Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-30
2004-11-02
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S462010, C235S462110, C235S462240, C235S462310
Reexamination Certificate
active
06811088
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable computer or data collection system, typically including an optical scanner, or imager, wherein the system is to be worn by the system operator. The present invention also relates to a portable data communication system, typically including an optical scanner, or imager, wherein the system is distributed on an operator's body and wherein system components communicate with each other over a wireless communication network. The present invention also relates to a portable data communication system, typically including an optical scanner, or imager, being distributed on an operator's body and capable of communicating with other devices over a Local Area Network and/or a Wide Area Network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Optical readers, such as bar code readers, are now common. Typically, a bar code comprises a series of encoded symbols, and each symbol consists of a series of light and dark regions, generally in the form of rectangles. The widths of the dark regions, the bars, and/or the widths of the light spaces between the bars indicated the encoded information. A bar code reader illuminates the code and senses light reflected from the code to detect the widths and spacing of the code symbols and derive the encoded data.
Bar code reading type data input systems improve the efficiency and a accuracy of data input for a wide variety of applications. The ease of data input in such systems facilitates more frequent and detailed data input, for example, to provide efficient inventories, tracking of work in progress, etc. To achieve these advantages, however, users or employees must be willing to consistently use the bar code readers. Many applications require the operator to carry the bar code reader about as the operator moves from place to place and to operate the reader manually to scan codes appearing on different objects. The readers therefore must be easy d convenient to operate and carry.
Many applications additionally require use of the bar code reader with other data input means, for example, by incorporation of all the elements into a single integrated data input terminal. Such integrated systems typically include a keyboard for input of alphanumeric data which may or may not be related to bar code data, a central data processor unit having associated RAM and ROM, and a display. Integrated terminals of this type have been proposed which are small enough to be handheld (see e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,916,441 and 5,144,120). Such units incorporating so many different elements, however, tend to be larger than many dedicated bar code readers and cumbersome to operate as bar code readers, particularly for extended periods. Also, conventional integrated devices often require the operator to hold the device in one hand and operate the keyboard with the other. Such operation requires use of both hands and does not allow the user to perform other manual tasks at the same time. These problems, together with problems related to securing and carrying the integrated terminals when not in use, tend to discourage employees from using the data input system, thereby defeating the purpose of the system, and particularly, the advantages otherwise associated with bar code data entry. Similar problems exist in other types of portable computer or data devices.
From the above discussion of the state of the art, it becomes clear that a need still exists to produce portable computer or data input terminal systems, particularly ones incorporating an optical reader unit, which are particularly convenient to carry and operate.
In addition, the need exists to ergonomically distribute the elements of the data input terminal system on an operator's body.
The need also exists to wirelessly interconnect the different elements of the system on the operator's body.
Once the system consisting of different components has been incorporated to be worn on the operator's body, the need arises to be able to connect one operator with another operator having a similar system via a wireless communication channel.
In addition, the need arises to provide additional functionality to the operator, by interconnecting his system with a local area network (LAN), such as Bluetooth or an Ethernet, and/or wide area network (WAN), such as an internet.
The need also exists for a miniature voice communication system for enabling voice communication over a specified protocol, such as an Internet protocol, the system having voice recognition capabilities for hands free operation.
The need also exists to enable data transfers between the devices which are part of the personal area system and the devices attached to LAN or WAN.
The need also exists to enable voice and video data transfers between the elements of the personal area system and the devices attached to the LAN or WAN.
The need also exists to enable automatic voice recognition of the user commands made during the indicia reading operation of the personal area system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the above problems and needs through the design of a portable computer system with some of the system components worn by a user.
As used in this specification and in the appended in claims, the term “indicia” broadly encompasses not only symbol patterns composed of alternating bars and spaces of various widths commonly referred to as bar code symbols, but also other one or two dimensional graphic patterns, as well as alphanumeric characters. In general, the term “indicia” may apply to any type of pattern or information which may be recognized or identified by scanning energy across it and detecting reflected or scattered energy as a representation of variations in energy reflectivity at various points of the pattern or information. A bar code is one example of “indicia” which the present invention can scan, preferably by using an optical reading unit in the form of a small moving spot laser beam scanner. An optical scanner can also be in the form of a solid state imaging device, such as one-dimensional or two-dimensional CCD, or CMOS, scanners or imagers. Radio Frequency tags also represent a type of indicia carrying components which are interrogated using an RF interrogation scanner. RF scanners can be used in point-of-sale transactions and in electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems. For the purpose of the following discussion, an indicia type can mean only one of the different information carrying environments, and a scanner can mean any one of the corresponding indicia reading devices.
The invention is also directed at a new ergonomic allocation of scanning system components on an operator's body and in particular to the design of a portable data collection device. The scanning system comprises a headset, a scanning unit and a a portable data collection device having a computer for processing data and an input/output unit. The scanner can be a handheld or a wearable scanner, such as a ring scanner manufactured by Symbol Technologies, the assignee of the present invention. The ring scanner can communicate with the I/O unit over a wireless channel. The wireless channel could be an RF or an infrared channel.
In addition to the three components listed above, the system may also include additional peripheral components, such as a printer, a magnetic-stripe reader, heads-up display, tactile gauge-sensor or any other needed devices. The individual components communicate with each other using a wireless communication channel, preferably a short range communication channel, for example, Bluetooth. This wireless connectivity can be achieved via a short range local network, often called a Personal Area Network (PAN). The communication channel can be, but is not limited to, a radio frequency (RF), and infrared (IR), or an acoustic communication channel. Thus, communication with the bar code scanner is established via bi-directional or a unidirectional wireless link. In case this link is bi-directional, the bar code scanner includes only a transmitter
Individual PAS&apos
Hamilton Alistair
Jenkins Ian
Lanzaro Michael
McKinney D. Thomas
Salvato Dominick H.
Hogan and Hartson LLP
Kim Ahshik
Symbol Technologies Inc.
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