Hand-held data capture system with interchangeable modules

• US 7,712,669 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2003
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kelly, Stephen J., Cargin, Keith K., Mahany, Ronald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai; Thien T
• Application Number:
  US10/646,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20050087603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,454 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.46, 235/462.02, 235/462.01, 235/462.45, 235/492, 235/375, 235/472, 235/380, 235/383, 235/472.01, 235/462.15, 235/462.27, 235/462.38, 235/462.21, 432/422, 340/572, 340/551, 455/556.1, 455/158.3, 455/73, 455/76, 455/112, 370/278, 379/88.16, 379/88.26
• US Class Current: 235/472.02
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1635 Stackable modules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• 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 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1093 sensing, after transfer of the image of the data-field to an intermediate store, e.g. storage with cathode ray tube
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 : specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 : using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 : Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 : using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 : Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A data capture system includes a data collection terminal and a wireless communications module comprising a transceiver arranged to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from a remote station in the data capture system. At least one flat antenna embedded within the communications module, and a pair of flat antennas may be included. A connector is arranged to removably couple the communications module with the data collection terminal and to transmit signals. A microprocessor is coupled with the connector and is arranged to standardize the logic levels and the format of the signals transmitted over the connector such that the data collection terminal may be engaged by the communications module through the connector without adjustment of the communications module.

Claims

1. A handheld wireless communications device having at least one antenna, comprising:

a terminal that has a microphone and a speaker that provide voice input/output;

a wireless transceiver arranged to transmit and receive radio frequency signals including voice signals, the transceiver being operatively coupled with the at least one antenna, the transceiver being operatively coupled to a rechargeable battery, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises at least one transmitter circuitry and at least one receiver circuitry, wherein the transmitter circuitry comprises a transmitter, a transmitter level adjust circuitry, a low pass filter and a modulation-generator-and-limiter circuitry, wherein the modulation-generator-and-limiter circuitry is coupled to the low pass filter which, in turn, is coupled to the transmitter level adjust circuitry which, in turn, is coupled to the transmitter, wherein the receiver circuitry comprises a receiver, a second low pass filter and data recovery circuitry, wherein the receiver is coupled to the second low pass filter which, in turn, is coupled to the data recovery circuitry, wherein the modulation-generator-and-limiter circuit is coupled to an output of a processor and wherein the data recovery circuitry is coupled to an input of the processor;

a CCD sensor that senses an optical image; and

a connector arranged to couple the wireless transceiver with the terminal and to transmit signals,

wherein the wireless transceiver is housed in a module that can be removed from the handheld wireless communications device and replaced with a different type of module without requiring tuning adjustments.

2. The handheld wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna comprises a flat antenna.

3. The handheld wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna comprises a pair of flat antennas.

4. The handheld wireless communications device of claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna comprises two antennas having different structure relative to each other.

5. In a communication system including a portable terminal, the terminal comprising:

a microphone and a speaker that provide voice input/output, the microphone being used with a voice recognition control system;

a touch-sensitive graphical display that is capable of being operatively coupled to a rechargeable battery;

a CCD sensor that senses a wireless image signal;

a wireless communications module comprising a wireless transceiver arranged to transmit and receive radio frequency signals including voice signals, the module being of such a size and weight as to be handheld, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises at least one transmitter circuitry and at least one receiver circuitry, wherein the transmitter circuitry comprises a transmitter, a transmitter level adjust circuitry, a low pass filter and a modulation-generator-and-limiter circuitry, wherein the modulation-generator-and-limiter circuitry is coupled to the low pass filter which, in turn, is coupled to the transmitter level adjust circuitry which, in turn, is coupled to the transmitter, wherein the receiver circuitry comprises a receiver, a second low pass filter and data recovery circuitry, wherein the receiver is coupled to the second low pass filter which, in turn, is coupled to the data recovery circuitry, wherein the modulation-generator-and-limiter circuit is coupled to an output of a processor and wherein the data recovery circuitry is coupled to an input of the processor;

at least one antenna coupled with the transceiver and embedded within the communications module; and

a connector arranged to engage the communications module from the terminal and to transmit signals, wherein the wireless communications module can be removed from the portable terminal device and replaced with a different type of module without requiring tuning adjustments.

