Removeable scanning module for mobile communication terminal

• US 9,053,380 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Xian, Tao, Wang, Ynjiun Paul, Amundsen, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Marshall, Christle I
• Application Number:
  US13/530,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20130341399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 235435-486
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction

Abstract

A decodable indicia reading system can comprise a mobile communication terminal and a removable scanning module. The mobile communication terminal can comprise a microprocessor and a memory. The mobile communication terminal can further comprise at least one wired communication interface including a first electromechanical connector mechanically attached to the terminal housing. The removable scanning module can comprise an encoded information reading (EIR) device and/or an illumination module at least partially disposed within the scanning module housing. Both the mobile communication terminal and the scanning module can be at least partially received by a common housing.

Claims

1. A decodable indicia reading system comprising:

a mobile communication terminal comprising a first housing, a microprocessor disposed within said first housing, a memory disposed within said first housing, and at least one wired communication interface including a first electromechanical connector mechanically attached to said first housing;

a removable scanning module comprising a second housing at least partially containing at least one of;

an encoded information reading (EIR) device and an illumination module;

a third housing configured to at least partially receive said mobile communication terminal and said scanning module;

wherein said removable scanning module is configured to be communicatively coupled to said mobile communication terminal via an electromechanical interface;

wherein said electromechanical interface comprises a first plurality of wires electrically coupling a second electromechanical connector to a third electromechanical connector;

wherein said electromechanical interface is at least partially disposed within said second housing of said removable scanning module;

wherein said second electromechanical connector is configured to be electromechanically coupled to said first electromechanical connector; and

wherein said electromechanical interface comprises a second plurality of wires electrically coupling said scanning module to said first plurality of wires.

2. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein said EIR device is selected from the group consisting of:

an optical indicia reading device, an RFID reading device, and a magnetic card reading device;

wherein said EIR device is configured to perform at least one of;

outputting raw message data containing an encoded message and outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message.

3. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication terminal further comprises a wireless communication interface communicatively coupled to said microprocessor, said wireless communication interface at least partially disposed within said first housing.

4. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication terminal further comprises a built-in encoded information reading (EIR) device selected from the group consisting of:

a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device;

wherein said EIR device is configured to perform at least one of;

outputting raw message data containing an encoded message and outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message.

5. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication terminal further comprises a built-in imaging device.

6. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein said first electromechanical connector is provided by one of:

a USB connector, a PCMCIA connector, an Ethernet connector.

7. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication terminal is provided by one of:

a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA).

8. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein said EIR device is provided by an imaging device comprising a two-dimensional image sensor configured to output an analog signal representative of light reflected by a physical object located within a field of view of said two-dimensional image sensor.

9. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein said EIR device is provided by an imaging device comprising:

a two-dimensional image sensor configured to output an analog signal representative of light reflected by a physical object located within a field of view of said two-dimensional image sensor;

an amplifier configured to produce an amplified analog signal by amplifying said analog signal;

an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to convert said amplified analog signal into a digital signal representative of said light reflected by said physical object; and

a control circuit configured to control said imaging device.

10. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein said EIR device is provided by a laser scanning device comprising a laser source, a photo-detector configured to generate an analog signal representative of a received light beam of variable intensity, and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to convert said analog signal into a digital signal.

11. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 1, wherein said illumination module comprises at least one of:

an illumination pattern light source bank including one or more light sources, an aiming pattern light source bank including one or more light sources, and an illumination assembly control module.

12. A removable scanning module for coupling to a mobile communication terminal via an electromechanical interface, said removable scanning module comprising a housing at least partially containing at least one of:

an encoded information reading (EIR) device and an illumination module;

wherein said electromechanical interface comprises a first plurality of wires electrically coupling a first electromechanical connector to a second electromechanical connector;

wherein said first electromechanical connector is configured to be electromechanically coupled to said mobile communication terminal;

wherein said electromechanical interface is at least partially disposed within said housing of the removable scanning module;

wherein said second electromechanical connector is configured to be electromechanically coupled to a peripheral device; and

wherein said electromechanical interface comprises a second plurality of wires electrically coupling said scanning module to said first plurality of wires.

13. The removable scanning module of claim 12, wherein said ER device is selected from the group consisting of:

an optical indicia reading device, an RFID reading device, and a magnetic card reading device;

wherein said EIR device is configured to perform at least one of;

outputting raw message data containing an encoded message and outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message.

14. The removable scanning module of claim 12, wherein said removable scanning module is configured to be at least partially disposed within a housing configured to at least partially receive said mobile communication terminal and said removable scanning module.

15. The removable scanning module of claim 12, wherein said first electromechanical connector is provided by one of:

a USB connector, a PCMCIA connector, an Ethernet connector.

16. The removable scanning module of claim 12, wherein said ER device is provided by an imaging device comprising a two-dimensional image sensor configured to output an analog signal representative of light reflected by a physical object located within a field of view of said two-dimensional image sensor.

17. The removable scanning module of claim 12, wherein said DR device is provided by an imaging device comprising:

a two-dimensional image sensor configured to output an analog signal representative of light reflected by a physical object located within a field of view of said two-dimensional image sensor;

an amplifier configured to produce an amplified analog signal by amplifying said analog signal;

an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to convert said amplified analog signal into a digital signal representative of said light reflected by said physical object; and

a control circuit configured to control said imaging device.

18. The removable scanning module of claim 12, wherein said DR device is provided by a laser scanning device comprising a laser source, a photo-detector configured to generate an analog signal representative of a received light beam of variable intensity, and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to convert said analog signal into a digital signal.

19. The removable scanning module of claim 12, wherein said illumination module comprises at least one of:

an illumination pattern light source bank including one or more light sources, an aiming pattern light source bank including one or more light sources, and an illumination assembly control module.