
• Issued: 11/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Robert Y., Parker, Wm. B., McCall, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Malzahn, David H.
• Application Number:
  US08/153,461
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 364/709.1, 364/709.15, 364/709.16
• US Class Current: 708/140
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A portable bar code reader including a keyboard and a bar code system computer wherein the bar code system computer is constructed for executing a standard operating system to enable the bar code system computer to execute standard application programs written for the standard operating system. The keyboard includes a keypad coupled to a keyboard processor and a keyboard memory wherein the keyboard memory is constructed to store a plurality of token data units. The keypad includes a plurality of keys and is constructed to provide a plurality of X-Y position signals wherein each X-Y position signal is indicative of an associated key being depressed. The keypad also includes a change meaning assembly constructed to provide a change meaning signal to the keyboard processor 308. The keyboard processor 308 is responsive to the change meaning signal to select a portion of the keyboard memory that stores the meanings of the keys associated with the change meaning signal. The plurality of X-Y position signals are used to select a particular token data unit from the portion of the keyboard memory selected wherein the particular token data unit is indicative of the meaning to be attributed to the key that was depressed. The portable bar code reader of the present invention enables a user to provide differing keyboard formats for use with the bar code reader wherein each keyboard format assigns differing meanings to the keys. Alternatively, a plurality of keyboards may be used with the portable bar code reader wherein each keyboard is assigned differing meanings to the keys.

Claims

1. A data processing assembly for a user comprising:

a system computer constructed for operation in accordance with a standard operating system;

a keyboard housing;

a keypad mounted to said keyboard housing, said keypad having a plurality of keys for depression by a user, said keypad being constructed to provide a plurality of X-Y position signals in response to depression of said plurality of keys wherein each of said plurality of X-Y position signals is associated with a respective one of said plurality of keys, said keypad further including a meaning key and being constructed to provide a change meaning signal in response to depression of said meaning key by the user;

a token memory mounted in said keyboard housing, said token memory having a plurality of first memory locations and a plurality of second memory locations wherein each of said plurality of first memory locations is associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of second memory locations, said plurality of first and second memory locations of said token memory being constructed for storing a plurality of token data units, said token memory further including a plurality of third memory locations wherein each of said plurality of third memory locations is associated with respective ones of said plurality of first and second memory locations, said plurality of third memory locations being constructed for storing a plurality of control data units;

a pointer memory mounted in said keyboard housing, said pointer memory being constructed for storing a plurality of pointer data units;

a string memory mounted in said keyboard housing, said string memory being constructed for storing a plurality of string data units;

a keyboard processor mounted in said keyboard housing and being electrically coupled to said keypad, said token memory, said pointer memory and said string memory, said keyboard processor being responsive to said plurality of X-Y position signals to access corresponding ones of said plurality of first memory locations and said plurality of second memory locations of said token memory, said keyboard processor being responsive to said change meaning signal for determining whether to access said plurality of first memory locations and whether to access said plurality of second memory locations, said keyboard processor retrieving a desired token data unit from said token memory, said keyboard processor being responsive to said desired token data unit for retrieving a desired pointer data unit from said pointer memory and being responsive to said desired pointer data unit for retrieving a desired string data unit from said string memory, wherein said desired string data unit identifies a meaning that will be attributed to a particular one of said plurality of keys, the meaning being a function of said change meaning signal, said keyboard processor being further responsive to said X-Y position signals to access a corresponding one of said plurality of third memory locations to access a desired control data unit and being responsive to said change meaning signal for obtaining a desired control signal wherein said control signal is portion of said desired control data unit;

a standard keyboard port mounted in said keyboard housing, said standard keyboard port being coupled to said keyboard processor for receiving said desired string data unit, said standard keyboard port being coupled to said system computer for transmitting said desired string data unit to said system computer;

an additional keyboard port mounted in said keyboard housing and electrically coupled to said keyboard processor, said additional keyboard port further being coupled to said system computer constructed for interfacing said keyboard processor with said system computer in co-existence with said standard operating system in a manner such that the standard operating system is not interfered with and is furthermore unaware of the additional port, thereby to transmit and receive additional data to and from said system computer wherein said additional data includes token data units and desired data strings; and

a display mounted in said keyboard housing and electrically coupled to said keyboard processor, said display including a meaning indicator having a elongated indicator and first and second meaning indicators wherein said first and second meaning indicators are light responsive devices that are selectively actuatable, said first and second meaning indicators being positioned in orthogonal relationship with respect to said elongated indicator, said keyboard processor being responsive to said change meaning signal for selectively actuating said first and second meaning indicators thereby to indicate to the user the meaning that will be attributed to said plurality of keys of said keypad.

