Hand-held terminal with display screens, interactive screens, magnetic credit card readers, scanners, printers and handlers

• US 5,679,943 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Jon, Koenck, Steven E., Rohde, John K., Schultz, Darald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US08/471,904
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472, 235/462
• US Class Current: 235/472.02
• 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 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• 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 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• 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 7/10574 Multiple sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10841 Particularities of the light-sensitive elements semiconductor devices H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 : Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 : constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1093 : sensing, after transfer of the image of the data-field to an intermediate store, e.g. storage with cathode ray tube
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 : the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 : using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 : Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 : Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 : by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 : with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 : using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 : Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 : using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 : Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 : Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0032 : Without explicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1671 : the supervisory signal being transmitted together with control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 : the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/12 : Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/156 : with demodulation using temporal properties of the received signal, e.g. detecting pulse width
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 : Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems

Abstract

A hand-held terminal for receiving, storing and transmitting information is disclosed. The terminal has a keyboard, a display and is powered by internal, rechargeable batteries. An internal battery charging circuit includes a fixed voltage power supply which is controlled to provide a constant current charging current. A low-power radio frequency transceiver, for example, of a spread spectrum technology (SST) device is provided for receiving and transmitting information between the terminal and a base radio transceiver. A modular, magnetic credit card reader is operably and removably attached to the terminal and is interchangeable with a scanner of the type which can read bar codes or the like. Modules display screens, processor/memory modules, modular keyboards, and operating handles are also shown. A modular, compact printer can also be attached to the hand held terminal. Interactive pen based display screens can be used to allow information to be input directly on the screen.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

hand-held body means for receiving, storing and transmitting information, said hand-held body means having a top portion, a bottom portion, a forward end, a rear end and a longitudinal axis;

key means disposed in said top portion for manually entering information into said body means;

display means disposed in said top portion for displaying information;

battery means disposed within said hand-held body means for providing electrical power thereto;

low power radio frequency transceiver means disposed at least partially in said hand-held body means for receiving and transmitting information between said hand-held body means and a base radio transceiver;

magnetic reader means operatively attached to said hand-held body means for reading the magnetic stripe from credit cards, wherein said magnetic reader means is configured as a module that is readily physically and communicably removable from and re-insertable into said hand-held body means; and

scanning means for optically reading information transmitting such information to said hand-held means wherein said scanning means is configured as a second module that is readily physically and communicably removable from and reinsertable into said hand-held body means to replace said first module; and

wherein each of said magnetic reader means and said scanning means can be interchanged with the other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said low power radio frequency transceiver means is a part of said second module.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said low power radio frequency transceiver means includes an antenna.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said first module and said second module includes one of said low power radio frequency transceivers.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said scanning means is configured to operatively read bar codes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said forward end of said hand-held body means has a cavity configured to receive a selected one of said first module and said second module therein.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said scanning means includes a laser scanner.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said scanning means includes a CCD scanner.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said scanning means is operable by said key means.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said low power radio frequency transceiver means is a part of said first module.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said low power radio frequency transceiver means includes an antenna.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hand-held body means is configured to fit in a user'"'"'s shirt pocket.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said low power radio frequency transceiver receives and transmits in a spread spectrum range.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said low power radio frequency transceiver means is operable by said key means.

15. Apparatus comprising:

hand-held body means for receiving, storing and transmitting information, said hand-held body means having a top portion, a bottom portion, a forward end, a rear end and a longitudinal axis;

means for entry of information into said body means by user;

display means disposed in said top portion for displaying information;

battery means disposed within said hand-held body means for providing electrical power thereto;

communication means disposed at least partially in said hand-held body means for receiving and dispersing information between said hand-held body means and a remote communication device;

magnetic reader means operatively attached to said hand-held body means for reading the magnetic stripe from credit cards, wherein said magnetic reader means is configured as a module that is readily physically and communicably removable from and re-insertable into said hand-held body means; and

scanning means for optically reading information and transmitting information to said hand-held body means wherein said scanning means is configured as a second module that is readily physically and communicably removable from and re-insertable into said hand-held body means; and

wherein each of said magnetic reader means and said scanning means is removable and replaceable by the other.