Hand held computerized data collection terminal with rechargeable battery pack sensor and battery power conservation
First Claim
1. In a data collection system,a portable computerized data collection terminal having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected with said user interface and with said computer processor for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a battery pack removably secured therewith and supplying operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry, said battery pack having an electrically conductive short-circuit element mounted thereon for enabling sensing of the presence of the battery pack, and said terminal having an element sensor switchable between a charging circuit enabling condition and a charging circuit disabling condition in dependence upon the presence of a battery pack with the element and the presence of a battery pack without such an element, respectively, said terminal having a battery compartment for removably receiving said battery pack, and said element sensor comprising a pair of conductive probes arranged to be conductively bridged by the electrically conductive short-circuit element as the battery pack is inserted into said battery compartment, said terminal comprising a bottom terminal part providing a bottom wall and side walls of said battery compartment, a battery compartment wall extending above the bottom wall to define an upper boundary of said battery compartment, and said probes being mounted at the battery compartment wall of said battery compartment, said bottom terminal part having a partition wall providing an inner boundary of said battery compartment, a battery supply connector being mounted at the side of said partition wall external to said battery compartment, and being connected with the battery pack in said battery compartment, and a host circuit carrying member having the computer processor thereon and extending within the terminal at a level just above the battery compartment wall and coupled with the battery supply connector so as to provide for the supply of battery power to the computer processor.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved hand-held data terminal is provided. A sensing circuit senses the presence of rechargeable batteries. A rechargeable battery pack can be used in the hand-held data terminal. The battery pack can include a short circuit element. The short circuit element comes into contact with the hand-held data terminal when the rechargeable battery pack is assembled with the hand-held data terminal. The short circuit element, when in contact with the hand-held data terminal, serves to indicate the presence of the rechargeable battery pack and to thereby enable the recharging capabilities of the hand-held data terminal. A battery pack which does not contain the short circuit element cannot be recharged by the hand-held data terminal since the recharging circuit of the data terminal would remain in a disabled state. Further, the battery pack can be shaped asymmetrically so that it can only be assembled with the hand-held data terminal in an operational orientation.
239 Citations
72 Claims
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1. In a data collection system,
a portable computerized data collection terminal having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected with said user interface and with said computer processor for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a battery pack removably secured therewith and supplying operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry, said battery pack having an electrically conductive short-circuit element mounted thereon for enabling sensing of the presence of the battery pack, and said terminal having an element sensor switchable between a charging circuit enabling condition and a charging circuit disabling condition in dependence upon the presence of a battery pack with the element and the presence of a battery pack without such an element, respectively, said terminal having a battery compartment for removably receiving said battery pack, and said element sensor comprising a pair of conductive probes arranged to be conductively bridged by the electrically conductive short-circuit element as the battery pack is inserted into said battery compartment, said terminal comprising a bottom terminal part providing a bottom wall and side walls of said battery compartment, a battery compartment wall extending above the bottom wall to define an upper boundary of said battery compartment, and said probes being mounted at the battery compartment wall of said battery compartment, said bottom terminal part having a partition wall providing an inner boundary of said battery compartment, a battery supply connector being mounted at the side of said partition wall external to said battery compartment, and being connected with the battery pack in said battery compartment, and a host circuit carrying member having the computer processor thereon and extending within the terminal at a level just above the battery compartment wall and coupled with the battery supply connector so as to provide for the supply of battery power to the computer processor.
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4. In a data collection system,
a portable computerized data collection terminal having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected with said user interface and connected with said computer processor for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a battery pack removably secured therewith and supplying operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry, said terminal having first and second circuit carrying members mounted therein, and having respective first and second sets of generally parallel spaced apart connector elements thereon, a resilient elongated member positioned between the first and second sets of connector elements and having a plurality of generally parallel conductive elements embedded therein in spaced apart relation and electrically connecting respective individual connector elements of the first and second sets.