6. The terminal of claim 5 wherein the at least one antenna comprises a flat antenna.

7. The terminal of claim 5 wherein the at least one antenna comprises a pair of flat antennas.

8. The terminal of claim 5 wherein the at least one antenna comprises two antennas having different structure relative to each other.

9. The terminal of claim 5 wherein battery power is applied to the communications module from the terminal through a switch and wherein the terminal is responsive to the non-operation of the communications module by opening the switch and by removing power from the communications module.

10. Apparatus for use with a portable terminal comprising:

a microphone and a speaker that provide voice input/output, the microphone being used with a voice recognition control system;

a user interface that includes a touch-sensitive graphical display, the touch-sensitive graphical display being operatively coupled to a rechargeable battery;

a wireless communications module comprising a wireless transceiver arranged to transmit and receive radio frequency signals including voice signals, the module having such a size and weight as to be handheld, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises at least one transmitter circuitry and at least one receiver circuitry, wherein the transmitter circuitry comprises a transmitter, a transmitter level adjust circuitry, a low pass filter and a modulation-generator-and-limiter circuitry, wherein the modulation-generator-and-limiter circuitry is coupled to the low pass filter which, in turn, is coupled to the transmitter level adjust circuitry which, in turn, is coupled to the transmitter, wherein the receiver circuitry comprises a receiver, a second low pass filter and data recovery circuitry, wherein the receiver is coupled to the second low pass filter which, in turn, is coupled to the data recovery circuitry, wherein the modulation-generator-and-limiter circuit is coupled to an output of a processor and wherein the data recovery circuitry is coupled to an input of the processor;

at least one antenna coupled with the communications module and embedded within the communications module; and

a connector arranged to engage the communications module with the terminal and to transmit signals,

wherein the wireless communications module is configured to be removable from the portable terminal device and replaceable with a different type of module without requiring tuning adjustments.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one antenna comprises a flat antenna.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one flat antenna comprises a pair of antennas.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one antenna comprises two antennas having different structure relative to each other.

14. Apparatus for use with a portable terminal including a connector and having a handheld size and weight, the apparatus comprising a microphone and a speaker that provide voice input/output, the microphone being used with a voice recognition control system, a graphical user interface that provides a touch-sensitive display, the graphical user interface being operatively coupled to a rechargeable battery, a CCD sensor that senses an optical image, a wireless communications module having a generally flat rectangular shape and having such a size and weight as to be handheld, the wireless communications module being coupled to the terminal through the connector and comprising a wireless transceiver arranged to transmit and receive radio frequency signals including voice signals, the terminal being engaged by the wireless communications module through the connector, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises at least one transmitter circuitry and at least one receiver circuitry, wherein the transmitter circuitry comprises a transmitter, a transmitter level adjust circuitry, a low pass filter and a modulation-generator-and-limiter circuitry, wherein the modulation-generator-and-limiter circuitry is coupled to the low pass filter which, in turn, is coupled to the transmitter level adjust circuitry which, in turn, is coupled to the transmitter, wherein the receiver circuitry comprises a receiver, a second low pass filter and data recovery circuitry, wherein the receiver is coupled to the second low pass filter which, in turn, is coupled to the data recovery circuitry, wherein the modulation-generator-and-limiter circuit is coupled to an output of a processor and wherein the data recovery circuitry is coupled to an input of the processor, wherein the wireless communications module is configured to be removable from the portable terminal device and replaceable with a different type of module without requiring tuning adjustments.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 comprising a flat antenna.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 comprising a pair of antennas.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the pair of antennas having different structure relative to each other.