Snap-on module for selectively installing receiving element(s) to a mobile device

• US 8,991,704 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Lam, Sander, Hopper, Scott R
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Claude J
• Application Number:
  US13/713,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20130153658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 235/435, 235/439, 235/440, 235/454, 235/462.45, 235/472.01, 235/492, 456/349, 456/557, 455/349, 455/557
• US Class Current: 235/440
• 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: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 11/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing waveguides or resonators, lines, or other devices of the waveguide type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

An apparatus and method for selectively attaching sensor(s) or antenna(s) to a mobile device at a convenient location are provided. The mobile device includes a body and a processing unit housed within the body for running an application, where the body includes a forward end and a rearward end that supports engagement with a charging dock. In addition, the rearward end accepts engagement of a snap-on module that physically assembles to and electronically interfaces with the mobile device. The antennas or sensors are externally mounted to the mobile device at a location proximate to the forward end of the body. Further, these antennas or sensors are interconnected to the snap-on module using media-routing conduit(s) that are configured to carry signals from the antennas or sensors to the snap-on module for distribution as an input to the application running on the processing unit.

Claims

1. A modular device comprising:

a mobile device that includes a body and a processing unit housed within the body for running at least one application, wherein the body includes a forward end and a rearward end, and wherein the rearward end includes an electronic interface that is operably coupled to the processing unit;

a snap-on module that electronically and physically engages to the electronic interface at the rearward end of the mobile device, wherein engagement establishes a communication path between the snap-on module and the processing unit of the mobile device;

one or more antennas or sensors that (i) are assembled externally to the body of the mobile device and (ii) are located proximate to the forward end of the mobile device; and

one or more media routing conduits each comprising an end and positioned externally alongside the body of the mobile device, the one or more media routing conduits (i) interconnecting the one or more antennas or sensors, respectively, to the snap-on module and (ii) providing one or more communication pathways that facilitate the exchange of signals between the one or more antennas or sensors, respectively, to the snap-on module;

wherein the snap-on module comprises connectors configured to frictionally engage, physically couple with, and electronically interface to the ends of the one or more media routing conduits.

2. The modular device of claim 1, wherein the electronic interface of the mobile device is designed to dock with a charger that distributes power to at least one battery internal to the mobile device.

3. The modular device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device represents a bar-code scanner with radio-frequency identification (RFID)-reading functionality provisioned within the processing unit.

4. The modular device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device represents at least one of a mobile handset, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular phone.

5. The modular device of claim 1, wherein the physical engagement between the snap-on module and the electronic interface represents a selective fastening between the rearward end of the mobile device and the snap-on module.

6. The modular device of claim 1, wherein the at least one media routing conduit is configured to carry signals from the one or more antennas or sensors to the snap-on module for distribution as an input to the at least one application running on the processing unit.

7. The modular device of claim 1, wherein the at least one media routing conduit includes at least one of coaxial cable, twisted wire, or optical cable.

8. The modular device of claim 1, wherein the snap-on module includes one or more connectors that are designed to frictionally engage with one or more ends, respectively, of the at least one media routing conduit.

9. The modular device of claim 1, further comprising fasteners for holding the at least one media routing conduit against the body of the mobile device.

10. The modular device of claim 1, further comprising fasteners for holding the one or more antennas or sensors against the body of the mobile device.

11. The modular device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are configured for reading RFID tags.

12. The modular device of claim 1, wherein the one or more antennas are configured for receiving transmissions.

13. The modular device of claim 1, wherein, during use, the rearward end of the mobile device is directed toward an operator.

14. The modular device of claim 1, further comprising a boot, fabricated of resilient material, that covers a substantial portion of the body of the mobile device while allowing the electronic interface to be exposed for the purpose of docking to a charger.

15. A modular device comprising:

a mobile device that includes a casing and a processor protected by the casing, wherein the casing includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the second end exposes an electronic interface that is operably coupled to the processor;

at least one battery that resides internally within the casing of the mobile device, wherein the electronic interface of the mobile device is designed to dock with a charger that distributes power to the at least one battery;

a module that physically and electrically engages to the electronic interface at the second end of the mobile device, wherein engagement establishes a communication path between the module and the processor;

one or more receiving elements that are assembled externally to and are positioned toward the first end of the casing of the mobile device, wherein the one or more receiving elements comprises at least one of antennas or sensors; and

one or more media routing conduits each comprising an end and positioned externally alongside the casing of the mobile device, the one or more media routing conduits interconnecting the one or more receiving elements, respectively, to the module, wherein the one or more media routing conduits are configured to carry signals from the one or more receiving elements assembled externally to the first end of the casing of the mobile device to the processor via the module engaged to the electronic interface at the second end of the mobile device;

wherein the module comprises connectors configured to frictionally engage, physically couple with, and electronically interface to the ends of the one or more media routing conduits.

16. The modular device of claim 15, wherein the module is configured to dock with the charger, thereby allowing for distribution of power from the module to the at least one battery through the electronic interface without disengaging the module from the mobile device.

17. The modular device of claim 15, wherein (i) the one or more sensors are configured for reading RFID tags and (ii) the mobile device represents a bar-code scanner with radio-frequency identification (RFID)-reading functionality provisioned within the processing unit.

18. The modular device of claim 15, wherein the mobile device represents at least one of a mobile handset, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular phone.