2. A data processing assembly for a user comprising:

a system computer constructed to operate in accordance with a standard operating system;

a keyboard housing;

keypad means, mounted to said keyboard housing, for providing a plurality of X-Y data signals, said keypad means having a plurality of keys for depression by a user, said keypad means being constructed to provide said plurality of X-Y data signals in response to depression of said plurality of keys wherein each of said plurality of X-Y data signals is associated with a respective one of said plurality of keys;

meaning means for providing a change meaning signal associated with at least one of said plurality of keys;

a token memory mounted in said keyboard housing, said token memory having a plurality of first memory locations and a plurality of second memory locations wherein each of said plurality of first memory locations is associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of second memory locations and wherein each of said plurality of first and second memory locations is associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of keys, said plurality of first and second memory locations of said token memory being constructed for storing a plurality of token data units;

a string memory mounted in said keyboard housing, said string memory being constructed for storing a plurality of string data units;

a keyboard processor mounted in said keyboard housing and being electrically coupled to said keypad, said token memory and said string memory, said keyboard processor being responsive to said plurality of X-Y position signals to access corresponding ones of said plurality of first memory locations and said plurality of second memory locations of said token memory, said keyboard processor being responsive to said change meaning signal for determining whether to access said plurality of first memory locations and whether to access said plurality of second memory locations, said keyboard processor retrieving a desired token data unit from said token memory, said keyboard processor being responsive to said desired token data unit for retrieving a desired string data, unit from said string memory, wherein said desired string data unit identifies a meaning that will be attributed to a particular one of said plurality of keys, the meaning being a function of said change meaning signal; and

a standard keyboard port mounted in said keyboard housing, said standard keyboard port being coupled to said keyboard processor for receiving said desired string data unit, said standard keyboard port being coupled to said system computer for transmitting said desired string data unit to said computer system.

3. The data processing assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein at least a portion of said plurality of string data units comprise standard data units recognizable by said system computer in accordance with said standard operating system.

4. The data processing assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said token data includes function data and system data and wherein said token memory further comprises a plurality of third memory locations wherein each of said plurality of third memory locations is associated with respective ones of said plurality of first and second memory locations, said plurality of third memory locations being constructed for storing a plurality of control data units, said keyboard processor being further responsive to said X-Y position signals to access a corresponding one of said plurality of third memory locations to retrieve a desired control data unit and being responsive to said change meaning signal for obtaining a desired control signal wherein said control signal is portion of said desired control data unit, said keyboard processor being responsive to said control data for determining whether said desired token data unit represents function data and, if so, for performing the function represented, said keyboard processor being responsive to said control data for determining whether said desired token data unit represents system data and, if so, for retrieving and transmitting said desired string data unit to said system computer.

5. The data processing assembly as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

a display mounted in said keyboard housing and electrically coupled to said keyboard processor, said display including first and second meaning indicators that are selectively activated by said keyboard processor in response to said change meaning signal to indicate to the user the meaning that will be attributed to said plurality of keys of said keypad.

6. The data processing assembly as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

a display mounted in said keyboard housing and programatically coupled to said keyboard processor, said display including a meaning indicator having an elongated indicator and first and second meaning indicators wherein said first and second meaning indicators are reflectivity controlling devices that are selectively actuatable, said first and second meaning indicators being positioned in orthogonal relationship with respect to said elongated indicator, said keyboard processor being responsive to said change meaning signal for selectively actuating said first and second meaning indicators thereby to indicate to the user the meaning that will be attributed to said plurality of keys of said keypad.

