Portable work station type-data collection system having an improved handgrip and an optical reader to be directed thereby

• US 5,805,474 A
• Filed: 02/16/1995
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Danielson, Arvin D., Schultz, Darald R., Boatwright, Darrell L., Austin, Rickey G., Alt, Daniel E., Silva, Dennis, Friend, Steve Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): Malzahn, David H
• Application Number:
  US08/389,830
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 361/683
• US Class Current: 361/679.56
• 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 1/28 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 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4418 Suspend and resume; Hibernate and awake
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions 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: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 : comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0279 : Improving the user comfort or ergonomics
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A portable data collection terminal system has a housing having a display screen with coincident graphic data input and a keyboard on the frontal side thereof. An accessory pod, having a width less than the width of the display screen and a handgrip extension adapted to hold a selected accessory device, such as a laser scanner, is disposed on the housing, opposite said frontal side. The accessory pod has one or two activation, diaphragm-type switches disposed in a pod wall disposed transversely to the handgrip extension and extending outwardly from, opposite the frontal side, the housing. The switch or switches are connected in parallel, if more than one, and are disposed near an end of the pod wall such that they are operable by either a user'"'"'s thumb or finger.

Claims

1. A portable data collection terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, in a frontal side thereof, a display screen with a screen area having a boundary area thereabout with an overall width, said display screen including graphic data input means disposed within said screen area;

(b) an accessory pod, connected to said housing;

(c) an accessory device of said system associated with said accessory pod,

(d) a handgrip extension mechanism having a width dimensioned substantially less than the overall width of said boundary area and disposed on said housing, opposite said frontal side, such that said screen is shielded from accidental contact by a user when holding said handgrip extension mechanism;

(e) a handstrap secured to said terminal system so as to, cooperatively with the handgrip extension mechanism, facilitate holding said terminal system;

(f) at least one activation switch adapted to activate said accessory device, and arranged for actuation by the hand gripping said handgrip extension mechanism; and

(g) wherein said accessory device is an automatic optical reader which is arranged so as to be directed toward indicia to be read by means of the hand gripping said handgrip extension mechanism.

2. The portable data collection terminal system according to claim 1, wherein said automatic optical reader is a laser scanner.

3. A data collection terminal system according to claim 1, wherein said accessory pod has a concave surface.

4. A portable data collection terminal according to claim 3, wherein said handstrap does not interfere with the stability of the portable data collection terminal system when placed upon a generally planar surface.

5. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 3, wherein said accessory pod has a gripping surface for at least one fingertip of a user when the portable data collection terminal system is held in one hand of the user.

6. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 5, wherein said gripping surface comprises oppositely disposed members.

7. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 6, further comprising an actuation switch disposed on at least one of said oppositely disposed members.

8. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 6, further comprising two actuation switches, each of said two actuation switches being disposed on one of said oppositely disposed members, respectively.

9. A portable data collection system according to claim 8, wherein said two actuation switches are connected in parallel.

10. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 6, wherein said oppositely disposed members provide a hand-grip of the portable data collection terminal system for operation in one hand of a user wherein the user may grip one of said oppositely disposed members with a fingertip of said one hand and grip the other of said oppositely disposed members with the palm of said one hand.

11. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 10, wherein said one hand of a user may be either hand of the user.

12. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 6, wherein said oppositely disposed members provide a hand-grip of the portable data collection terminal system for operation in one hand of a user wherein the user may grip one of said oppositely disposed members with a fingertip of said one hand and grip a portion of said frontal surface with the palm of said one hand.

13. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 12, wherein the one hand of a user may be either hand of the user.

14. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 6, wherein said oppositely disposed members are capable of stably supporting the portable data collection terminal system upon a generally planar surface.

15. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 6, wherein said oppositely dispose members are capable of securely supporting the portable data collection terminal system upon a generally planar surface, said oppositely disposed members having a slope with respect to said housing such that said display is tilted toward a user with respect to the generally planar surface.

16. A portable data collection terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having a frontal side with lateral boundary margins, and having a digitizer display screen at said frontal side; and

said housing having an underside with underside lateral margin portions;

(b) a laser scanner for reading indicia;

(c) said housing having, at the underside thereof, a handgrip portion by which said laser scanner is manually directed toward indicia to be read;

(d) said handgrip portion providing a handgrip extending longitudinally at the underside of the housing, and having a longitudinally elongated handgrip bottom and longitudinally elongated handgrip side walls, the handgrip side walls serving to offset the handgrip bottom by a substantial distance from the underside lateral margin portions of the housing; and

the underside lateral margin portions of the housing extending laterally beyond the handgrip side walls at both sides of the handgrip to further offset the handgrip bottom from the frontal side of the housing;

(e) a handstrap secured to the terminal system so as to, cooperatively with the handgrip portion, facilitate holding said terminal system; and

(f) at least one activation switch accessible by the hand of the user holding said handgrip for activating said laser scanner.

17. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 16, wherein said digitizer display screen has graphic data input means for capturing signatures.

18. The portable data collection terminal charge of claim 16, wherein said terminal system has a tactile keyboard with at least ten keys in addition to said digitizer display screen.

19. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 16, wherein said digitizer display screen comprises graphic data input means disposed generally coincident with the display screen area.

20. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 16, wherein said at least one activation switch comprises two activation switches arranged symmetrically at respective sides of the terminal system.

21. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 16, wherein said at least one activation switch comprises two activation switches, one of which is disposed such that it is operable by one of either a user'"'"'s thumb or finger and the other of which is disposed such that it is operable by the other of a user'"'"'s finger or thumb.

22. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 21, wherein said two activation switches are connected in parallel.

23. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 16, wherein said laser scanner comprises a scanner window serving as an exit window for a cyclically deflected laser scan beam, and which scanner window is to be directed toward indicia to be read by means of the user'"'"'s hand which holds the terminal system by means of said handgrip.

24. A portable data collection terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, at a frontal side thereof with a given maximum width, a frontal portion with a digitizer display screen having a boundary area thereabout defining an overall width;

(b) a handgrip portion having a width dimensioned substantially less than the overall width of the boundary area, and disposed on the housing opposite the frontal side;

(c) a hand strap disposed adjacent to the handgrip portion, for securing a user'"'"'s grip on the handgrip portion, such that the user is assisted in holding the housing; and

(d) the housing having an automatic indicia reader with an optical window oriented laterally of the housing, so as to be directed away from the user when the housing is in a lateral disposition, the automatic indicia reader providing a cyclically deflected laser beam directed through the optical window for effecting reading of indicia spaced from the housing.

25. A portable terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, at a frontal side thereof, a frontal portion having a digitizer display screen of overall length and width occupying a preponderance of the length and width of the frontal side with a boundary area thereabout having an overall width; and

(b) a handgrip extension mechanism having a width dimensioned substantially less than the overall width of the boundary area and disposed on the housing, opposite the digitizer display screen disposed on the frontal side, and of configuration for comfortable gripping by a hand of a user.

26. The portable terminal system of claim 25, further comprising:

(c) an automatic indicia reader attached to the housing, including an optical window of configuration to accommodate automatic reading of indicia while the user directs the reader by means of the handgrip extension portion toward such indicia.

27. The portable terminal system of claim 25, further comprising:

(c) a hand strap disposed adjacent to the handgrip extension portion, for securing a user'"'"'s grip on the handgrip portion, such that the user'"'"'s grip may be relaxed without losing support of the housing.

28. A portable computer tablet system comprising:

(a) a housing having, at a frontal side thereof, a tablet configuration comprising a digitizer display screen having a boundary area thereabout with an overall width, the digitizer display screen accepting contact type input as a form of data entry; and

(b) a handgrip extension mechanism having a width dimensioned substantially less than the overall width of the boundary area and disposed on the housing, opposite the frontal side, such that the digitizer display screen is comfortably supported by a user'"'"'s hand gripping the handgrip extension mechanism during data entry by a user with the user'"'"'s other hand.

29. The portable computer tablet system of claim 28, further comprising:

(c) an automatic indicia reader secured to the housing adjacent the tablet configuration, and including an optical window for effecting reading of indicia spaced from the housing.

30. The portable computer tablet system of claim 28, further comprising:

(c) a hand strap disposed adjacent to the handgrip extension portion, for securing a user'"'"'s grip on the handgrip portion, such that the user'"'"'s grip may be relaxed without losing support of the housing.

31. The portable computer tablet system of claim 28, wherein the digitizer display screen has an active area with a width of at least eighty millimeters, and the tablet configuration has a width substantially greater than the width of the active area and extends beyond the lateral confines of the handgrip extension portion at each side of the tablet configuration.

32. The portable computer tablet system of claim 28, wherein the frontal side further includes a keyboard generally in the same plane as the digitizer display screen, the keyboard accepting keystroke input as a further form of data entry.

33. The portable computer tablet system of claim 32, wherein the keyboard comprises at least ten keys, generally in the same plane as the digitizer display screen.

34. In a portable computer tablet system, characterized by a digitizer display screen accepting contact type input as a means of data entry, means for effectively supporting the tablet system comprising:

(a) a housing for holding the digitizer display screen in a frontal portion located at a frontal side of the housing with a boundary area thereabout having an overall width; and

(b) a handgrip extension mechanism having a width dimensioned substantially less than the overall width of the boundary area and disposed on the housing, directly opposite the frontal portion, such that the digitizer display screen is comfortably supported by a user'"'"'s hand gripping the handgrip extension mechanism during data entry by the user at the digitizer display screen.

