Integrated hand-held bar code processing device capable of automatic scan and data display

• US 5,747,785 A
• Filed: 05/30/1995
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Darald R. Schultz, Darrell L. Boatwright, Jerry L. Walter, Phillip Miller
• Original Assignee: Darald R. Schultz, Darrell L. Boatwright, Jerry L. Walter, Phillip Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Phillip, Walter, Jerry L., Schultz, Darald R., Boatwright, Darrell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US08/453,210
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472, 235/454, 235/455, 235/375, 250/227.15
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• 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 1/28 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: 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 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 : wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 : Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• 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

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.

Claims

1. In a data capture system, a portable hand-held data terminal comprising:

(a) a generally planar terminal undersurface, said terminal undersurface positioned to be directed away from a user when the data terminal is being held;

(b) an inclined surface having a display to display information to a user, said inclined surface being inclined relative to said undersurface;

(c) an integrated automatic indicia reader capable of reading optical indicia located externally of the data terminal positioned on an end of the terminal which is distal relative to the user;

(d) a pressure sensitive screen to accept input of data by application of pressure to a given area of said pressure sensitive screen by the user; and

(e) wherein said display is directed generally upwardly and rearwardly toward a user'"'"'s face, so as to be readily visible to the user, when said integrated automatic indicia reader is directed forwardly, and not generally upwardly or downwardly, toward optical indicia to be read.

2. In the data capture system according to claim 1, wherein the portable hand-held data terminal further comprises a battery for supplying power to the portable hand-held data terminal.

3. In the data capture system according to claim 2, wherein said battery is rechargeable and wherein the data capture system further comprises a base unit capable of mating with the portable hand-held data terminal, said base unit including electrical contacts for charging said battery.

4. In the data capture system according to claim 1, wherein the portable hand-held data terminal further comprises an optical communication device for wirelessly communicating with a non-integrated component of the data capture system.

5. In the data capture system according to claim 3, wherein the portable hand-held data terminal further comprises an optical communication device for wirelessly communicating with said base unit.

6. In the data capture system according to claim 1, wherein a base unit optical communication device is provided for wirelessly communicating with the portable hand-held data terminal.

7. In the data capture system according to claim 3, wherein said integrated automatic indicia reader is capable of wireless optical communication with a non-integrated component of the data capture system.

8. In the data capture system according to claim 3, wherein said integrated automatic indicia reader is capable of wireless optical communication with said base unit.

9. In the data capture system according to claim 3, wherein said base unit further comprises a receptacle designed to physically and electrically receive a module containing information to be transferred to the portable hand-held data terminal when the portable hand-held data terminal has been mated with said base unit.

10. In the data capture system according to claim 1, wherein the portable hand-held data terminal further comprises surface mount technology CMOS memory.

11. In the data capture system according to claim 1, wherein said integrated automatic indicia reader is an essentially instantaneous, non-contact laser scanner.

12. In the data capture system according to claim 1, wherein said integrated automatic indicia reader is an essentially instantaneous, non-contact system further comprising a charge coupled device photosensor array.

13. In the data capture system according to claim 1, wherein the portable hand-held data terminal further comprises a membrane keyboard.

14. In the data capture system according to claim 1, wherein the portable hand-held data terminal further comprises an actuator for activating said integrated automatic indicia reader.

15. In the data capture system according to claim 1, wherein said display has dimensions of approximately four inches by six inches.

16. In a data capture system, a portable hand-held data terminal comprising:

(a) a generally planar terminal undersurface, said terminal undersurface positioned to be directed generally downwardly when the data terminal is held;

(b) an inclined surface having a display to display information to a user, said inclined surface being inclined relative to said undersurface;

(c) an integrated automatic indicia reader to read optical indicia located externally of the data terminal;

(d) at least one pressure sensitive key, located on said inclined surface, to send a signal to the data terminal when said key has been activated; and

(e) wherein said inclined surface is directed generally upwardly and rearwardly toward a user'"'"'s face, so that said display is readily visible to the user, when said integrated automatic indicia reader is directed forwardly, and not generally upwardly or downwardly, toward the optical indicia to be read.

17. A data capture system according to claim 16, wherein said integrated automatic indicia reader is positioned on an end of the data terminal which is distal relative to the user.

18. In a data capture system, a portable hand-held data terminal comprising:

(a) a generally planar terminal undersurface, positioned to be directed generally downwardly when the data terminal is held;

(b) an inclined surface having a display to display information, said inclined surface being inclined relative to said undersurface;

(c) an integrated automatic indicia reader to read optical indicia located externally of the data terminal;

(d) at least one pressure sensitive key, located on said inclined surface, to send a signal to the data terminal when said key has been activated;

(c) a support, positioned on said terminal undersurface under at least one said pressure sensitive key, to facilitate user support of the terminal during use; and

(f) wherein said inclined surface is directed generally upwardly and rearwardly so that said display is readily visible when said integrated automatic indicia reader is directed forwardly toward optical indicia to be read.

19. In a data capture system, a portable hand-held data terminal according to claim 18, wherein said support extends downwardly from said undersurface.

20. In a data capture system, a portable hand-held data terminal according to claim 18, wherein said support further comprises an actuator to send a signal to the data terminal when said actuator has been actuated.

21. In a data capture system, a portable hand-held data terminal according to claim 19, wherein said support is a handle providing a pistol-style grip.

22. In a data capture system, a portable hand-held data terminal according to claim 20, wherein actuation of said actuator activates said integrated automatic indicia reader.

23. In a data capture system, a portable hand-held data terminal according to claim 18, wherein said support can receive an auxiliary component.

24. In a data capture system, a portable hand-held data terminal according to claim 23, wherein said auxiliary component is a battery to provide operating power to the data terminal.