CA2022976A1 - Hand-held data capture system with interchangeable modules - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A hand held data terminal may selectively receive a variety of modules for adapting the terminal to existing peripheral devices such as an eighty-column printer, and also for enabling the terminal to operate with on-line wireless communication with other devices. The basic terminal may be mated with a module containing a CCD image reader or a deflected laser beam type reader. Preferably the modules have digital interfaces with the terminal. In this way a radio frequency transceiver module, for example, may be removed and replaced without requiring tuning or other adjustments. The terminal may be fully sealed and be completely free of the conventional pin and socket type electrical connector fittings at its exterior Electrostatic discharge protection is provided by circuit components connected to surface contact pads so that the sensitive electronic circuitry of the terminal is protected from electrostatic discharge transients without requiring metallic shielding of the surface contacts.

Description

C'~r,~

P~TENT APPLICATION IN C~NADA
Attorney Docket No. 680~Xx TITLE: "HAND-HELD DATA CAPTURE SYSTEM
WITH INTERCHANGEABLE MO~ULES"

BACXGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This inYention generally relates to data collection systems whersin a hand-held unit is operated from battery power and functions to collect and process data by a seguence of automated and manual operatio~s. ~ typical automated process is the non-cc,ntact scanning ~f b~r code data by means-of a cyclically deflected laser beam or with the use of an image photosensor of the CCD type. Once a valid bar code reading has been obtained, a keyboard ~ay be manually operated to indicate an associated ~uantity. The user may then manually initiate a further operat;on, or example, the on--line transmission of the data to a remote host computer e.g. via a radio frequency communications link.
The presently known data capture d~vices which include a user interface such as a keyboard and display, and a non-contact automatic reader function have tended to be highly specialized, bulky and expensive. Tn a prior art device having the desired functions, it may be necessary to completely invert the device after a bar code reading, in order to view the display, and/or to actllate the keyboard.
Devices which essentially add a keyboard and display to an existing scanner design may be particularly awkward to use, for example because the keyboard and display are applied at the forward end of the scanner where they are not conveniently accessible and where manual forces applied to thc keyboard are tedious to counteract with the supporting handle which is much closer to the user's body.
It would be desirable to have a basic data capture terminal which is light weight and compact, and which could be readily con~erted for on-line wireless communications , .
- . : :
. ~ -, , ' , ~ . , , ' .

--2~ r~

and bar code scanning as needed. Such a versatile data capture system would be particularly suitable for small scale operations where low cost i~ a ~aljor objective, and versatility vf the terminal unit is especially advantageous. Furthermore, in order to realize the benefits of mass production, it is clesirable from the manu~acturer's standpoint if a basic computerized terminal configuration can be readil~ adapted to the needs of diverse end users by the selective addition of low cost ~odules.
SUMMARY OF TE~E INVENTI ON
In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, a light weight low cost basic terminal can be adapted for on-line RF communication with a host computer and selectively accommodate high throughput bar code scanners of the in~tant type such as CCD bar code scanners and deflected laser beam scanners, while essentially avoiding the deficiencies in the prior art devices.
It is highly desirable that the data capture sy~tem be compatible with existing peripheral equipment e~g. for downloading data to the terminal and where applicable recharging the terminal batteries. In a particularly advantageous embodiment a basic terminal unit has one end with external contacts compatibIe with existing communicating and recharging docking apparatus and an opposite end adapted to selectively receive various modular adaptor end caps. ~esides a compatibility end cap providing standard overall dimensions and a standard electrical connector arrangement compatible with an existing printer docking receptacle, the terminal may be coupled with an automatic bar code scanner or other desired peripheral device. The basic terminal may receive an RF
module adapting the terminal for on-line RF communications.
In accordance with preferred features, the ~F module can be removed and replaced with another similar module without requiring any tuning adjustments. Further such module interchange can most preferably be carried out in C'~ ~ ;ri ~

the field by the end user. secause of such capability the useful life of the basic terminal ma~ be extended without service interruptions for return to the factory or service center, and the ter~inal is readily upgraded and adapted to new operating require~ents. For example different operating frequencies can be selected simply by replacing the RF module. This is achieved by stocking only the desired ~odules which are of low cost in comparison to the total sy~tem. Si~ilarly, the laser scanni~g ~omponent may be a6sociated with the basic terminal only as needed, the basic terminal alone being used where vnly thi~ ty~pe of capability is required.
An object of the invention is to provide a basic terminal configuration of compact light weight construction but which is readil~ adapted to wireless data communication with other components of a data capture system such as a host computer, and which preferably retains a capability for coupling with a non-contact self scanning type bar code reader or other highly efficient data capt~re co~ponent.
Another object is to provide such a basic terminal configuration which can be quickly and easily associated with a wireless transceiver module without requiring special tools.
A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a basic terminal configuration with modular means for providing RF communications capability or the like. Preferably the RF- module can be replaced in the field without requiring any tuning adjustment.
Still another object of the invention relates to the provision of a hand-held type data capture system wherein a basic low cost light weight terminal unit can selectively receive various modules such as an RF module, but such system retaining the option of co~patibility with existing communicating and /or recharging docking receptacles ~e.g.
o a portable printer or the like~.
In an illustrated embodiment, an RF adaptor module is electrically coupled with a co~trol microprocessor of the ~ , , '.': ', . "' " ' ' ' '' ~

basic ter~inal configuration. The control microprocessor ~ay be installed on a peripheral circuit carrying member or control board within the terminal, and the peripheral control board in turn may have pin and socket type coupling with a host printed circuit board mounting a main computer processor. The RF adaptor module may have a standard external connector fitting and may contain electrical connector means therefor which automatically engage with mating electrical connector means on the péripheral control board as the end cap module is mechanically applied t~ the terminal. Radio frequency and~or scanner cabling from the peripheral control board may pass through a slot in the end wall of the terminal and may be manually connected with the receive/transmit or scanner circuits and/or external connector of the RF module prior to fastening of the module to the terminal, or automatic coupling means may be provided for the ~F and/or scanner circuits as well as for the standard external connector fitting.
The mating parts of the terminal are modular in the sense that they can be readily disconnected from each other. One modular part can be disconnected, removed as a unit, and replaced with a part of the same or different configuration. For example, a wireless communication module is readily disconnected from the terminal, removed as a unit, and replaced. Further in preferred form each ~odular part has only ~uick disconnect type signal coupling with the other parts, and most preferably the parts are self-guided so that the couplings are achieved as the automatic result of correct mechanical interfittinq of the parts, as the parts are pressed together. In the preferred embodiment, the wireless communication module has definable performance characteristics which permit it to be tested and adjusted as a separate unit. Then the various wireless communication ~odules can be interchanged without requiring any further tuning or adjustment. In an embodiment within the scope of the present invention, a terminal may receive diferent types of modules selectively e.g. a wireless J ~

