Integrated hand-held bar code processing device capable of automatic scan and data display
First Claim
1. In a data capture system, a hand-held automatic scan reader unit for scanning an optical segment and having a pistol configuration with a barrel having a longitudinal axis, and a handgrip adapted to be held in one hand of an operator, said handgrip having a free end and a handgrip axis directed generally transversely to said longitudinal axis of said barrel,said barrel having a first end arranged proximally to the operator and a second end arranged distally to the operator and oriented towards the optical segment when said reader unit is held by the operator in a normal scanning/data entry position,said barrel of the pistol configuration containing an optical scanner means comprising optical source means for directing illumination along a path extending past said second end and onto the optical segment essentially instantaneously and sensor means for reading reflected optical information therefrom,said barrel having an upper surface disposed above and a lower surface disposed below said longitudinal axis, said upper surface extending from said first end toward said second end,said handgrip including a trigger manually actuable to cause said optical source means to direct said illumination,an array of data entry keys at a data entry region of said upper surface, each of said keys requiring a manually applied thrust generally in the direction of said handgrip by the other hand of the operator, said handgrip being affixed to said barrel at said lower surface so as to be located beneath said data entry region of said upper surface when said reader unit is held in its normal scanning/data entry position;
- andsaid data entry region of said upper surface sloping away from said longitudinal axis with reference to a direction viewed from said first end toward said second end so that with said first end disposed proximally to the operator and with said reader unit in the normal scanning/data entry position, the operator can simultaneously view directly said data entry region, comfortably grasp said handgrip to balance and support said reader unit, manually actuate said trigger with the one hand and readily manually actuate selected of said data entry keys with the other hand.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, the reader unit has a pistol configuration with the automatic scan components in a barrel portion and a battery pack therefor in a handgrip portion. A display may be directed upwardly and rearwardly in the normal hand-held disposition of the reader unit during scanning, and may be of relatively large area, e.g., so as to be adaptable to direct store delivery transactions. A smart card receptacle may facilitate use of the integrated reader and terminal unit for complex transactions. A base station for the hand-held unit may include an interface such that the memory of the hand-held unit appears as a disk drive during downloading to a personal computer.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a data capture system, a hand-held automatic scan reader unit for scanning an optical segment and having a pistol configuration with a barrel having a longitudinal axis, and a handgrip adapted to be held in one hand of an operator, said handgrip having a free end and a handgrip axis directed generally transversely to said longitudinal axis of said barrel,
said barrel having a first end arranged proximally to the operator and a second end arranged distally to the operator and oriented towards the optical segment when said reader unit is held by the operator in a normal scanning/data entry position, said barrel of the pistol configuration containing an optical scanner means comprising optical source means for directing illumination along a path extending past said second end and onto the optical segment essentially instantaneously and sensor means for reading reflected optical information therefrom, said barrel having an upper surface disposed above and a lower surface disposed below said longitudinal axis, said upper surface extending from said first end toward said second end, said handgrip including a trigger manually actuable to cause said optical source means to direct said illumination, an array of data entry keys at a data entry region of said upper surface, each of said keys requiring a manually applied thrust generally in the direction of said handgrip by the other hand of the operator, said handgrip being affixed to said barrel at said lower surface so as to be located beneath said data entry region of said upper surface when said reader unit is held in its normal scanning/data entry position; - and
said data entry region of said upper surface sloping away from said longitudinal axis with reference to a direction viewed from said first end toward said second end so that with said first end disposed proximally to the operator and with said reader unit in the normal scanning/data entry position, the operator can simultaneously view directly said data entry region, comfortably grasp said handgrip to balance and support said reader unit, manually actuate said trigger with the one hand and readily manually actuate selected of said data entry keys with the other hand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a data capture system, a reader hand-held by an operator for automatically scanning information carried by an optical segment, said reader comprising:
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a) a housing of a pistol configuration including a barrel with first and second surfaces and a handgrip extending from said first surface, said handgrip being configured to be held in one hand by the operator, including a handgrip axis and being affixed to said barrel, said barrel having a first end arranged proximally to the operator and a second end arranged distally to the operator when said reader is held by the operator in a normal scanning/data entry position with respect to the optical segment, said second surface disposed remote from said first surface and extending from said first end toward said second end; b) optical scanner means contained within said barrel and comprising optical source means for directing illumination onto the optical segment, and sensor means for reading the illumination as modified by the information and reflected from the optical segment onto said sensor means; and c) an array of data entry keys defining the extent of a data entry region of said second surface and being manually actuated by the operator; d) said handgrip axis intercepting said data entry region at an angle and a location so that the operator'"'"'s line of sight to said data entry region is unobstructed when said handgrip is gripped by and said reader is oriented by the operator in the normal scanning/data entry position, so that the hand gripping said handgrip is in a supportive relationship to oppose the application of actuating pressure applied to said data entry region, and so that most of said data entry keys are disposed between said location and said first end of said barrel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification