Hand-held data collection system with stylus input

• US 6,266,685 B1
• Filed: 09/08/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Friend, Steve Darren, Danielson, Arvin D., Schultz, Darald R., Boatwright, Darrell L., Austin, Rickey G., Alt, Daniel E., Silva, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Malzahn, David H.
• Application Number:
  US09/149,414
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 708/141, 345/179, 361/680, 361/686
• US Class Current: 708/141
• 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 1/1632 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 1/28 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 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4418 Suspend and resume; Hibernate and awake
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A hand-held data input system having an input stylus and a data receiving pad is disclosed. The data input system can include a recessed stylus holder. The recessed stylus holder can receive the input stylus such that it does not protrude from the system'"'"'s housing. The data input system can alternatively include a grip facilitator. The grip facilitator can be located proximate the data receiving pad to make contact with a finger of a hand gripping a side of the hand-held unit. Other embodiments include features such as an active stylus, a radio frequency receiver, input keys, handwriting recognition capability, an indicia reader and a handstrap.

Claims

1. A data input system, comprising:

a) an input stylus;

b) a hand-held housing;

c) a data receiving pad, located on said hand-held housing, said input stylus capable of inputting data to said data receiving pad by movement of said input stylus relative to said data receiving pad; and

d) a recessed input stylus holder, housed by said hand-held housing;

wherein said recessed input stylus holder is capable of receiving said input stylus such that said input stylus is contained within said hand-held housing and does not protrude from said hand-held housing.

2. The data input system according to claim 1, wherein said data receiving pad is a slate-style handwriting receiving pad.

3. The data input system according to claim 1, wherein said recessed input stylus holder comprises a storage clip.

4. The data input system according to claim 3, wherein said input stylus is snapped into said storage clip.

5. The data input system according to claim 1, wherein said recessed input stylus holder is located on a side of said hand-held housing that is adjacent to said data receiving pad.

6. The data input system according to claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency receiver housed by said hand-held housing.

7. The data input system according to claim 1, further comprising an external unit communication device, housed by said hand-held housing, said external unit communication device capable of communicating with a unit located externally of said hand-held housing.

8. The data input system according to claim 1, wherein said input stylus is a pen.

9. The data input system according to claim 8, wherein said pen is an active pen.

10. The data input system according to claim 1, wherein said data receiving pad comprises a display.

11. The data input system according to claim 10, wherein said display is a touch sensitive screen.

12. The data input system according to claim 10, wherein said display displays data receiving pad status information.

13. The data input system according to claim 1, wherein said data receiving pad comprises mechanical input keys.

14. The data input system according to claim 1, wherein said data receiving pad comprises a shock absorbing housing.

15. The data input system according to claim 1, further comprising a handwriting recognition component.

16. The data input system according to claim 1, further comprising an indicia reader.

17. The data input system according to claim 1, further comprising a handgrip.

18. The data input system according to claim 1, further comprising a handstrap located underneath said data receiving pad.

19. A data input system, comprising:

a) a handheld stylus comprising an electromagnetic signal generator;

b) a handheld housing;

c) a handheld input slate comprising an electromagnetic signal interpretation system, said electromagnetic signal interpretation system capable of receiving the electromagnetic signal generated by said handheld stylus and of determining thereby movement of said handheld stylus relative to said handheld input slate; and

d) a recessed stylus holder, housed by said handheld housing;

wherein said recessed stylus holder is capable of receiving said handheld stylus such that said handheld stylus does not protrude from said handheld housing.

20. The data input system according to claim 19, wherein said handheld stylus and said handheld input slate are not physically connected when said handheld stylus is removed from said recessed stylus holder.

21. A data input system, comprising:

b) an input stylus;

b) a hand-held housing comprising a frontal surface, a first adjacent side surface and a second adjacent side surface;

c) a data receiving pad comprising a first side and a second side, said data receiving pad located on said frontal surface, said input stylus capable of inputting data to said data receiving pad by movement of said input stylus relative to said data receiving pad; and

d) a grip facilitator, located proximate said data receiving pad on said frontal surface to make contact with a hand gripping a side of said hand-held housing adjacent said frontal surface.

22. The data input system according to claim 21, further comprising a recessed input stylus holder, housed by said hand-held housing, and wherein said recessed input stylus holder is capable of receiving said input stylus such that said input stylus is contained within said hand-held housing and does not protrude from said hand-held housing.

23. The data input system according to claim 21, further comprising a handstrap located underneath said data receiving pad.

24. The data input system according to claim 21, wherein said grip facilitator comprises a first elongated strip, located between said first side of said data receiving pad and said first adjacent side surface.

25. The data input system according to claim 24, wherein said grip facilitator further comprises a second elongated strip, located between said second side of said data receiving pad and said second adjacent side surface.

26. The data input system according to claim 24, wherein said first elongated strip comprises an indentation formed into said hand-held housing.