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6. In a data collection system,
a portable computerized data collection terminal having a longitudinal axis and having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected with said user interface and with said computer processor for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a rechargeable battery removably received therewith and supplying operating power to said terminal, and said control circuitry including detection circuitry actuatable to detect the presence of said rechargeable battery, said rechargeable battery comprising an arrangement of a plurality of rechargeable battery cells forming a battery pack with longitudinal axes of the battery cells extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the terminal, the terminal having a battery receiving chamber into which the battery pack is longitudinally inserted, and the battery receiving chamber and the battery pack having cross sections with three rounded corners and one somewhat squared corner so that the battery pack can only be inserted into the battery receiving chamber with a correct longitudinal end of the battery pack first and with a correct side of the battery pack facing one wall of the battery receiving chamber, the battery pack having an electrically conductive short circuit element only at the correct side of the battery pack, and being operative when the battery pack is inserted with its correct longitudinal end first and with the electrically conductive short circuit element facing said one wall of the battery receiving chamber to actuate said detection circuitry.
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9. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry, said terminal comprising a terminal housing having a housing end portion with peripheral device electrical connector therein accessible from the exterior of said housing end portion, a cover releasably engaged with said housing end portion, and a peripheral device circuit electrically coupled with the peripheral device electrical connector and protectively enclosed by said cover,
said peripheral device circuit having a peripheral device electrical connector fitting accessible at the exterior of the cover and coupled with said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit for providing data communication with a peripheral device.
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13. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry, said terminal comprising a terminal housing having a housing end portion with a peripheral device electrical connector therein accessible from the exterior of said housing end portion, a cover releasably engaged with said housing end portion, and a peripheral device circuit electrically coupled with the peripheral device electrical connector and protectively enclosed by said cover,
said peripheral device circuit comprising a peripheral device electrical connector fitting at the exterior of the cover, said terminal housing containing a peripheral device circuit carrying member mounting said peripheral device electrical connector for automatic engagement with the peripheral device circuit as the cover is applied to said housing end portion.
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14. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry, said terminal comprising a terminal housing having a housing end portion with a peripheral device electrical connector therein accessible from the exterior of said housing end portion, a cover releasably engaged with said housing end portion, and a peripheral device circuit electrically coupled with the peripheral device electrical connector and protectively enclosed by said cover,
said peripheral device circuit comprising a memory card removably inserted into the peripheral device electrical connector, and removable from the housing end portion upon disengagement of the cover from said housing end portion.
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16. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry, said terminal comprising a terminal housing having a housing end portion with a peripheral device electrical connector therein accessible from the exterior of said housing end portion, a cover releasably engaged with said housing end portion, and a peripheral device circuit electrically coupled with the peripheral device electrical connector and protectively enclosed by said cover,
said housing end portion having an auxiliary battery for supplying backup operating power to the terminal along an electric current flow path and an insulating strip of electrical insulating material extending into said housing end portion from the vicinity of said cover for maintaining the electric current flow path in an open circuit condition until the insulating strip is manually pulled to a non current flow interrupting position by manual gripping of a portion of the insulating strip normally covered by the cover.
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18. In a data collection system,
a portable computerized data collection terminal having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected with said user interface and with said computer processor for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a main battery for supplying operating power to said terminal, terminal memory normally supplied with operating power from said main battery, auxiliary stand-by battery for supplying electric power to said terminal memory as a back up to said main battery, said auxiliary stand-by battery having an auxiliary current flow path for supplying current to the terminal memory when needed, and an insulating strip of electrical insulating material inserted into the auxiliary current flow path to prevent depletion of the auxiliary stand-by battery prior to use of the terminal, said terminal comprising a terminal housing having an access opening accommodating manual removal of the insulating strip from the auxiliary current flow path, and a closure cap for removable attachment to said terminal housing and enclosing said access opening when attached to said terminal housing.