35. The portable computer tablet system supporting means of claim 34, further comprising:

(c) a hand strap disposed adjacent to the handgrip extension portion, for securing a user'"'"'s grip on the handgrip portion, such that the user'"'"'s grip may be relaxed without losing support of the housing.

36. A portable data collection terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, at a generally planar frontal side thereof, a display screen including a boundary area thereabout having an overall maximum width and data input lying generally parallel to the general plane of the frontal side during use of the terminal system; and

(b) an elongated handgrip portion having a width dimensioned substantially less than the overall maximum width of the display screen including the boundary area and disposed longitudinally along the housing opposite the frontal side, so as to enable a user to provide longitudinally extensive support directly underlying the frontal side.

37. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 36 wherein the display screen and data input present a tablet configuration capable of presenting at least twenty-six key-representing regions.

38. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 36, wherein the display screen is parallel to the general plane of the frontal side during use of the terminal system and occupies a preponderance of the maximum width of the frontal side of the housing.

39. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 36, wherein the display screen is parallel to the general plane of the frontal side during use of the terminal system, and is of elongate configuration, such that the overall size of the display screen is greater in a longitudinal direction parallel to the elongated handgrip portion than in the transverse direction.

40. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 36, wherein the display screen is parallel to the general plane of the frontal side during use of the terminal system, and the display screen is longitudinally elongated parallel to the elongated handgrip portion, with the longitudinal extent of the display screen overall occupying a preponderance of the frontal side of the housing.

41. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 36, wherein the display screen is parallel to the general plane of the frontal side during use of the terminal system, and comprises at least 9600 square millimeters of active area.

42. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 36, wherein the display screen is parallel to the general plane of the frontal side during use of the terminal system, and comprises a bit-mapped matrix of individually addressable elements.

43. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 36, wherein the display screen is parallel to the general plane of the frontal side during use of the terminal system, and comprises an array of elements having gray scale values individually assignable thereto.

44. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 36, wherein the handgrip portion is shaped so as to readily conform to both a right hand and a left hand of a user.

45. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 36, wherein the display screen is parallel to the general plane of the frontal side during use and is immovably fixed relative to the housing.

46. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 45, wherein backlighting is provided for the display screen.

47. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 46, wherein selective disablement of backlighting for the display screen may be effected in response to certain power considerations.

48. A portable data collection terminal system comprising:

(a) a frontal housing shell having, at a frontal side thereof, a display including a boundary area thereabout having an overall maximum width and data input lying generally parallel to the frontal side during use; and

(b) a rear handgrip shell having a handgrip portion with a width dimensioned less than the overall maximum width of the display including the boundary area, the rear handgrip shell being disposed adjacent the frontal housing shell and directly underlying the display and data input during use.

49. The portable computer terminal system of claim 48, wherein the display has a touch sensitive overlay to accept contact type data input, said handgrip portion directly underlying a longitudinally extensive portion of the touch sensitive overlay.

50. The portable computer terminal system of claim 49, wherein the size of the touch sensitive overlay corresponds to the size of an active display portion of the display.

51. The portable computer terminal system of claim 48, wherein the display comprises a digitizer display screen lying substantially parallel to the frontal side during use of the terminal system, and configurable as an alphanumeric keyboard.

52. The portable computer terminal system of claim 51, wherein the digitizer display screen alternates between displaying the alphanumeric keyboard and displaying feedback on what has been entered by a user.

53. The portable computer terminal system of claim 52, wherein touch sensitive functions of the digitizer display screen are deactivated when the digitizer display screen is only displaying feedback on what has been entered by a user.

54. The portable computer terminal system of claim 48, wherein the display comprises a digitizer display screen lying substantially parallel to the frontal side during use of the terminal system, and operable to receive handwritten signatures input to the digitizer display screen.

55. The portable computer terminal system of claim 48, wherein the display comprises a digitizer display screen lying substantially parallel to the frontal side during use of the terminal system, and operable to recognize handwritten characters input to the digitizer display screen.

56. The portable computer terminal system of claim 55, wherein the digitizer display screen immediately displays feedback as to whether a handwritten character input has been recognized.

57. The portable computer terminal system of claim 56, wherein the digitizer display screen accommodates a graphic correction with respect to a character displayed if the character is incorrect.

58. The portable computer terminal of claim 48, wherein the display has an active area comprising a digitizer display screen, and outside borders outside the active area which extend beyond the lateral confines of the handgrip portion, and has printed indicators proximate the outside borders of the display.

