Portable optical scanning and pointing systems

• US 6,145,746 A
• Filed: 07/17/1997
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Barkan, Edward, Stern, Miklos, Katz, Joseph, Dvorkis, Paul, Krichever, Mark, Bard, Simon, Swartz, Jerome, Metlitsky, Boris, Heiman, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): FRECH, KARL D
• Application Number:
  US08/895,888
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 435/462, 435/472, 435/454, 435/462.45, 435/462.46, 435/472.01, 435/472.02
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/0016 with folding cover or folding bottom (hinge without spring)
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10534 Scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1016 Motor control or optical moving unit control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10653 using flexible or piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction

Abstract

An optical scanning system for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity has an optical scan module which is adapted to be mounted on a finger of a user. A first peripheral module, preferably in the form of a wrist watch, has a receiver which detects the reflected light. A second peripheral module, mounted on the other arm of the user, communicates with the first module by radio frequency transmission. According to other aspects of the invention, the light detector may be mounted in a housing which is separate and part from the optical scan module. According to another aspect, a laser pointer or scanner is mounted to a ring which is arranged to be worn on a single finger of the user.

Claims

1. In a system for reading bar code symbols, a combination comprising:

a) an optical scan module supportable by a user during reading, and operative for scanning a bar code symbol to be read with a laser beam;

b) a peripheral module also supportable by the user during reading, and operatively connected to the scan module for detecting laser light reflected off the symbol and for producing and electrical signal responsive to the detected laser light; and

c) a storage unit having a first compartment for receiving the scan module, and a second compartment for receiving the peripheral module, when the modules are not supported by the user.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the scan module includes a housing, a ring-shaped mounting connected to the housing and worn on a finger of the user, a laser source in the housing for emitting and directing the laser beam toward the symbol to be read, and a scan element in the housing for sweeping the laser beam in a scan across the symbol.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the scan module includes a battery in the housing for supplying electrical energy to the laser source and the scan element.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the peripheral module includes a casing, a body mounting connected to the casing and worn on a part of the body of the user, and a photodetector in the casing and operative for detecting the laser light over a field of view.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the body mounting includes a wrist strap.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein the peripheral module further includes a wireless transmitter, and a battery for supplying electrical energy to the photodetector and the transmitter.

7. The combination of claim 1;

and further comprising an auxiliary module also supportable by the user during reading, and operative for processing the electrical signal; and

a wireless transmitter for transmitting the electrical signal between the peripheral and auxiliary modules.

8. The combination of claim 1;

and further comprising an auxiliary module also supportable by the user during reading, and operative for processing the electrical signal; and

a keypad and a display located on one of the peripheral and auxiliary modules.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein each module has an exterior periphery, and wherein each compartment has an interior periphery of complementary contour to the exterior of each module.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the peripheral module includes a generally circular casing an a pair of side straps connected to, and extending in opposite directions from opposite lateral sides of, the casing;

and wherein the second compartment has a generally circular recess for snugly receiving the casing, and a pair of side recesses for snugly receiving the side straps.

11. The combination of claim 1, wherein the storage unit includes a base in which the compartments are located, and a lid movable between an open position in which the compartments are accessible to the modules, and a closed position in which the lid covers the compartment.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein each module contains a rechargeable battery, and wherein each compartment contains an electrical recharging contact through which an electrical current flows to recharge each battery when the modules are received in the compartments.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the storage unit includes a recharging socket and a switch actuated by movement of the lid to the closed position, the switch being operable to conduct the electrical current from the recharging socket to the contact in each compartment.

14. The combination of claim 1, wherein the peripheral module contains a memory component for storing data, and wherein the second compartment contains an electrical download contact through which the data is downloaded after reception of the peripheral module in the second compartment.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the storage unit includes a download socket through which the data is automatically downloaded.

16. The combination of claim 14, wherein the storage unit includes a downloaded socket through which the data is downloaded upon request from an external host device.