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21. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal comprising:
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(a) a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation; (b) a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith and with said user interface for controlling operation of said terminal; (c) a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry; (d) a terminal housing having a housing end portion at an end of said terminal housing; and (e) a cover releasably and selectively engaged with said end of said terminal housing for cooperation therewith, (f) said housing end portion having an exterior boundary wall defining the external cross sectional perimeter of the terminal at said end of said terminal housing, (g) said cover having an external wall with external perimeter for mating with the exterior boundary wall of the housing end portion to enclose the end of said terminal housing; and
thereby protect the interior of the terminal,(h) the releasability of the cover providing for the selective assemblage within the interior of the housing of differently functioning components which serve to selectively change the functioning of the data collection terminal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal comprising:
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(a) a user interface proving for interaction with a user of, the terminal during data collection operation; (b) computer processor and control circuitry connected with said user interface for controlling operation of said terminal; (c) a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and control circuitry; (d) a terminal housing having a housing end portion having an access opening; and (e) a cover releasably and connectively engaged with said housing end portion and containing a memory device for coupling to said computer processor and control circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith and with said user interface for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry, said terminal comprising a terminal housing end portion with a peripheral device electrical connector therein accessible from the exterior of said housing end portion, a cover releasably engaged with said housing end portion, and a peripheral device circuit electrically coupled with the peripheral device electrical connector,
said peripheral device electrical connector being coupled with said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit, said cover being removable from the housing end portion for operative access to said peripheral device electrical connector to enable a peripheral coupling to be received by said peripheral device electrical connector thereby to provide peripheral access to said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit, said cover being clear of any connector components.
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34. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith and with said user interface for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry, said terminal comprising a terminal housing end portion with a peripheral device electrical connector therein accessible from the exterior of said housing end portion, a cover releasably engaged with said housing end portion, and a peripheral device circuit electrically coupled with the peripheral device electrical connector,
said peripheral device electrical connector being coupled with said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit, said cover being removable from the housing end portion for operative access to said peripheral device electrical connector to enable a peripheral coupling to be received by said peripheral device electrical connector thereby to provide peripheral access to said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit, said peripheral device electrical connector having a cavity frontally thereof for accommodating a peripheral coupling, said cover overlying said cavity.
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36. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith and with said user interface for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry, said terminal comprising a terminal housing end portion with a peripheral device electrical connector therein accessible from the exterior of said housing end portion, a cover releasably engaged with said housing end portion, and a peripheral device circuit electrically coupled with the peripheral device electrical connector,
said peripheral device electrical connector being coupled with said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit, said cover being removable from the housing end portion for operative access to said peripheral device electrical connector to enable a peripheral coupling to be received by said peripheral device electrical connector thereby to provide peripheral access to said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit, said peripheral device electrical connector having an electrical conductor, and a peripheral device contact being insertable into engagement with the electrical conductor of said peripheral device electrical connector with the cover removed from said housing end portion.
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37. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal having a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith and with said user interface for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry, said terminal comprising a terminal housing end portion with peripheral device electrical connector therein accessible from the exterior of said housing end portion, a cover releasably engaged with said housing end portion, and a peripheral device circuit electrically coupled with the peripheral device electrical connector,
said peripheral device electrical connector being coupled with said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit, said cover being removable from the housing end portion for operative access to said peripheral device electrical connector to enable a peripheral coupling to be received by said peripheral device electrical connector thereby to provide peripheral access to said computer processor via said peripheral device circuit, said peripheral device electrical connector having an electrical conductor connecting with said peripheral device circuit, and having an access space providing access to said electrical conductor, and a peripheral device insertable into the access space when the cover is removed from said housing end portion and having a contact for coupling with said electrical conductor so as to provide for communication with the computer processor via said peripheral device circuit.
