Portable-terminal holder and radio communication system

• US 7,483,679 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso PS Corporation (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso PS Corporation (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Kurobe, Takahiro, Nagai, Yoshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/065,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20050189423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.2, 455/557, 455/456.1, 455/457, 455/456.5, 455/569.1, 455/423, 455/456.3, 455/90.3, 455/74.1, 455/458, 455/569, 455/558, 455/552.1, 455/41.2, 455/418, 455/420, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/66.1, 455/517, 455/573, 455/556.2, 235/462.45, 235/462.42, 235/472
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10475 arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10821 further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner

Abstract

A portable-terminal holder for holding a portable terminal that has a rechargeable battery and a first radio communication device is constituted by a base and c communication module. The base has a portion on which the portable terminal is placed, and a charging device for charging the rechargeable battery of the portable terminal while said portable terminal is placed on the portion. The communication module has a second radio communication device communicating with the first radio communication device for wireless data transmission between the portable terminal and the communication module, and a cable communication device communicating with an external host computer for cable data transmission between the host computer and the communication module. The communication module is configured to be detachable from the base.

Claims

1. A portable-terminal holder for holding a portable terminal having a rechargeable battery and a first radio communication device comprising:

a base having a portion on which said portable terminal is placed, and a charging device for charging said rechargeable battery while said portable terminal is placed on said portion; and

a communication module having a second radio communication device communicating with said first radio communication device for wireless data transmission between said portable terminal and said communication module, and a cable communication device communicating with an external host computer for cable data transmission between said host computer and said communication module, said communication module being configured to be detachable from said base,

wherein said communication module includes a communication status indicator indicating at least one of a status of wireless data transmission by said first and second radio communication devices and a status of cable data transmission by said cable communication device, and

wherein said base has a window portion that makes said communication status indicator of said communication module attached in said base visible from outside.

2. A portable-terminal holder according to claim 1, wherein each of said base and said communication module has a power supply circuit said base and said communication module are electrically isolated from each other, and said base and said communication module are configured to be operable when detached from each other.

3. A portable-terminal holder according to claim 1, wherein said window portion is covered with a protective transparent plate

4. A portable-terminal holder according to claim 1, wherein said base includes a power status indicator indicating at least a status of charging said rechargeable battery of said portable terminal by said charging device of said base, said power status indicator being installed in such a position that said power status indicator is adjacent to said communication status indicator of said communication module attached in said base.

5. A portable-terminal holder according to claim 1, wherein said portable-terminal is a portable device for optically reading information codes.

6. A portable-terminal bolder for holding a portable terminal having a rechargeable battery and a first radio communication device comprising:

a base having a portion on which said portable terminal is placed, and a charging device for charging said rechargeable battery while said portable terminal is placed on said portion; and

a communication module having a second radio communication device communicating with said first radio communication device for wireless data transmission between said portable terminal and said communication module, and a cable communication device communicating with an external host computer for cable data transmission between said host computer and said communication module, said communication module being configured to be detachable from said base,

wherein said communication module includes a plurality of connectors connected to said cable communication device for use of performing cable data transmission with outside and receiving an electric current as electric power of said communication module from outside, and a current back-flow preventing device preventing an electrical current flowing from one of said plurality of said connectors into said communication module from flowing back to the other of said plurality of said connectors.

7. A portable-terminal holder according to claim 6, wherein each of said base and said communication module has a power supply circuit, said base and said communication module are electrically isolated from each other, and said base and said communication module are configured to be operable when detached from each other.

8. A portable-terminal, holder according to claim 6, wherein said communication module includes a communication status indicator indicating at least one of a status of wireless data transmission by said first and second radio communication devices and a status of cable data transmission by said cable communication device.

9. A portable-terminal holder according to claim 8, wherein said base has a window portion that makes said communication status indicator of said communication module attached in said base visible from outside.

10. A portable-terminal holder according to claim 9, wherein said window portion is covered with a protective transparent plate.

11. A portable-terminal holder according to claim 9, wherein said base includes a power status indicator indicating at least a status of charging said rechargeable battery of said portable terminal by said charging device of said base, said power status indicator being installed in such a position that said power status indicator is adjacent to said communication status indicator of said communication module attached in said base.

12. A portable-terminal holder according to claim 6, wherein said portable-terminal is a portable device for optically reading information codes.