Re-configurable trigger assembly

• US 7,481,372 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• 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): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US11/950,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20080164318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.48, 235/462.45, 235/462.43, 235/472.01, 235/440, 235/462.01, 235/441
• 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. An apparatus comprising:

a pressure sensitive member that includes a plurality of pressure sensitive target areas that respectively vary electric current or voltage values as a function of pressure applied respectively thereto;

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

a memory for storing a database containing user identification codes and corresponding user configurations, wherein the apparatus can identify a user as a function of the user identification codes, and apply a configuration corresponding to the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a force adjustment feature that allows a user to adjust force required to activate the one or more functions of the host device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the pressure sensitive member is insert-molded into a housing of the apparatus to form an integral seal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus provides tactile feedback.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of comparators that compare electric current or voltage values in the pressure sensitive member with the thresholds for electric current or voltage values that activate the one or more functions of the host device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thresholds for electric current or voltage values that activate the one or more functions of the host device are adjustable via a user scan of a barcode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thresholds for electric current or voltage values that activate the one or more functions of the host device are adjustable via an adjustment mode of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a unit that measures electrical properties of the pressure sensitive member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive member comprises at least one of a piezoceramic element, dielectric material, or capacitance, and wherein the capacitance varies as a function of pressure applied to the pressure sensitive member.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive member includes conductive lines, wherein electrical properties vary between the conductive lines.

11. A method comprising:

selectively applying pressure to a pressure sensitive member of a portable unit to activate one or more functions of a host device;

varying electric current or voltage values as a function of pressure selectively applied to a plurality of pressure sensitive target areas of the pressure sensitive member;

activating one or more functions of the host device as a function of the electric current or voltage values; and

adjusting thresholds of electric current or voltage values that activate the one or more functions of the host device as a function of a user identification code.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

adjusting force required to activate the one or more functions of the host device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing tactile feedback to a user.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing user identification codes and corresponding user configurations;

identifying a user as a function of the identification codes; and

applying a configuration corresponding to the user.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

comparing electric current or voltage values in the pressure sensitive member with the thresholds of electric current or voltage values that activate the one or more functions of the host device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising at least one of:

adjusting the thresholds of electric current or voltage values that activate the one or more functions of the host device via at least one of a user scan of a barcode or an adjustment mode of the apparatus.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising measuring electrical properties of the pressure sensitive member.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising at least one of:

varying capacitance of the pressure sensitive member as a function of pressure applied to the pressure sensitive member;

or

varying electrical properties between conductive lines.

19. An apparatus comprising:

means for selectively applying pressure to a pressure sensitive member of a portable unit to activate one or more functions of a host device;

means for varying electric current or voltage values as a function of pressure selectively applied to a plurality of pressure sensitive target areas of the pressure sensitive member;

means for activating one or more functions of the host device as a function of the electric current or voltage values; and

means for adjusting thresholds of electric current or voltage values that activate the one or more functions of the host device as a function of a user identification code.