Customizable hand-held computer

• US 6,052,279 A
• Filed: 12/03/1997
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Friend, Steven Darren, Kordes, Kurt A., Silva, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bowers, Benjamin D.
• Application Number:
  US08/984,323
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 361/679, 361/680, 361/681, 361/686, 361/725, 361/730, 361/731, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.32
• 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 1/1656 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 1/1658 related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266

Abstract

A customizable hand-held data terminal system employs multiple housing bases able to accommodate different components allow the manufacture of hand-held data terminals with a variety of features based on a single design. Because the system according to the present invention does not require the external mounting of components, the ergonomics and basic footprint of the unit remains unaltered. The present system also alleviates problems with moisture resistance, shielding, and survivability under harsh treatment associated with terminals employing externally mounted end cap modules or pod. The present invention employs a plurality of different sized base units which can accommodate a variety of different components and configurations, and wherein the different base units are interchangeable with a single upper surface and user interface comprising a display screen and keypad.

Claims

1. A customizable hand-held data terminal system comprising:

(a) a microprocessor for computerized processing of data;

(b) an upper housing shell, said upper housing shell comprising a keypad area thereon, and a display opening;

(c) a keypad for input of data located on said upper housing;

(d) a display viewable through said display opening;

(e) a plurality of differently sized base housing shells, wherein each of said differently sized base housing shells is adapted to allow a different configuration of internally mounted hardware components, each of said base housing shells defining a footprint of said data terminal, and wherein each of said differently sized base housing shells are interchangeable, and wherein each of said differently sized base housing shells are capable of forming a sealing engagement with said upper housing shell to form a data terminal housing;

(f) a self-contained power supply; and

(g) one or more hardware components capable of being mounted internally within the data terminal housing;

wherein said differently sized base housing shells are selectable by a user to accommodate said one or more hardware components, and wherein interchange of said differently sized base housing shells does not alter the footprint of said data terminal, and wherein each said differently sized base housing shells are adapted for use in a single type of docking station providing connection to external components.

2. The customizable hand-held data terminal system according to claim 1 further comprising a substantially transparent touch sensitive input device overlaying said display.

3. The customizable hand-held data terminal system according to claim 2 wherein said data terminal housing comprises said upper housing shell and a base housing shell of sufficient size to accommodate said one or more hardware components, wherein said one or more hardware components comprise an optical reader, an RF transceiver, or both.

4. The customizable hand-held data terminal system according to claim 3 wherein said one or more hardware components comprise an integrated optical reader and RF transceiver.

5. The customizable hand-held data terminal system according to claim 2 wherein said data terminal housing comprises said upper housing shell and a base housing shell of sufficient size to accommodate said one or more hardware components, wherein said one or more hardware components comprise one or more components selected from the group consisting of an RF transceiver, an optical reader, a magnetic stripe reader, a hard disk drive, a supplemental battery pack, a modem, a fax modem, a CD ROM drive, a recordable CD drive, a DVD drive, a floppy disk drive, a mass storage device, a data communication port, and a PCMCIA slot module.

6. A method for manufacturing a hand-held data terminal system comprising the steps of:

(a) providing data terminal having a first configuration comprising a microprocessor for computerized processing of data;

an upper housing shell, said upper housing shell comprising a keypad area thereon, and a display opening;

a keypad for input of data located on said upper housing;

a display viewable through said display opening; and

a self-contained power supply;

(b) providing a plurality of differently sized base housing shells, wherein each of said differently sized base housing shells is adapted to allow a different configuration of internally mounted hardware components, each of said base housing shells defining a footprint of said data terminal, and wherein each of said differently sized base housing shells are interchangeable, and wherein each of said differently sized base housing shells are capable of forming a sealing engagement with said upper housing shell to form a data terminal housing;

(c) selecting one or more hardware components capable of being mounted internally within the data terminal housing; and

(d) selecting one of said differently sized base housing shells that is able to accommodate said one or more hardware components selected wherein interchange of said differently sized base housing shells does not alter the footprint of said data terminal, and wherein each of said differently sized base housing shells are adapted for use in a single type of docking station providing connection to external components.

7. The method for manufacturing a hand-held data terminal system according to claim 6 wherein said one or more hardware components comprise one or more components selected from the group consisting of an RF transceiver, an optical reader, a magnetic stripe reader, a hard disk drive, a supplemental battery pack, a modem, a fax modem, a CD ROM drive, a recordable CD drive, a DVD drive, a floppy disk drive, a mass storage device, a data communication port, and a PCMCIA slot module.

8. A method for configuring a hand-held data terminal system comprising the steps of:

(a) providing data terminal having a first configuration comprising a microprocessor for computerized processing of data;

an upper housing shell, said upper housing shell comprising a keypad area thereon, and a display opening;

a keypad for input of data located on said upper housing;

a display viewable through said display opening; and

a self-contained power supply;

(b) providing a plurality of differently sized base housing shells, wherein each of said differently sized base housing shells are interchangeable, and wherein each of said differently sized base housing shells are capable of forming a sealing engagement with said upper housing shell to form a data terminal housing;

(c) selecting one or more hardware components capable of being mounted internally within the data terminal housing; and

(d) selecting one of said differently sized base housing shells that is able to accommodate said one or more hardware components selected wherein each of said differently sized base housing shells are adapted for use in a single type of docking station providing connection to external components.

9. The method for configuring a hand-held data terminal system according to claim 8 wherein said one or more hardware components comprise one or more components selected from the group consisting of an RF transceiver, an optical reader, a magnetic stripe reader, a hard disk drive, a supplemental battery pack, a modem, a fax modem, a CD ROM drive, a recordable CD drive, a DVD drive, a floppy disk drive, a mass storage device, a data communication port, and a PCMCIA slot module.