Hand-held data capture system with processor module and detachable second module

• US 5,895,906 A
• Filed: 05/26/1995
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Danielson, Arvin D., Durbin, Dennis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gross, Anita Pellman
• Assistant Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US08/452,475
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472, 235/385, 902/22
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• 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 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1696 the I/O peripheral being a printing or scanning device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• 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 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1013 Multi-focal
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1018 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10574 Multiple sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10613 by rotation, e.g. polygon
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10633 by oscillation
• 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 7/10851 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 7/109 : adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner
• 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 7/1417 : 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 : by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 : used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 : specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/245 : in the focal plane of a focussing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device

Abstract

A hand-held processing system wherein a peripheral module may receive therein a computer processor basic module of standardized construction, with a user-immune real-time multi-tasking operating system. Advantageously the peripheral module or computer processor module may include a touch screen or other highly versatile and compact data input/output device adaptable to graphical and/or other input/output modes suitable for different applications, languages and the like.

Claims

1. A hand-held data capture system, comprising:

(a) multipurpose computerized processing module means for computerized processing of data;

(b) shell module means having auxiliary means for executing an auxiliary function, having battery means supplying power thereto, and having a receptacle for receiving said computerized processing module means so that the computerized processing module means is substantially contained within said shell module means during hand-held operation, said shell module means with said multipurpose computerized processing module means assembled in its receptacle having an overall size so as to be readily contained in a shirt pocket;

(c) coupling means for providing communication between said shell module means and a computerized processing module means in said receptacle;

(d) said multipurpose computerized processing module means including battery means for supplying power thereto and said multipurpose computerized processing module means fitting into the receptacle together with said battery means;

(e) said coupling means providing a quick-connect, quick-disconnect coupling readily accommodating removal of said multipurpose computerized processing module means and said battery means as a unit from the receptacle of said shell module means; and

(f) automatic reading data capture means for automatic reading of data into the hand-held data capture system, and said automatic reading data capture means including an automatic optical reader for reading data without requiring bodily movement of the hand-held data capture system as a whole to read the data.

2. A hand-held data capture system, comprising:

(a) computerized processing module means for computerized processing of data;

(b) shell module means having auxiliary means for executing an auxiliary function, having battery means supplying power thereto, and having a receptacle for receiving said computerized processing means so that the computerized processing module means is substantially contained within said shell module means during hand-held operation;

(c) coupling means providing communication between said shell module means and said computerized processing module means in said receptacle;

(d) said shell module means with said computerized processing means assembled in its receptacle having an overall size so as to be readily contained in a shirt pocket;

(e) said computerized processing module means having battery means supplying power thereto and said computerized processing module means fitting into the receptacle together with said battery means and forming a unit therewith;

(f) said coupling means providing a quick-connect, quick-disconnect coupling readily accommodating bodily removal of the computerized processing module means and the battery means as a unit from the receptacle of the shell module means;

(g) said computerized processing module means having means operable for carrying out an optical reading function while entirely separate from said shell module means, and also for carrying out an optical reading function while substantially contained within said shell module means; and

(h) said hand-held data capture system comprising automatic reading data capture means for automatic reading of data into the hand-held data capture system, said automatic reading data capture means comprising an automatic optical reader for reading data without requiring bodily movement of the system as a whole to read the data.

3. A hand-held data capture system, comprising:

(a) a processing module for computerized processing of data;

(b) a shell module having an auxiliary device for executing an auxiliary function, having a first battery for supplying power thereto, and having a receptacle for receiving said processing module so that said processing module is substantially contained within said shell module during hand-held operation, said shell module with said processing module assembled in its receptacle having an overall size so as to be readily contained in a shirt pocket;

(c) a coupling component for enabling communication between said shell module and a processing module coupled with said receptacle;

(d) said processing module including a second battery for supplying power thereto and said processing module fitting into the receptacle together with said second battery;

(e) said coupling component providing a quick-connect, quick-disconnect coupling accommodating removal of said processing module and said second battery from the receptacle of said shell module; and

(f) an automatic reading data capture component for automatic reading of data into the hand-held data capture system.

4. A hand-held data capture system according to claim 3 wherein said automatic reading data capture component includes an automatic optical reader for reading data without requiring movement of the hand-held data capture system as a whole.

