Barcode reader and docking station for charging the barcode reader

• US 9,876,372 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Utykanski, Phil, Hoobler, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Unelus, Ernest
• Application Number:
  US14/814,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20160036257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• 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 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10821 further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

A barcode reader and a docking station for charging the barcode reader are disclosed. The barcode reader may be an elongated pen-shaped device that includes a capacitive tip for use as a stylus against a capacitive touch screen and a barcode reader for reading a barcode. The barcode reader may be docked in the docking station for charging. The docking station may include a magnetic structure for holding the barcode reader to the docking station, and a positioning structure for aligning the charging contacts of the barcode reader and the docking station. The docking station may include a battery such that the barcode reader may be charged from the battery while being docked in the docking station.

Claims

1. A docking station for charging a stylus-shaped barcode reader, the docking station comprising:

a mating surface against which the stylus-shaped barcode reader is positioned for charging;

a plurality of charging contacts including at least one charging contact for power and at least one charging contact for ground, wherein the charging contacts are coupled to mating contacts on the barcode reader when the barcode reader is positioned against the mating surface;

a magnetic structure for holding the barcode reader against the mating surface; and

a positioning structure for aligning the barcode reader against the mating surface when the barcode reader is positioned against the mating surface, wherein at least a portion of the barcode reader comprises an elongated, cylindrical housing, and wherein the positioning structure is shaped to hold the elongated, cylindrical housing of the barcode reader.

2. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the positioning structure includes a cross section at a base end of the positioning structure adjacent to the mating surface which is larger than a cross section at a distal end of the positioning structure spaced away from the mating surface such that when the barcode reader is imprecisely aligned with the distal end, the positioning structure guides the barcode reader into precise alignment with the base end when the barcode reader is positioned against the mating surface.

3. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the magnetic structure includes:

a first magnet with a north polarity directed towards the barcode reader when the barcode reader is positioned against the mating surface; and

a second magnet with a south polarity directed towards the barcode reader when the barcode reader is positioned against the mating surface,

wherein corresponding magnets within the barcode reader, including a first magnet with a south polarity and a second magnet with a north polarity, result in the barcode reader;

being attracted to and positioned against the mating surface of the docking station when a magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader is attracted to a magnetic field of the first magnet of the docking station and a magnetic field of the second magnet of the barcode reader is attracted to a magnetic field of the second magnet of the docking station; and

being repelled from being positioned against the mating surface of the docking station when the magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader is repelled from the magnetic field of the second magnet of the docking station and the magnetic field of the second magnet of the barcode reader is repelled from the magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader.

4. The docking station of claim 3, wherein the positioning structure is configured to rotate the barcode reader into alignment against the mating surface when the barcode reader is attracted to the mating surface by the magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader being attracted to the magnetic field of the first magnet of the docking station and the magnetic field of the second magnet of the barcode reader being attracted to the magnetic field of the second magnet of the docking station.

5. The docking station of claim 3, wherein the positioning structure is configured to laterally displace the barcode reader into alignment against the mating surface when the barcode reader is attracted to the mating surface by the magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader being attracted to the magnetic field of the first magnet of the docking station and the magnetic field of the second magnet of the barcode reader being attracted to the magnetic field of the second magnet of the docking station.

6. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the positioning structure extends outward from the mating surface and is configured to engage with an external housing of the barcode reader.

7. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the positioning structure extends outward from the mating surface and is configured to engage with a cavity or a recess formed in a housing of the barcode reader.

8. The docking station of claim 1, wherein the positioning structure is a cavity extending into a housing of the docking station from the mating surface.

9. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

a base for placement of the docking station on a horizontal surface, wherein the barcode reader is positioned on top of the docking station when the docking station is positioned on the horizontal surface.

10. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

a base for securing the docking station to a vertical surface, wherein the mating surface is generally vertical when the base is secured to the vertical surface, and a shape of the mating surface or the positioning structure is adapted to support a weight of the barcode reader when the barcode reader is held against the mating surface by the magnetic structure.

11. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

an attachment feature for securing the docking station to an individual.

12. The docking station of claim 11, wherein the attachment feature is one of a waist belt, a shoulder belt, a flexible band, or a flexible strap.

13. The docking station of claim 11, wherein the attachment feature is one of a clip, a safety pin and clasp combination, or a flange for being sewn into an article of clothing.

14. The docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery;

at least two master charging contacts including at least one master charging contact for power and at least one master charging contact for ground;

a master charging circuitry coupled between the battery and the at least two master charging contacts and configured to charge the battery when the master charging contacts are coupled to a power source; and

a barcode reader charging circuitry coupled between the battery and the at least two charging contacts and configured to provide charging power from the battery to the barcode reader when the charging contacts are coupled to the mating contacts on the barcode reader.

15. The docking station of claim 14, wherein the magnetic structure includes:

a first magnet with a north polarity directed towards the barcode reader when the barcode reader is positioned against the mating surface; and

a second magnet with a south polarity directed towards the barcode reader when the barcode reader is positioned against the mating surface,

wherein corresponding magnets within the barcode reader, including a first magnet with a south polarity and a second magnet with a north polarity, result in the barcode reader;

i) being attracted to and positioned against the mating surface of the docking station when a magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader is attracted to a magnetic field of the first magnet of the docking station and a magnetic field of the second magnet of the barcode reader is attracted to a magnetic field of the second magnet of the docking station; and

ii) being repelled from being positioned against the mating surface of the docking station when the magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader is repelled from the magnetic field of the second magnet of the docking station and the magnetic field of the second magnet of the barcode reader is repelled from the magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader.

16. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the positioning structure is configured to rotate the barcode reader into alignment against the mating surface when the barcode reader is attracted to the mating surface by the magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader being attracted to the magnetic field of the first magnet of the docking station and the magnetic field of the second magnet of the barcode reader being attracted to the magnetic field of the second magnet of the docking station.

17. The docking station of claim 15, wherein the positioning structure is configured to laterally displace the barcode reader into alignment against the mating surface when the barcode reader is attracted to the mating surface by the magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader being attracted to the magnetic field of the first magnet of the docking station and the magnetic field of the second magnet of the barcode reader being attracted to the magnetic field of the second magnet of the docking station.

18. The docking station of claim 14, wherein the positioning structure extends outward from the mating surface and is configured to engage with an external housing of the barcode reader.

19. The docking station of claim 14, wherein the positioning structure extends outward from the mating surface and is configured to engage with a cavity or a recess formed in a housing of the barcode reader.

20. The docking station of claim 14, wherein the positioning structure is a cavity extending into a housing of the docking station from the mating surface.

21. The docking station of claim 14, further comprising:

a base for placement of the docking station on a horizontal surface, wherein the barcode reader is positioned on top of the docking station when the docking station is positioned on the horizontal surface.

22. The docking station of claim 14, further comprising:

a base for securing the docking station to a vertical surface, wherein the mating surface is generally vertical when the base is secured to the vertical surface, and a shape of the mating surface or the positioning structure is adapted to support a weight of the barcode reader when the barcode reader is held against the mating surface by the magnetic structure.

23. The docking station of claim 14, further comprising:

an attachment feature for securing the docking station to an individual.

24. The docking station of claim 23, wherein the attachment feature is one of a waist belt, a shoulder belt, a flexible band, or a flexible strap.

25. The docking station of claim 23, wherein the attachment feature is one of a clip, a safety pin and clasp combination, or a flange for being sewn into an article of clothing.

26. A docking station for charging a stylus-shaped barcode reader, the docking station comprising:

a plurality of charging contacts including at least one charging contact for power and at least one charging contact for ground;

a docking surface including a positioning structure shaped to hold an elongated, cylindrical portion of a housing of the stylus-shaped barcode reader, the positioning structure being configured to position mating contacts on the barcode reader with the charging contacts when the portion of the housing of the barcode reader having the elongated, cylindrical shape is positioned adjacent to the docking surface; and

a magnetic structure configured to secure the elongated, cylindrical portion of the housing of the barcode reader in a position adjacent to the docking surface.

