Re-configurable trigger assembly

• US 7,055,749 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Wulff, Thomas, Ilkhanov, Azer
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US10/160,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20030234291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.48, 235/462.49, 235/472.01, 235/472.03, 235/462.01, 235/440, 235/441, 235/484, 235/462.45, 338/185, 338/128, 338/71, 338/114, 338/9, 338/47, 338/99, 338/169, 338/173
• US Class Current: 235/462.48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• 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 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2011/0081 using double shot moulding, e.g. for forming elastomeric sealing elements on form stable casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/06 Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

Described is an improved trigger assembly for use in an electronic device. The trigger assembly includes a pressure sensitive member and a trigger button. The pressure sensitive member includes two or more conductive lines. The pressure sensitive member is secured to a portion of the mobile terminal. The trigger button is secured to the mobile terminal in a manner such that a force applied to the trigger button causes a resultant force to be applied on the pressure sensitive member. The force applied on the pressure sensitive member causes a change in an electrical property between at least two of the conductive lines. A module measures the electrical property between the conductive lines. A function of the device is initiated depending on a comparison of the measured electrical property to a threshold value.

Claims

1. A trigger assembly for initiating a function of a device comprising:

a trigger button;

a pressure sensitive member coupled to the trigger button, the pressure sensitive member comprising a conductive layer having an electrical property that varies based on a pressure exerted by the trigger button;

a plurality of conductive lines adjacent to the pressure sensitive member, the preasure exerted by the trigger button causing a current to flow through the plurality of conductive lines, the current being associated with a user adjustable threshold value; and

a trigger housing attached to the device, the trigger housing at least partially encasing the trigger button.

2. The trigger assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrical property is compared to a the user adjustable threshold value.

3. The trigger assembly of claim 2 wherein in response to a comparison of the electrical property with the user adjustable threshold value, an audio signal is sent to a speaker within the device.

4. The trigger assembly of claim 3 wherein the audio signal sent to the speaker is user selectable.

5. The trigger assembly of claim 1 wherein a user adjusts the user adjustable threshold value by scanning a barcode.

6. The trigger assembly of claim 1 wherein a user adjusts the user adjustable threshold value by putting the device in a trigger adjustment mode and depressing the trigger.

7. The trigger assembly of claim 1 further comprising an additional plurality of conductive traces.

8. The trigger assembly of claim 7 wherein said additional plurality of conductive traces are used to initiate an additional function of the device.

9. The trigger assembly of claim 1 the function initiated on the device is related to scanning a barcode symbol.

10. A trigger system for a portable unit comprising:

a trigger button;

a trigger housing attached to the portable unit, said trigger housing at least partially encasing the trigger button;

a pressure sensitive member comprising a target area that if depressed exhibits an electrical property between a plurality of conductive lines associated therewith, the electrical property varies based on pressure;

a module for measuring the electrical property between the plurality of conductive lines; and

a comparator for comparing the electrical property to a user adjustable threshold value.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein a portion of said pressure sensitive member is insert molded into the portable unit.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the electrical property is electric current.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the electrical property is capacitance.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the electrical property is voltage.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein in response to comparing the electrical property with the user adjustable threshold value, an audio signal is sent to a speaker within the portable unit.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the audio signal sent to the speaker is user selectable.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the user adjusts the user adjustable threshold value by scanning a barcode.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the user adjusts the user adjustable threshold value by putting the device in a trigger adjustment mode and depressing the trigger.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of conductive lines comprises a first and a second pair of conductive lines.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein a the first pair of conductive lines are used to initiate a first function on the portable unit and the second pair of conductive lines are used to initiate a second function on the portable unit.

21. The system of claim 10 wherein the module for measuring the electrical property is located in the portable unit.

22. The system of claim 10 wherein said pressure sensitive member further comprises a piezoceramic element.

23. The system of claim 10 wherein said pressure sensitive member further comprises a dielectric material.

24. The system of claim 10 further comprising a memory for storing a database containing identification codes and corresponding threshold values.

25. A triggering system for initiating a function on a device by a user, said trigger system comprising:

a trigger button;

a trigger housing attached to the device, said trigger housing at least partially encasing the trigger button;

a pressure sensitive member comprising a middle layer and two outer layers that if compressed exhibit an electrical property between two conductive lines coupled thereto, the electrical property varies based on pressure;

a module for measuring the electrical property between the two conductive lines; and

a comparator for comparing the electrical property to a user adjustable threshold value.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the middle layer comprises a dielectric material.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the middle layer comprises a piezoceramic element.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein the electrical property is electric current.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein the electrical property is capacitance.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein the electrical property is voltage.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein a portion of said pressure sensitive member is insert molded into the device.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein the user adjusts the user adjustable threshold value by scanning a barcode.

33. The system of claim 25 wherein the user adjusts the user adjustable threshold value by putting the device in a trigger adjustment mode and depressing the trigger.

34. A method of activating a function in a portable unit comprising:

changing an electrical property of a pressure sensitive member based on a triggering act by a user,

comparing the electrical property to a user adjustable threshold value,

activating the function when the electrical property corresponds to the user adjustable threshold value, and

adjusting the adjustable threshold value to another value by the user.

35. The method of claim 34, the adjusting act further comprises scanning a barcode.

36. The method of claim 34, the adjusting act further comprises putting the device in a trigger adjustment mode and depressing the trigger.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the electrical property is chosen from the group comprising electric current, capacitance, resistance, and voltage.

38. The method of claim 34 further comprising sending an audio signal to a speaker in response to activation of the function.

39. The method of claim 34 further comprising storing a database containing identification codes and corresponding threshold values.