communication module or a eombined wireless cnmmunioation and automatic reader module. In one such terminal, the basic terminal parts may comprise a use~ interface top layer and a battery-containing layer underlying approxi~ately one half of the interf,ace layer. The communication module or the combined communication and reader module may be selectively interfitted with the basic terminal p~rts to form a highly compact light weight terminal which is particularly comfortably gripped e~ g. in the vicinity of the battery containing layer.
In existing prior art units, electrostatic discharge protection is afforded by use of conductive ~etallic enclosures or by use of metallic sheathing applied to the inner walls of the enclosure of the devices, such sheathing or metallic enclosures being electricall~ connected to ground terminals of external devices when interconnection of hand held data entry terrninals with such external devlces is effected. Such m~thods of electrostatic discharge protection are susceptible to transient signals coming into the data entry terminals over interconnection circuitry from the external devices, though affording reasonable protection from transient signals created by electrostatic discharge arising on the exterior of the unit.
A preferred data entry terminal according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of electrically conductive pads generally coplanar with the external surace of the terminal housing and fixed thereto.
Such surface contact pads may be interconnected by internal circuitry to respective connector elements of a D-type connector mo~nted upon a housing end cap such that recharge power and data communication pathwa~s may be made through either or both of such contact means. The surface contact pads are positioned such that they ma~ be engaged with mating elements of an external device, the mating elements having sufficient resilience to ensure reliable electrical contact with the conductive pads. This results in a ~' ' ~ , -.

.

6- ~c~7~9 particularly rugged and facile means for interconnectlng the terminal with peripheral devices.
The preferred data entry terminal is pro~ided with integrated electrostatic discharge protection associated with the incoming signal paths of the device. ~ecause of this, the housing of the data entry terminal may be constructed of lighter materials and molded from pol~meric materials into an a~sthetically pleasing and comfortably held form. The expensive application of métallic sheathing i~ avoided while isolation of sensitive circuit components from electrostatic discharge transients is achieved. Th~s an object of the invention is to provide a hand--held data entry terminal having advantageous electrostatic discharge characteristics, even where the terminal has an array of unshielded surface contact. pads embedded in a terminal casing of nonconductive material.
The electrostatic discharge ~ESD) protection for the preferred terminal may be provided exclusively through transient suppressing circuit techni~ues and board ~ounted transient suppression devices arranged in such a manner as to protect the entire electronic circuitry of the terminal from the potentially harmful effects of transient signal phenomena, including that introduced to the ter~inal through any external connectors. The elimination of shielding devices commonly used to provide protection f rom transient signal phenomena on previous types of portable computer terminals may enable lighter, molded pol~meric materials to be used in the ~anufacturing process of certain components.
The preferred terminal contains a central processing means, and control circuitry associated with the processing means and including signal carrying pathways leading from the surface contact pads, the circuitry having transient suppressing circuit elements associated with the signal carrying pathways.
Other objects, features and advantages will be appar~nt from the following detailed description, taken in .

- . , :, . , ,: ' ~ . .

? rJ~

connection with the accompanying drawings, and rom the individual features and relationships o the respective appended claims.

BRI13F DESCRIPTION OP T~lE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 i~ a somewhat diagrammatic frontal perspective view sho~ing a hand-held data capture terminal which may be modified as shown ;n FIGS. 6-10 and FIGS. 11-19, to orm embodiments of the present invention. , FIG. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic exploded view of the hand held terminal illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams showing the major electronic circuits and components contained within the ter~inal of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the interconnections between them, FIG. 4 showing preferred circuit details for the power control components of FIG. 3.
FIG. S is a plan view show;ng the interior of the end cap of the terminal shown in FIGS. 1-4.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment incl~ding the basic terminal of FIGS. 1-5 and further including provision for on-line radio frequency communications capability.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the modular adaptor end cap of the embodiment of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a block schematic diagram showing the electronic system components o the embodiment of FIG. 6.
FIG. 10 is a block schematic diagram similar to FTG.
9, but showing an i~proved circuit arrangement for facilitating interchangeability of the RF end cap module and in particular avoiding the need for any tuning adjustments when an RF end cap module is applied to the basic terminal in the field.
FIG. 11 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view showing a modular hand-held data capture device in accordance with the present invention.

:

' . .

-8~ J

FIG~ 12 is a side ele~ational view showing a RF data terminal in solid lines, and indicating with dash lines a scanner module ~hich is mated there~ith~ to form the unitary hand-held data capture device of FX~. 11.
FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the scanner module which forms part of the data capture device of FI~. 11.
FIG. 14 is a side ele~ational view of the scanner modul~ of FIG. 13, showing the handle detached ~ut in vertical alignment with its attachment,~ position, and showing locating studs on the handle which fit into the scanner body during assembly therewith.
FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the scanner body, showing the sealed slots which serve to locate ~ handle therewith.
FIG. 16 ifi a front end elevation~l view o~ the data capture device of FIG. 11.
FIG. 17 is a rear end elevational view of the data capture device of FIG. 11.
FIG. 18 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view, similar to FIG. 12, but illustrating with dash lines a modification wherein the scanner module is provided with contacts at a rear end thereof for engagement with the external set of contacts of the terminal unit.
FIG. 19 i~ a diagrammatic view indicating an exemplary lay out of parts within the scanner module of FIGS. 11-17 or FIG. 18.
FIG. 20 is a somewhat diagrammatic exploded view o~
the basic terminal of FIGS. 1-8, but with a memory card controller board substituted for the peripheral controller board of FIG. 2.
FIG. 21 is a somewhat diagrammatic exploded view of the top end vf the terminal of FIG. 20 showing the memory card electrlcal connector/receptacle, and also showing a back-up lithium battery with an associated mylar insula~ing strip which may be present in any of the illustrated embodiments.

~ ~ . ' . .
~ ' .. ' .

