Handheld device having an optical data reader

• US 6,418,325 B1
• Filed: 07/12/1999
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adventure Gallery Software Limited Liability Company
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reber, William L., Harris, Daryl R., Perttunen, Cary D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/351,373
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556, 455/557, 455/550, 455/575, 455/90, 455/566, 455/74, 379/433, 379/428, 379/428.01, 379/433.01, 379/433.05, 379/433.11, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 235/462, 235/472
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• 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 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 1/2755 by optical scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A handheld device comprises a housing and an optical reader supported by the housing. The housing can include a corner portion at which the optical reader is accessible. Alternatively, the housing can define a major exterior surface at which the optical reader is accessible. The optical reader can include a scanning beam reader responsive to an orientation of the handheld device.

Claims

1. A handheld device comprising:

a first housing having a corner portion and a first edge, the corner portion adjacent the first edge;

a second housing pivotally connected to the first housing near the first edge;

at least one user input device supported by the first housing;

a display device supported by the second housing; and

a bar code reader supported by the first housing, the bar code reader accessible at the corner portion of the first housing and operable when the second housing is pivoted to a closed position with respect to the first housing.

2. The handheld device of claim 1 further comprising an input device to selectively activate and deactivate the bar code reader, the input device including a button supported near a second edge of the first housing.

3. The handheld device of claim 2 wherein the corner portion is adjacent the second edge.

4. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the display device is unviewable when the second housing is in the closed position with respect to the first housing.

5. The handheld device of claim 1 further comprising:

an audio input device supported by the first housing; and

an audio output device supported by the second housing.

6. The handheld device of claim 5 further comprising a wireless telephone transceiver in communication with the audio input device and the audio output device.

7. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the bar code reader is in a fixed position with respect to the first housing.

8. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the first housing defines an opening at the corner portion, and wherein the bar code reader is accessible at the opening.

9. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the at least one input device comprises a touchpad.

10. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the at least one input device comprises a plurality of keys.

11. The handheld device of claim 1 further comprising:

an input device to selectively activate and deactivate the bar code reader, the input device including a button supported near a second edge of the first housing, wherein the corner portion is adjacent the second edge;

an audio input device supported by the first housing;

an audio output device supported by the second housing; and

a wireless telephone transceiver in communication with the audio input device and the audio output device;

wherein the display device is unviewable when the second housing is in the closed position with respect to the first housing;

wherein the bar code reader is in a fixed position with respect to the first housing; and

wherein the first housing defines an opening at the corner portion, and wherein the bar code reader is accessible at the opening.

12. A handheld device comprising:

a first housing having a first corner portion and a second corner portion;

a second housing pivotally connected to the first housing;

a first code optical reader accessible at the first corner portion; and

a second code optical reader accessible at the second corner portion; and

wherein each of the first optical reader and the second optical reader includes a printed code reader.

13. The handheld device of claim 12, wherein each of the first optical reader and the second optical reader has a fixed position with respect to the first housing.

14. The handheld device of claim 12, wherein the second housing is pivotally connected to the first housing at an edge adjacent to the first corner portion and the second corner portion.

15. The handheld device of claim 14, further comprising:

a radio transceiver having a radio transmitter and a radio receiver, the radio transmitter responsive to the first optical reader; and

a display device supported by the second housing, the display device responsive to the radio receiver.

16. The handheld device of claim 12, further comprising:

a radio transceiver having a radio transmitter and a radio receiver; and

a display device responsive to at least the radio receiver.

17. The handheld device of claim 12, wherein the printed code is a bar code.