7. The data processing assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said meaning means comprises a meaning key mounted to said keypad means wherein said meaning key is constructed to provide said change meaning signal in response to depression of said meaning key by the user.

8. The data processing assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said keypad means comprises first and second keypads each being removeably couplable to said keyboard housing, each said first and second keypads including means for providing an identification signal, said meaning means being responsive to said identification signal for providing said meaning signal.

9. The data processing assembly as recited in claim 2 further comprising an additional keyboard port mounted in said keyboard housing and electrically coupled to said keyboard processor, said additional keyboard port further being coupled to said system computer for interfacing said keyboard processor with said system computer in accordance with said standard operating system, thereby to permit transmission and reception of additional data to and from said system computer in accordance with said standard operating system wherein said additional data includes token data units, desired data strings, and non-standard system requests.

10. The data processing assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said meaning means is responsive said additional data for providing said change meaning signal.

11. A keyboard subsystem for use by a user with a host computer that has a standard computer operating system, the keyboard subsystem comprising:

a keypad including a plurality of keys to provide a plurality of X-Y data signals in response to a depression of said plurality of keys wherein each of said plurality of X-Y data signals is associated with a respective one of said plurality of keys;

meaning means for providing a change meaning signal associated with at least one of said plurality of keys wherein said change meaning signal includes first and second states;

a token memory having a plurality of first memory locations to store a plurality of first token data units and a plurality of second memory locations to store a plurality of second token data units wherein each of said plurality of first token data units is associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of keys and wherein each of said plurality of second token data units is associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of keys wherein said plurality of first and second token data units include function data and system data and wherein said token memory further comprises a plurality of third memory locations wherein each of said plurality of third memory locations is associated with respective ones of said plurality of first and second memory locations, said plurality of third memory locations being constructed for storing a plurality of control data units;

a keyboard processor responsive to a received one of said plurality of X-Y data signals and said change meaning signal to obtain a desired token data signal wherein said desired token data unit is indicative of the meaning to be attributed to the one of said plurality of keys corresponding to the received one of said plurality of X-Y data signals, said first state of said change meaning signal indicating that said desired token data unit is one of said plurality of first token data units and said second state of said change meaning signal indicating that said desired token data unit is one of said plurality of second token data units, the received one of said plurality of X-Y data signals indicating the corresponding one of said plurality of first and second token data units, said keyboard processor being further responsive to said X-Y position signals and said change meaning signal to retrieve a desired control data unit, said keyboard processor being responsive to said desired control data unit for determining whether said desired token data unit represents function data and, if so, for performing the function represented, said keyboard processor being responsive to said desired control data unit for determining whether said desired token data unit represents system data and, if so, for retrieving and transmitting said desired token data unit to said system computer; and

a keyboard port coupling the keyboard with the host computer, said keyboard port transmitting string data corresponding to said desired token data unit to the host computer in a format recognizable by the computer operating system.

12. A keyboard subsystem for use by a user with a host computer that has a standard computer operating system, the keyboard subsystem comprising:

a keypad including a plurality of keys to provide a plurality of X-Y data signals in response to a depression of said plurality of keys wherein each of said plurality of X-Y data signals is associated with a respective one of said plurality of keys;

meaning means for providing a change meaning signal associated with at least one of said plurality of keys wherein said change meaning signal includes first and second states;

a token memory to store a plurality of first token data units and a plurality of second token data units wherein each of said plurality of first token data units is associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of keys and wherein each of said plurality of second token data units is associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of keys;

a keyboard processor responsive to a received one of said plurality of X-Y data signals and said change meaning signal to obtain a desired token data signal wherein said desired token data unit is indicative of the meaning to be attributed to the one of said plurality of keys corresponding to the received one of said plurality of X-Y data signals, said first state of said change meaning signal indicating that said desired token data unit is one of said plurality of first token data units and said second state of said change meaning signal indicating that said desired token data unit is one of said plurality of second token data units, the received one of said plurality of X-Y data signals indicating the corresponding one of said plurality of first and second token data units;

a display having first and second meaning indicators wherein said first and second meaning indicators are light emitting devices that are selectively actuatable, said keyboard processor being responsive to said change meaning signal for selectively actuating said first and second meaning indicators thereby to indicate to the user the meaning that will be attributed to said plurality of keys of said keypad means, said display further including an elongated light emitting device and wherein said first and second meaning indicators are positioned in orthogonal relationship with respect to said elongated light emitting device to form a ladder like arrangement; and

a keyboard port coupling the keyboard with the host computer, said keyboard port transmitting string data corresponding to said desired token data unit to the host computer in a format recognizable by the computer operating system.

