Barcode-reading system

• US 9,858,461 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2015
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Utykanski, Philip, Deal, John, Hoobler, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US14/964,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20160180129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 23546247, 23547201-47203
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/089 hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10831 Arrangement of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors, prisms optical elements per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

This patent specification describes a barcode-reading enhancement accessory for a mobile device having a barcode-reading capability. The accessory may include an outer case and an inner carriage. A mobile device is encased in the inner carriage, and the combination of the inner carriage and the mobile device is accommodated in the outer case. The inner carriage is configured to accommodate a mobile device of a particular size such that a mobile device of a different size may be accommodated in the outer case using a different inner carriage. The accessory may also include an optic system to fold an optical path of a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device and/or a field of view of a camera of the mobile device.

Claims

1. An accessory for a mobile device having a barcode-reading capability, comprising:

a case having a cavity configured to accommodate the mobile device;

a handle assembly for securing the case that accommodates the mobile device, wherein the handle assembly comprises a supplemental illumination system that is configured to emit at least one of targeting illumination, diffuse bright field illumination, and dark field illumination; and

an optic system secured to the case and configured to fold an optical path of at least one of a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device or a field of view of a camera of the mobile device when the mobile device is accommodated in the case.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a platform and the case is secured onto the platform.

3. The accessory of claim 2, wherein the case includes a sliding mechanism and a locking mechanism for securing the case to the platform.

4. The accessory of claim 2, wherein a back surface of the case includes an aperture such that the platform becomes flush with the back surface of the case when the case is secured onto the platform.

5. The accessory of claim 4, wherein a tongue is provided in the aperture extending from the back surface of the case, and a slot that matches the tongue is formed in the platform such that a vertical position of a mobile device within the case is adjusted by the tongue.

6. The accessory of claim 2, wherein the handle assembly further includes a handle extended from a bottom surface of the platform.

7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the case is configured to accommodate a mobile device of a particular size such that a different case is used for accommodating a mobile device of a different size.

8. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a connector for connecting with a mating connector of the mobile device.

9. The accessory of claim 8, wherein dimensions of the case and the handle assembly are selected to align the connector with the mating connector of the mobile device when the case with the mobile device is secured to the handle assembly.

10. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the case includes one or more apertures within one or more walls of the case to allow access to buttons or switches on the mobile device when the mobile device is accommodated in the case.

11. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a trigger switch to allow a user to trigger reading of a barcode using the mobile device.

12. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a battery for supplying power to components in the handle assembly and charging power to the mobile device.

13. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the supplemental illumination system emits targeting illumination.

14. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the light source of the mobile device is used for exposure illumination and the supplemental illumination system is used for targeting illumination.

15. The accessory of claim 1, wherein a light source of the mobile device is used for targeting illumination and exposure illumination.

16. The accessory of claim 15, wherein the supplemental illumination system is used for additional diffuse bright field illumination or bright far field illumination.

17. The accessory of claim 1, wherein a light source of the mobile device is used for targeting illumination and the supplemental illumination system is used for diffuse bright field illumination and/or dark field illumination.

18. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the optic system is configured to fold the optical path from a back surface of the mobile device towards a target area positioned at a top side of the mobile device.

19. The accessory of claim 1, wherein a bottom wall of the case is open for inserting the mobile device into the case.

20. An accessory for at least one mobile device having a barcode-reading capability, comprising:

a plurality of cases, each case having a cavity of a different size for accommodating a mobile device of a different size;

a handle assembly for securing one of the cases that accommodates a mobile device, wherein the handle assembly comprises a supplemental illumination system that is configured to emit at least one of targeting illumination, diffuse bright field illumination, and dark field illumination; and

an optic system secured to each case and configured to fold an optical path of at least one of a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device or a field of view of a camera of the mobile device when the mobile device is accommodated in one of the cases.

21. The accessory of claim 20, wherein the handle assembly includes a platform and one of the cases is secured onto the platform.

22. The accessory of claim 21, wherein each case includes a sliding mechanism and a locking mechanism for securing the case to the platform.

23. The accessory of claim 21, wherein a back surface of each case includes an aperture such that the platform becomes flush with the back surface of the case when the case is secured onto the platform.

24. The accessory of claim 23, wherein a tongue is provided in the aperture extending from the back surface of the case, and a slot that matches the tongue is formed in the platform such that a vertical position of a mobile device within the case is adjusted by the tongue.

25. The accessory of claim 21, wherein the handle assembly further includes a handle extended from a bottom surface of the platform.

26. The accessory of claim 20, wherein the handle assembly includes a connector for connecting with a mating connector of the mobile device.

27. The accessory of claim 26, wherein dimensions of each case and the handle assembly are selected to align the connector with the mating connector of the mobile device when the case with the mobile device is secured onto the handle assembly.

28. The accessory of claim 20, wherein each case includes one or more apertures within one or more walls of the case to allow access to buttons or switches on the mobile device.

29. The accessory of claim 20, wherein the handle assembly includes a trigger switch to allow a user to trigger reading of a barcode using the mobile device.

30. The accessory of claim 20, wherein the handle assembly includes a battery for supplying power to components in the handle assembly and charging power to the mobile device.

31. The accessory of claim 20, wherein the supplemental illumination system emits targeting illumination.

32. The accessory of claim 20, wherein the light source of the mobile device is used for exposure illumination and the supplemental illumination system is used for targeting illumination.

33. The accessory of claim 20, wherein the light source of the mobile device is used for targeting illumination and exposure illumination.

34. The accessory of claim 33, wherein the supplemental illumination system is used for additional diffuse bright field illumination or bright far field illumination.

35. The accessory of claim 20, wherein a light source of the mobile device is used for targeting illumination and the supplemental illumination system is used for diffuse bright field illumination and/or dark field illumination.

36. The accessory of claim 20, wherein the optic system is configured to fold the optical path from a back surface of the mobile device towards a target area positioned at a top side of the mobile device.

37. The accessory of claim 20, wherein a bottom wall of the case is open for inserting the mobile device into the case.

38. An accessory for a mobile device having a barcode-reading capability, comprising:

a case for encapsulating substantially a back surface and one or more side edges of the mobile device, wherein the case is configured to accommodate a mobile device of a specific size;

a handle assembly for securing the case with the mobile device, wherein the handle assembly comprises a supplemental illumination system that is configured to emit at least one of targeting illumination, diffuse bright field illumination, and dark field illumination; and

an optic system secured to the case and configured to fold an optical path of at least one of a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device or a field of view of a camera of the mobile device when the mobile device is accommodated in the case.

39. The accessory of claim 38, wherein the handle assembly includes a platform and a handle extended downward from a bottom surface of the platform, wherein the case is secured onto the platform.

40. The accessory of claim 39, wherein the case includes a sliding mechanism and a locking mechanism for securing the case to the platform.

41. The accessory of claim 39, wherein the back surface of the case includes an aperture such that the platform becomes flush with the back surface of the case when the case is secured onto the platform.

42. The accessory of claim 38, wherein the case includes one or more apertures within one or more walls of the case to allow access to buttons or switches on the mobile device when the mobile device is accommodated in the case.

43. The accessory of claim 38, wherein the handle assembly includes a trigger switch to allow a user to trigger reading of a barcode using the mobile device.

44. The accessory of claim 38, wherein the handle assembly includes a battery for supplying power to components in the handle assembly and charging power to the mobile device.

45. The accessory of claim 38, wherein the supplemental illumination system emits targeting illumination.

46. The accessory of claim 38, wherein the optic system is configured to fold the optical path from the back surface of the mobile device towards a target area positioned at a top side of the mobile device.