59. A portable data terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, at a generally planar frontal side thereof, a display screen with an active screen area having lateral boundary portions thereabout, and a keyboard with at least ten projecting keys, the display screen including manually operated data input means disposed generally coincident with the active screen area and lying in a plane generally parallel to the general plane of the frontal side during use of the terminal system; and

(b) an elongated handgrip extension mechanism having a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to the general plane of the frontal side and forming a handgrip underlying only a limited central longitudinal portion of the frontal side such that said handgrip is disposed within the confines of the lateral boundary portions of the frontal side, with undersides of the lateral boundary portions forming an overhanging ledge between the handgrip and the frontal side of the housing, while the width of the handgrip accommodates comfortable gripping by a hand of a user regardless of the greater width of the frontal side and provides for user support of the manual data input means from the underside thereof during manual operation of the manual data input means by the other hand of the user.

60. A portable data terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, at a generally planar frontal side thereof, a display screen with an active screen area having lateral boundary portions thereabout, the display screen including manually operated data input means disposed generally coincident with the active screen area and lying in a plane generally parallel to the general plane of the frontal side during use of the terminal system;

(b) an elongated handgrip extension mechanism having a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to the general plane of the frontal side and forming a handgrip underlying only a central longitudinal portion of the frontal side of limited width such that said handgrip is disposed within the confines of the lateral boundary portions of the frontal side, with undersides of the lateral boundary portions forming an overhanging ledge-like barrier directly between the handgrip and the manually operated data input means while the width of the handgrip accommodates comfortable gripping by a hand of a user regardless of the greater width of the frontal side; and

(c) a handstrap secured to said terminal system so as to, cooperatively with said handgrip extension mechanism, facilitate holding said terminal system.

61. The portable data terminal system of claim 60, wherein the display screen including the manually operated data input means comprises a digitizer display system with an active area having a width greater than at least eighty millimeters disposed between the lateral boundary portions, and having a length in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handgrip extension portion of at least one hundred and twenty millimeters.

62. The portable data terminal system of claim 60, the housing having an automatic indicia reading device mounted therewith so as to be directed toward indicia to be read by means of the hand gripping the handgrip.

63. The portable data terminal system of claim 62, the housing further having at least one reader activation switch disposed for actuation by the hand of the user gripping the handgrip.

64. The portable data terminal system of claim 62, the housing further having reader activation switches disposed on respective opposite sides of the handgrip extension portion.

65. The portable data terminal system of claim 64, the handgrip being of configuration for comfortable gripping by the right or left hand of the user, either of which may actuate one of the reader activation switches.

66. The portable data terminal system of claim 60, the housing having an automatic indicia reading device mounted therewith so as to be directed toward indicia to be read by means of the hand gripping the handgrip, and the automatic indicia reading device providing a cyclically deflected laser beam for automatically effecting reading of automatic indicia.

67. The portable data terminal system of claim 60, wherein the display screen including the manually operated data input means comprises a digitizer display system with an active area having a width greater than at least eighty millimeters disposed between the lateral boundary portions, and having a length in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handgrip extension portion of at least one hundred and twenty millimeters, and the housing has an automatic indicia reading device mounted therewith so as to be directed toward indicia to be read by means of the hand gripping the handgrip.

68. The portable data terminal system of claim 67, the housing further having at least one reader activation switch disposed for actuation by the hand of the user gripping the handgrip.

69. The portable data terminal system of claim 67, the housing further having reader activation switches disposed on respective opposite sides of the handgrip extension portion.

70. The portable data terminal system of claim 69, the handgrip being of configuration for comfortable gripping by the right or left hand of the user, either of which may actuate one of the reader activation switches.

71. The portable data terminal system of claim 60, wherein the display screen including the manually operated data input means comprises a digitizer display system with an active area having a width greater than at least eighty millimeters disposed between the lateral boundary portions, and having a length in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handgrip extension portion of at least one hundred and twenty millimeters, and the housing has an automatic indicia reading device mounted therewith so as to be directed toward indicia to be read by means of the hand gripping the handgrip, with the automatic indicia reading device providing a cyclically deflected laser beam for automatically effecting reading of automatic indicia.

72. The portable data terminal system of claim 60, the active display screen occupying a preponderance of the width of the frontal side of the housing, and occupying a preponderance of the length of the frontal side of the housing, the housing having an automatic indicia reading device mounted therewith so as to be directed toward indicia to be read by means of the hand gripping the handgrip.

73. The portable data terminal system of claim 72, the housing further having at least one reader activation switch disposed for actuation by the hand of the user gripping the handgrip.

74. The portable data terminal system of claim 72, the housing further having reader activation switches disposed on respective opposite sides of the handgrip extension portion.

75. The portable data terminal system of claim 74, the handgrip being of configuration for comfortable gripping by the right or left hand of the user, either of which may actuate one of the reader activation switches.

76. The portable data terminal system of claim 60, the active display screen occupying a preponderance of the width of the frontal side of the housing, and occupying a preponderance of the length of the frontal side of the housing, the housing having an automatic indicia reading device mounted therewith so as to be directed toward indicia to be read by means of the hand gripping the handgrip, and the automatic indicia reading device providing a cyclically deflected laser beam for automatically effecting reading of automatic indicia.

