Data capture apparatus with handwritten data receiving component

• US 6,621,942 B1
• Filed: 08/18/1998
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intermec Technologies Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Hacker, David C., Walter, Jerry L., Danielson, Arvin D., Durbin, Dennis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jayanti K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AZARIAN, SEYED H
• Application Number:
  US09/135,771
• Time in Patent Office: 1,855 Days
• Field of Search: 382/313, 382/186, 382/187, 382/188, 382/189, 382/190, 382/314, 382/311, 382/315, 382/316, 382/318, 382/319, 382/320, 382/312, 178/18.1, 708/100, 439/374, 235/472.01, 345/163, 345/164, 345/165, 345/166, 358/473
• US Class Current: 382/313
• 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: F02B 2075/027 four
• 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 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• 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 2200/1635 Stackable modules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions 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 20/343 : Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/30 : Writer recognition; Reading and verifying signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/376 : Acquisition
• 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: H01Q 1/242 : specially adapted for hand-held use
• 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: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A handwritten data capture apparatus is disclosed. The handwritten data capture apparatus can include a user-supported portable data capture unit and a handgrip region. The apparatus includes a handwritten data capture component having a receiving surface. A method for using a data collector to receive, compare and evaluate inputted signatures is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A handwritten data capture apparatus, comprising:

(a) a user-supported portable data capture assembly;

(b) a handwritten data receiving module removably connected to the data capture assembly and having a longitudinally extensive receiving surface to receive a spatially extended sequence of handwritten data;

(c) a handwritten data reader component reading handwritten data applied to said receiving surface and communicating received data to the data capture assembly; and

(d) a handgrip region comprising opposite side surfaces, said handgrip region having a grip cross section such that the data capture assembly is held with an operator'"'"'s hand in simultaneous gripping contact with the opposite side surfaces.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handwritten data reader component is an optical reader operatively connected with said data capture assembly to remotely read handwritten data on the receiving surface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handwritten data reader component comprises a digitizing pad operatively associated with said longitudinally extensive receiving surface.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handwritten data receiving module is removable as a unit from the data capture assembly, the data capture assembly being operational while separate from said module.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a snap-on mechanical connection readily attaching said handwritten receiving module to the data capture assembly.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data capture assembly receives cursive handwritten data such as signatures.

7. A portable data capture assembly, comprising:

(a) a processing system processing and storing data;

(b) a handwritten input system receiving and communicating handwritten information to said processing system;

(c) said handwritten input system having a longitudinally extensive receiving surface to receive a spatially extended sequence of handwritten data;

(d) an indicia reader, the indicia reader reading indicia located externally of the data capture assembly and communicating a representation of read indicia to the processing system;

(e) a handgrip section with a cross section of a size capable of being held in one hand with its fingers and opposing thumb embracing opposite sides of the handgrip section, the handgrip section permitting underlying support of the data capture assembly during input of handwritten information.

8. The data capture assembly according to claim 7, wherein the handwritten input system comprises a digitizer input screen.

9. The data capture assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a removable data storage card.

10. The data capture assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a display, the display indicating a location at which handwritten entry of characters should be entered.

11. The data capture assembly according to claim 7, further comprising an output device, said output device communicating to a user handwritten information input to said input system.

12. The data capture assembly according to claim 11, said output device comprising a graphical display output displaying data in accordance with handwritten characters entered by a user.

13. The data capture assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a transmission system coupled with said processing system, said transmission system communicating data to a site external to the data capture assembly.

14. A portable data capture assembly, comprising:

(a) a processing system;

(b) a user-supported body having a user interface;

(c) said user interface comprising a handwritten information input system, said user interface also communicating inputted information to the processing system;

(d) said handwritten information input system having a longitudinally extensive receiving surface to receive a spatially extended sequence of handwritten data;

(e) said user-supported body having a handgrip section providing underlying support of said user interface during entry of handwritten information;

wherein said handgrip section has a cross section of a size capable of being held in one hand with fingers and opposing thumb embracing opposite sides of the handgrip section.

15. The data capture assembly according to claim 14, wherein said input system comprises a digitizer input screen.

16. The data capture assembly according to claim 14, wherein said input system is a transparent digitizer input screen, and wherein said input system further comprises a display located behind said transparent digitizer input screen.

17. The data capture assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a display, the display indicating a location at which handwritten input should be entered.

18. The data capture assembly according to claim 14, further comprising an information output repeating, in a form intelligible to a user, handwritten information input to said input system.

19. The data capture assembly according to claim 18, said information output comprising a graphical display output displaying data in accordance with handwritten characters entered by a user via the input system.

20. The data capture assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a transmission system, coupled with said processing system, transmitting data to a site external to the data capture assembly.

21. A handwritten data capture apparatus, comprising:

(a) a user-supported portable data capture assembly;

(b) a handwritten data receiving component connected to the data capture assembly and having a longitudinally extensive receiving surface to receive handwritten data;

(c) a handwritten data reader component reading handwritten data applied to said receiving surface and communicating received data to the data capture assembly; and

(d) a handgrip region comprising opposite side surfaces, said handgrip region having a grip cross section such that the data capture assembly is held with an operator'"'"'s hand in simultaneous gripping contact with the opposite side surfaces.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the handwritten data reader comprises an optical reader operatively coupled with said data capture assembly to optically read handwritten data on the receiving surface.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the handwritten data reader comprises a digitizing pad operatively associated with said receiving surface.

24. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the handwritten data receiving module is removable as a unit from the data capture assembly, the data capture assembly being operational while separate from said handwritten data receiving module.

25. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a snap-on mechanical connection readily attaching said handwritten receiving module to the data capture assembly.

26. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the data capture assembly receives cursive handwritten data.