Finger-mounted readers with low power radio frequency communications

• US 6,607,134 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Maiman, Mitchell H., Hamilton, Alistair R., Bard, Simon, Swartz, Jerome, White, Jay Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/604,192
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.44, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/472.01, 235/472.02
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• 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 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

Abstract

A radio frequency transmitter supported by a finger-mounted reader transmits decoded digital data signals to a remote host computer by a low power, wireless, communications protocol. A beeper worn by a user generates a sound indicative of the receipt of the data signals by the host computer.

Claims

1. A reader for electro-optically reading coded indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

a) a portable housing supportable on a finger of a user, and aimable by movement of the finger at an indicium to be read;

b) a scan engine supported by the housing and including a scanner for scanning the indicium, and a decoder for generating a decoded, digital, data signal representing the indicium; and

c) a radio frequency transmitter supported by the housing and operative for transmitting the decoded, digital, data signal to a host remote from the reader by a low power, wireless, radio frequency, communications protocol.

2. The reader of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a light-transmissive window aimable by the finger movement at the indicum;

wherein the scan engine includes a source for directing a light beam through the window at the indicium for reflection therefrom, and a detector having a field of view and operative for detecting light reflected from the indicium and entering the housing through the window, and for generating an electrical analog signal corresponding to the indicium; and

wherein the scanner is operative for scanning at least one of the light beam and the field of view in a scan over the indicium.

3. The reader of claim 2;

and further comprising a trigger on the housing and manually actuatable to initiate reading.

4. The reader of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a strap for at least partially encircling the finger of the user.

5. The reader of claim 4, wherein the housing extends over, and is supportable on, two fingers of the user;

and wherein the strap at least partially encircles the two fingers.

6. The reader of claim 1;

and further comprising a power source supported by the housing, for supplying electrical power to the scan engine and the transmitter.

7. The reader of claim 1;

and further comprising a memory supported by the housing, for storing the decoded, digital, data signal prior to transmission to the host.

8. The reader of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is activated by the host to initiate transmission.

9. The reader of claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits successive decoded, digital, data signals in time periods spaced timewise apart.

10. A system for electro-optically reading coded indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

a) a portable reader supportable on a finger of a user, and aimable by movement of the finger at an indicium to be read;

a scan engine supported by the reader and including a scanner for scanning the indicium, and a decoder for generating a decoded, digital, data signal representing the indicium; and

a radio frequency transmitter supported by the reader and operative for transmitting the decoded, digital, data signal away from the reader by a low power, wireless, radio frequency, communications protocol;

b) a host for receiving and processing the decoded, digital, data signal transmitted by the transmitter, and for generating an acknowledgment signal; and

c) an auditory annunciator spaced apart from the reader and the host and in wireless, radio frequency, communication with the host, for receiving the acknowledgment signal and, upon receipt thereof, for producing an acknowledgment sound audible to the user and indicative that the host received the decoded, digital, data signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the reader includes a light-transmissive window aimable by the finger movement at the indicium;

wherein the scan engine includes a source for directing a light beam through the window at the indicium for reflection therefrom, and a detector having a field of view and operative for detecting light reflected from the indicium and entering the reader through the window, and for generating an electrical analog signal corresponding to the indicium; and

wherein the scanner is operative for scanning at least one of the light beam and the field of view in a scan over the indicium.

12. The system of claim 11;

and further comprising a trigger on the reader and manually actuatable to initiate reading.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the reader includes a strap for at least partially encircling the finger of the user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the reader extends over, and is supportable on, two fingers of the user;

and wherein the strap at least partially encircles the two fingers.

15. The system of claim 10;

and further comprising a replaceable power source supported by the reader, for supplying electrical power to the scan engine and the transmitter.

16. The system of claim 10;

and further comprising a memory supported by the reader, for storing the decoded, digital, data signal prior to transmission to the host.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmitter is activated by the host to initiate transmission.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmitter transmits successive decoded, digital, data signals in time periods spaced timewise apart.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the annunciator includes a support for mounting the annunciator on the user.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the support is a clip for clipping the annunciator to clothing worn by the user.

21. A method of electro-optically reading coded indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising the steps of:

a) supporting a portable housing on a finger of a user, and aiming the housing by movement of the finger at an indicium to be read;

b) scanning the indicium, and generating a decoded, digital, data signal representing the indicium by actuating a scan engine supported by the housing; and

c) transmitting the decoded, digital, data signal from the reader to a host remote from the reader by a low power, wireless, radio frequency, communications protocol.

22. A method of electro-optically reading coded indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising the steps of:

a) supporting a portable reader on a finger of a user, and aiming the reader by movement of the finger at an indicium to be read;

b) scanning the indicium, and generating a decoded, digital, data signal representing the indicium;

c) transmitting the decoded, digital, data signal away from the reader by a low power, wireless, radio frequency, communications protocol;

d) receiving and processing the decoded, digital, data signal transmitted by the reader at a host remote from the reader, and generating an acknowledgment signal; and

e) producing an acknowledgment sound audible to the user and indicative that the host received the decoded, digital, data signal.

23. A system for electro-optically reading coded indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, comprising:

a) a reader aimable at an indicium to be read, the reader including a scan engine supported by the reader, a scanner for scanning the indicium, a decoder for generating a decoded, digital, data signal representing the indicium, a radio frequency transmitter supported by the reader and operative for transmitting the decoded, digital, data signal away from the reader by a low power, wireless, radio frequency, communications protocol;

b) a host for receiving and processing the decoded, digital, data signal transmitted by the transmitter, and for generating an acknowledgment signal; and

c) an auditory annunciator spaced apart from the reader and the host and in wireless, radio frequency, communication with the host, for receiving the acknowledgment signal and, upon receipt thereof, for producing an acknowledgment sound audible to the user and indicative that the host received the decoded, digital, data signal.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the annunciator has an identifier having parts of different light reflectivity that are electro-optically readable by the reader during a set-up mode;

and wherein the reader is operative for transmitting an annunciator identifying signal corresponding to the identifier, together with the decoded digital data signal, to the host for associating the annunciator with the reader.