Portable optical scanning system worn by a user for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity

• US 5,610,387 A
• Filed: 04/24/1996
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilson, Laura, Viscount, Brian, Little, Gary G., Poloniewicz, Paul, Katz, Joseph, Bard, Simon, Biuso, Anthony, Fama, Anthony, DeVita, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US08/637,011
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/462.44
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• 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 2007/10534 Scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1016 Motor control or optical moving unit control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10564 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10653 using flexible or piezoelectric means
• 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: G06K 7/1098 the scanning arrangement having a modular construction

Abstract

An optical scanning system for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity has an optical scan module including a light emitter for emitting light onto the indicia and a light detector for detecting the reflection of light from the indicia. The scan module is adapted to be mounted on at least one finger of a user. A first peripheral module has a receiver for receiving a first signal corresponding to the detected reflection of light from the optical scan module. The first peripheral module is adapted to be mounted on an arm or wrist of the user. A second peripheral module includes a receiver for receiving a second signal corresponding to the first signal from the first peripheral module by radio frequency transmission. According to other aspects of the invention, the light detector is located in a housing separate and apart from the optical scan module.

Claims

1. An optical scanning system for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity comprising:

a finger mountable optical scan module including a light emitter for emitting light directed at said indicia and a light detector for detecting the reflection of light from said indicia;

a first peripheral module mountable to an arm or wrist of a user for receiving a first signal corresponding to said detected reflection of light from said optical scan module; and

a second peripheral module mountable to the user and establishing a wireless communication link with said first module for receiving from said first module a second signal corresponding to said first signal.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said optical scan module is adapted to be mounted on a single finger.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one finger and said arm or wrist are on the same side of the user'"'"'s body.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said second signal is an analog signal and said second peripheral module includes a means for converting said second signal to a digitized signal.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said second peripheral module includes means for processing said digitized signal.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said processing means includes decoder means for decoding information contained in said digitized signal.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said second peripheral module includes indicator means for signaling the user when the decoding has been successfully accomplished by the decoder means.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein said second peripheral module includes radio frequency transmitter for transmitting said decoded information to a base station.

9. A system according to claims 6, wherein second peripheral module includes a data storage device for storing said decoded information and a keypad and display, or touch screen, for inputting data to said system and displaying said decoded information.

10. A system according to claim 6, wherein said second peripheral module includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting said input data and said first peripheral module includes a wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted input data.

11. A system according to claim 5, wherein said second peripheral module is mounted on an arm or wrist of the user which is on a different side of the user'"'"'s body from the arm or wrist on which the first peripheral module is mounted.

12. A system according to claim 3, wherein said first signal is an analog signal and said first peripheral module includes means for converting said first signal to a digitized signal.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said first peripheral module includes means for processing said digitized signal.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said processing means includes decoder means for decoding information contained in said digitized signal.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said first peripheral module includes indicator means for signaling the user when the decoding has been successfully accomplished by the decoding means.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said second peripheral module is mounted on another arm or wrist of the user.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein said second signal includes said decoded information.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein second peripheral module includes a data storage device for storing said decoded information.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein said second peripheral module includes a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting said decoded information to a base station.

20. A system according to claim 17, wherein said second peripheral module includes a keypad and display, or touch screen, for inputting data to said system and displaying said decoded information.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein (i) said wireless receiver is a first radio frequency transceiver capable of receiving said second signal and transmitting said input data and (ii) said first peripheral module includes a second radio frequency transceiver capable of transmitting said second signal and receiving said transmitted input data.

22. A system according to claim 15, wherein said second peripheral module is located a distance from the user.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said second signal includes said decoded information.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein said first peripheral module includes a keypad and display, or touch screen, for inputting data to said system and displaying said decoded information.

25. A system according to claim 23, wherein first peripheral module includes a data storage device for storing said decoded information.

26. A system according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of said received second signal is selectable by the user.

27. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a cable connecting said optical scan module and said first peripheral module.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein said cable has an exposed length extending between said optical scan module, and said first peripheral module includes a cable reel adapted to accept said cable, whereby said cable is extendable from and retractable onto said cable reel to adjust said exposed length of cable.

29. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second peripheral module is mountable to the wearer'"'"'s other arm or wrist.

52. The system according to claim 1, wherein a wireless communication link is established between said optical scan module and said first peripheral module.

