Modular hand-held data entry system with voice interface

• US 5,917,175 A
• Filed: 07/23/1996
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Mahany, Ronald L., Danielson, Arvin D., Geers, Robert G., Hanson, George E., Miller, Phillip, Koenck, Steven E., Durbin, Dennis A., Kelly, Stephen J., Schultz, Darald R., Cargin, Keith K., Boatwright, Darrell L., Gibbs, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US08/685,254
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• 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 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• 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 7/1093 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 7/12 : using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 : Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 : Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 : by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 : with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 : using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 : Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 : using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 : Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 : Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0032 : Without explicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0206 : Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 : Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 : Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 : including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/18 : including more than one keyboard unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 : with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

A hand held data entry apparatus having a body for receiving, storing and transmitting information, including a camming mechanism for quickly sealingly attaching an accessory such as a scanner to the top of a hand held data entry apparatus. Additionally, a similar camming mechanism is utilized to hold a battery pack in place with the additional feature of not only pulling the battery pack securely against the housing, but also pushing the battery pack contacts into abutment with complementary contacts disposed within the housing. A keypad is provided for permitting information to be manually entered into the hand held body and this keypad is encased in a layer of elastomeric material such as silicone. A pair of LED'"'"'s are utilized, one to indicate a "good scan" and the other to indicate something else, such as a "bad scan." Additionally, these LED'"'"'s can be encased in operative or dummy keys in order to save keyboard space. A mechanism is provided for pivoting the scanner about either of two perpendicular axes.

Claims

1. A portable data capture terminal, comprising:

(a) an automatic reader for capturing data located externally of the portable data capture terminal,

(b) a voice interface for input of information from an operator into the portable data capture terminal,

(c) said voice interface being located on the portable data capture terminal such that said voice interface is directed toward the operator when the portable data capture terminal is positioned to capture data.

2. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 1 wherein said voice interface comprises a microphone for input of voice information by the operator.

3. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 1 wherein said automatic reader is located on a first side of the portable data capture terminal and wherein said voice interface is located on a second side of the portable data terminal, said first side being a side of the portable data capture terminal that is opposite said second side.

4. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 1 wherein said automatic reader includes a CCD image sensor array.

5. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 1 further comprising a display.

6. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 1 further comprising a digitizer.

7. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency communication system.

8. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 1 wherein said automatic reader can be activated by voice commands received by said voice interface.

9. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 1 wherein a voice synthesis component is operable to provide an operator with aiming instructions for correctly aiming said automatic reader for capturing data.

10. A portable data capture terminal, comprising:

(a) an automatic reader for capturing data located externally of the portable data capture terminal,

(b) a voice interface for input of information from an operator into the portable data capture terminal,

(c) said voice interface being located on the portable data capture terminal such that said voice interface is directed toward the operator when said automatic reader is directed toward data to be captured.

11. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 10 wherein said voice interface comprises a microphone for input of voice information by the operator.

12. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 10 further comprising a voice synthesis component.

13. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 12 wherein said voice interface comprises a speaker for outputting information from said voice synthesis component to the operator.

14. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 10 wherein said automatic reader is located on a first side of the portable data capture terminal and wherein said voice interface is located on a second side of the portable data terminal, said first side being a side of the portable data capture terminal that is opposite said second side.

15. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 10 wherein said automatic reader includes a CCD image sensor array.

16. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 10 further comprising a display.

17. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 10 further comprising a digitizer.

18. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 10 wherein said automatic reader can be activated by voice commands received by said voice interface.

19. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 12 wherein said voice synthesis component is operable to provide an operator with aiming instructions for correctly aiming said automatic reader for capturing data.

20. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 10 wherein said voice interface is capable of accepting voice input to control said automatic reader.

21. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 10 further comprising a wireless communication unit.

22. A portable data capture terminal according to claim 10 wherein said automatic reader is a full image automatic reader.