.
~ . ~
-, , . ' Fig. 22 shows exemplary transient suppressing circuitry which may be associated with the surface contact pads of the preferred basic ter~inal of FIGS. 1-8 and 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION C1F FIGS. 1--10 FIG. 1 shows a portable hand-held data capture terminal 10 embodying aspects of the present invention.
The te~minal 10 has an elonqated housing formed of parts 11 and 12, the back housing part 12 of which is formed in a manner s~ as to e~able a user to hold the device comfortably in one hand for extended periods of time.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, ter~ninal 10 may be powered by a rechargeable nickel~cadmium battery pack 28 (FIG. 2) or a plurality of ~ size batteries.
Enclosed within the terminal housing 11, lZ are four permanently mounted printed circuit boards 26, 37, 41, and 43, (FIG. 2), namely a host printed eircuit board 37, a display printed circuit board 43, a keypad printed circuit board 41, and a peripheral controller printed circuit board 26. Interconnections betwee~ the circuit boards are acco~plished through a plurality of pin and socket type connectors including pin type connectors 86 and mating receptacle type connectors 87. An exception is the interconnection between displa~ board 43 and keypad board 41 which is accomplished throuqh a resilient conductive pad 42. When assembled, front housing part 11 and back housing part 12 are joined together by a plurality of screws 88.
The front housing part 11 of the terminal 10 provides a mounting platform for a display 13 (FIG. 2) which m~y provide a visual indication of various types of information. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, display 13 is of a liquid crystal display (LC~ variety : providing sixteen lines, with twent~ characters per line, of di~play area. Optionally, the display 13 may be of a four line type. The displa~ 13 may be mounted upon a display printed circuit board 43 which is then mounted or secured to front housing part 11 by a plurality of screws .
' ' ' - 1 0 - F~ J, 58. In addition, the front housing part 11 may provide a mounting platorm for a keypad 14 (FIG. 1), having a plurality of ~eys 56 thereon. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, keypad 14 is provided with either twenty-three or forty keys. The control and interface circuitry for keypad }4 may be contained on keypad printed circuit board 41 (~IG. 2) which is mounted or secured to front housing part 11 by a plurality of screws 59.
Electrical interconnections betweén the display printed circuit board 43 and keypad printed circuit board 41 may be accomplished through a resilient, conductive pad 42, which may be located bet~een overlapping portions of the aforementioned circuit bcards and retained in this location by means of the pressure exerted upon it when the respective circuit boards are mounted in the housing part 11. Conductive pad 42 may contain a plurality of generally parallel, spaced apart conductive elements embedded within it. The overlapping portions of display printed circuit board 43 and keypad printed circuit board 41 each contain a plurality of coplanar, generally parallel, and evenly ~paced apart connector elements 60 and ~1, respectively.
The respective conductive elements of conductive pad 42, when conductive pad 42 is mounted between the overlapping portions of keypad printed circuit board 41 and display printed circuit board 43, are in positive contact with corresponding aligned connector elements 60 and 61, and provide respective paths for the transfer of electrical signals therebetween. Alternatively, the required electrical interconnections between display printed circuit board 43 and keypad printed circuit board 41 may he accomplished through a flexible multi-conductor ribbon type cahle.
The back housing part 12 of the terminal 10 may provide a mounting platform for a removable, elastic type flexible strap 15 (FIG. ~). Flexible strap 15 may allow the u~er of the terminal 10 to relax the user's grip on the terminal 10 for short periods of time, without actually ~ t 5 removing the terminal 10 from the user's hand. The flexible strap 15 may be secured to the bottom of housing part 12 by means of two ret~ining cla~ps such as 16 (~IG.

2). Retaining cl~mps 16 are secured to housing part 12 through the use of screws such as 57, with two screws 57 securing each retaining clamp. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, retaining clamps 16 may be re~oved with simple hand tools, allowing the flexible strap 15 to be easily replaced. seneath the flexible strap 15 and generally between retaining clamps 16, the bottom of housing part 12 is contoured in ~uch a wa~ that, when the terminal 10 is being held by the user, the user's hand is placed on a recessed area 62 ~FIG. 1) in housing part 12 and beneath flexible strap 15.
Referring to FIG. 2, the top end of the terminal 10 may be enclosed with a removable end cap 18. End cap 18 is attached with two screws 64 to housing part 12. When installed on terminal 10, end cap 18 overlies and encloses cavity 63. Located on, and p~rt of the end cap 18 may be a multiple pin D-sub type connector 19, which may in turn be direct or hard wired via a flexible multi-conductor ribbon type cable 20 to a connector platform 21, on which may be mounted two connector receptacles 22 and 23. Cable 20, connector platform 21 and connector receptacles 22 and 23 may also be mounted on and be part of end cap 18. Screws such as 24, FIG. 2, may secure parts 21, 22, 23 in a precise locat.ion with only connectors 22, 23 projecting beyond the confines of the end cap housing~ The multiple p;n D-~ub connector 19 may provide a communi~atiQnfi pnrt capable of the two-way transfer of data with other compatible de~ices according to the ~S-232C standard as defined by the Electronic Industries Association. When end cap 18 is installed on terminal 10, receptacles 22 and ?.3 automatically mate with a plurality of pins 67 and 68 which protrude through connector blocks 69 and 70. Pins 67 and 6~, and connector blocks 69 and 70 are each attached or connected to peripheral controller board 26. In a preferred e~bodiment of the invention, the end cap 18 may be removable using common hand tools. Alternatively, a plain type of end cap housing which does not contain a D-s~b connactor 19 or any of its associated components such as 20-23, may be used in place of end cap 18. In addition, peripheral controller board 26 provides the electronic circuitry required to interface the two-way data transfer which may occur through D-sub connector 19. In a preferred embodi~ent, eontroller board 26 may be a peripheral type device which may be exchanged or otherwise config~ed to enable the ~se of vari~us types of end cap devices. I~hese various end cap devices ~ay enable terminal 10 to perform a wide variety of functions not currently possible with existing hand held data capture devices including, but ;n no way limited to, the two-way transfer of data throu~h space using radio frequenc~ waves as the data carrying medium, the two-way transfer of data over telephonic communication links, and the two-w~y transfer of data between the terminal and a bar code reading device.
Referring again to FIG. 2, the cavity of the housin~
part 12 receiving the battery pack 28 may be enclosed by a battery compartment hatch 27. The battery compartment hatch 27 may have attached to its surface a plurality of conductive metallic type contacts 30. Metallic contacts 30, in conjunction with a plurality of metallic springs located in the battery compartment, may complete the electrical path of the batteries enclosed in the battery compartment. When the battery compartment hatch 27 is properly installed on the terminal 10 t it comes in contact with a conductive metallic rod which extends the length of the battery compartment and is hard wired to battery supply ~onn~ctor 71, ~IG. 2, and compl~t~ th~ ground or negative potential path for the batteries. The enclosed batteries are arranged in the battery compartment in a series type configuration to provide the required voltage. The positive potential of the battery path is completed by the hard wiring of a metallic spring to battery supply ' .

