Portable data collection device with two dimensional imaging assembly

• US 5,703,349 A
• Filed: 12/20/1995
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Metanetics Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Ynjiun P., Meyerson, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Thien Minh
• Application Number:
  US08/580,063
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472, 235/454, 235/470, 235/469, 382/313, 382/321, 382/59, 382/62, 382/63, 382/67
• US Class Current: 235/462.48
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0272 Handheld
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2803 using photoelectric array detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/51 using colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/513 having fixed filter-detector pairs
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10524 Hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10752 Exposure time control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10792 Special measures in relation to the object to be scanned
• 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 7/10891 the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1092 sensing by means of TV-scanning

Abstract

A portable data collection device is disclosed. The device includes a two dimensional (2D) photosensor array imaging assembly selectively actuatable for reading bar code dataforms and recording an image of an item in the imaging assembly'"'"'s target area or field. The portable data collection device includes two triggers, a first trigger actuatable for reading a bar code dataform and a second trigger actuatable for recording an image of an item in the target area. In one embodiment of the portable data collection device of the present invention, a radio module is provided for transmitting an output signal to a remote device. In another embodiment of the portable data collection device of the present invention, an output signal is coupled to a terminal processing board for further processing and storage.

Claims

1. A portable data collection device comprising:

a) an image sensor, including an array of photosensor elements generating a signal representative of an image of a target area;

b) an optic system positioned to focus illumination reflected from the target area onto said image sensor;

c) image buffering circuitry coupled to said image sensor, receiving said signal and buffering a digital image representation of the target area;

d) decoder circuitry coupled to said image buffering circuitry for decoding a dataform in the image area and providing a decoded representation of said dataform;

e) an audio input circuit including a microphone providing a signal representative of operator speech commenting about the target area and analog to digital circuitry for providing a digital audio representation of such speech;

f) output port circuitry coupled to said decoder circuitry and said audio input circuitry for outputting at least one of said decoded representation and said digital audio representation; and

g) selection circuitry coupled to said decoder circuitry and said image compression circuitry for selectively determining whether to output the decoded representation or the digital audio representation.

2. The portable data collection device of claim 1, wherein said selection circuitry comprises:

a) a first manually activated trigger switch for initiation a dataform reading session and output of the decoded representation; and

b) a second manually activated trigger switch for activating the audio input circuit and output of the digital audio representation.

3. The portable data collection device of claim 2, further including a hand held housing and said first trigger switch and said second trigger switch are exterior of the housing.

4. The portable data collection device of claim 1, further including an RF transceiver coupled to said output port for telemetering at least one of said decoded representation and said digital audio representation to a remote location.

5. A portable data collection device comprising:

a) an image sensor, including an array of photosensor elements generating a signal representative of an image of a target area;

b) an optic system positioned to focus illumination reflected from the target area onto said image sensor;

c) image buffering circuitry coupled to said image sensor, receiving said signal and buffering a digital image representation of the target area;

d) decoder circuitry coupled to said image buffering circuitry for decoding a dataform in the image area and providing a decoded representation of said dataform;

e) an audio input circuit including a microphone providing a signal representative of operator speech and analog to digital circuitry for providing a digital audio representation of such speech;

f) output port circuitry coupled to said decoder circuitry and said audio input circuitry for outputting at least one of said decoded representation and said digital audio representation; and

g) selection circuitry coupled to said decoder circuitry and said image compression circuitry for selectively determining whether to output the decoded representation or the digital audio representation.

6. The portable data collection device of claim 5, wherein said selection circuitry comprises:

a) a first manually activated trigger switch for initiation a dataform reading session and output of the decoded representation; and

b) a second manually activated trigger switch for activating the audio input circuit and output of the digital audio representation.

7. The portable data collection device of claim 6, further including a hand held housing and said first trigger switch and said second trigger switch are exterior of the housing.

8. The portable data collection device of claim 5, further including an RF transceiver coupled to said output port for telemetering at least one of said decoded representation and said digital audio representation to a remote location.