Hand-held portable data collection terminal system
DCFirst Claim
1. A hand-held portable data collection system for reading data comprising:
- (a) a hand-held portable data collection terminal for collecting data; and
(b) a somatic communications system operatively integrated with said hand-held portable data collection terminal for tactually communicating with an operator by producing a vibrational signal during hand-held utilization thereof;
wherein said somatic communications system produces an output to the operator responsive to movement of said hand-held portable data terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hand-held portable data collection system integrates ideal design features to improve and optimize the data collection process. The operator interface of the hand-held portable data collection system incorporates somatic feedback between the hand-held portable data terminal and the operator, thereby facilitating operation of the data terminal such as reading of optically readable indicia. The hand-held portable data collection system further provides optimal data collection by allowing for variable orientation of the reading field of view of the data file reader allowing for optimal positioning of the reader during the data collection process. Optically readable indicia may be disposed within the reading field of view of the data file reader without having to sight along the terminal as is typical with prior aim and shoot type data readers. The optically readable indicia may be readable regardless of orientational disposition.
78 Citations
100 Claims
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1. A hand-held portable data collection system for reading data comprising:
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(a) a hand-held portable data collection terminal for collecting data; and (b) a somatic communications system operatively integrated with said hand-held portable data collection terminal for tactually communicating with an operator by producing a vibrational signal during hand-held utilization thereof; wherein said somatic communications system produces an output to the operator responsive to movement of said hand-held portable data terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23)
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17. A hand-held portable date collection system for reading data comprising:
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(a) a hand-held portable data collection terminal for collecting data; and (b) a somatic communications system operatively integrated with said hand-held portable date collection terminal for tactually communicating with an operator by producing a vibrational signal during hand-held utilization thereof; wherein said somatic communications system operatively controls the vibrational signal thereof in response to movement of said hand-held portable data terminal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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24. A hand-held portable data collection system for reading data comprising:
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(a) a hand-held portable data collection terminal for collecting data; and (b) a somatic communications system operatively integrated with said hand-held portable data collection terminal for tactually communicating with an operator by producing a vibrational signal during hand-held utilization thereof; wherein said data file reader includes a reading field of view in which optically readable indicia may be read, said somatic communications system being operatively utilized to assist the operator in positioning said hand-held portable data terminal such that optically readable indicia appear in the reading field of view thereof. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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25. The hand-held portable data collection system of claim wherein said data file reader includes a reading field of view in which optically readable indicia may be read, said somatic communications system being operatively utilized to indicate to the operator a positioning of said hand-held portable data terminal such that optically readable indicia appear in the reading field of view thereof.
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31. A hand-held portable data collection system for reading data in the form of optically readable indicia during utilization thereof in the hand of an operator, said hand-held portable data collection system comprising:
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(a) a hand-held portable data collection terminal for collecting, processing and transferring data, said hand-held portable data terminal having a housing; and (b) a data file reader operatively integrated with said hand-held portable data collection system for reading data encoded as optically readable indicia, said data file reader having a reading field of view in which optically readable indicia may be read, (c) said reading field of view of said data file reader extending from the housing in a direction permitting an operator to conveniently position said hand-held portable data terminal such that optically readable indicia are disposed in the reading field of view when held near hip level. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A hand-held portable data collection system for reading data in the form of optically readable indicia during utilization thereof in the hand of an operator, said hand-held portable data collection system comprising:
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(a) a hand-held portable data collection terminal for collecting, processing and transferring data, said hand-held portable data terminal having generally a housing and an upper housing surface; (b) a data file reader operatively integrated with said hand-held portable data collection system for reading data encoded as optically readable indicia, said data file reader including a reading field of view in which optically readable indicia may be read; and (c) a display disposed on the upper surface of said hand-held portable data terminal, said display having an optimal viewing angle within which information displayed thereon is readily viewable by an operator, wherein said display is capable of digitizing tactile data input simultaneous with operation of said data file reader. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A hand-held portable data collection system for reading data in the form of optically readable indicia during utilization thereof in the hand of an operator, said hand-held portable data collection system comprising:
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(a) a hand-held portable data collection terminal for collecting, processing and transferring data, said hand-held portable data terminal having generally a housing and an upper housing surface; (b) a data file reader operatively integrated with said hand-held portable data collection system for reading data encoded as optically readable indicia, said data file reader including a reading field of view in which optically readable indicia may be read; (c) a display disposed on the upper surface of said hand-held portable data terminal, said display having an optimal viewing angle within which information displayed thereon is readily viewable by the operator; and (d) the reading field of view of said data file reader being sufficiently disposed relative the optimal viewing angle of said display to permit the operator to conveniently position the reader such that optically readable indicia are disposed in the reading field of view by directing the reading field of view toward the optically readable indicia without sighting along a line substantially parallel to the upper surface of the housing and such that said display is viewable by the operator within the optimal viewing angle wherein said display displays information concerning the operation of said data file reader. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A hand-held portable data collection system for reading data in the form of optically readable indicia during utilization thereof in the hand of an operator, said hand-held portable data collection system comprising:
