Hand-held data capture system with interchangeable modules

• US 6,244,512 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1998
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Geers, Robert G., Kelly, Stephen J., Boatwright, Darrell L., Gibbs, William T., Cargin, Keith K. Jr., Mahany, Ronald L., Danielson, Arvin D., Hanson, George E., Miller, Phillip, Koenck, Steven E., Durbin, Dennis A., Schultz, Darald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US09/139,492
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01, 235/462.45
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• 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 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• 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
• 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 15/0216 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0283 for data storage and retrieval
• 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 10/087 : Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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: H01Q 1/2258 : used with computer equipment
• 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 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• 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: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A hand-held data collection device with a user interface surface that is wider than its handgrip area. Also, a hand-held data collection device with an upwardly facing surface containing a user interface and a side surface containing a plurality of actuators. The data collection device can be held in one hand with a finger reaching the actuators. An opposite side surface can also contain a plurality of actuators. The data collection device can include combinations of a marker beam generator, an indicia reader, a display, a manually actuatable selector, a voice input and a digitizer. The indicia reader can be an optical reader or a radio frequency tag reader. Some of the actuators can have different shapes. The actuators can include an indicia reader actuator or a function selector. The data collection device can collect, for example, handwritten information, including signatures.

Claims

1. A hand-held data capture device, comprising:

a) a hand-held housing comprising an upwardly-facing surface and a side surface, said hand-held housing being designed to be held with said upwardly-facing surface facing a user during data collection;

b) a user interface, located on said upwardly-facing surface; and

c) a plurality of actuators, located on said side surface, controlling operation of the data capture device.

2. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, wherein said hand-held housing has a width permitting it to be embraced and supported by one hand, with said plurality of actuators being within reach of a finger embracing said hand-held housing.

3. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, further comprising a marker beam generator.

4. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of actuators comprises a function selector.

5. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said plurality of actuators have a different shape, enabling a user to distinguish an actuator by feeling its shape.

6. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of actuators comprises at least three actuators.

7. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a display.

8. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a manually actuatable selector.

9. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a voice input.

10. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, further comprising a signal device comprising a visible light beam generator.

11. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, further comprising an opposite side, located generally parallel to and opposite said side surface, wherein said opposite side comprises an actuator.

12. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 11, wherein said opposite side comprises a plurality of actuators.

13. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a digitizer.

14. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 13, further comprising a graphical display, wherein said digitizer and said graphical display coexist on a common area of said hand-held housing.

15. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a handwritten data input.

16. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 15, wherein said handwritten data input receives a signature as input.

17. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 16, further comprising a signature comparison routine comparing a stored signature to an inputted signature.

18. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 1, further comprising an indicia reader.

19. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 18, wherein said indicia reader comprises an optical indicia reader.

20. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 18, wherein said indicia reader comprises an electromagnetic code reader.

21. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 18, wherein at least one actuator of said plurality of actuators actuates said indicia reader.

22. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 18, wherein said indicia reader comprises a radio frequency tag reader.

23. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 22, further comprising a visible light beam generator.

24. The hand-held data capture device according to claim 23, wherein said visible light beam generator is used to communicate radio frequency tag reading status to a user.

25. A data capture device, comprising:

a) a hand-held housing comprising an upwardly-facing surface and a side surface, said hand-held housing being structured to be held with said upwardly-facing surface directed toward an operator during use, and said side surface located adjacent said upwardly-facing surface;

b) a user interface, located on said upwardly-facing surface; and

c) an actuator, located on said side surface, capable of controlling an operation of the data capture device.

26. The data capture device according to claim 25, further comprising an additional actuator located on said side surface.

27. The data capture device according to claim 25, wherein said user interface comprises a display.

28. The data capture device according to claim 25, wherein said user interface comprises a manually operable selector.

29. The data capture device according to claim 25, wherein the hand-held housing is structured to permit the data capture device to be supported by a palm of an operator.

30. The data capture device according to claim 25, further comprising a radio module.

31. The data capture device according to claim 25, further comprising a plurality of actuators located on said side surface.

32. The data capture device according to claim 31, wherein at least one of said plurality of actuators comprises a function selector.

33. The data capture device according to claim 31, wherein at least one actuator of said plurality of actuators has a property enabling an operator to distinguish said at least one actuator from other actuators by touch.

34. The data capture device according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of actuators comprises at least three actuators.

35. The data capture device according to claim 25, further comprising an additional side surface and an additional actuator, said additional side surface being directed oppositely of said side surface, and said additional actuator located on said additional side surface.

36. The data capture device according to claim 35, further comprising an indicia reader, wherein said actuator is dedicated to operation of said indicia reader, and wherein said additional actuator is also dedicated to operation of said indicia reader.

37. The data capture device according to claim 36, wherein said actuator is positioned for operation by a right hand of an operator and wherein said additional actuator is positioned for operation by a left hand of an operator.

38. The data capture device according to claim 25, further comprising an indicia reader, and wherein said actuator is dedicated to operation of said indicia reader.

39. The data capture device according to claim 38, wherein said indicia reader comprises an optical indicia reader.

40. The data capture device according to claim 39, wherein said optical indicia reader comprises a scanner module.