Re-configurable trigger assembly

• US 20030234291A1
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Wulff, Thomas, Ilkhanov, Azer
• Granted Patent: US 7,055,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2011/0081 using double shot moulding, e.g. for forming elastomeric sealing elements on form stable casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/06 Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

Described is an improved trigger assembly for use in an electronic device. The trigger assembly includes a pressure sensitive member and a trigger button. The pressure sensitive member includes two or more conductive lines. The pressure sensitive member is secured to a portion of the mobile terminal. The trigger button is secured to the mobile terminal in a manner such that a force applied to the trigger button causes a resultant force to be applied on the pressure sensitive member. The force applied on the pressure sensitive member causes a change in an electrical property between at least two of the conductive lines. A module measures the electrical property between the conductive lines. A function of the device is initiated depending on a comparison of the measured electrical property to a threshold value.

Claims

1. A trigger assembly for initiating a function on a device comprising:

a trigger button movable between a first position and a second position;

a trigger housing attached to the device, said trigger housing encases the trigger button; and

a pressure sensitive member, a portion of said pressure sensitive member being insert molded into the device, said pressure sensitive comprising a first conductive trace, a second conductive trace and a conductive layer;

wherein when said trigger button is moved to said second position said conductive layer causes a change in a measured electrical resistance between said first and second conductive trace.

2. The trigger assembly of claim 1 wherein the measured electrical resistance is compared to a threshold value.

3. The trigger assembly of claim 2 wherein the threshold value is adjustable by a user of the device.

4. The trigger assembly of claim 2 wherein in response to said comparison an audio signal is sent to a speaker within the device.

5. The trigger assembly of claim 4 wherein a user can select the audio signal sent to the speaker.

6. The trigger assembly of claim 3 wherein the user adjusts the threshold value by scanning a barcode.

7. The trigger assembly of claim 3 wherein the user adjusts the threshold value by putting the device in a trigger adjustment mode and depressing the trigger.

8. The trigger assembly of claim 1 wherein said pressure sensitive member includes a third conductive trace and fourth conductive trace.

9. The trigger assembly of claim 8 wherein said third and fourth conductive traces are used to initiate a second function of the device.

10. The trigger assembly of claim 1 the function initiated on the device is related to scanning a barcode symbol.

11. A system for initiating a function on a device configured to be operated by a user, said system comprising:

a trigger button for receiving a force applied by one or more of the user'"'"'s fingers;

a trigger housing attached to the device, said trigger housing encasing the trigger button;

a pressure sensitive member, said pressure sensitive member comprising a target area and two or more conductive lines, said pressure sensitive member configured such that the application of the force on said trigger button causes a resultant force to be applied to the target area that causes a change in an electrical property between the two or more conductive lines;

a module for measuring the electrical property between the two or more conductive lines;

a comparator for comparing the measured electrical property to a threshold value; and

a force adjustment module for allowing the user to adjust the threshold value.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein a portion of said pressure sensitive member is insert molded into the device.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the measured electrical property is electric current.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the measured electrical property is capacitance.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the measured electrical property is voltage.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein in response to said comparison an audio signal is sent to a speaker within the device.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the user can select the audio signal sent to the speaker.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the user adjusts the threshold value by scanning a barcode.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the user adjusts the threshold value by putting the device in a trigger adjustment mode and depressing the trigger.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein said pressure sensitive member includes four conductive lines.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein a first pair of conductive lines are used to initiate a first function on the mobile device and a second pair of conductive lines are used to initiate a second function on the mobile device.

22. The system of claim 11 wherein the module for measuring the electrical property is located on the device.

23. The system of claim 11 wherein said pressure sensitive member further comprises a piezoceramic element.

24. The system of claim 11 wherein said pressure sensitive member further comprises a dielectric material.

25. The system of claim 11 further comprising a memory for storing a database containing identification codes and corresponding threshold values.

26. A triggering system for initiating a function on a device by a user, said trigger assembly comprising:

a trigger button for depressing by one or more of the user'"'"'s fingers;

a trigger housing attached to the device, said trigger housing encases the trigger button; and

a pressure sensitive member, said pressure sensitive member comprising a middle layer and two outer layers, each of the two outer layers being connected to a conductive line, said pressure sensitive member configured such that the application of a force on one of the outer layers causes a change in an electrical property between the two conductive lines;

a module for measuring the electrical property between the two conductive lines;

a comparator for comparing the measured electrical property to a threshold value; and

a force adjustment module for allowing the user to adjust the threshold value.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the middle layer comprises a dielectric material.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the middle layer comprises a piezoceramic element.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the measured electrical property is electric current.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein the measured electrical property is capacitance.

31. The system of claim 26 wherein the measured electrical property is voltage.

32. The system of claim 26 wherein a portion of said pressure sensitive member is insert molded into the device.

33. The system of claim 26 wherein the user adjusts the threshold value by scanning a barcode.

34. The system of claim 26 wherein the user adjusts the threshold value by putting the device in a trigger adjustment mode and depressing the trigger.