connector 71. ~attery supply connector 71 contains a plural~ty of receptacles whic~ mate wit:h host board 37 to provide the battery power to the terminal 10~ sattery compartment hatch 27 attaches to the bott:o~ housing part 12 of terminal 10 through the interlocking and meshing of railings on both the battery compartment hatch 27 and bottom housing part 12. The battery co~part~ent is formed by a cavity within terminal 10, with a somewhat rectangular opening on which three corners are rounded and one corner is somewhat squared.
sattery pack 28 may be constructed of a plurality of nickel-cadmium batter~ cells, arranged in such a way as to provide approximately six volts of direct current electrical power. In addition, battery pack 28 may contain a formed metallic plate 31 which may be attached to the nickel-cadmium batteries in such a way as to orm a somewhat squared edge on one corner 86 of the battery pack 28. The so~ewhat squared corner 86 (FIG. 2) of the battery pack 28 may correspond with the previously described somewhat squared corner on the rectangular opening of the battery compartment, and ma~ prevent the improper insert;on of battery pack 28 into the battery compartment. In addition, metallic plate 31 may be further formed to create a conductive metallic shunt 32 (FIG. 2~. When battery pack 28 is installed in computer terminal 10, metallic shunt 32 engages probes to create an electrically conductive path or short circuit between the probes. The probes may form part of the battery charging circuit of the terminal ~0 and may disable this circuit when not electrically shorted to~ether, thereby preventing the inadvertent and possibly hazardous application of recharging electrical power to non-rechargeable (e.g. alkaline) batteries.
In place of the battery arrangement 28, the batteries can be mounted in an enclosed drawer part with square and rounded edges, which slides endwise into a receiving compartment. External contacts on the drawer may be substituted for the array of external contacts as shown at .
- ~ ' '' ~ .

.

322, FIG. 11. The rear e~ternal contacts at the drawer external wall may be connected with respecti~e spring contacts at the forward end of the dr~wer which spring contacts engage with fixed contacts in the roof of the battery compartment as the drawer is fully inserted.
coin operated latch may be rotatable through a give~
angular amount in one direction to lock the battery drawe~
in place, and may be rotatable in the opposite direction to unlock the battery drawer.

Descrip~ion of FIG._ Referring now to FIG. 3, the terminal functional block diagram is illustrated. A cen~ral processor unit (CPU) 74 may cont~in program storage and reside on the host printed circuit board. CPU 74 controls all terminal functions, executes machine instructions in proper sequence, and supervises data communication with devices inside and outside the terminal 10. However, it may allow an optional auxiliary processor unit on the peripheral controller board 26 to control some external access (e.g. reading from and/or writing to an auxiliary memor~ card). The CPU 74 may abort all- communications throughout ter~inal 10 should power available from the main batteries (e.g. nickel-cadmium battery pack 28) drop below a predetermined level.
All access to static RAM 75, the real time clock 76, the keypad 14 and keypad circuit board 41, and display 13 and display circuit board 43 are accomplished through CPU 74.
The CPU 74 also controls the charging current applied to battery pack 28 by control of CHGON line 46, FIG. 4, an~
generates a signal on MEMON line 50 to initiate a sleep mode of the terminal. In addition, CPU 74 allows activation of the 485 circuit and watchdog timer component 77, RS232 level converter 78, and the backlight of display 13.
The memory in static RAM 75 is decoded in the decode circuit 7~. MEMDIS line 83 is coupled with this circuit and will inhibit access to static R~M 75 in the event the .
..
- ..
.
. . . .

-15- ~3~

five volt regulator 80 has dropped out of regulation, indicating the installed batteries (e.g. nickel-cadmium battery pack 28) are no longer providing the neces~ary voltage. In the preferred e~bodiment of the invention, memory in tha ~tatic RAM 75 may be selectively configured in one of varying sizes.
The terminal 10 may be equipped with a battery/charge monitor circuit 81 as well as a battery charge circuit 82.
The battery/charge monitor circuit 81 m~nitors the main battery and provides a signal on the ~owsATT line if battery voltage drops below a certain value. The signal on the LowsATT line in~orms the CPU 74 that battery power i~
getting low, and CPU ?~ in turn will notify the user through the display 130 The terminal 10 will continue to operate normally as long as the Lows~TT line rem~ins in a high logical state. If the LOW~TT line goes low, the terminal 10 will switch to its inactive (sleep) state, but will be allowed to become active if a key 56 (FIG. 1) is pressed. ~ further output of the monitor component 81 is the DDEC line. The DDEC line pro~ides a true indication if the five volt regulator 80 begins to drop out of regulation. When the DDEC line goes low, the terminal 10 switches to sleep ~ode promptly, saving all dat~ in the ~tatic RAM 75, which will have backup power in the event that the main batteries are re~oved. ~inally, when the output of the main batteries (through five volt regulator 80) drops to a predefined level, the MEMDIS line 83 will carry a low logical signal, causing the static RAM 75 to be disablecl, the CPIJ 74 to be reset and the transi~or ~
~FIG. 4),located in the power isolation circuit 84, to switch to nonconducting mode. The CPU 74 is equipped with an analog input port which allows it to monitor several other battery/charge conditions. The signals available at this port may provide information regarding the charge level, for example. Another signal which may be monitored here is an extended duration signal emanating from the KEYINT line 85. The controller board 26 may also provide ~16-an inter~upt signal on P~RINT line 86, which is made available to the CPU 74 on this analog port.
The charge circuit 82 is disabled unless a sho~ting mechanism (conductive metallic plate 32, FIGS. 2 and 4) which is located on and part of the nickel-cadmium battery pack 28, is present and properly installed in the battery co~partment as described previously. Charging of an installed nickel-cadmium battery pack 28 occurs automatically when a charge voltage of !a predeter~ined value is present on CHARGE line 87. Charging of the installed nickel-cadmium battery pack 2a may occur selectively at a rate of approximately twenty milliamps or a rate of approximately seventy-five ~illiamps, and is determined by the ter~inal software through CPU 74. The CPV 74 also mon~tors the a~bient air temperature and, if below a predeter~ined level, preferably approximately five degrees Celsius, the CPU 74 causes the LOWTEMP line 88 to provide a signal, which causes constant current charge to default to the lvwer charge (twenty milliamps) rate. When terminal 10 is first attached or otherwise connected to a charger, the C~GDET line 89 goes active for approximately four milliseconds, then returns to its inactive state. Thi~
causes NMI generator 90 to generate a pulse to wake the terminal lO from its sleep mode and signal that a charger is present.
A charger must be attached to terminal 10 far the 485 circuit and watchdog component 77 to function, as this circuit is powered by the charger. The 485 circuit and watchdog circuitry 77 may provide the terminal 10 with a communications port capable of synchronous two-way data co~unication with other compatible devices, transferring data at a rate not greater than five hundred thousand bits per second, according to the predominate RS485 standard as defined by the Electronic Industries Association. When CPU
74 detects the presence of a charger, it activates the 485 circuit and watchdos through ~50N line 91. Data may then be transmitted and received by terminal 10 on RS485 DATA-~

.' ~' , .
.

