Portable work station-type data collection system

• US 6,049,813 A
• Filed: 12/05/1996
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Danielson, Arvin D., Schultz, Darald R., Boatwright, Darrell L., Austin, Rickey G., Alt, Daniel E., Silva, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Malzahn, David H.
• Application Number:
  US08/760,774
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 364/708.1, 364/700, 361/683, 312/223.2, 348/560, 348/634, 206/521, 206/523, 206/591
• US Class Current: 708/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A portable data collection terminal has an elongate housing with a hand grip conforming rear surface. A front surface features a numerical keyboard adjacent a lower end of the housing and an LCD screen adjacent the keyboard toward an upper end of the housing. The display screen is of elongate rectangular shape, its length extending longitudinally of the housing of the data terminal. The active area of the display screen is covered by a touch sensitive overlay screen which is configured in one mode of operation of the data terminal into an alphabetical keyboard. The orientation of the display is switchable between orientations in which the line direction of the displayed data extends across or longitudinally of the data terminal. The keys of the numerical keyboard are identified by indicia disposed on a template. The orientation of the template may be sensed to switch the orientation of the displayed data and touch sensitive key identifiers to correspond to the orientation of the indicia on the template. As a further embodiment an electromagnetic activation by a pen may be used to enter data into a data terminal. The system includes terminals in the form of wireless transceivers in communication with base stations.

Claims

1. A portable data collection terminal system, comprising:

a) a housing having, in a frontal side thereof, a housing portion having a display screen with a screen area, said display screen including a graphic data input component disposed coincident with said screen area;

b) an accessory pod, including a handgrip extension pod, holding a selected accessory device of said system wherein said accessory pod has a width dimensioned less than a width of said housing portion;

c) a grip plate having a width dimensioned less than said width of said housing portion; and

d) an attachment device selectively and detachably attaching either said accessory pod or said grip plate to said housing, opposite said frontal side, such that said screen is shielded from accidental contact by a user when holding respectively said handgrip extension pod or said grip plate.

2. The portable date collection terminal system according to claim 1, wherein said accessory device comprises an indicia reader.

3. The portable data collection terminal system according to claim 1, wherein said accessory device comprises a wireless receiver.

4. The portable data collection terminal system according to claim 1, wherein said accessory device comprises a laser scanner.

5. The portable data collection terminal system according to claim 1, further including a stylus holder located on an exterior of said housing.

6. A portable data collection terminal system, comprising:

a) a housing having, in a frontal side thereof, a housing portion having a display screen with a screen area, said display screen including a graphic data input device disposed coincident with said screen area, said housing including an input circuit;

b) a memory card door having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration such that said door is removably securable to said housing; and

c) a sensor signaling, to said input circuit, manipulation of said memory card door from said locked configuration to said unlocked configuration.

7. The portable data collection terminal system of claim 6, including a memory card enclosed by said memory card door and further including means for communicatively attaching said card to a selected peripheral communication device externally located relative to said memory card door.

8. The portable data collection terminal system according to claim 6 wherein said sensor comprises an optical sensor.

9. The portable data collection terminal system according to claim 6 wherein said sensor comprises a magnetic sensor.

10. The portable data collection terminal system according to claim 6 wherein said sensor comprises an inductive sensor.

11. A portable data collection terminal system, comprising a housing constructed of a co-molded structure wherein a boundary region is formed between first and second molded parts that, in combination, provide impact resistance over substantially the entire exterior of an end of said housing;

said housing having, in a frontal side thereof, a housing portion having a display screen with a screen area;

said display screen including a graphic data input device disposed coincident with said screen area.

12. A portable data collection terminal system, comprising a housing constructed of a co-molded structure wherein a boundary region is formed between first and second molded parts that, in combination, provide impact resistance over substantially the entire exterior of an end of said housing;

said housing having, in a frontal side thereof, a first portion having a display screen with a screen area, and a second portion having a keyboard;

said display screen including a graphic data input device disposed coincident with said screen area;

said keyboard and said graphic data input device are connected in parallel with each other;

said keyboard and said graphic data input device structured to operate in dependently of each other with separate interrupt signals.

13. The portable data collection terminal system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a) an accessory pod, including a handgrip extension pod, holding a selected accessory device of said system wherein said accessory pod has a width dimensioned less than a width of said first portion;

b) a grip plate having a width dimensioned less than said width of said first portion; and

c) an attachment component selectively and detachably attaching either said accessory pod or said grip plate to said housing, opposite said frontal side, such that said screen is shielded from accidental contact by a user when holding said handgrip extension pod or said grip plate.

14. The portable data collection terminal system according to claim 13, wherein said graphic data input device is a touch sensitive screen.

15. A hand-held device, comprising:

a) a housing having a frontal side;

b) an accessory device cover, including an accessory device cover handgrip pod, wherein said accessory device cover handgrip pod'"'"'s width is narrower than said frontal side'"'"'s width; and

c) a grip plate, including a grip plate handgrip pod, wherein said grip plate handgrip pod'"'"'s width is narrower than said frontal side'"'"'s width;

wherein said grip plate and said accessory device cover are selectively attachable to, and detachable from, said housing.

