Pager to computer link apparatus

• US 6,097,308 A
• Filed: 12/04/1996
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Data Critical Corporation (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Roark, Joel, Albert, David E., Cumming, Colin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/767,108
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 439/929, 439/76.1, 340/311.1, 340/825.44, 340/825.48, 455/347, 455/348
• US Class Current: 340/7.54
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/02 manually operated with input through keyboard and computation using a built-in program, e.g. pocket calculators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/929 Connecting base plate or shelf type holder

Abstract

An adapter device for downloading stored data from a pager device to a digital computer. A pager device with holster includes an interface circuit board with transmission circuitry, either wired or wireless, for downloading logic level signal, data stored in the pager to a host digital computer for input via the RS-232C interconnect.

Claims

1. A pager to computer link apparatus, comprising:

a holster providing a receptacle to receive a pager having connectors to enable external connections to be made with the pager, said holster including a wall defining part of the receptacle and facing the connectors of the pager when the pager is inserted in said holster;

an interface circuit board disposed inside the receptacle adjacent said wall of said holster, said interface circuit board having contacts to engage the connectors of the pager when the pager is inserted in said holster; and

an external member disposed on the other side of said wall of said holster and secured to said interface circuit board such that said interface circuit board and said external member clamp to said wall to affix said interface circuit board inside the receptacle of said holster.

2. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said external member includes an external cover secured to said interface circuit board by a screw fastener.

3. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said external member includes an adapter circuit board secured to said interface circuit board.

4. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said adapter circuit board has an infrared signal communication circuit mounted thereon, said infrared signal communication circuit connected to said contacts of said interface circuit board.

5. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising a cover disposed over said adapter circuit board, said cover having a viewing slit defined therein to permit infrared signals to pass across said cover.

6. A pager to computer link apparatus, comprising:

a holster providing a receptacle to receive a pager having connectors disposed at one side of the pager to enable external connections to be made with the pager, said holster including;

a base panel defining part of the receptacle of said holster and facing the connectors of the pager when the pager is inserted in said holster, said base panel substantially coextensive with the side of the pager having the connectors; and

a rim extending along only part of said base panel such that there is a space between an end of said rim and a sidewall of said holster extending from said base panel;

an interface circuit board disposed inside the receptacle adjacent said base panel of said holster, said interface circuit board having mounted thereon (a) contacts to engage the connectors of the pager when the pager is inserted in said holster and (b) means for communicating with a computer through the space between said rim and sidewall of said holster; and

an external member disposed on the other side of said base panel of said holster and secured to said interface circuit board such that said interface circuit board and said external member clamp to said base panel to affix said interface circuit board inside the receptacle of said holster, said external member having an opening defined therein to correspond with at least part of the space between said rim and sidewall of said holster.

7. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said external member includes an external cover secured to said interface circuit board by a screw fastener.

8. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein:

said means for communicating includes a mechanical connector; and

said interface circuit board further has mounted thereon a d-c to d-c converter circuit connected between said contacts and said mechanical connector.

9. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said contacts include three pins to communicate electrical ground and receive and transmit data signals with the connectors of the pager.

10. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said holster is a standard holster of the type having a spring clip.

11. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said holster is a standard holster of the type having a spring clip.

12. A pager to computer link apparatus, comprising:

a holster providing a receptacle to receive a pager having connectors disposed at one side of the pager to enable external connections to be made with the pager, said holster including a base panel defining part of the receptacle of said holster and facing the connectors of the pager when the pager is inserted in said holster, said base panel substantially coextensive with the side of the pager having the connectors;

an interface circuit board disposed inside the receptacle adjacent said base panel of said holster, said interface circuit board having mounted thereon contacts to engage the connectors of the pager when the pager is inserted in said holster; and

an adapter circuit board disposed on the other side of said base panel of said holster and secured to said interface circuit board such that said interface circuit board and said adapter circuit board clamp to said base panel to affix said interface circuit board inside the receptacle of said holster and said adapter circuit board outside said holster.

13. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said adapter circuit board has an infrared signal communication circuit mounted thereon, said infrared signal communication circuit connected to said contacts of said interface circuit board.

14. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising a cover disposed over said adapter circuit board, said cover having a viewing slit defined therein to permit infrared signals to pass across said cover.

15. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 14, further comprising at least one stand-off post passing through said adapter circuit board and secured to said interface circuit board, said stand-off post having a threaded hole defined therein to receive a screw fastener passing through said cover to retain said cover to said adapter circuit board.

16. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said infrared signal communication circuit mounted on said adapter circuit board includes:

a clock circuit;

a modulation circuit connected to said clock circuit and connected to the contacts of said interface circuit board providing transmit and receive communications with the pager when the pager is inserted in the holster; and

an infrared transmit/receive circuit connected to said modulation circuit.

17. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said infrared signal communication circuit mounted on said adapter circuit board further includes:

a battery power source; and

a switch to control energizing connection of said battery power source to said clock circuit, said modulation circuit and said infrared transmit/receive circuit.

18. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a cover disposed over said adapter circuit board.

19. A pager to computer link apparatus as defined in claim 18, further comprising at least one stand-off post passing through said adapter circuit board and secured to said interface circuit board, said stand-off post having a threaded hole defined therein to receive a screw fastener passing through said cover to retain said cover to said adapter circuit board.