30. An optical scanning system for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity comprising:

a finger mountable optical scan module including a light emitter for emitting light directed at said indicia and a light detector for detecting the reflection of light from said indicia;

a first peripheral module mountable to an arm or wrist of a user for receiving a first signal corresponding to said detected reflection of light from said optical scan module; and

a second peripheral module mountable to the user and establishing a wireless communication link with said first module for receiving from said first module a second signal corresponding to said first signal;

wherein;

said optical scan module is adapted to be mounted on a single finger;

said optical scan module has a housing portion for housing said light emitter and light detector and a ring mount portion; and

said housing portion is rotatable connected to said ring mount portion.

31. a system according to claim 30, wherein said rotatable connection provides at least one rotational degree of freedom.

32. A system according to claim 30, wherein said housing is rotatable in a plane approximately parallel to a plane tangential to the circumference of said ring mount portion at said rotatable connection.

33. An optical scanning system for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity comprising:

an optical scan module, mountable on the person of a user and having a light emitter for generating and emitting light onto said indicia; and

a peripheral module, housed separately from said optical scan module and mountable elsewhere on the person of the user, and having at least one light detector for detecting the reflection of light from said indicia.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein said housing is adapted to be mounted on a single finger of the user.

35. A system according to claim 34, wherein

said optical scan module has a housing portion for housing said light emitter and a ring mount portion;

and

said housing portion is rotatably connected to said ring mount portion.

36. A system according to claim 34, wherein said rotatable connection provides at least one rotational degree of freedom.

37. A system according to claim 34, wherein said housing is rotatable in a plane approximately parallel to a plane tangential to the circumference of said ring mount portion at said rotatable connection.

38. A system according to claim 33, wherein said peripheral module has a housing adapted to be mounted on the body of the user.

39. A system according to claim 38, wherein said peripheral module has a housing adapted to be mounted on an arm or wrist of the user.

40. A system according to claim 33, wherein said peripheral module has a housing adapted to be mounted on an arm or wrist of the user which is on a side of the body of the user which is different from that on which the optical scan module housing is adapted to be mounted.

41. A system as defined in claim 33, wherein the optical scan module includes a pen, and said peripheral module is a pen computer having a touch screen for use with said pen.

42. A system according to claim 33, wherein said peripheral module includes a transceiver capable of receiving input data and transmitting said signal and said input data.

43. A system according to claim 42, wherein said transceiver transmit and receives an infrared signal.

44. A system according to claim 33, wherein said peripheral module transmits an acoustic.

45. An optical scanning system for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity comprising:

a finger mountable optical scan module including a light emitter for emitting light directed at said indicia and a light detector for detecting the reflection of light from said indicia;

a first peripheral module adapted to be mounted on an arm or wrist of a user and including a receiver for receiving a first signal corresponding to said detected reflection of light from said optical scan module; and

a second peripheral module including a wireless receiver for receiving a second signal, corresponding to said first signal, from said first peripheral module;

wherein said first signal is an analog signal, said first peripheral module includes a digitizer for converting said first signal to a digitized signal and a decoder means for decoding information contained in said digitized signal and said decoder is automatically activated upon said receiver receiving a signal indicative of said indicia.

46. A system according to claim 45, wherein (i) said first peripheral module includes an indicator for producing an audible signal when the decoding has been successfully accomplished by the decoder and (ii) said light emitter is automatically deactivated in response to said audible signal.

47. A system according to claim 45, wherein (i) said first peripheral module includes an indicator for producing an audible signal when the decoding has been successfully accomplished by the decoder and (ii) said light emitter and said light detector are automatically deactivated in response to said audible signal.

48. A system according to claim 45, wherein said light emitter is automatically deactivated within a predetermined period of time after activation.

49. A system according to claim 45, wherein said light emitter and said light detector are automatically deactivated within a predetermined period of time after activation.

50. An optical scanning system for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity comprising:

an optical scan module having a light emitter for generating and emitting light onto said indicia; and

a peripheral module, housed separate and apart from said optical scan module, having at least one light detector for detecting the reflecting of light from said indicia and producing a signal representing the information contained in the indicia.

51. A system according to claim 50 further comprising a base station, and wherein said peripheral module includes a keypad or touch screen for inputting data, and said signal and said input data are transmitted to said base station by said peripheral module.