Multi-purpose portable computer with integrated devices

• US 8,152,071 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Motion Computing Incorporated (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Doherty, John, Collins, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): HESS, DANIEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/028,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20090200378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/472.01
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0295 adapted for recording user messages or annotations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7495 using a reader or scanner device, e.g. barcode scanner
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer

Abstract

A portable computer having multiple modes of connectivity is disclosed. The portable computer may be configured to communicate using several wireless transmission protocols, including WWAN, WiFi, and Bluetooth. The portable computer may also receive input from multiple devices, including a bar code scanner, camera, RFID reader, fingerprint reader, digitizer, and an audio subsystem. The portable computer may also contain an accelerometer, and may be configurable to automatically park its hard drive disk when acceleration of a predetermined magnitude is detected.

Claims

1. A portable computer, comprising:

at least two radios, wherein a first radio is configured to transmit and receive data at a first time, and wherein a second radio is configured to transmit and receive data at a second time;

at least two data capture devices, wherein a first data capture device is configured to gather data at a third time, wherein a second data capture device is configured to gather data at a fourth time, and wherein one of the at least two data capture devices comprises a light source that is controlled independently of the one of the at least two data capture devices to illuminate a subject;

an accelerometer configured to measure acceleration of the portable computer along three axes and to generate an interrupt signal when the acceleration measured along at least one of the three axes exceeds a pre-selected magnitude; and

a hard disk drive configured to cease movement upon receiving the interrupt signal from the accelerometer.

2. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth times are at least partially mutually inclusive of each other.

3. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth times are mutually exclusive of each other.

4. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the at least two radios are selected from a group consisting of a WWAN radio, a Bluetooth radio, a WiFi radio, and an RFID reader.

5. The portable computer of claim 4, wherein the at least two data capture devices are selected from a group consisting of a bar code scanner, a camera, and a fingerprint scanner.

6. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the at least two data capture devices are selected from a group consisting of a bar code scanner, a camera, and a fingerprint scanner.

7. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising a solid state memory having no moving parts.

8. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising a display screen having a protective layer that offers a firm writing surface and minimizes glare, and a digitizer panel that enables user input to be entered via a stylus.

9. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising at least one microphone that enables a user to record audio, dictate notes and issue voice commands used to operate the portable computer.

10. The portable computer of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of control buttons for controlling operation of the portable computer.

11. The portable computer of claim 10, wherein the plurality of control buttons comprise:

a function button configured to activate secondary functions for the control buttons;

a dashboard button that calls a control panel type graphical user interface;

a first customizable button and a second customizable button to which a user assigns programmable functions; and

a directional pad having up, down, left and right scroll functionality.

12. The portable computer of claim 10, wherein the plurality of control buttons comprise at least two buttons configured for operating the at least two data capture devices.

13. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein the light source is independently controlled by a user of the portable computer via a control button or through a control panel utility of the portable computer.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

an accelerometer configured to measure acceleration of the electronic device along three axes and to generate an interrupt signal when the acceleration measured along at least one of the axes exceeds a pre-selected magnitude;

a hard disk drive configured to cease movement upon receiving the interrupt signal from the accelerometer;

at least two antennas internal to the electronic device; and

at least two data capture devices internal to the electronic device, wherein one of the at least two data capture devices comprises an illumination source that is controlled independently of the one of the at least two data capture devices to illuminate a subject.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the at least two antennas are configured to operate according to a protocol selected from a group consisting of WWAN radio, Bluetooth, WiFi radio, ISO/IEC 14443A/B, ISO/IEC 15693, and ISO/IEC 18000-3, and wherein the at least two data capture devices are selected from a group consisting of a bar code scanner, a camera, and a fingerprint scanner.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the illumination source is independently controlled by a user of the electronic device via a control button or through a control panel utility of the electronic device.