Highly integrated portable electronic work slate unit

• US 5,594,470 A
• Filed: 06/30/1994
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Teletransactions, Inc.
• Inventors: Chang, Yung-Fu, Meyerson, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Application Number:
  US08/268,806
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.26, 340/825.27-825.29, 248/917, 248/918, 248/919, 341/22, 341/23, 341/32, 341/33, 455/347-351, D14/100, D14/106, D14/113, D14/115, 367/708, 367/709.1, 379/440, 379/428, 368/10, 368/13, 368/203, 368/204, 345/173-183, 345/169, 178/18-20, 364/900, 235/169
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31181 Controller and device have several formats and protocols, select common one
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33118 Identify bus, interface select automatic adaption for bus, interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1609 to support filters or lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A portable electronic work slate unit includes a customizable array of data devices and input/output devices which are selectively integrated in a compact and highly ergonomic structure. Increased operator productivity is accomplished by use of several possible user interface media including a multi-function display and input/output unit including a digitizer, position sensitive screen, and video display panel. Selectively integratable user interface components include a bar code scanner, RF modulator for radio frequency communication, modem, audio input/output, as well as the multi-purpose display. All components are integrated by use of a handle unit which can house a battery as well as removable modules in a manner so as to minimize operator fatigue and discomfort, as well as enhance productivity.

Claims

1. A hand held work slate computer comprising:

a) a housing including a front side having a length and a width and a back side having a length and a width, the front side being spaced apart from the back side and defining a housing interior region, a distance between the front and back sides being substantially smaller than the length and the width of the front side and the length and the width of the back side;

b) a data input structure supported by the housing front side;

c) a data display structure including a display screen supported by the housing and visible through an opening in the front side of the housing;

d) data retention and processing components including a processor for controlling operations of the work slate computer mounted within and carried by the housing interior region, the processor electrically coupled to the data input structure and the data display structure;

e) a handle unit including an elongated gripping portion and a first distal portion attached to an end of the gripping portion, the first distal portion being attached to the housing back side and the handle portion, the gripping portion being spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the housing back side, the first distal portion including an internal compartment for receiving a selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component; and

,

f) electronic circuitry supported within the housing including circuitry for electrically coupling the selected one of an electronic module and a power supply to the processor.

2. The work slate computer of claim 1 wherein the handle gripping portion includes an internal compartment for receiving a selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component and the electronic circuitry includes circuitry for electrically coupling the selected one of an electronic component and a power supply to the processor.

3. The work slate computer of claim 1 wherein the first distal portion is slidably attached to the back side of the housing permitting the gripping portion to be moved between at least two positions.

4. The work slate computer of claim 1 wherein the handle unit includes a second distal portion attached to an end of the gripping portion opposite of the end that the first distal portion is attached to, the second distal portion including an internal compartment for receiving a selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component, the electronic circuitry including circuitry for electrically coupling the selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component to the processor.

5. The work slate computer of claim 2 wherein the handle unit gripping portion includes a removable door portion for enabling user access to the compartment.

6. A hand held work slate computer comprising:

a) a housing having a body section including a face side and a back side spaced apart from the face side, the body section defining an interior region, a length and a width of the face side of the housing body section being greater than a thickness of the body section;

b) data input structure carried by the body section face side;

c) viewable data display structure also carried by the body section face side;

d) electronic circuitry disposed within the body section interior region, the electronic circuitry including a processor for controlling operations of the work slate computer;

e) a handle unit connected to the body section and projecting from the body section back side, the handle unit including an elongated gripping portion spaced apart from the body section back side by a first distal portion of the handle unit attached to an end of the gripping portion and attached to the body section back side; and

,

f) the handle unit first distal portion including an internal compartment adapted to receive a selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component and the electronic circuitry including circuitry for electrically coupling the selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component to the processor.

7. The work slate computer of claim 6 wherein the gripping portion includes an internal compartment adapted to receive a selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component and the electronic circuitry includes circuitry for electrically coupling the selected one of a electronic component and a power supply component received in the gripping portion compartment to the processor.

8. The work slate computer of claim 6 wherein the handle unit first distal portion is slidably attached to the body section back side thereby permitting the gripping portion to be moved between at least two positions with respect to the body section back side.

9. The work slate computer of claim 6 wherein the handle unit additionally includes a second distal portion attached to an end of the gripping portion opposite to the end attached to the first distal portion, the second distal portion including an internal compartment adapted to receive a selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component and wherein the electronic circuitry includes circuitry for electrically coupling the selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component received in the second distal portion to the processor.

10. The work slate computer of claim 9 wherein the handle unit second distal portion is attached to the body section back side.

11. The work slate computer of claim 8 wherein the handle unit gripping portion is substantially parallel to the body section back side and moves along a path of travel substantially parallel to the back side when moved between the at least two positions with respect to the back side.

12. The work slate computer of claim 6 wherein the power supply component is a battery.

13. The work slate computer of claim 6 wherein the selected electronic component is one of a modem, a bar code reader, an audio unit and a radio.

14. The work slate computer of claim 6 wherein the handle unit first distal portion includes a removable door portion for enabling user access to the internal compartment of the first distal portion.

15. The work slate computer of claim 9 wherein the handle unit gripping portion includes a removable door portion to enable user access to the internal compartment of the gripping portion.

16. The work slate computer of claim 10 wherein the handle unit second distal portion is slideably attached to the body section back side thereby permitting the gripping portion to be moved between at least two positions with respect to the body section back side.

17. The work slate computer of claim 16 wherein the handle unit second distal portion includes a removable door portion to enable user access to the internal compartment of the second gripping portion.

18. The work slate computer of claim 6 wherein the data input structure includes a touch sensitive panel overlying the display panel.

19. An electronic workslate computer comprising:

a) a case including a generally planar front side and a spaced apart generally planar back side defining an interior region for enclosing electronic circuitry of the computer, the case front side and back side each having a length and a width that is greater than a thickness of the case;

b) a user interface assembly including a display screen and an overlying position sensitive screen connected supported by the housing and visible through an opening in the front side of the case;

c) a handle unit attached to the back side of the housing, the handle unit including an elongated gripping portion spaced apart from the back side by an attachment portion which is attached to the gripping portion and the back side of the housing, the attachment portion including a compartment for receiving a selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component; and

d) the electronic circuitry including a processor and circuitry for electrically coupling the selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component to the processor and electrically coupling the user interface assembly to the processor.

20. The workslate computer of claim 19 wherein the handle unit gripping portion includes a removable door portion for enabling user access to the gripping portion internal compartment.

21. The workslate computer of claim 19 wherein the selected electronic component is one of a modem, a bar code reader, an audio unit and a radio.

22. The workslate computer of claim 19 wherein the power supply component is a battery.

23. The electronic workslate computer of claim 19 wherein the attachment portion is slideably attached to the case back side permitting the gripping portion to move between at least two positions with respect to the case back side.

24. The electronic workslate computer of claim 23 wherein the gripping portion is substantially parallel to the case back side and the gripping portion moves along a path of travel that is substantially parallel to the back side.

25. The electronic workslate computer of claim 19 wherein the handle unit gripping portion includes an internal compartment for receiving a selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component and wherein the electronic circuitry includes circuitry for electrically coupling the selected one of an electronic component and a power supply component to the processor.

26. The electronic workslate of claim 19 wherein the handle unit attachment portion includes a removable door portion for enabling user access to the attachment portion internal compartment.