27. The docking station of claim 26, wherein the positioning structure includes a cross section at a base end of the positioning structure adjacent to the docking surface which is larger than a cross section at a distal end of the positioning structure spaced away from the docking surface such that when the barcode reader is imprecisely aligned with the distal end, the positioning structure guides the barcode reader into precise alignment with the base end when the barcode reader is positioned against the docking surface.

28. The docking station of claim 26, wherein the magnetic structure includes:

a first magnet with a north polarity directed towards the barcode reader when the barcode reader is positioned against the docking surface; and

a second magnet with a south polarity directed towards the barcode reader when the barcode reader is positioned against the docking surface,

wherein corresponding magnets within the barcode reader, including a first magnet of the barcode reader with a south polarity and a second magnet of the barcode reader with a north polarity, result in the barcode reader;

i) being attracted to and positioned against the docking surface of the docking station when a magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader is attracted to a magnetic field of the first magnet of the docking station and a magnetic field of the second magnet of the barcode reader is attracted to a magnetic field of the second magnet of the docking station; and

ii) being repelled from being positioned against the docking surface of the docking station when the magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader is repelled from the magnetic field of the second magnet of the docking station and the magnetic field of the second magnet of the barcode reader is repelled from the magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader.

29. The docking station of claim 28, wherein the positioning structure is configured to rotate the barcode reader into alignment against the docking surface when the barcode reader is attracted to the docking surface by the magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader being attracted to the magnetic field of the first magnet of the docking station and the magnetic field of the second magnet of the barcode reader being attracted to the magnetic field of the second magnet of the docking station.

30. The docking station of claim 28, wherein the positioning structure is configured to laterally displace the barcode reader into alignment against the docking surface when the barcode reader is attracted to the docking surface by the magnetic field of the first magnet of the barcode reader being attracted to the magnetic field of the first magnet of the docking station and the magnetic field of the second magnet of the barcode reader being attracted to the magnetic field of the second magnet of the docking station.

31. The docking station of claim 26, wherein the positioning structure extends outward from the docking surface and is configured to engage with an external housing of the barcode reader.

32. The docking station of claim 26, wherein the positioning structure extends outward from the docking surface and is configured to engage with a cavity or a recess formed in the housing of the barcode reader.

33. The docking station of claim 26, wherein the positioning structure is a cavity extending into a housing of the docking station from the docking surface.

34. The docking station of claim 26, further comprising:

a base for placement of the docking station on a horizontal surface, wherein the barcode reader is positioned on top of the docking station when the docking station is positioned on the horizontal surface.

35. The docking station of claim 26, further comprising:

a base for securing the docking station to a vertical surface, wherein the docking surface is generally vertical when the base is secured to the vertical surface, and a shape of the docking surface or the positioning structure is adapted to support a weight of the barcode reader when the barcode reader is held against the docking surface by the magnetic structure.

36. The docking station of claim 26, further comprising:

an attachment feature for securing the docking station to an individual.

37. The docking station of claim 36, wherein the attachment feature is one of a waist belt, a shoulder belt, a flexible band, or a flexible strap.

38. The docking station of claim 36, wherein the attachment feature is one of a clip, a safety pin and clasp combination, or a flange for being sewn into an article of clothing.

39. The docking station of claim 26, further comprising:

a battery;

at least two master charging contacts including at least one master charging contact for power and at least one master charging contact for ground;

a master charging circuitry coupled between the battery and the at least two master charging contacts and configured to charge the battery when the master charging contacts are coupled to a power source; and

a barcode reader charging circuitry coupled between the battery and the at least two charging contacts and configured to provide charging power from the battery to the barcode reader when the charging contacts are coupled to the mating contacts on the barcode reader.