Battery pack with integrated human interface devices

• US 7,140,546 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Cordes, Kevin, Schlieffers, Jorg, Shi, David Tsi, Terlizzi, Jeff, Jwo, Chin-Hung, Breytman, Alex, White, Jay Paul, Tu, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US10/317,495
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01, 235/462.01, 235/462.44, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/486, 307/150, 320/132, 320/118
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction

Abstract

A power pack with human interface devices that includes a power pack housing, which is detachably interfaced to a portable device. The power pack includes a power source internal to the housing for providing power, a light source internal to the housing for producing a light signal associated with a status, which light signal is viewable external to the housing, and an audio source internal to the housing for producing an audio signal associated with the status. The power pack interfaces electrically to the portable device to provide power thereto, and receive therefrom control signals associated with the status, which control signals activate at least one of the light source and audio source according to the status.

Claims

1. A power pack for a portable device, comprising:

a power pack housing, which housing is detachably interfaced to the portable device;

a power source internal to the housing for providing power;

a light source internal to the housing for producing a light signal associated with a status of the portable device, which light signal is viewable external to the housing; and

an audio source internal to the housing for producing an audio signal associated with the status;

the power pack interfaces electrically to the portable device to provide power thereto, and receive therefrom control signals associated with the status, which control signals activate at least one of the light source and audio source according to the status.

2. The power pack of claim 1, at least one of the light signal and audio signal of the power pack is perceived by a user.

3. The power pack of claim 1, the power source including at least one battery.

4. The power pack of claim 1, the light source including at least one LED operable to emit the light signal, which is a colored light, in response to the status.

5. The power pack of claim 1, the light source including a first LED that is controlled to emit a green light in response to a first operation of the portable device, and a second LED that is controlled to emit a red light in response to a second operation of the portable device.

6. The power pack of claim 1, the audio signal conducting through the housing for perception by a user.

7. The power pack of claim 1, further comprising a view port in the housing through which a user views the light signal.

8. The power pack of claim 1, the power from the power source routed external to the power pack, and which control signals route the power to activate the audio source and light source according to the status.

9. A portable data collection device, comprising:

a case having at least one portal, the case including;

a reading apparatus for reading a readable dataform through the portal;

a control circuit for controlling the reading apparatus and processing data representative of the dataform; and

a communication interface for communicating the data from the portable device; and

a power pack for providing power to the portable device, the power pack interfacing electrically to the portable device to provide power thereto, and receive from the control circuit control signals associated with a status of the reading apparatus, the power pack including;

a power pack housing, which housing is detachably interfaced to the case of the portable device;

a power source internal to the housing for providing power;

a light source internal to the housing for producing a light signal associated with the status, which light signal is viewable external to the housing; and

an audio source internal to the housing for producing an audio signal associated with the status.

10. The collection device of claim 9, the portable device is a wearable ring scanner, and the power pack is detachably interfaced to the rear of the case such that a user perceives at least one of the audio signal and light signal therethrough.

11. The collection device of claim 9, the light source including at least one LED operable to emit the light signal, which is a colored light, in response to the status.

12. The collection device of claim 9, the light source including a first LED that is controlled to emit a green light in response to a first operation of the portable device, and a second LED that is controlled to emit a red light in response to a second operation of the portable device.

13. The collection device of claim 9, the communication interface facilitating wireless communication such that both the data and controls signals are communicated wirelessly between the collection device and a remote location.

14. A portable data collection system, comprising:

a portable data collection device, the device including;

a case having at least one portal, the case including;

a reading apparatus for reading a readable dataform through the portal;

a control circuit for controlling the reading apparatus and processing data representative of the dataform; and

a communication interface for communicating the data from the portable device;

a power pack for providing power to the portable device, the power pack interfacing electrically to the portable device to provide power thereto, and receive from the control circuit control signals associated with a reading status, the power pack including;

a power pack housing, which housing is detachably interfaced to the case of the portable device;

a power source internal to the housing for providing power;

a light source internal to the housing for producing a light signal associated with a status, which light signal is viewable external to the housing; and

an audio source internal to the housing for producing an audio signal associated with the status; and

a remote collection unit in wireless communication with the portable device.

15. The system of claim 14, the communication interface facilitating wireless communication such that at least one of the data and controls signals are communicated wirelessly between the portable device and the remote unit.

16. The system of claim 14, at least one of the remote unit and the portable device automatically triggering the reading apparatus to read the dataform.

17. The system of claim 14, the remote unit automatically triggering the portable device to read the dataform, and in response to the dataform being read, the control circuit activates at least one of the light source and the audio source in accordance with the status of the read operation.

18. A portable data collection system, comprising:

a portable data collection device wearable on at least one finger of a user, the device including;

a reading apparatus for reading a readable dataform; and

a control circuit for controlling the reading apparatus and communicating data representative of the dataform from the portable device;

a power pack in mechanical engagement with the portable device and electrically interfaced thereto for providing power, the power pack further adapted to include at least one light source and an audio source for producing corresponding light and audio signals under control of the control circuit, the light and audio signals associated with a status of the portable device; and

a remote collection unit in wireless communication with the control circuit of the portable device for communicating data and control signals therebetween, the remote unit wearable by the user.

