Re-configurable trigger assembly

• US 7,306,156 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US11/381,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20060186207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.48, 235/462.49, 235/472.01, 235/462.01, 235/440, 235/441, 235/484, 235/462.45, 235/462.43, 341/34
• 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 that activates a function of a host device, comprising:

a pressure sensitive member that varies electric current or voltage values as a function of pressure applied thereto;

a trigger that selectively applies pressure to the pressure sensitive member to activate one or more functions of the host device, wherein thresholds for the electric current or voltage values are user configurable so as to correspond to respective functions of the host device; and

a memory for storing a database containing user identification codes and corresponding user configurations, the assembly can identify a user using the identification codes, and apply the configuration corresponding to the user.

2. The trigger assembly of claim 1 further comprising a comparator that compares electric current or voltage values in the pressure sensitive member with the thresholds.

3. The trigger assembly of claim 2, the thresholds adjustable via scan of a barcode, by the user.

4. The trigger assembly of claim 1, the thresholds adjustable via an adjustment mode of the trigger assembly.

5. The trigger assembly of claim 1 further comprising a unit that measures electrical properties of the pressure sensitive member.

6. The trigger assembly of claim 1, the pressure sensitive member includes a piezoceramic element.

7. The trigger assembly of claim 1, the pressure sensitive member includes dielectric material.

8. The trigger assembly of claim 1, the pressure sensitive member with a capacitance that is variable as a function of pressure applied.

9. The trigger assembly of claim 1, the pressure sensitive member includes conductive lines with variable electrical properties therebetween.

10. A method of triggering a function in a portable unit comprising:

activating the function when a threshold value of a trigger is reached upon pressing thereupon,

adjusting the threshold value to another value by a user, to regulate sensitivity of triggering the function;

recognizing the user by an identification code; and

applying a threshold value corresponding to the user.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising storing threshold values in a memory of the port able unit.

12. The method of claim 10, act of adjusting the threshold value to another value by a user is performed via scanning a bar code.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising varying an electrical property of a pressure sensitive member associated with the trigger, based on pressure applied thereto.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising increasing the pressure to activate the function.

15. The method of claim 13, the adjusting act further comprising placing the portable unit in a trigger adjustment mode and depressing the trigger.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising measuring the electrical property in the pressure sensitive member.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising comparing the electrical property with the threshold value.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising varying a capacitance of the pressure sensitive member based on the pressure.

19. A trigger assembly comprising:

pressure sensitive means for varying an electrical property as a result of pressure applied thereto;

means for applying pressure to the pressure sensitive means, to activate one or more functions of a device that hosts the trigger assembly, upon reaching a threshold value;

means for recognizing a user by an identification code and applying a threshold value corresponding to the user; and

means for allowing the user to adjust the threshold value.