Code reading terminal with integrated vehicular head-up display capability

• US 5,878,395 A
• Filed: 12/06/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZINTEL, HAROLD ALBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/761,408
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 704/272, 704/275
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0272 for a projector or beamer module assembly constructional features of projectors per se G03B21/00; constructional details of projectors using electronic spatial light modulators per se H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A portable computer terminal is disclosed which may operate in a hand-held mode and while docked within a vehicle. The terminal interacts with an illumination means therein which can be used for bar code reading and, while docked, for providing illumination for a head up display on the vehicle'"'"'s windshield. Textual messages undergo text to voice conversion as well as head up display. Moreover, to provide full hands-off operation, voice recognition of predefined sets of commands is incorporated within the terminal. In another embodiment, the illumination means is placed in a housing separate from the terminal. A wireless link between the illumination means and the terminal provide for communicating text and graphics for head up display.

Claims

1. A terminal sized for hand-held, portable operation and for insertion into a docking fixture located within a vehicle, said terminal comprising:

a housing;

a screen that displays textual information disposed on said housing;

means for accepting manual input disposed on said housing;

an illuminator assembly, disposed within said housing, which selectively operates to facilitate code reading when removed from a docking fixture; and

said illuminator assembly, when inserted into the docking fixture, operates to provide head up viewing.

2. The terminal of claim 1 wherein said illuminator assembly comprises a scanning laser light source.

3. The terminal of claim 1 which further comprises text to voice conversion circuitry.

4. The terminal of claim 1 wherein said terminal communicates textual information via said screen and, when inserted within the docking fixture, via said illuminator assembly.

5. The terminal of claim 3 wherein said terminal communicates textual information via said screen, said text to voice conversion circuitry, and, when inserted within the docking fixture, via said illuminator assembly.

6. The terminal of claim 1 which further comprises speech recognition circuitry for accepting voice command input.

7. A terminal sized for hand-held, portable operation and for insertion into a docking fixture located within a vehicle, said terminal comprising:

a housing;

means for accepting manual input disposed on said housing;

a wireless transceiver for receiving textual information;

a screen, disposed on said housing, that displays textual information received by said wireless transceiver; and

an illuminator assembly, disposed within said housing, which operates to provide a head up display of textual information received by said wireless transceiver when said terminal is within a docking fixture.

8. The terminal of claim 7 wherein said illuminator assembly also operates to illuminate coded information to facilitate code reading.

9. The terminal of claim 7 wherein said illuminator assembly comprises a scanning laser light source.

10. The terminal of claim 7 wherein said illuminator assembly comprises a high intensity light emitting array.

11. The terminal of claim 7 which further comprises text to voice conversion circuitry.

12. The terminal of claim 7 wherein said terminal communicates textual information via said screen and, when inserted within the docking fixture, via said illuminator assembly.

13. The terminal of claim 7 wherein said terminal communicates textual information via said screen, said text to voice conversion circuitry, and, when inserted within the docking fixture, via said illuminator assembly.

14. The terminal of claim 7 which further comprises speech recognition circuitry for accepting voice command input.

15. The terminal of claim 7 which further comprises a wireless transceiver.

16. A terminal sized for hand-held, portable operation and for insertion into a docking fixture located within a vehicle, said terminal comprising;

a housing;

an illuminator assembly, disposed within said housing, which selectively operations to facilitate code reading when removed from a docking fixture; and

said illuminator assembly, when inserted into the docking fixture, operates to provide head up viewing.

17. The terminal of claim 16 wherein said illuminator assembly comprises a scanning laser light source.

18. The terminal of claim 16 which further comprises text to voice conversion circuitry.

19. The terminal of claim 18, further comprising:

a screen that displays textual information disposed on said housing; and

wherein said terminal communicates textual information via said screen, said text to voice conversion circuitry, and, when inserted within the docking fixture, via said illuminator assembly.

20. The terminal of claim 16, further comprising:

a screen that displays textual information disposed on said housing; and

wherein said terminal communicates textual information via said screen and, when inserted within the docking fixture, via said illuminator assembly.

21. The terminal of claim 16 which further comprises speech recognition circuitry for accepting voice command input.