Portable data collection

• US 6,497,368 B1
• Filed: 01/19/1999
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Friend, Steven D., Kordes, Kurt, Silva, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/233,398
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01, 235/449, 235/462.13, 235/462.45
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers

Abstract

A portable data collection system employing a portable data terminal having increased functionality is disclosed. The portable data terminal includes an integral magnetic stripe reader for reading information magnetically encoded on a magnetic stripe card, such as a credit card or the like. An interchangeable feature pod may be attachable to the data terminal and may include a selected data collection or communication device such as, for example, a data communication port, optical indicia reader or laser scanner to facilitate data entry and communication. The interchangeable feature pod may include a compact, ergonomically efficient actuator for activating the selected data collection or communication device. Interconnection of the portable data terminal to interchangeable feature apparatus such as an electrical power supply, peripheral devices, or data communication apparatus may be accomplished via separate line connection, a port replication apparatus or a vehicle docking apparatus.

Claims

1. A portable data collection system, comprising:

a portable data terminal including a housing having an aperture disposed therein;

a magnetic stripe reading apparatus disposed in said housing and extending through said aperture for reading information magnetically encoded on a magnetic stripe card;

a blank attached to said housing and covering said magnetic stripe reading apparatus; and

said blank and said housing forming a slot configured to receive a magnetic stripe card such that said magnetic stripe card is passed over said magnetic stripe reading apparatus to read information encoded on said magnetic stripe card.

2. The portable data collection system of claim 1, wherein said magnetic stripe reading apparatus is conductively coupled to said blank to deactivate said magnetic stripe reading apparatus.

3. The portable data collection system of claim 2, wherein said magnetic stripe reading apparatus is decoupled from said blank by said magnetic stripe card received in said slot to activate said magnetic stripe reading apparatus.

4. The portable data collection system of claim 1, wherein said magnetic stripe reading apparatus is configured to read at least one track of information encoded in a magnetic stripe disposed on said magnetic stripe card.

5. The portable data collection system of claim 1, further comprising an interchangeable feature pod for removable attachment to said housing.

6. The portable data collection system of claim 5, wherein said interchangeable feature pod extends at an angle to said housing.

7. The portable data collection system of claim 6, wherein said interchangeable feature pod comprises an optical indicia reader.

8. The portable data collection system of claim 7, wherein said interchangeable feature pod comprises a lever activation assembly operably coupled to said optical indicia reader, and wherein said lever activation assembly is configured to initiate data collection by said optical indicia reader.

9. The portable data collection system of claim 7, wherein said lever activation apparatus comprises a lever positioned apart from and extending substantially parallel to said housing and a switch disposed between said lever and said housing, said lever pivotally attached to said feature pod so that said lever may be depressed toward said housing to activate said switch.

10. The portable data collection system of claim 7, wherein said optical indicia reader is a laser scanner.

11. The portable data collection system of claim 7, wherein said optical indicia reader is an optical indica imager.

12. The portable data collection system of claim 11, wherein the optical indicia imager comprises a charged coupled device.

13. The portable data collection system of claim 7, wherein said optical indicia reader is configured to read a two-dimensional data code file.

14. The portable data collection system of claim 5, wherein said interchangeable feature pod comprises a communication coupling device.

15. The portable data collection system of claim 14, wherein said communication coupling device comprises a serial port connector.

16. The portable data collection system of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a bay for receiving at least one removable module.

17. The portable data collection system of claim 16, wherein said removable module comprises a PCMCIA card.

18. The portable data collection system of claim 16, further comprising a pivoting door covering said bay.

19. The portable data collection system of claim 1, further comprising a port replication assembly removably attachable to said housing and configured to operatively couple said data terminal to an external device.

20. The portable data collection system of claim 1, further comprising a docking apparatus configured to removably receive said portable data terminal therein.

21. A portable data collection system, comprising:

(a) a housing including a bottom portion and a top portion;

(b) a feature pod configured for removable attachment to said bottom portion wherein said feature pod extends at an angle from said bottom portion,

(c) a selected feature contained within said feature pod; and

(d) a lever activation assembly operably coupled to said feature pod for activating said selected feature.