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38. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal comprising:
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(a) a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation; (b) a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith and with said user interface for controlling operation of said terminal; (c) a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry; (d) a terminal housing having a housing open end portion which is open at an end of said terminal housing; (e) a cover releasably engaged with said end of said terminal housing for closing said housing open end portion; (f) said terminal having an interior space and having an interior electrical connector within said interior space and coupled with said computer processor; and (g) a cover release providing for connection with said interior electrical connector, while the cover is released from its closing relationship to said housing open end portion and said end of said terminal housing is open, of a peripheral device for enabling the terminal to perform a new function. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal comprising:
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(a) a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation; (b) a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith and with said user interface for controlling operation of said terminal; (c) a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry; (d) a terminal housing having a housing open end portion which is open at an end of said terminal housing; (e) a cover releasably engaged with said end of said terminal housing for closing said housing open end portion; (f) said housing open end portion having an exterior boundary wall defining the external cross sectional perimeter of the terminal at said end of said terminal housing; (g) said cover having an external wall with external perimeter for mating with the exterior boundary wall of the housing open end portion to enclose the end of said terminal housing, and thereby protect the interior of the terminal; and (h) a cover release providing for the selective assemblage at the housing open end portion of radio frequency communication components. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53)
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54. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal comprising:
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(a) a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation; (b) a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith and with said user interface for controlling operation of said terminal; (c) a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry; (d) a terminal housing having a housing open end portion which is open at an end of said terminal housing; (e) a cover releasably engaged with said end of said terminal housing for closing said housing open end portion; (f) said terminal having an interior and having an interior electrical connector within said interior and coupled with said computer processor; (g) said housing end portion having an exterior boundary wall defining the external cross sectional perimeter of the terminal at said end of said terminal housing; (h) said cover having an external wall with external perimeter for mating with the exterior boundary wall of the housing open end portion to enclose the end of said terminal housing and thereby protect the interior of the terminal; and (i) said cover having radio frequency communication components protectively enclosed thereby, with said radio frequency communication components being releasably coupled with said interior electrical connector for the transmission of data from the terminal to an external peripheral device. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal comprising:
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(a) a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation; (b) a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith and with said user interface for controlling operation of said terminal; (c) a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry; (d) a terminal housing having a housing open end portion which is open at an end of said terminal housing; (e) a cover releasably engaged with said end of said terminal housing for closing said housing open end portion; (f) said housing open end portion having a peripheral device electrical connector therein accessible from the exterior of said housing open end portion when the cover is released from its closing relationship to said housing open end portion; and (g) a peripheral device circuit releasably electrically coupled with said peripheral device electrical connector and protectively enclosed by said cover, said peripheral device circuit being removable from coupling relationship with said peripheral device electrical connector after the cover is released from its closing relationship to said housing open end portion. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. In a data collection system, a portable computerized data collection terminal comprising:
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(a) a user interface providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation; (b) a computer processor and control circuitry connected therewith and with said user interface for controlling operation of said terminal; (c) a battery for supply of operating power to said computer processor and said control circuitry; (d) a terminal housing having a housing end portion with an access opening and a cavity in said terminal housing accessible from exteriorly of said housing end portion via said access opening; (e) said terminal housing having a peripheral device electrical connector coupled with said computer processor and accessible from exteriorly of said housing end portion via said access opening and said cavity; (f) a removable circuitry carrying element in said cavity and releasably engaged with said peripheral device electrical connector and coupled via said electrical connector with said computer processor; and (g) a cover overlying said access opening and protectively enclosing said removable circuitry carrying element, said cover being releasably engaged with said housing end portion and being releasable to uncover said access opening and allow removal of the circuitry carrying element after the access opening is uncovered.
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69. A portable computer apparatus comprising:
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a housing; a cavity for receiving a removable circuitry carrying generally planar element therein, said cavity having an opening formed on said housing; an electrically conductive connector within said housing for engaging said generally planar element; and a cover overlying said cavity. - View Dependent Claims (70)
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71. A portable computer apparatus, comprising:
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a housing; peripheral device control circuitry within said housing, said peripheral device control circuitry including an electrical connector; a cavity in said housing, said cavity receiving a removable circuitry carrying generally planar element therein, said generally planar element engaging said electrical connector of said peripheral device control circuitry; a cover overlying said cavity. - View Dependent Claims (72)
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Specification