Printer attachable to various models and types of portable devices and terminals for operation therewith

• US 6,916,128 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Beck, David, Petteruti, Steven F., Petteruti, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAU, MINH H
• Application Number:
  US10/313,425
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 400/88, 400691-693, 361/686
• US Class Current: 400/88
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions

Abstract

A portable printer which can be removably attached to a variety of models and types of portable devices, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), cell phones, or other terminal devices. The portable devices can be attached to the portable printer via a clip-on adapter, thereby providing a universal clip-on printer. The adapter can take on a variety of shapes to hold the device and is unique for the model and type of each portable device, and contains mating electronic interconnectivity to electrically, wirelessly, or optically connect the portable device to the portable printer to enable communication between the portable device and the portable printer. The portable device connected to the portable printer can operate the portable printer in a controlling relationship.

Claims

1. A portable printer comprising:

a housing;

one of a plurality of adapters releasibly attached to said housing, in which each of said adapters is capable connecting a different portable device for communication with said portable printer; and

a controller for determining the type of portable device connected to said portable printer by one of said plurality of adapters attached to said housing.

2. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of adapters enables attachment to said housing.

3. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of adapters releasibly holds a different kind or model of portable device.

4. The portable printer according to claim 1 further comprising a common print engine in said housing for use with different ones of said portable device when connected to said printer by one of said plurality of adapters.

5. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein the different portable device for each of said adapter represents one of a plurality of portable devices of similar kind, model, or type capable of use with the adapter.

6. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein one or more of said plurality of adapters represents a cradle or sled.

7. The portable printer according to claim 1 further comprising:

means for printing in said housing;

means for controlling said printing means in said housing; and

means for communication between said controlling means and the portable device connected by one of said plurality of adapters to said portable printer.

8. The portable printer according to claim 7 wherein said communication means is operative by electrical, optical, or RF connecting means in each of said plurality of adapters when attached to said housing.

9. The portable printer according to claim 7 wherein said communication means further comprises a first connector on said housing in communication with said controlling means, and each of said adapters further comprises second and third connectors coupled to each other for communication, in which said second connector is connectable to said first connector when the adapter is attached to said housing, and said third connector is connectable to the portable device for the adapter, thereby enabling communication between said portable device and said portable printer through said first, second, and third connectors.

10. The portable printer according to claim 9 wherein one or more of said first, second, and third connectors are electrically or optically operative for communication.

11. The portable printer according to claim 9 wherein said portable device has a communication port and said third connector is adapted for mating with said communication port of said portable device.

12. The portable printer according to claim 11 wherein each of said adapters has a profile adapted to receive the portable device for the adapter and to align the communication port of the portable device for connection to said third connector of the adapter.

13. The portable printer according to claim 11 wherein said third connector is electrically or optically operative for connection with the communication port of the portable device.

14. The portable printer according to claim 7 wherein said controlling means further comprises means for determining when the portable device, connected to said portable printer by one of said plurality of adapters attached to said housing, has driver software for enabling communication with said portable printer.

15. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein said portable device represents one of a PDA, cell phone, portable data handling terminal, or hand-holdable computer.

16. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of adapters is shaped to receive a different kind or model of portable device for the respective adapter.

17. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein said housing has means for printing information on media, in which the orientation of printed information on said media with respect to the portable device is different for one or more different ones of said plurality of adapters.

18. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein said portable device connected to said portable printer by one of said plurality of adapters operates said portable printer in a controlling relationship.

19. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein said housing has one or more slots, and each of said plurality of adapters comprises one or more members extending from the adapter into releasable engagement with corresponding slots along said housing to releasibly attach the adapter to the housing.

20. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises means for communication in said housing capable of being used by said portable device when attached to said housing.

21. The portable printer according to claim 20 wherein said communication means is operative by RF or optical communication to devices other than said printer.

22. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises means for inputting or outputting data.

23. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein one or more of said plurality of adapters has means for latching the portable device to the adapter.

24. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein said housing and said adapter when attached to said housing weigh less than 2 pounds.

25. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of adapters comprises two connectors coupled to each other to enable communication between said printer and the portable device, wherein said portable printer and the portable device each interface to different ones of said connectors when the adapter is attached to said housing.

26. The portable printer according to claim 1 wherein said adapter has at least one surface fixably mounted stationary to said housing.

27. A portable printer according to claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises one or more of an image scanner, barcode scanner, and an RFID Tag reader/writer located in said housing.

28. A portable printer comprising:

a housing;

one of a plurality of adapters releasibly attached to said housing, in which each of said adapters is capable connecting a different portable device for communication with said portable printer;

means for printing in said housing;

a controller for controlling said printing means in said housing; and

means for communication between said controller and the portable device connected by one of said plurality of adapters to said portable printer;

wherein said controller is capable of automatically transmitting driver software for enabling communication with the portable device when the portable device is connected to said printer by one of said plurality of adapters attached to said housing.

29. A portable printer according to claim 28, wherein said housing further comprises one or more of an image scanner, barcode scanner, and an RFID Tag reader/writer located in said housing.