17. In a system for collecting data, a combination comprising:

a) a collection module supportable by a user during data collection, and operative for collecting data;

b) a data processing module also supportable by the user during data collection, and operative for processing the data collected by the collection module, the data processing module including a wireless transmitter, and a battery for supplying electrical energy to the transmitter; and

c) a storage unit having a first compartment for receiving the collection module, and a second compartment for receiving the data processing module, when the modules are not supported by the user.

18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the collection module includes a housing and a ring-shaped mounting connected to the housing and worn on a finger of the user.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein the collection module includes a battery in the housing for supplying electrical energy.

20. The combination of claim 17, wherein the data processing module includes a casing and a body mounting connected to the casing and worn on a part of the body of the user.

21. The combination of claim 20, wherein the body mounting includes a wrist strap.

22. The combination of claim 17;

and further comprising an auxiliary module also supportable by the user during data collection; and

a wireless transmitter for transmitting processed data between the processing and auxiliary modules.

23. The combination of claim 17;

and further comprising and auxiliary module also supportable by the user during data collection; and

a keypad and a display located on one of the data processing and auxiliary modules.

24. The combination of claim 17, wherein each module has an exterior periphery, and wherein each compartment has an interior periphery of complementary contour to the exterior periphery of each module.

25. The combination of claim 24, wherein the processing module includes a generally circular casing and a pair of side straps connected to, and extending in opposite directions from opposite lateral sides of, the casing;

and wherein the second compartment has a generally circular recess for snugly receiving the casing, and a pair of side recesses for snugly receiving the side straps.

26. The combination of claim 17, wherein the storage unit includes a base in which the compartments are located, and a lid movable between an open position in which the compartments are accessible to the modules, and a closed position in which the lid covers the compartments.

27. The combination of claim 26, wherein each module contains a rechargeable battery, and wherein each compartment contains an electrical recharging contact through which an electrical current flows to recharge each battery when the modules are received in the compartments.

28. The combination of claim 27, wherein the storage unit includes a recharging socket and a switch actuated by movement of the lid to the closed position, the switch being operative to conduct the electrical current from the recharging socket to the contact in each compartment.

29. In a system for collecting data, a combination comprising:

a) a collection module supportable by a user during data collection, and operative for collecting data;

b) a data processing module also supportable by the user during data collection, and operative for processing the data collected by the collection module, the processing module containing a memory component for storing processed data; and

c) a storage unit having a first compartment for receiving the collection module, and a second compartment for receiving the data processing module, when the modules are not supported by the user, the second compartment containing an electrical download contact through which the stored data is downloaded after reception of the processing module in the second compartment.

30. The combination of claim 29, wherein the storage unit includes a download socket through which the stored data is automatically downloaded.

31. The combination of claim 29, wherein the storage unit includes a download socket through which the stored data is downloaded upon request from an external host device.

32. In a process of reading bar code symbols, a method comprising the steps of:

a) supporting, by a user, an optical scan module operative for scanning a bar code symbol to be read with a laser beam;

b) supporting, by the user, a peripheral module operative for detecting laser light reflected off the symbol and for producing an electrical signal responsive to the detected laser light;

c) inserting the scan module in a first compartment of a storage unit, after the scan module has been removed from the user;

d) inserting the peripheral module in a second compartment of the storage unit, after the peripheral module has been removed from the user; and

e) recharging the modules when the modules are received in the compartments.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein step (a) is performed by supporting the scan module on one finger of the user.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein step (b) is performed by strapping the peripheral module on a wrist of the user.

35. In a process of reading bar code symbols, a method comprising the steps of:

a) supporting, by a user, an optical scan module operative for scanning a bar code symbol to be read with a laser beam;

b) supporting, by the user, a peripheral module operative for detecting laser light reflected off the symbol and for producing an electrical signal responsive to the detected laser light;

c) inserting the scan module in a first compartment of a storage unit, after the scan module has been removed from the user;

d) inserting the peripheral module in a second compartment of the storage unit, after the peripheral module has been removed from the user;

e) storing data corresponding to the electrical signal in the peripheral module; and

f) downloading stored data when the peripheral module is received in the second compartment.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the downloading step is performed automatically.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the downloading step is performed upon request from an external host device.