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(a) a hand-held portable data collection terminal for collecting, processing and transferring data, said hand-held portable data terminal having generally a housing and an upper housing surface; (b) a data file reader operatively integrated with said hand-held portable data collection system for reading data encoded as optically readable indicia, said data file reader including a reading field of view in which optically readable indicia may be read; (c) a display disposed on the upper surface of said hand-held portable data terminal, said display having an optimal viewing angle within which information displayed thereon is readily viewable by the operator; and (d) the reading field of view of said data file reader being sufficiently disposed relative the optimal viewing angle of said display to permit the operator to conveniently position the reader such that optically readable indicia are disposed in the reading field of view by directing the reading field of view toward the optically readable indicia without sighting along a line substantially parallel to the upper surface of the housing and such that said display is viewable by the operator within the optimal viewing angle, wherein said display is capable of receiving tactile data input simultaneous with operation of said data file reader such that said tactile data input includes data for initiating reading of optically readable indicia disposed within the reading field of view of said data file reader. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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86. A method of operating a hand-held portable data collection system, said hand-held portable data collection system comprising a hand-held portable data collection terminal for reading data in the form of optically readable indicia during utilization thereof in the hand of an operator, said method comprising:
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(a) mobilizing a hand-held portable data collection terminal by moving the hand-held portable data collection terminal from a dormant position to an active position wherein said movement is characteristic of action preliminary to reading optically readable indicia such that the optically readable indicia is substantially disposed within the reading field of view of a data file reader integrated with the hand-held portable data collection terminal; (b) activating the data file reader upon termination of said movement; (c) thereafter reading the optically readable indicia; (d) repeating step (c) upon an unsuccessful reading of said optically readable indicia; and
;(e) terminating the reading of said optically readable indicia upon a successful reading thereof. - View Dependent Claims (87, 95)
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88. A method of operating a hand-held portable data collection system, said hand-held portable data collection system comprising a hand-held portable data collection terminal for reading data in the form of optically readable indicia during utilization thereof in the hand of an operator, said method comprising:
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(a) mobilizing a hand-held portable data collection terminal by moving the hand-held portable data collection terminal from a dormant position to an active position wherein said movement is characteristic of action preliminary to reading optically readable indicia such that the optically readable indicia is substantially disposed within the reading field of view of a data file reader integrated with the hand-held portable data collection terminal; (b) activating the data file reader upon termination of said movement; (c) thereafter reading the optically readable indicia; (d) terminating the reading of said optically readable indicia upon a successful reading thereof; and (e) indicating to the operator the unsuccessfulness of said reading step upon an unsuccessful reading thereof in step (c). - View Dependent Claims (89, 91, 96, 97)
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90. A method of operating a hand-held portable data collection system, said hand-held portable data collection system comprising a hand-held portable data collection terminal for reading data in the form of optically readable indicia during utilization thereof in the hand of an operator, said method comprising:
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(a) mobilizing a hand-held portable data collection terminal by moving the hand-held portable data collection terminal from a dormant position to an active position wherein said movement is characteristic of action preliminary to reading optically readable indicia such that the optically readable indicia is substantially disposed within the reading field of view of a data file reader integrated with the hand-held portable data collection terminal; (b) activating the data file reader upon termination of said movement; (c) thereafter reading the optically readable indicia; (d) terminating the reading of said optically readable indicia upon a successful reading thereof; and (e) readjusting the position of the hand-held portable data collection terminal after said reading step upon an unsuccessful reading of the optically readable indicia such that the optically readable indicia is disposed within the reading field of view of the data file reader of the hand-held portable data collection terminal and thereafter repeating said reading step.
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92. A method of operating a hand-held portable data collection system, said hand-held portable data collection system comprising a hand-held portable data collection terminal for reading data in the form of optically readable indicia during utilization thereof in the hand of an operator, said method comprising:
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(a) mobilizing a hand-held portable data collection terminal by moving the hand-held portable data collection terminal from a dormant position to an active position wherein said movement is characteristic of action preliminary to reading optically readable indicia such that the optically readable indicia is substantially disposed within the reading field of view of a data file reader integrated with the hand-held portable data collection terminal; (b) activating the data file reader upon termination of said movement; (c) thereafter reading the optically readable indicia; and (d) terminating the reading of said optically readable indicia upon a successful reading thereof; wherein said activating step includes indicating to the user the execution of said activating step by somatically communicating with the operator by producing tactually detectable vibrations. - View Dependent Claims (93, 94)
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98. A hand-held portable data collection system for reading data comprising:
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(a) a hand-held portable data collection terminal for collecting data; and (b) a somatic communications system operatively integrated with said hand-held portable data collection terminal for tactually communicating with an operator by producing a vibrational signal during hand-held utilization thereof, wherein said vibrational signal is produced by a vibrating device remote from said hand-held portable data collection terminal, said remote vibrating device adapted to be worn by a user.
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99. A hand-held portable data collection system for reading data in the form of optically readable indicia during utilization thereof in the hand of an operator, said hand-held portable data collection system comprising:
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(a) a hand-held portable data collection terminal for collecting, processing and transferring data, said hand-held portable data collection terminal including a data file reader for reading data encoded as optically readable indicia; and (b) a somatic communications system operatively integrated with said hand-held portable data collection terminal for tactually communicating with the operator by producing a plurality of tactually distinct vibrational signals during hand-held utilization thereof. - View Dependent Claims (100)
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Specification