REMOVABLE MODULE FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL

• US 20140097248A1
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Taylor
• Granted Patent: US 9,286,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10544 by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A decodable indicia reading system can comprise a mobile communication terminal and a removable module. The mobile communication terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, and an imaging device comprising a two-dimensional image sensor, all disposed within a housing. The removable module can comprise a housing at least partially containing an encoded information reading (EIR) device, an illumination module, and/or an optical system configured to focus the light reflected by a physical object located within a field of view of the two-dimensional image sensor onto the two-dimensional image sensor. The decodable indicia reading system can further comprise a decoding program executable by the microprocessor, which can be configured to input an encoded information item the imaging device and/or the EIR device. The removable module can be mechanically attached to the mobile communication terminal. The removable module can further comprise a memory configured to store a secret string. The decoding program can be further configured to output a decoded message by decoding the encoded information item responsive to validating the secret string and/or decrypting, using the secret string, at least one data item stored in the memory.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a mobile communication terminal including a first housing, a microprocessor disposed within said first housing, and a first memory disposed within said first housing;

a removable module comprising a second housing;

at least one application program executable by said microprocessor, said at least one application program configured to perform at least one useful business function;

wherein said removable module is mechanically attached to said mobile communication terminal;

wherein said removable module further comprises a second memory configured to store a secret string; and

wherein said at least one application program is further configured to perform said at least one useful business function responsive to at least one of;

validating said secret string and decrypting, using said secret string, at least one data item stored in said first memory.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said removable module is further configured to store in said second memory one or more user profile settings for at least one user of said mobile communication terminal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication terminal further comprise at least one wired communication interface including an electromechanical connector mechanically attached to said first housing;

and

wherein said removable module is communicatively coupled to said mobile communication terminal via said electromechanical connector.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said electromechanical connector is provided by one of:

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

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said validating said secret string is performed by an external computer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said secret string is dynamically generated by said removable module.

7. The 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.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication terminal is provided by one of:

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

9. A decodable indicia reading system comprising:

a mobile communication terminal including a first housing, a microprocessor disposed within said first housing, a first memory disposed within said first housing, an imaging device comprising a two-dimensional image sensor, said imaging device disposed within said first housing;

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

an encoded information reading (EIR) device, an illumination module, and an optical system configured to focus onto said two-dimensional image sensor light reflected by a physical object located within a field of view of said two-dimensional image sensor;

a decoding program executable by said microprocessor, said decoding program is configured to input an encoded information item via one of;

said imaging device and said EIR device;

wherein said removable module is mechanically attached to said mobile communication terminal;

wherein said removable module further comprises a second memory configured to store a secret string; and

wherein said decoding program is further configured to output a decoded message by decoding said encoded information item responsive to at least one of;

validating said secret string and decrypting, using said secret string, at least one data item stored in said first memory.

10. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 9, wherein said mobile communication terminal further comprise at least one wired communication interface including an electromechanical connector mechanically attached to said first housing;

and

wherein said removable module is communicatively coupled to said mobile communication terminal via said electromechanical connector.

11. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 10, wherein said electromechanical connector is provided by one of:

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

12. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 9, wherein said EIR device is provided by one of:

an RFID reading device, a card reading device, and a laser scanning device.

13. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 12, wherein said laser scanning device comprises 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.

14. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 9, wherein said validating said secret string is performed by an external computer.

15. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 9, wherein said secret string is dynamically generated by said removable module.

16. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 9, 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.

17. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 9, wherein said mobile communication terminal is provided by one of:

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

18. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 9, wherein said imaging device further comprises at least one of:

an amplifier configured to amplify an analog signal outputted by said two-dimensional image sensor, said analog signal representative of light reflected by said physical object;

an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to convert said 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.

19. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 9, 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.

20. The decodable indicia reading system of claim 9, wherein said optical system comprises at least one mirror configured to deflect said light reflected by said physical object located within a field of view of said two-dimensional image sensor.