77. The portable data terminal system of claim 60, the active screen area being longitudinally elongated with a longitudinal screen axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handgrip extension portion, the housing having an automatic indicia reading device mounted therewith so as to be directed toward indicia to be read by means of the hand gripping the handgrip.

78. The portable data terminal system of claim 77, the housing further having at least one reader activation switch disposed for actuation by the hand of the user gripping the handgrip.

79. The portable data terminal system of claim 77, the housing further having reader activation switches disposed on respective opposite sides of the handgrip extension portion.

80. The portable data terminal system of claim 79, the handgrip being of configuration for comfortable gripping by the right or left hand of the user, either of which may actuate one of the reader activation switches.

81. The portable data terminal system of claim 60, the active screen area being longitudinally elongated with a longitudinal screen axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handgrip extension portion, the housing having an automatic indicia reading device mounted therewith so as to be directed toward indicia to be read by means of the hand gripping the handgrip, and the automatic indicia reading device providing a cyclically deflected laser beam for automatically effecting reading of automatic indicia.

82. A portable data collection terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, in a frontal side thereof, a frontal portion having a display screen having a boundary area thereabout;

(b) an accessory pod connected to said housing;

(c) an accessory device of said system associated with said accessory pod;

(d) a handgrip extension mechanism having a width dimensioned less than a width of said boundary area and disposed on said housing, opposite said frontal side, such that said display screen is shielded from accidental contact by a user when holding said handgrip extension mechanism;

(e) a handstrap secured to said terminal system so as to cooperatively, with the handgrip extension mechanism, facilitate holding said terminal system; and

(f) at least one activation switch adapted to activate said accessory device and arranged for actuation by the user'"'"'s hand gripping said handgrip extension mechanism.

83. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 82, wherein said accessory device is an automatic optical reader which is arranged so as to be directed toward indicia to be read by means of the user'"'"'s hand gripping said handgrip extension mechanism.

84. The portable data collection terminal system according to claim 83, wherein said automatic optical reader is a laser scanner.

85. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 82, wherein said accessory pod has a concave surface.

86. A portable data collection terminal according to claim 85, wherein said concave surface accommodates said handstrap such that said handstrap does not interfere with the stability of the portable data collection terminal system when placed upon a generally planar surface.

87. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 85, wherein said concave surface provides a gripping surface for at least one fingertip of a user when the portable data collection terminal system is held in one hand of the user.

88. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 87, wherein said gripping surface comprises oppositely disposed members.

89. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 88, further comprising an actuation switch disposed on at least one of said oppositely disposed members.

90. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 88, further comprising two actuation switches, each of said two actuation switches being disposed on one of said oppositely disposed members, respectively.

91. A portable data collection system according to claim 90, wherein said two actuation switches are connected in parallel.

92. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 85, wherein said oppositely disposed members provide a hand-grip of the portable data collection terminal system for operation in one hand of a user wherein the user may grip one of said oppositely disposed members with a fingertip of said one hand and grip the other of said oppositely disposed members with the palm of said one hand.

93. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 92, wherein said one hand of a user may be either hand of the user.

94. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 88, wherein said oppositely disposed members provide a hand-grip of the portable data collection terminal system for operation in one hand of a user wherein the user may grip one of said oppositely disposed members with a fingertip of said one hand and grip a portion of said frontal surface with the palm of said one hand.

95. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 94, wherein said one hand of a user may be either hand of the user.

96. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 88, wherein said oppositely disposed members are capable of stably supporting the portable data collection terminal system upon a generally planar surface.

97. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 88, wherein said oppositely dispose members are capable of stably supporting the portable data collection terminal system upon a generally planar surface, said oppositely disposed members having a slope with respect to said housing such that said display is tilted toward a user with respect to the generally planar surface.

98. A portable data collection terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having a frontal side with lateral boundary margins and having a display screen at said frontal side;

said housing having an underside with underside lateral margin portions;

(b) an automatic information reader for reading information;

(c) said housing having, at the underside thereof, a handgrip portion by which said information reader is manually directed toward an information source to be read;

(d) said handgrip portion providing a handgrip extending longitudinally at said underside of said housing and having a longitudinally elongated handgrip bottom and longitudinally elongated handgrip side walls, said handgrip side walls serving to offset said handgrip bottom by a substantial distance from said underside lateral margin portions of said housing;

said underside lateral margin portions of said housing extending laterally beyond said handgrip side walls at both sides of said handgrip portion to further offset said handgrip bottom from said frontal side of said housing;

(e) at least one activation switch accessible by the user'"'"'s hand holding said handgrip for activating the automatic operation of said information reader; and

(f) a handstrap secured to said terminal system so as to cooperatively with the handgrip, facilitate maintaining the directing of said terminal system while operating said at least one activation switch.

99. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 98, wherein said display screen has a graphic data input arrangement for capturing signatures.

100. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 98, wherein said terminal system has a tactile keyboard with at least ten keys separate from said display screen.

101. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 98, wherein said display screen comprises a graphic data input arrangement disposed generally coincident with said display screen.

102. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 98, wherein said at least one activation switch comprises two activation switches arranged symmetrically at respective sides of said terminal system.

103. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 98, wherein said at least one activation switch comprises two activation switches, one of which is disposed to be operable by one of either a user'"'"'s thumb or finger and the other of which is disposed to be operable by the other of the user'"'"'s finger or thumb.

104. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 103, wherein said two activation switches are arranged to operate in parallel.

105. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 98, wherein said automatic information reader has a scanner window serving as an exit window for a cyclically deflected laser scan beam, said scanner window being directable toward an information source to be read by means of the user'"'"'s hand holding said terminal system by means of said handgrip.

106. A portable data collection terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, at a frontal side thereof with a given maximum width, a frontal portion with a display screen including a boundary area thereabout;

(b) a handgrip portion having a width dimensioned substantially less than said maximum width of said frontal portion including said boundary area and disposed on said housing opposite said frontal side;

(c) a hand strap disposed adjacent to said handgrip portion for securing a user'"'"'s grip on said handgrip portion such that the user is assisted in holding said housing; and

(d) said housing having an automatic information reader with an exit axis oriented laterally of said housing so as to be directed away from the user as said housing assumes a lateral disposition.

107. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 106, wherein said automatic information reader provides a cyclically deflected laser beam directed generally along said exit axis for effecting reading of indicia spaced from said housing.

108. A portable terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, at a frontal side thereof, a frontal portion having a display screen of width occupying a preponderance of the width of said frontal portion and having a boundary area thereabout defining an overall width; and

(b) a handgrip extension mechanism having a width dimensioned substantially less than said overall width of said boundary area and disposed on said housing, opposite a portion of said display screen, and of configuration for comfortable gripping by a hand of a user.

109. The portable terminal system of claim 108, further comprising an automatic information reader attached to said housing and of construction to accommodate automatic reading of information as the user directs said reader by means of said handgrip extension portion toward an information source.

110. The portable terminal system of claim 108, further comprising a hand strap disposed adjacent to said handgrip extension portion for securing a user'"'"'s grip on said handgrip portion such that the user'"'"'s grip may be relaxed without losing support of said housing.

111. A portable data terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, at a generally planar frontal side thereof, a display screen with an active screen area having lateral boundary portions thereabout, and manually operated data input means lying in a plane generally parallel to the general plane of said frontal side during use of said terminal system; and

(b) an elongated handgrip extension mechanism having a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to the general plane of said frontal side and forming a handgrip underlying only a central longitudinal portion of said frontal side of limited width such that said handgrip is disposed within the confines of the lateral boundary portions of said frontal side, with undersides of said lateral boundary portions forming an overhanging ledge-like barrier directly between said handgrip and said manually operated data input means while the width of said handgrip accommodates comfortable gripping by a hand of a user regardless of the greater width of said frontal side.

112. A portable data collection terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, in a frontal side thereof, a frontal portion having a display screen with a screen area and a boundary area thereabout, said display screen including graphic data input means disposed generally within said screen area;

(b) an accessory pod structured to hold an accessory device of said system and connected to said housing;

(c) a handgrip extension mechanism having a width dimensioned less than a width of said boundary area and disposed on said housing, opposite said frontal side, such that said screen is shielded from accidental contact by a user when holding said handgrip extension mechanism; and

(d) a handstrap secured to said terminal system so as to, cooperatively with said handgrip extension mechanism, operatively facilitate holding of said terminal system.

113. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said graphic data input means is disposed generally coincident with said screen area.

114. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 113, wherein said graphic data input means includes a touch sensitive overlay to accept contact-type data input.

115. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 113, wherein said display screen comprises a digitizer display screen operable to receive handwritten signatures input to said digitizer display screen.

116. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 113, wherein said display screen comprises a digitizer display screen operable to recognize handwritten characters input to said digitizer display screen.

117. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 116, wherein said digitizer display screen accommodates a graphic correction with respect to a displayed character if said character is incorrect.

118. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said display screen comprises a digitizer display screen.

119. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 118, wherein said digitizer display screen is configured to accept contact-type input as a form of data entry.

120. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 118, wherein said digitizer display screen has an active area with a width of at least eighty millimeters.

121. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 118, wherein said frontal side further includes a keyboard generally in the same plane as said digitizer display screen, said keyboard accepting keystroke input as a further form of data entry.

122. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 121, wherein said keyboard comprises at least ten keys, generally in the same plane as said digitizer display screen.

123. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 118, wherein said digitizer display screen is configured as a tablet configuration.

124. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 118, wherein said digitizer display screen and data input means are configured to provide at least twenty-six key-representing regions.

125. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 118, wherein said digitizer display screen occupies a preponderance of the maximum width of said frontal side of said housing.

126. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 118, wherein said terminal system has a tactile keyboard with at least ten keys in addition to said digitizer display screen.

127. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said display screen comprises a digitizer display screen configurable as an alphanumeric keyboard.

128. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 127, wherein said digitizer display screen alternates between displaying said alphanumeric keyboard and displaying feedback of input entered by a user.

129. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 128, wherein touch sensitive functions of said digitizer display screen are deactivated as said digitizer display screen is displaying feedback of input entered by the user.

130. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said active display screen occupies a preponderance of the width of said frontal side of said housing.

131. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said active display screen occupies a preponderance of the length of said frontal side of said housing.

132. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said active screen area is longitudinally elongated with a longitudinal screen axis being parallel to a longitudinal axis of said handgrip extension mechanism.

133. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said display screen is parallel to the general plane of said frontal side and said display screen is longitudinally elongated parallel to said handgrip extension mechanism such that the longitudinal extent of said display screen overall occupies a preponderance of said frontal side of said housing.

134. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said display screen is parallel to the general plane of said frontal side and said screen area comprises at least 9600 square millimeters of active area.

135. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said display screen is parallel to the general plane of said frontal side and comprises a bit-mapped matrix of individually addressable elements.

136. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said display screen is parallel to the general plane of said frontal side and comprises an array of elements having gray scale values individually assignable thereto.

137. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said display screen is parallel to the general plane of said frontal side and is immovably fixed relative to said housing.

138. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein backlighting is provided for said display screen.

139. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 138, wherein selective disablement of backlighting for said display screen may be effected in response to certain power considerations.

140. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said display screen is parallel to the general plane of said frontal side and is of elongate configuration such that the overall size of said display screen is greater in a longitudinal direction parallel to said handgrip extension mechanism than in a direction transverse thereto.

141. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said housing includes at least one activation switch configured to activate said accessory device, said at least one activation switch disposed for actuation by the hand of the user gripping said handgrip extension mechanism.

142. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 141, wherein said at least one activation switch comprises two activation switches arranged near opposite sides of said handgrip extension mechanism.

143. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 142, wherein said handgrip extension mechanism is configured to provide comfortable gripping by either the right or left hand of the user, either of which hands may actuate one of said two activation switches.

144. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 143, wherein said two activation switches are connected in parallel.

145. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 141, wherein said at least one activation switch comprises two activation switches, one of which is disposed to be operable by one of either a user'"'"'s thumb or finger and the other of which is disposed to be operable by the other of a user'"'"'s finger or thumb.

146. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said accessory device comprises a laser scanner configured to operatively read indicia.

147. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 146, wherein said laser scanner comprises a scanner window serving as an exit window for a cyclically deflected laser scan beam, said scanner window being directable toward the indicia to be read by means of the user'"'"'s hand which holds the terminal system by means of said handgrip extension mechanism.

148. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said accessory device comprises an automatic indicia reader having an optical window oriented laterally of said housing such that said reader is directed away from the user as said housing assumes a lateral disposition, said reader providing a cyclically deflected laser beam directed through said optical window for effecting reading of indicia spaced from said housing.

149. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 112, wherein said handgrip extension mechanism comprises a rear handgrip shell having a width dimensioned less than a maximum width of said frontal side, the rear handgrip shell being disposed directly underlying said display screen and said graphic data input means during use thereof.

150. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 112, wherein said accessory pod has a concave surface.

151. A portable data collection terminal according to claim 150, wherein said concave surface accommodates said handstrap such that said handstrap does not interfere with the stability of the portable data collection terminal system when placed upon a generally planar surface.

152. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 150, wherein said concave surface provides a gripping surface for at least one fingertip of a user when the portable data collection terminal system is held in one hand of the user.

153. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 152, wherein said gripping surface comprises oppositely disposed members.

154. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 153, further comprising an actuation switch disposed on at least one of said oppositely disposed members.

155. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 153, further comprising two actuation switches, each of said two actuation switches being disposed on one of said oppositely disposed members, respectively.

156. A portable data collection system according to claim 155, wherein said two actuation switches are connected in parallel.

157. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 153, wherein said oppositely disposed members provide a hand-grip of the portable data collection terminal system for operation in one hand of a user wherein the user may grip one of said oppositely disposed members with a fingertip of said one hand and grip the other of said oppositely disposed members with the palm of said one hand.

158. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 157, wherein said one hand of a user may be either hand of the user.

159. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 153, wherein said oppositely disposed members provide a hand-grip of the portable data collection terminal system for operation in one hand of a user wherein the user may grip one of said oppositely disposed members with a fingertip of said one hand and grip a portion of said frontal surface with the palm of said one hand.

160. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 159, wherein said one hand of a user may be either hand of the user.

161. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 153, wherein said oppositely disposed members are capable of stably supporting the portable data collection terminal system upon a generally planar surface.

162. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 153, wherein said oppositely dispose members are capable of stably supporting the portable data collection terminal system upon a generally planar surface, said oppositely disposed members having a slope with respect to said housing such that said display is tilted toward a user with respect to the generally planar surface.

182. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 126, wherein said oppositely disposed members provide a hand-grip of the portable data collection terminal system for operation in one hand of a user wherein the user may grip one of said oppositely disposed members with a fingertip of said one hand and grip a portion of said frontal surface with the palm of said one hand.

183. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 182, wherein said one hand of a user may be either hand of the user.

163. A portable data collection terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, at a frontal side thereof, a frontal portion having a display screen with a boundary area thereabout and data input means;

(b) an accessory pod structured to hold an accessory device and connected to said housing,

(c) a handgrip extension mechanism having a width dimensioned less than a width of said boundary area and disposed on said housing, opposite said frontal side, such that said display screen and said data input means are shielded from accidental contact by a user when holding said handgrip extension mechanism; and

(d) a handstrap secured to said terminal system so as to, cooperatively with said handgrip extension mechanism, facilitate holding of said terminal system.

164. The portable data collection terminal system according to claim 163, including at least one activation switch adapted to activate said accessory device.

165. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 164, wherein said at least one activation switch comprises two activation switches, one of which is disposed near one side of said handgrip extension mechanism to be operable by one of either a user'"'"'s thumb or finger and the other of which is disposed near the other side of said handgrip extension mechanism to be operable by the other of a user'"'"'s finger or thumb.

166. The portable date collection terminal system of claim 165, wherein said two activation switches are operable in parallel.

167. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 163, wherein said data input means comprises graphic data input means disposed coincident with said display screen.

168. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 163, wherein said data input means comprises a keyboard.

169. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 163, wherein said data input means comprises both a keyboard and graphic data input means disposed coincident with said display screen.

170. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 163, wherein said pod has an extension wall disposed transversely to said handgrip extension mechanism and has at least one activation switch adapted to activate said accessory device.

171. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 170, wherein said at least one activation switch comprises a diaphragm-type switch.

172. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 163, wherein said accessory device comprises a laser scanner.

173. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 163, wherein said accessory pod has a concave surface.

174. A portable data collection terminal according to claim 173, wherein said concave surface accommodates said handstrap such that said handstrap does not interfere with the stability of the portable data collection terminal system when placed upon a generally planar surface.

175. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 173, wherein said concave surface provides a gripping surface for at least one fingertip of a user when the portable data collection terminal system is held in one hand of the user.

176. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 175, wherein said gripping surface comprises oppositely disposed members.

177. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 176, further comprising an actuation switch disposed on at least one of said oppositely disposed members.

178. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 176, further comprising two actuation switches, each of said two actuation switches being disposed on one of said oppositely disposed members, respectively.

179. A portable data collection system according to claim 174, wherein said two actuation switches are connected in parallel.

180. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 176, wherein said oppositely disposed members provide a hand-grip of the portable data collection terminal system for operation in one hand of a user wherein the user may grip one of said oppositely disposed members with a fingertip of said one hand and grip the other of said oppositely disposed members with the palm of said one hand.

181. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 180, wherein said one hand of a user may be either hand of the user.

184. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 176, wherein said oppositely disposed members are capable of securely supporting the portable data collection terminal system upon a generally planar surface.

185. A portable data collection terminal system according to claim 176, wherein said oppositely dispose members are capable of securely supporting the portable data collection terminal system upon a generally planar surface, said oppositely disposed members having a slope with respect to said housing such that said display is tilted toward a user with respect to the generally planar surface.

186. A portable data collection terminal system comprising:

(a) a housing having, at a frontal side thereof with a given maximum width, a frontal portion with a display screen having a boundary area thereabout defining an overall width;

(b) a handgrip portion having a width dimensioned substantially less than said overall width defined by said boundary area and disposed on said housing opposite said frontal side;

(c) a hand strap disposed adjacent to said handgrip portion for securing a user'"'"'s grip on said handgrip portion such that the user is assisted in holding said housing; and

(d) said housing having an automatic optical reader with an optical window oriented laterally of said housing so as to be directed away from the user as said housing assumes a lateral disposition.

187. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 186, wherein said optical window is configured to accommodate automatic reading of indicia as the user directs said reader by means of said handgrip portion toward such indicia.

188. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 186, wherein said hand strap is configured to operably support said housing even as the user'"'"'s gripping of said handgrip portion is relaxed.