16. The hand-held device according to claim 15, further comprising an indicia reader contained at least partially within said accessory device cover.

17. The hand-held device according to claim 16, wherein said indicia reader is an optical indicia reader.

18. The hand-held device according to claim 17, wherein said optical indicia reader is a scanner device.

19. The hand-held device according to claim 15, further comprising a communication device contained at least partially within said accessory device cover.

20. The hand-held device according to claim 19, wherein said communication device is a transceiver module.

21. The hand-held device according to claim 19, wherein said communication device is a modem.

22. The hand-held device according to claim 15, further comprising a memory device contained at least partially within said accessory device cover.

23. The hand-held device according to claim 15, further comprising an energy source contained at least partially within said accessory device cover.

24. The hand-held device according to claim 23, wherein said energy source is a battery.

25. The hand-held device according to claim 15, further comprising a user interface located on said frontal side.

26. The hand-held device according to claim 25, wherein said user interface comprises a display.

27. The hand-held device according to claim 25, further comprising a graphic input device.

28. The hand-held device according to claim 27, further comprising a stylus, said graphic input device accepting handwritten input.

29. The hand-held device according to claim 28, further comprising a stylus holder located on said housing.

30. The hand-held device according to claim 25, wherein said accessory device cover is located on a bottom side of said housing such that said user interface is shielded from accidental contact by a hand holding said accessory device cover handgrip pod or said grip plate handgrip pod.

31. The hand-held device according to claim 25, wherein said user interface comprises a keyboard.

32. The hand-held device according to claim 15, wherein said grip plate comprises an alternate accessory device contained at least partially within said grip plate.

33. A hand-held device, comprising:

a) a housing, having a frontal surface, said housing containing an accessory device connector and a control unit;

b) an access panel having an open configuration and a closed configuration; and

c) an access panel movement sensor;

wherein manipulation of said access panel causes said access panel movement sensor to signal said control unit.

34. The hand-held device according to claim 33, wherein said housing further comprises a user interface located on said frontal surface.

35. The hand-held device according to claim 33, wherein said access panel further comprises an access panel handgrip, said access panel handgrip'"'"'s width being narrower than said frontal surface'"'"'s width.

36. The hand-held device according to claim 35, further comprising an accessory device coupled with said accessory device connector and contained at least partially within said access panel.

37. The hand-held device according to claim 33, further comprising an accessory device coupled with said accessory device connector.

38. The hand-held device according to claim 37, wherein said accessory device comprises an energy source.

39. The hand-held device according to claim 37, wherein said accessory device comprises a memory unit.

40. The hand-held device according to claim 37, wherein said accessory device is a standardized memory module.

41. The hand-held device according to claim 37, wherein said accessory device is an indicia reader.

42. The hand-held device according to claim 37, wherein said access panel movement sensor generates a warning signal prior to decoupling of said accessory device from said accessory device connector.

43. The hand-held device according to claim 33, wherein said access panel movement sensor comprises an optical sensor.

44. The hand-held device according to claim 33, wherein said access panel movement sensor comprises a magnetic sensor.

45. The hand-held device according to claim 33, wherein said access panel movement sensor comprises an inductive sensor.

46. The hand-held device according to claim 33, wherein movement of said access panel toward an open configuration triggers performance of a data saving procedure by the hand-held device.

47. The hand-held device according to claim 33, wherein said access panel movement sensor'"'"'s signal is an advance warning signal.

48. The hand-held device according to claim 33, wherein said access panel movement sensor'"'"'s signal precipitates a controlled shut down of the hand-held device.

49. The hand-held device according to claim 48, wherein the hand-held device'"'"'s state at shut down is recreated following a restart of the hand-held device.

50. A hand-held devices, comprising:

a) a housing comprising a frontal side, said frontal side having a user interface, said housing further comprising an access side defining an opening into the housing'"'"'s interior; and

b) a handgrip pod with a width narrower than a width of said frontal side, said handgrip pod being attachable to said housing;

wherein said handgrip pod has a closed position closing the access side, and wherein said handgrip pod also has an open position permitting access via said access side to an interior component of said housing.

51. The hand-held device according to claim 50, wherein said interior component comprises an accessory device connector.

52. The hand-held device according to claim 51, further comprising an accessory device coupled with said accessory device connector.

53. The hand-held device according to claim 52, wherein said accessory device is at least partially contained within said handgrip pod when said handgrip pod is in its closed position.

54. The hand-held device according to claim 52, wherein said accessory device comprises an indicia reader.

55. The hand-held device according to claim 54, wherein said indicia reader comprises a scanner.

56. The hand-held device according to claim 52, wherein said accessory device comprises an optical indicia reader.

57. The hand-held device according to claim 52, wherein said accessory device comprises a communication device.

58. The hand-held device according to claim 57, wherein said communication device comprises a transceiver.

59. The hand-held device according to claim 57, wherein said communication device comprises a modem.

60. The hand-held device according to claim 52, wherein said accessory device comprises a memory unit.

61. The hand-held device according to claim 52, wherein said accessory device comprises an energy source.