, - ' ' ' line 92 and RS485 DATA-line 93, these lines being connected to a pair of a number of coplanar, gene:rally parallel and evenly spaced conductive metallic pad~s 322 (FIG. 11~.
Received data is applied to the CPU 74 from the 485 circuit and ~atchdog circuit 77 on 485RXD line 9~, while transmitted data is applied to the 485 ciccuit and watchdog circuit 77, from CPU 74, on 485TXD line 96.
Five volt regulator 80 may operate from either the main battery supply or an attached charger. If both are present, the output voltage of the charger will e higher than the battery voltage, causilng five volt regulator 80 to choo~e current from the charger supply rather than the batteries. This is accomplished through "O~" wiring of diodes 97 and 98.
Ter~inal 10 has been designed to be in an inactive state ~sleep mode) for the majority of time to conserve battery power. As described previousl~, NMI line 55 must be pulsed for terminal 10 to wake up and begin program execution. The pulse on NMI line 55 is generated by the NMI generator 90 and may be generated by a pulse on ~EYINT
line from the keypad 14, a pulse on RTCINT line from the real time clock 76, simultaneous pulses on LOWsATT line and DDEC line, a pulse on C~GDET line 89, a pulse on PERINT
line 86 from peripheral controller board 26, or a pulse on the PWRUP line ~from the 5v regulator 80).
Power is applied to the peripheral controller board 26 under the control of CPU 74. Once the controller board power is stable and the contro].ler board microprocessor (212, FIGS. 9 and 10) is stable, the controller board microproces~or begins a hand shaking sequence with CPU 74 to establish a communication link. This link has some ~oftware support to monitor data integrity throughout the transfer of data~ The co~troller board 26 is equipped with a pair of analog switches which isolate the data bus on the contrvller board 26 from the memory data bus on the host printed circuit board 37. This i.solation prevents inadvertent data bus interference dur.ing the power up routine of the peripheral controller board microprocessor.

, .

- ~ :

-18- ~ s 7 ~

Description of FIG. 4 Referring to FIG. 4, unique battery charging and terminal sleep mode circuits are illustrated. When terminal 10 is attached or otherwise connected to a compatible recharging device, a charging ~oltage may be introduced on the C~RGX line ~FIG. 4~. The charging voltage on C~RGX line 43 may then be applied to a voltage regulating deYice 44 e.g. type LP 2951 ACM. The regulated charging volta~e output of regulating device 44 may be applied to a transi~tor switch 45 through a resistor R73.
Transistor switch 45 may be soft~are controlled, and ~a~ be activated or turned on when the signal on CHGON line 46 changes its logical state, which may cause field effect transistor 47 to change state which then ma~ cause transistor switch 45 to change state. Transistor switch 45 may provide a constant charging current through a diode CR3, to the installed battery pack 2~, for a predetermlned length of time. The charging current may be applied to installed battery pack 28 through metallic terminals in the battery compartment shorted by ~etallic shunt 32 on the battery pack, FIG. 2.
The sleep mode circuitry of terminal 10 monitors the input aotivity of the terminal 10 and, when no activity is detected for a predetermined length of time, may cause the terminal 10 to shift to a stand-by or sleep mode to conserve the power supplied by the installed batteries.
When in the inactive state, the memory array and real time clock circuits of terminal 10 require less power than when in an active state. In operation, when the ter~ina] 1n h~s been inactive (e.g. no keys 56 are pressed on ke~pad 14) for a predetermined amount of time, MEMON line 50 ~ay pulse. This pulse may be sensed on the CLR input of flip-flop integrated circuit 51, which may cause its Q output to switch levels. Resistor R140 and capacitor C96 may ensure that no false signals are received by flip-flop 51. ~he Q
output of flip-flop 51 is designated MEMS~ line 52. The state of MEMSW line 52 may cause field effect transistor 53 --1 9 Ç'D ~ b,~

to change state. MEMSW line 52 may be ~iltered by resistor R88 and capacitor C93. When field effect transistor S~
changes states, it greatly reduces thle amount of current flowing through the base of transistor 54 by causing resistor R59 to be placed in series with resistor R60. The greatly reduced current flow through the b~se of transistor 54 allows the regulated supply of the terminal 10, provided by the power of the installed batteries applied through a voltase regulating device, to provide l~ss current, thus increasing the active life of the installed batteries.
When term~nal 10 again becomes active (e.g. a key 56 is depressed on keypad 14) N'MI line 55 may pulse. The pulse on NMI line 55 may be sensed by flip-flop 51, FIG. 4, at its CLR input, and may then cause the Q output of flip-flop 51 to change state. The state of MEMSW line 52, FIG.
4, at the Q output of flip-flop 51 may now cause field effect transistor 53 to reset to its former state, returning current flow through the base of transistor 54 to its active level.
The ter~inal 10 may operate exclusively from the power supplied through a regulating device by the installed batteries (e.g. battery pack 28, FIG. 2~ until the MEMDIS
line 83, FIG. 4~ changes state. The MEMDIS line ~ay change state when the installed batteries or attached charger do not provide suficient voltage to operate the terminal.
When the MEMDIS line changes state, it may change the state of field effect transistor Q15. The MEMDIS line may be filtered by resistor R141 and capacitor, C94. When field effect transistor Q15 changes state it may cause interruption of current flow through the base of transistor 54, effectively removing the regulated supply of terminal 10 from the ~emory array. When this occurs, a standby lithium battery or a charged capacitor may supply the memory array and real time clock circuits until such time that the main power supply is returned to the level required to power the terminal 10~ ~ charged capacitor may provide short term back up power for the terminal 10, with ,, . . ., . . . . ............................................. :

, ,: : . .
. . . ' . ~ , .

-20- ~ ;~,'J;`fll the lithium battery providing power when the stored charge of the capacitor is depleted. The lithium battery may provide long term back-up power. When the mai~ power of terminal 10 is restored to an operational level, the MEMDIS
line 83, FIG. 4, may return to its form~er state which may restore normal current flow through the base of t{ansist~r 54.

