Method of scanning codes and processing data with handheld scanning jacket

• US 9,989,999 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PatientSafe Solutions, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: PatientSafe Solutions, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Yturralde, Mark C., Ghanbari, Reza A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sorey, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US14/231,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20140291394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records

Abstract

A method of reading codes with a reader mounted at least partially within a jacket and communicating the read codes to a handheld device also mounted at least partially within the jacket. The codes may identify a medicine, identify a patient, run an inventory, run a patient safety application, or other process control application located on the handheld device. The jacket includes an opening configured to align and engage with a display surface of the handheld device to simultaneously display being read. The jacket is portable and small and light enough to be carried by a user while working in a healthcare facility.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a jacket including;

a first portion defining a scan window, and a second portion opposite the first portion defining a viewing window, the viewing window defining a plane, the jacket defining a plurality of receiving areas; and

a scan engine disposed in a first receiving area from the plurality of receiving areas and aligned with the scan window to define an optical path, the scan engine configured to decode a barcode in the optical path into a format compatible with a handheld device, the scan engine movable to define an angle of the optical path with respect to the plane,

a second receiving area from the plurality of receiving areas configured to receive the handheld device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the angle is between 70 degrees and 90 degrees.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a speaker configured to communicate with the handheld device when the handheld device is received in the second receiving area.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a microphone configured to communicate with the handheld device when the handheld device is received in the second receiving area.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vibrating element configured to communicate with the handheld device when the handheld device is received in the second receiving area.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pass-through button configured to align with an input button of the handheld device when the handheld device is received in the second receiving area.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second portion further defines a transparent window configured to align with a camera of the handheld device when the handheld device is received in the second receiving area.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a jacket including;

a first portion defining a scan window, and a second portion defining a viewing window, the viewing window defining a plane;

the jacket defining a plurality of receiving areas; and

a scan engine disposed in a first receiving area from the plurality of receiving areas and aligned with the scan window to define an optical path, the scan engine configured to decode a barcode into a format compatible with a handheld device, the optical path disposed at an angle with respect to a direction that is normal to the plane,

a second receiving area from the plurality of receiving areas configured to receive the handheld device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the angle is between 5 degrees and 15 degrees.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a microphone configured to communicate with the handheld device when the handheld device is received in the second receiving area.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a vibrating element configured to communicate with the handheld device when the handheld device is received in the second receiving area.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second portion further defines a transparent window configured to align with a camera of the handheld device when the handheld device is received in the second receiving area.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a jacket including;

a first portion defining a scan window, and a second portion opposite the first portion defining a viewing window, the viewing window defining a plane, the jacket defining a plurality of receiving areas;

a scan engine disposed in a first receiving area from the plurality of receiving areas and aligned with the scan window to define an optical path, the scan engine not configured to decode a barcode, the scan engine movable to define an angle of the optical path with respect to the plane; and

conversion circuitry disposed in a second receiving area from the plurality of receiving areas, the conversion circuitry configured to receive a signal associated with the barcode, and convert the signal associated with the barcode into a format for processing at a microcontroller such that the microcontroller decodes the barcode into a format that is readable by a handheld device,

a third receiving area from the plurality of receiving areas configured to receive the handheld device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the angle is between 70 degrees and 90 degrees.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a microphone configured to communicate with the handheld device when the handheld device is received in the second receiving area.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a vibrating element configured to communicate with the handheld device when the handheld device is received in the second receiving area.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second portion further defines a transparent window configured to align with a camera of the handheld device when the handheld device is received in the second receiving area.