22. The portable data collection system of claim 21, wherein said lever activation assembly further comprises:

a lever pivotally attached to said interchangeable feature pod, said lever positioned apart from and extending substantially parallel to said bottom portion; and

a switch disposed between said lever and said bottom portion, said switch operable to activate said feature;

a said lever configured to be depressed toward said bottom portion for operating said switch.

23. The portable data collection system of claim 22, wherein said feature comprises an optical indicia reader.

24. The portable data collection system of claim 23, wherein said optical indicia reader is a laser scanner.

25. The portable data collection system of claim 23, wherein said optical indicia reader is an optical indica imager.

26. The portable data collection system of claim 25, wherein the optical indicia imager comprises a charged coupled device.

27. The portable data collection system of claim 25, wherein said optical indicia reader is configured to read a two-dimensional data code file.

28. The portable data collection system of claim 22, wherein said feature comprises a communication coupling device.

29. The portable data collection system of claim 28, wherein said communication coupling device comprises a serial port connector.

30. The portable data collection system of claim 21 further comprising a magnetic stripe reader disposed in said bottom portion adjacent to said feature pod, said magnetic stripe reader configured to read information magnetically encoded on a card.

31. The portable data collection system of claim 30, wherein said magnetic stripe reader comprises:

a magnetic stripe reading apparatus disposed in said housing and extending through said aperture for reading information magnetically encoded on a magnetic stripe card; and

a blank attached to said housing and covering said magnetic stripe reading apparatus;

said blank and said housing forming a slot configured to receive a magnetic card such that said magnetic card is passed over said magnetic stripe reading apparatus wherein said magnetic stripe reading apparatus reads information magnetically encoded on said magnetic stripe card.

32. The portable data collection system of claim 31, wherein said magnetic stripe reading apparatus is conductively coupled to said blank to deactivate said magnetic stripe reading apparatus.

33. The portable data collection system of claim 31, wherein said magnetic stripe reading apparatus is decoupled from said blank by said magnetic stripe card received in said slot to activate said magnetic stripe reading apparatus.

34. The portable data collection system of claim 31, wherein said magnetic stripe reader is configured to read at least one track of information encoded in a magnetic stripe disposed on said magnetic stripe card.

35. The portable data collection system of claim 21, further comprising a bay configured to receive at least one removable module wherein said removable module is operatively coupled to said portable data terminal.

36. The portable data collection system of claim 35, wherein said removable module comprises a PCMCIA card.

37. The portable data collection system of claim 35, further comprising a pivoting door at least partially covering said bay.

38. The portable data collection system of claim 21, further comprising a port replication assembly, said port replication assembly removably attachable to said housing and configured to operatively couple said data terminal to an external device.

39. The portable data collection system of claim 21, further comprising a docking apparatus configured to removably receive said housing therein.

40. The portable data collection system of claim 39, wherein said docking apparatus includes an aperture configured to allow extension of said interchangeable feature pod there through when said portable data terminal is docked.

41. A portable data collection system comprising:

a portable data collection terminal having a bottom end and a top end; and

a docking apparatus for docking said portable data collection terminal, said docking apparatus including;

a housing having a terminal cup configured to removably receive said bottom end of said portable data terminal and

a retaining arm assembly configured to engage said upper end;

said retaining arm assembly slidably mounted to said housing

said retaining arm assembly configured to be moved between a lowered position wherein said portable data terminal is retained in said docking apparatus and a raised position wherein said portable data terminal may be removed from said docking apparatus.

42. The portable data collection system of claim 41, wherein said housing includes an opening configured to allow a portion of said portable data collection terminal to extend there through when said portable data terminal is docked in said docking apparatus.

43. The portable data collection system of claim 41, wherein said docking apparatus comprises means for electrically coupling said portable data collection terminal to the electrical system of a vehicle.

44. The portable data collection system of claim 41, wherein said docking apparatus further comprises a spring mounted between said housing and said retaining arm assembly, said spring configured to urge said retaining arm assembly from said raised position to said lowered position.