13. A keyboard subsystem for use by a user with a host computer that has a standard computer operating system, the keyboard subsystem comprising:

a keypad including a plurality of keys to provide a plurality of X-Y data signals in response to a depression of said plurality of keys wherein each of said plurality of X-Y data signals is associated with a respective one of said plurality of keys;

meaning means for providing a change meaning signal associated with at least one of said plurality of keys wherein said change meaning signal includes first and second states;

a token memory to store a plurality of first token data units and a plurality of second token data units wherein each of said plurality of first token data units is associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of keys and wherein each of said plurality of second token data units is associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of keys;

a keyboard processor responsive to a received one of said plurality of X-Y data signals and said change meaning signal to obtain a desired token data signal wherein said desired token data unit is indicative of the meaning to be attributed to the one of said plurality of keys corresponding to the received one of said plurality of X-Y data signals, said first state of said change meaning signal indicating that said desired token data unit is one of said plurality of first token data units and said second state of said change meaning signal indicating that said desired token data unit is one of said plurality of second token data units, the received one of said plurality of X-Y data signals indicating the corresponding one of said plurality of first and second token data units;

a display having first and second meaning indicators wherein said first and second meaning indicators are light emitting devices that are selectively actuatable, said keyboard processor being responsive to said change meaning signal for selectively actuating said first and second meaning indicators thereby to indicate to the user the meaning that will be attributed to said plurality of keys of said keypad means, said display further including an elongated reflectivity controlling device and wherein said first and second meaning indicators are positioned in orthogonal relationship with respect to said elongated light emitting device to form a ladder like arrangement; and

a keyboard port coupling the keyboard with the host computer, said keyboard port transmitting string data corresponding to said desired token data unit to the host computer in a format recognizable by the computer operating system.

14. A data processing apparatus for communicating with a host computer, the host computer using a standard computer operating system, the apparatus comprising:

a keyboard housing;

a keypad mounted to said housing and containing a plurality of keys operable by a user;

a change signal generator within the host computer to produce and to transmit a change signal to the apparatus to automatically select first and second functions for a particular one of said plurality of keys;

a token memory within said keyboard housing and having a plurality of locations corresponding to said plurality of keys, said token memory being responsive to said change signal and selection of said particular key to address a first token memory location in response to said selection of said particular key when said first function is selected and a second token memory location in response to said selection of said particular key when said second function is selected;

a string memory storing a plurality of string data units corresponding to the standard computer operating system, said string memory being responsive to said addressing of said first and second token memory locations to select a first string data unit in response to said addressing of said first token memory location and a second string data unit in response to said addressing of said second token memory location; and

a keyboard port coupling the apparatus with the host computer and transmitting string data units to the host computer, said keyboard transmitting said first string data unit in response to said selection of said first string data unit and said second string data unit in response to said addressing of said selection of said second string data unit.

15. A method for use with a keyboard to communicate with a host computer, the host computer using a standard computer operating system, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing user selection of one of a plurality of keys mounted on the keyboard;

transmitting a change meaning signal having first and second signal states from the host computer to the keyboard;

in response to user selection of said one key and said change meaning signal state, selecting a first token memory location in a token memory if said change meaning signal is in said first state and selecting a second token memory location in said token memory if said change meaning signal is in said second state; and

transmitting string data units to the host computer using a keyboard port coupling the keyboard with the host computer, said string data units corresponding to the standard computer operating system and recognizable by the standard computer operating system, said keyboard port transmitting a first string data unit in response to said selection of said first token memory location and said second string data unit in response to said addressing of said selection of said second string data unit.