Pescription of FIG. 5 FIG. 5 is a view looking into the interior o~ end cap 18. Three screws such as 24 secure the connector pla~form 21 at the correct position within the end cap 18. Two guide parts 38 and 39 are precisely located so as to project into the open end 72 of housing part 11 and interfit with cooperating surface~ at the end 72 so as to in~ure that the connector receptacles 22, 23 are correctly aligned with pins 67, 68 as the end cap 18 is applied to the terminal. This type of mechanical guidance could also be provided for the automatic electrical interconnection of all of the various modules herein which are t~ be mechanically joined with each other.

Description ~f FIGS. 6 thrvugh 10 Referring to FIGS. 6-10, an embodiment of the invention is disclosed for providing wire]ess data communication with a remote receiver. In FIG. 6, it can be seen that terminal 110 includes the basic housing parts 11 and 12 of FIGS. 1-5, and is further provided with a modular adaptor end cap 118. Antenna 104 and external connector fitting 119 are attached to the end cap 11~
(Corresponding reference numerals have been applied to identical parts in FIGS. 1-5 and 6-10 and such parts need not ~e further described). ~eys 56 are depressed by the user to enter data and to control the functions of terminal 110, including causing terminal 110 to transmit or recei~e data by radio transmission means. Display 13 provides visual information concerning RF transmissions received by the terminal.

.

, : , . . .
: ~ .

--2 1-- ,~ J Q ~

From FIG. 8, it can be understood that end cap 118 may be readily removabl~ mounted on housing parts 11 and 12.
External connector fitting 119 provides for interconnection to optional peripheral devices and is electrically connected through wiring 120 to connectors 122 and 123 which are mounted to connector platfor~ 121. Connectors 122 and 123 engage ~ith the pins of mating connectors 67 and 68 (FIG. 2) of peripheral controller card 26 when end cap 118 applied to housing parts 11 and 12..
Radio module 106 mounts within end cap 118 by suitable mountin~ means such as indicted b~ screw 107 (FIG. 8), and is electrically coupled to peripheral controller card 26 by ribbon cable lOB. Ribbon cable 108 is detachably connected to radio module 106 by a connector 109 affixed to the end of c~ble 108, and enters housin~ part 11 through opening 65 in wall 66. Ribbon cable 108 connects at 25, FIG. 2, with the peripheral controller card 26, and serves to inter-connect radio module 106 and peripheral controller card 26.
Adjusting elements 114 (FIG. 8) are provided on radio module 106 for frequency tuning and signal level adjustment purposes.
Referring now to FIG. 7, it can be seen that end cap 118 comprises housing members 116 and 117 which may be separated when end cap 118 is removed from housing parts 11 and 12 in order to provide access to adjusting elements 114 o~ radio module 106.
Referring to the block diagram of FIG. 9, it can be appreciated that radio module 106 houses transmitter 202 which is coupled to antenna 104. Transmitter 202 ;.
coupled to transmit level adjust circuitry 204~ Receiver 206 is coupled to antenna 104 and to receive level adjust circuitry 208. Dashed line A separates the components located on radio module 105 from components located on peripheral controller card 26. Control microprocessor 212 communicates with main microprocessor 74, FIG. 3 r of housing part 11 through coupling means 214 which is provided by connectors 86, 87, FIG. 2. Control ' ' ` ' : ':
. ' ',.

-22~

microprocessor 212 is coupled to transmitter 202 and receiver 206 by coupling means 216 along which are communicated radio control signals. Data to be tran~mitted is received from processing unit 74, FIG. 3, and is forwarded by eontrol microprocessor 212 over TX data line 218 to modulation generator and limiter component 220.
Modulation generator and limiter component 220 is coupled to first low pass filter 222. Data received by antenna 104 is delivered to control microprocessor 212,on RX data line 223 which couples control microprocessor 212 to data recovery element 224 which is coupled to a second low pass filter 226~ Lines 108a and 108b and also lines 216 are part of ribbon cable 108 and serve to couple the circuitry of peripheral controller card 26 to radio module 106.
External connector fitting 119 is coupled to control microprocessor 212 by scanning interface signal lines 22 associated with connectors 67, 68, FI~. 2, and 122, 123, FIG. 8, and wiring 120, FIG. 8.
Peripheral control adjustment elements 115 are mounted to peripheral controller card 26 such that these adjustment elements 115 are accessible to the user through opening 65, thereby obviating the necessity of any disassembly of housing parts 11 and 12 in order to effectuate adjustments to the peripheral controller card 26.
In operation, the user may remove mvdular adaptor end cap 118 from housing parts 11 and 12 when adjustment of radio components is desired. ~djusting elements 114 ~FI~.
8~ may be accessed by the separation of housing members 116 and 117 (FIG. 7) while radio module 106 continues to be electrioally connected with peripheral controller components on card 26 through ribbon cable 108. In addition, peripheral control adjustment elements 115 (FIG~
8) of peripheral controller card 26 (FIG. 2) may be accessed when end cap 118 is removed from housing parts 11 and 12. The user may communicate with a remote host computer in i'real time" by operation of keyboard 14 which provides signals to main microprocessor 74 (FI~. 9). Main .
' ~

~, -23- fA~v ~

microprocessor 74 processes the signals and communicates them to control microprocessor 212 of peripheral controller card 26. Control microprocessor 212 iand its associated circuitry on peripheral controller card 26 processes the signals to sllperimpose them upon radio transmission frequencies, and communicates the processed signals to transmitter 202 which is coupled to antenna 104 and which thereby causes their transmission through space from antenna 104 by electromagnetic radiation, A remote host computer responding to terminal 110 transmits radio frequency signals which are received by receiver 206 through antenna 104. Received signals are processed on peripheral controller card 26 ~nd are provided to control microprocessor 212 which communicates the processed signals to main microprocessor 74. Microprocessor 74 displa~s the received information upon display 13 so that it can be observed by the user.
FIG. 10 shows a modification of the embodiment of FIG~
9 which enables the replacement of the RF adaptor module without requiring a tuning ad~ustment of the module. In this embodiment the control microprocessor 212 is on the peripheral controller card, while components 220, 222, 22A
and 226 are included in the radio module 106-1 forming part of the RF modular adaptor end cap ll~-1. This results in a digital interface at 250 between the peripheral controller card of the basic terminal and the radio module of the RF
adaptor end cap.
Since the signals transmitted across the digital interface are at standardized logic levels, there is no need for tuning ad}ustment of the RF module to adapt it to a particular basic terminal. The lines 216, 218 and 223 ~ay form part of a ribbon cable corresponding to cable 108 with a connector corresponding to connector 109 for plug-in coupling with a mating connector of radio module 106-1 Multiconductor line 228 ma~ be implemented via mating connectors such as 67, 22 and 68, 23 (FIG~2) as in the previous embodiments~ In e~ch embodiment, power from the .. . . .