30. A portable printer comprising:

a housing for a portable printer; and

one of a plurality of adapters releasibly attached to said housing, in which each of said adapters is capable of connecting a different portable device for communication with said portable printer,

wherein said housing further comprises means for inputting or outputting data, said inputting or outputting data means comprises one or more of an image scanner, barcode scanner, and an RFID Tag reader/writer located in said housing for communicating with at least one of said printer and said portable devices connected to said housing.

31. A method of providing a portable printer comprising the steps of:

attaching a portable device adapter to a portable printer, in which said portable device adapter represents one of plurality of adapters for use with different types, kinds, or models of portable devices;

locating a portable device in the portable device adapter to provide one of electrical, RF, or optical connection between said portable device and said portable printer; and

determining the type of portable device connected to said portable printer by one of said plurality of adapters attached to said portable printer.

32. The method according to claim 31 further comprising the steps of:

communicating commands and data between said portable device and portable printer in accordance with said type of portable device.

33. The method according to claim 31 further comprising the steps of:

replacing the portable device adapter with a different portable device adapter for attachment to the portable printer; and

locating another portable device in said different portable device adapter, and repeating said determining and communicating steps with said another portable device.

34. A method according to claim 31, wherein said portable printer comprises one or more of an image scanner, barcode scanner, and an RFID Tag reader/writer located in said portable printer, and wherein said method further comprises communicating between one or more of said image scanner, barcode scanner, and RFID Tag reader/writer and one of said printer and said portable devices connected to said portable printer.

35. A portable printer for printing information on media comprising:

a housing having means for printing information on media and a controller for controlling said printing means; and

means for releasibly attaching a portable device to said housing for communication with said controller, said releasibly attaching means comprises an adapter for receiving said portable device comprising means for enabling communication between said portable device and said controller, in which said adapter represents ones of a plurality of adapters attachable to said housing to enable attachment of different portable devices,

wherein said controller determines the type of portable device connected to said portable printer by one of said plurality of adapters attached to said housing.

36. The portable printer according to claim 35 wherein the portable device represents one of a PDA, cell phone, portable data handling terminal, or hand-holdable computer.

37. The portable printer according to claim 35 wherein said adapter provides a housing for receiving the portable device and said housing has means for releasibly attaching the adapter to the housing of the printer.

38. The portable printer according to claim 35 further comprising means for enabling communication between said controller and said portable device for enabling information to be sent from said printing means to the portable device.

39. The portable printer according to claim 35 wherein said adapter has at least one surface fixably mounted stationary to said housing.

40. A portable printer comprising a print engine in a housing, and a plurality of adaptors, having attachments or clips, each specific to a different type of terminal or portable device and each commonly connectable to said housing, said attachments or clips enabling attachment of said different kinds of terminals or devices to said printer and a controller for determining the type of portable device connected to said portable printer by one of said plurality of adapters attached to said housing.

41. The portable printer according to claim 40 further comprising means operated by said attachments or clips for enabling the terminal or device specific thereto to be in controlled or controlling relationship with said printer.

42. The portable printer according to claim 40 further comprising communication means in said housing capable of being used by said portable device.

43. The portable printer according to claim 42 wherein said communication means is operative by RF or optical communication to devices other than said printer.

44. The portable printer according to claim 40 further comprising data input or output means in said housing capable of being used by said portable device.

45. A portable printer comprising:

a housing; and

an adapter releasibly attachable to said housing, in which said adapter is capable of connecting a portable device for communication with said portable printer, and said adapter comprises means for providing information to said printer which characterizes the portable device used in the adapter, wherein said means further comprises electronics in said adapter separate from said portable device which stores said information.

46. The portable printer according to claim 45 wherein said means further comprises a connector to said portable printer having a plurality of contacts, and said information is provided to said portable printer in the state of one or more of said contacts being logical zero or one.

47. The portable printer according to claim 45 wherein said adapter represents one of a plurality of adapter each releasibly attachable to said housing of said portable printer for connecting different portable devices for communication with said portable printer.

48. A portable printer according to claim 45, wherein said housing further comprises one or more of an image scanner, barcode scanner, and an RFID Tag reader/writer located in said housing.

49. A portable printer comprising:

a housing;

at least one adapter releasibly attached to said housing, said adapter comprising a connector for connecting said housing; and

a controller located in said housing, said controller is capable of determining the type of portable device connected to said portable printer based on the configuration of said adapter.

50. A portable printer according to claim 49, wherein said connector comprises a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein said contacts identify the type of portable device associated with the portable device.

51. A portable printer according to claim 49, wherein said connector comprises a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein a configuration of said contacts identifies the type of portable device associated with the portable device.

52. A portable printer according to claim 49, wherein said connector comprises a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein said contacts are selectively powered to thereby identify the type of portable device associated with the portable device.

53. A portable printer according to claim 49, wherein said housing further comprises one or more of an image scanner, barcode scanner, and an RFID Tag reader/writer located in said housing.

54. A portable printer comprising:

a housing for a portable printer; and

one of a plurality of adapters releasibly attached to said housing, in which each of said adapters is capable of connecting a different portable device for communication with said portable printer,

wherein said housing further comprises an RFID Tag reader/writer located in said housing for communicating with at least one of said printer and said portable devices connected to said housing.