19. A portable device, comprising:

a case, the case including;

a control circuit for controlling the portable device; and

a communication interface for communicating information from the portable device; and

a power pack for providing power to the portable device, the power pack interfacing electrically to the portable device to provide power thereto, and receive from the control circuit control signals associated with a status of the portable device, the power pack including;

a power pack housing, which housing is detachably interfaced to the case of the portable device;

a power source internal to the housing for providing power;

a light source internal to the housing for producing a light signal associated with the status, which light signal is viewable external to the housing; and

an audio source internal to the housing for producing an audio signal associated with the status.

20. A method of providing a power pack for a portable device, comprising:

providing a power pack housing, which housing detachably interfaces to the portable device;

providing a power source internal to the housing for providing power;

providing a light source internal to the housing for producing a light signal associated with a status of the portable device, which light signal is viewable external to the housing; and

providing an audio source internal to the housing for producing an audio signal associated with the status;

the power pack interfaces electrically to the portable device to provide power thereto, and receive therefrom control signals associated with the status, which control signals activate at least one of the light source and audio source according to the status.

21. The method of claim 20, a user perceiving at least one of the light signal and audio signal from the power pack.

22. The method of claim 20, the power source including at least one battery.

23. The method of claim 20, the light source including at least one LED operable to emit the light signal, which is a colored light, in response to the status.

24. The method of claim 20, the light source including a first LED that is controlled to emit a green light in response to a first operation of the portable device, and a second LED that is controlled to emit a red light in response to a second operation of the portable device.

25. The method of claim 20, the audio signal emanating through the housing for perception by a user.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising a view port in the housing through which a user views the light signal.

27. The method of claim 20, the power from the power source is routed external to the power pack, and which control signals route the power to activate the audio source and light source according to the status.

28. A method of providing a portable data collection device, comprising:

providing a case having at least one portal, the case including;

a reading apparatus for reading a readable dataform through the portal;

a control circuit for controlling the reading apparatus and processing data representative of the dataform; and

a communication interface for communicating the data from the portable device; and

providing a power pack for providing power to the portable device, the power pack interfacing electrically to the portable device to provide power thereto, and receive from the control circuit control signals associated with a reading status, the power pack including;

a power pack housing, which housing is detachably interfaced to the case of the portable device;

a power source internal to the housing for providing power;

a light source internal to the housing for producing a light signal associated with the status, which light signal is viewable external to the housing; and

an audio source internal to the housing for producing an audio signal associated with the status.

29. The collection device method of claim 28, the portable device is a wearable ring scanner, and the power pack is detachably interfaced to the rear of the case such that a user perceives at least one of the audio signal and light signal therethrough.

30. The collection device method of claim 28, the light source including at least one LED operable to emit the light signal, which is a colored light, in response to the status.

31. The collection device method of claim 28, the light source including a first LED that is controlled to emit a green light in response to a first operation of the portable device, and a second LED that is controlled to emit a red light in response to a second operation of the portable device.

32. The collection device method of claim 28, the communication interface facilitating wireless communication such that both the data and controls signals are communicated wirelessly between the collection device and a remote location.

33. A method of providing a portable data collection system, comprising:

providing a portable data collection device, the device including;

a case having at least one portal, the case including;

a reading apparatus for reading a readable dataform through the portal;

a control circuit for controlling the reading apparatus and processing data representative of the dataform; and

a communication interface for communicating the data from the portable device;

providing a power pack for providing power to the portable device, the power pack interfacing electrically to the portable device to provide power thereto, and receive from the control circuit control signals associated with a status of the portable device, the power pack including;

a power pack housing, which housing is detachably interfaced to the case of the portable device;

a power source internal to the housing for providing power;

a light source internal to the housing for producing a light signal associated with a status, which light signal is viewable external to the housing; and

an audio source internal to the housing for producing an audio signal associated with the status; and

providing a remote collection unit in wireless communication with the portable device.

34. The method of claim 33, the communication interface facilitating wireless communication such that at least one of the data and controls signals are communicated wirelessly between the portable device and the remote unit.

35. The method of claim 33, at least one of the remote unit and the portable device automatically triggering the reading apparatus to read the dataform.

36. The method of claim 33, the remote unit automatically triggering the portable device to read the dataform, and in response to the dataform being read, the control circuit activates at least one of the light source and the audio source in accordance with the status of the read operation.

37. A power pack for a portable device, comprising:

means for housing a power pack, which housing means is detachably interfaced to the portable device;

means for providing power, which power means is internal to the housing;

means for producing a light signal from within the housing, which light signal is associated with a status of the portable device and viewable external to the housing; and

means for producing an audio signal from within the housing, which audio signal is associated with the status;

the power pack interfaces electrically to the portable device to provide power thereto, and receive therefrom control signals associated with the status, which control signals activate at least one of the light source and audio source according to the status.