., . . ' , :
.
. . : , -, .
:' - . . . .
.

battery pack 28 may be supplied to the circuitry of th~ RF
end cap under the control of a ra~io on/off switch 252, the power supply path 254l FIG. 10, being comprised by conductors of a ribbon cable such as 108, for example The control microprocessor 212 is coupled with switch component ~52 as indicated at 2S6, so that all power to the RF end cap can be s~itched on and off as required to minimize battery drain.
.Since the peripheral circuit means including 212, FIG
10, only transmits standardized digital signals and battery power to the Modular adaptor end cap, the end cap circuits can be pre-adjusted at the factory and adjustments by the end user in assembling the modular adaptor end cap with the terminal can be avoided. The peripheral circuit board 26 (FIG. 2) and end cap 18 can be replaced by peripheral controller board 126, FIG. lO, and the end cap 118-1 with radio module 106-1, without re~uiring any other hardware changes in the terminal. Then the end cap with radio module 106~1 can be replaced with a new identical end cap as needed without re~uiring any adjustments in the di~ital outputs from the peripheral controller board, and without requiring any tuning adjustments of the modular adaptor end cap.
To replace the modular adaptor end cap 118-1 with the RF module 106-1, the end cap is removed as in FIG. 8, and the RF section 106-1 separated at connector 109, ~IG. 8.
new end cap is then coupled with ribbon cable 108 by means of connector corresponding to 109. This completes the new digital signal paths which are as represented at 216, 218, 223, 254, FIG. 10.

Exam le Accordin~ To FIG. 10 P
In an exemplar~ embodiment according to FIG. 10, the basic hand-held terminal configuration formed from housing parts 11 and 12, FIG. 2, has peripheral adaptor circuit means 126, FIG. 10, connected therewith via peripheral connector means similar to 108, 109 (FIG. 8), accessible at . ' ~ ' ,' , the upper end of the terminal configuration (see FIG. 8).
The basic ter~inal selectively receives a compatibility end cap (e.g. 18, FIG. 2~ for enclosing the upper ~nd and providing a resultant hand-held terminal of dimensions compatible with an e~isting terminal recept~cle e.g. of a portable printer. In the portable printer the receptacle for the terminal has an electrical connector at one end for mating with connector 19, FIG. 1, and a spring-urged retainer at an opposite end for retaining the termina:L in operative relation to the printer receptacle.
Where it is anticipated that the terminal configuration is to be later adapted to provide an RF link to an external transceiver, the basic terminal configuration may be provided with peripheral adapter circuit means such as represented at 126, FIG. 10. The peripheral input/output means at digital interface 250, FIG. 10, may be embodied in a cable and connector (such as 108, 109, FIG. 8) which is pas~ively contained within a compatibility end cap module such as 18, FIG. 1, but is ready for plug-in connection with ~F module 106-1, FIG. 10, of a modular adaptor end cap 118-1, FIG. lO.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 11 T~TROUGH 19 In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS 11-19, a unitary hand-held data capture device 310 comprises housing parts 11 and 12 forming a data terminal body 311, a RF module 312 (corresponding to module ll~, PIG. 9, or 118-1~ FIG lO), a scanner module body 313 and a handle 31~. The data terminal formed by components 311 and 312 has a frnntal face 316 with user-device input and/or output interface means such as a manual data entry keyboard 14 and a display means at 13. The frontal face may have an indentation pattern at 320 for assisting in the aiming of the device in relation to a data souFCe such as a bar code label on a product container or the like.
In ~ preferred construction, the terminal body 311 has a set of e~ternal contacts 322 for coupling of power and -26~

data signals of various types. The RF module 312 may ~nclude a stub antenna 104 projecting in a longitudinal direction, and the scanner bod~ 313 may include a scanner extension part 326 which serves to direct scanner energy (e.g. optical energy) obliquely to the general plane of the frontal operating panel 316A This serves to insure that under normal scanning conditions, the frontal panel 316 will be facing the user during scanning operation so that for example, the user can verify the scanner data as it appears on the display 13.
FIG. 12 shows the device 3:10 as having a rubber bumper 331, 332 extending about the exterior sides of the teFrninal bQdy 311 and the RF module 312 to protect the device 310 against lateral impact.
A connector 334 corresponding to connector 119, FIG.
8, e.g. a standard 15-pin D subminiature connector, may face longitudinally in a forward direction fro~ a section 335 of the RF module 312. The connector 334 may correspond in its pin assignments with the connector commonly present on RF terminals such as the model 2210 RF terminal of Norand Corporation, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The connector has pins assigned to the transmission of scanner signals, RS-232 signals, charge potential, and power out, for example.
In the illustrated embodiment, the terminal body 311 may contain rechargeable batteries in a battery compartment at section 337, and batter~ power may be supplied from the batteries to the RF module by a direct connection and via connector 334 to the scanner module.
As shown in FIG. 13, the scanner module body 313 ;s provided with a connector 340 which is mated with terminal connector 334 during the assembly of the terminal parts 311 and 312 with the scanner module. A forward recess 343 of the scanner module body 313 receives terminal housing sections 335, 33~, while a rearward recess 344 accommodate.s a transverse rib 345, FIG. 12, on the terminal body 311.
The scanne{ module may have six align~ent ~oles 351-356, and four screw holes 357-360 or use in securing the terminal body 311 therewith.

-27~ 3 FIG. 14 shows locating lug~ 361, 362 on the handle 314 which i~terfit with sealed slots 371-374, FIG~ 15, at the undersurface 375 of the scanner module 313. Four contacts 380 on the handle 314 mate with respective cooperating contacts 381-384 at undersurace 375, so that for example the handle 314 may optionally contain batteries and supply battery power to scanner module 313. The handle is secured to the terminal by means of an integral internally threaded nut 38S at the undersurface 375 which likewise is sealed off from the interior of the scanner module. Thus elements 371-374 and 385 all present blind holes, so that handle 314 may be omitted without the introduction of any exposed apertures leading to the interior of the scanner module.
As a ~odification, batteries may be removed rom the terminal body 311, and all operating power for the scanner and for the terminal keyboard and display and for the RF
components may be supplied from batteries in the handle 31~.
A slide-off battery cap 386 provides access to the battery compartment within handle 314.
The handle may have a trigger 390 for initiating a scan operation, and two of contacts 380 may serve as part of the scan trigger circuit.
As a modification which may be taken to be illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15~ the terminal batteries may supply all operating power to the RF module 3l2 and to the scanner module 313, and in this case handle 31~ may be omitted to provide a more compact unitary hand-held data capture device.
When handle 314 is omitted, scan trigger actuators may be located at each side of the RF module 312 as indicated at 391, 3g2, FIG. 16. With this palm supported arrangement, the device may be held in either the right or left hand, and the convenient one of the trigger buttons 391, 392 actuated.
FIG. 15 shows a soft rubber guard 401 surrounding a sca~ner window 402 which may for example serve as an exit ., , ' :