5. A hand-held data capture system, comprising:

(a) a computerized processing module for processing of data;

(b) a shell module, having an auxiliary component for executing an auxiliary function, having a first battery supplying power thereto, and having a receptacle for receiving said computerized processing module so that the computerized processing module is substantially contained within said shell module during hand-held operation;

(c) a coupling component providing for communication between said shell module and said computerized processing module in said receptacle;

(d) said shell module with said computerized processing module assembled in its receptacle having an overall size so as to be readily contained in a shirt pocket;

(e) said computerized processing module having a second battery for supplying power to said computerized processing module, and said computerized processing module fitting into the receptacle together with said second battery and forming a unit therewith;

(f) said coupling component providing a quick-connect, quick-disconnect coupling accommodating removal of said computerized processing module and said second battery as a unit from the receptacle of said shell module;

(g) said computerized processing module being capable of carrying out an optical reading function while coupled with said shell module; and

(h) the hand-held data capture system comprising an automatic data capture component for automatic reading of data into the hand-held data capture system, said automatic data capture component comprising an automatic optical reader for reading data without requiring movement of the system as a whole.

6. The hand-held data capture system of claim 5 wherein said computerized processing module is operable for carrying out an optical reading function while entirely separate from said shell module.

7. A hand-held data capture system, comprising:

(a) a processing module for processing of data;

(b) an auxiliary module having an auxiliary component for executing an auxiliary function, said auxiliary module having a first battery for supplying power thereto, and having a receptacle for receiving said processing module so that said processing module is substantially contained within said auxiliary module during hand-held operation;

(c) a coupling component providing for communication between said auxiliary module and said processing module;

(d) said auxiliary module with said processing module assembled in its receptacle having an overall size so as to be carried in a shirt pocket,

(e) said processing module having a second battery supplying power thereto and said processing module fitting into the receptacle together with said second battery and forming a unit therewith;

(f) said coupling component providing a quick-connect, quick-disconnect coupling accommodating removal of said processing module and said second battery as a unit from the receptacle of said auxiliary module; and

(g) the hand-held data capture system comprising an automatic data capture component for carrying out an automatic reading function, said automatic data capture component comprising an automatic optical reader for reading data without requiring movement of the system as a whole.

8. The hand-held data capture system of claim 7 wherein the system is capable of carrying out said automatic reading function while said processing module is coupled with said auxiliary module.

9. A hand-held data capture system, comprising:

(a) a first hand-held module comprising a data processor and a first coupling component;

(b) a second hand-held module having a size permitting it to be contained in a shirt pocket, said second hand-held module comprising an auxiliary component operable for performing an auxiliary function, and said second hand-held module having a second coupling component providing a communication pathway between said first hand-held module and said second hand-held module when coupled to each other, said first coupling component and said second coupling component providing ready connection of said first hand-held module to said second hand-held module; and

(c) an automatic data reader to read data into the system;

said second hand-held module being functional when not connected to said first hand-held module or to any other module.

10. The hand-held data capture system according to claim 9 wherein said first hand-held module has a size permitting it to be contained in a shirt pocket.

11. The hand-held data capture system according to claim 9 wherein said first hand-held module and said second hand-held module, when connected to each other via said first coupling component and said second coupling component, have a size permitting them to be contained in a shirt pocket.

12. The hand-held data capture system according to claim 9 wherein said first coupling component and said second coupling component permit ready disengagement of said first hand-held module from said second hand-held module.

13. A hand-held data capture system according to claim 9 wherein said automatic data reader comprises an optical reader capable of reading data without movement of the hand-held data capture system as a whole.

14. A hand-held data capture system, comprising:

(a) a hand-held first module comprising a data processor and a first coupling component; and

(b) a second module having a size so as to be readily contained in a shirt pocket, said second module comprising an indicia reader data input component, said second module also comprising an auxiliary data input component providing an additional data input to said second module, said second module having a second coupling component providing a communication pathway between said hand-held first module and said second module when coupled together, said first coupling component and said second coupling component permitting ready connection of said hand-held first module to said second module;

said second module being operable to receive data via at least one of its data input devices when not connected to said hand-held first module.

15. The hand-held data capture system according to claim 14 wherein said hand-held first module has a size permitting it to be contained in a shirt pocket.

16. The hand-held data capture system according to claim 14 wherein said hand-held first module and said second module, when connected to each other via said first coupling component and said second coupling component, have a size permitting them to be contained in a shirt pocket.

17. The hand-held data capture system according to claim 14 wherein said first coupling component and said second coupling component permit ready disengagement of said hand-held first module from said second module.

18. A hand-held data capture system according to claim 14 wherein said indicia reader includes an optical reader.

19. A hand-held data capture system, comprising:

(a) a first hand-held module comprising a data processor and a first coupling component; and

(b) a second module comprising a non-contact information reader and a different data input component, said second module having a second coupling component detachably and readily coupling said first hand-held module to said second module via said first coupling component;

said second module performing data input to said said second module when not connected to said first hand-held module or to any other module.