Portable data collection
First Claim
1. A portable data collection system, comprising:
- a portable data terminal including a housing having an aperture disposed therein;
a magnetic stripe reading apparatus disposed in said housing and extending through said aperture for reading information magnetically encoded on a magnetic stripe card;
a blank attached to said housing and covering said magnetic stripe reading apparatus; and
said blank and said housing forming a slot configured to receive a magnetic stripe card such that said magnetic stripe card is passed over said magnetic stripe reading apparatus to read information encoded on said magnetic stripe card.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable data collection system employing a portable data terminal having increased functionality is disclosed. The portable data terminal includes an integral magnetic stripe reader for reading information magnetically encoded on a magnetic stripe card, such as a credit card or the like. An interchangeable feature pod may be attachable to the data terminal and may include a selected data collection or communication device such as, for example, a data communication port, optical indicia reader or laser scanner to facilitate data entry and communication. The interchangeable feature pod may include a compact, ergonomically efficient actuator for activating the selected data collection or communication device. Interconnection of the portable data terminal to interchangeable feature apparatus such as an electrical power supply, peripheral devices, or data communication apparatus may be accomplished via separate line connection, a port replication apparatus or a vehicle docking apparatus.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A portable data collection system, comprising:
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a portable data terminal including a housing having an aperture disposed therein;
a magnetic stripe reading apparatus disposed in said housing and extending through said aperture for reading information magnetically encoded on a magnetic stripe card;
a blank attached to said housing and covering said magnetic stripe reading apparatus; and
said blank and said housing forming a slot configured to receive a magnetic stripe card such that said magnetic stripe card is passed over said magnetic stripe reading apparatus to read information encoded on said magnetic stripe card. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A portable data collection system, comprising:
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(a) a housing including a bottom portion and a top portion;
(b) a feature pod configured for removable attachment to said bottom portion wherein said feature pod extends at an angle from said bottom portion, (c) a selected feature contained within said feature pod; and
(d) a lever activation assembly operably coupled to said feature pod for activating said selected feature. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
a lever pivotally attached to said interchangeable feature pod, said lever positioned apart from and extending substantially parallel to said bottom portion; and
a switch disposed between said lever and said bottom portion, said switch operable to activate said feature;
a said lever configured to be depressed toward said bottom portion for operating said switch.
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23. The portable data collection system of claim 22, wherein said feature comprises an optical indicia reader.
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24. The portable data collection system of claim 23, wherein said optical indicia reader is a laser scanner.
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25. The portable data collection system of claim 23, wherein said optical indicia reader is an optical indica imager.
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26. The portable data collection system of claim 25, wherein the optical indicia imager comprises a charged coupled device.
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27. The portable data collection system of claim 25, wherein said optical indicia reader is configured to read a two-dimensional data code file.
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28. The portable data collection system of claim 22, wherein said feature comprises a communication coupling device.
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29. The portable data collection system of claim 28, wherein said communication coupling device comprises a serial port connector.
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30. The portable data collection system of claim 21 further comprising a magnetic stripe reader disposed in said bottom portion adjacent to said feature pod, said magnetic stripe reader configured to read information magnetically encoded on a card.
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31. The portable data collection system of claim 30, wherein said magnetic stripe reader comprises:
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a magnetic stripe reading apparatus disposed in said housing and extending through said aperture for reading information magnetically encoded on a magnetic stripe card; and
a blank attached to said housing and covering said magnetic stripe reading apparatus;
said blank and said housing forming a slot configured to receive a magnetic card such that said magnetic card is passed over said magnetic stripe reading apparatus wherein said magnetic stripe reading apparatus reads information magnetically encoded on said magnetic stripe card.
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32. The portable data collection system of claim 31, wherein said magnetic stripe reading apparatus is conductively coupled to said blank to deactivate said magnetic stripe reading apparatus.
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33. The portable data collection system of claim 31, wherein said magnetic stripe reading apparatus is decoupled from said blank by said magnetic stripe card received in said slot to activate said magnetic stripe reading apparatus.
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34. The portable data collection system of claim 31, wherein said magnetic stripe reader is configured to read at least one track of information encoded in a magnetic stripe disposed on said magnetic stripe card.
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35. The portable data collection system of claim 21, further comprising a bay configured to receive at least one removable module wherein said removable module is operatively coupled to said portable data terminal.
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36. The portable data collection system of claim 35, wherein said removable module comprises a PCMCIA card.
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37. The portable data collection system of claim 35, further comprising a pivoting door at least partially covering said bay.
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38. The portable data collection system of claim 21, further comprising a port replication assembly, said port replication assembly removably attachable to said housing and configured to operatively couple said data terminal to an external device.
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39. The portable data collection system of claim 21, further comprising a docking apparatus configured to removably receive said housing therein.
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40. The portable data collection system of claim 39, wherein said docking apparatus includes an aperture configured to allow extension of said interchangeable feature pod there through when said portable data terminal is docked.
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41. A portable data collection system comprising:
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a portable data collection terminal having a bottom end and a top end; and
a docking apparatus for docking said portable data collection terminal, said docking apparatus including;
a housing having a terminal cup configured to removably receive said bottom end of said portable data terminal and a retaining arm assembly configured to engage said upper end;
said retaining arm assembly slidably mounted to said housingsaid retaining arm assembly configured to be moved between a lowered position wherein said portable data terminal is retained in said docking apparatus and a raised position wherein said portable data terminal may be removed from said docking apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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Specification