--28-- 3 ~ ? ~ ?~

window for scan energy (e.g. light energy) and as an entrance window for return scan energy (e.g. modulated reflected light produced by an incide~t deflected ligh~
beam, or a simultaneous reflected light image where the incident light substantiall~ simultaneously covers the entire data source line or lines such as a complete bar code sy~bol representing complete product information or the like).
In FIG. 18, center lines 410 and 411 indicate the axes of elements 351-353, 357, 358 and 354-356, 359, 360, FIG.
13, and center line 412 sho~s the axis of the handle attachment screw which engages nut 3~5, FIG. 15, to secure the handle 314 in place.
In FIG. 18, the scanner module may omit connector 340 or leave it unconnected electrically. Instead, th~ scanner module body is provided with an upstanding end part 420having a set of spring fingers 421 which engage with the respective external contacts 322, FIG. 11, on the adjoining end of the terminal. Again the connections may suppl~
terminal battery power to the scanner module, or handle battery power to the terminal, as well as transmitting the same scanner signals between the scanner ~odule and the terminal as in present types of cable connections between RF terminals and scanners.
As a further alternative scanner power may be supplied by batteries located in a compartment in section ~25 of the scanner module.
With batteries in the handle, the center of gravity of the data capture device 310' of FIG. 1~ and of data capture device 310 of FIGS. 11-17 may be substantially as indicated at 427, FIG. 18.
sy way o example, FIG. 19 illustrates a layout of parts for the case of a scanner module which illuminates a bar code label or other data source simultaneously over its entire extent, the reflected light image being stored in an image sensor array such as a CCD image sensor array for electronic conversion into a scanner data signal. For ' `, .' ' ' ,'. ' -29~ "~

example, respective elements of the reflected light image may control the generation of charge in respective senso~
elements, the charge states being simultaneously transferred to a shift register for readout as a serial scanner data signal.
A scanner o the reflected light image - image senso~
type is shown in U.S. Patent 4,877,949 issued oct. 31, 1989.
The followinq tabulation identifies various components shown in FIG. 19 and indicates parenthetically the related reference numerals from the first and third figures of the incorporated U.S. Patent 4,877,949:
Illuminator 440 (15, first figure; 35, third figure) Illumination Voltage Generator 441 ~17, first figure) Automatic Reading Distance Adaptation Means 442 (20, first figure; 103, 105, 102, 101, 90, third figure) Image sensor means 443 (ll, first figure) with photosensor 444 (13, first and third figures) Control and Processing Means 445 (10, first figure) FI~. 19 departs from the showing in the third figure of the referenced U.S. patent 4,877,949 in having the reflected image follow a single tier longitudinal p~th 450 in the relatively thin layer-like scanner module body 313.
In thi~ way, the thickness of the scanner module body 313 may be substantially less than the thickness of the RF data terminal, for example. The reflected image path is altered by a first mirror 451 and a second mirror 452 so that the image path 450 has a single tier path segment 450A within extension 326 and a single tier path segment 450s within the main section of the scanner module.
To further indicate an exemplary layout of parts, a flex cable 460 may extend from a main circuit board 461 to the illu~ination voltage gen~rator 441. ~ sensor driver circuits component 463 may be located adjacent photosensor 443. Control and processing means ~5 may comprise sensor control circuits 465, signal detection and shaping circuits 466 and control, communication, and decoding circuits 467.

: - . . .
; :
: . . . . .

., . , ,, . - . . , ,, ,: , ' . , . ', ',: ': .

Component 467 may include host I/O buffer means and host connection means (components 121 and 122 of th~ first figure of U.S. Patent 4,877,949). Label guide indicator means (21, first figure), and intensity sensing means (14, first figure) are indicated at 471, 472 irl FIG. l9.
As represented in FIG. 19, and as disclosed in the referenced U.S. Patent 4,877,949, a bar code label or other data ~ource ~ay be read while it is clear of contact with guard means 401 and e~g. at a variable distance therefrom.
This is al~o true with cyclically deflected laser ~eam ~canning systems which may also be contained in scanner modules of the essential configuration of scanner module 313.
In place of the flash tube of the U.S. Patent 4,877,949, a series of bright LED light sources collld be used. Illuminator 440, FIG. 19, may comprise one or more flash tubes or one or more series of LED sources.
Where the extension 326 is omitted, or where the exten~ion 326 extends axially of beam path 450~, the mirror 451 i6 of course o~itted. With use of fiber optics or the like in extension 326, the extension 326 co~ld be adjustable e.g. fro~ the orientation shown in FIB~ 19 to an in-line orientation aligned with path 950B. ~ flexible extension 326 could be manually adjusted to any desired position over a range of positions e.g. from the in-line position twith path 450A in alignment with path 450B) to a sharply angled position (e.g. with path 450A forming an angle of one hundred and fifty degrees relative to path 450B).

The Preferred RF Data Terminal-Scanner Configuration of FIGS. 10-19 The RF data terminal 311, 312 as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 generally may provide the features disclosed in U.S.
Patent 4,910,794 issued March 20, 1990 and European Puhlished Patent Application EP/0353759/A2 dated February 7, I990. The terminal will run application programs , ............................... .

.

'"~J '~ ? 7 ~ .

downloaded to it, or permanently stored in it, or combinations of both.
When the radio module 312, FIG. 1l, i~ added to the terminal 311, com~unication is expanded from direct-wired telecommunication hookups to include real time on-line communication with a host (e.g. a shared data base, applications, etc.). Where the peripheral control card 126, FIG. 10, is used for terminal 311, the radio module itself in the preferred embodiment contains not only the transmitter, receiver, associated level adjusts and the scanner connector 334 direct wired back to the control microprocessor of terminal 311, but also the components 220, 222, 224 and 226 as illustrated in FIG. 10.
The scanner module 313 is treated as an add-on peripheral to terminal 311, governed by the control microprocessor 212, as indicated in FIG. 10.
The handle 314 may cortain additional batteries for extended operation, and to lower the center of gravity o the device 310 or 310'. ~n option would be to remove the batteries of the terminal to further lower the center of gravity of the device 310 or 310'.
The intensity sensing means 471, 472 (see incorporated U.S. Patent 4/877,949) may be used with a series of bright kED sources as illuminator, driven full on until a near saturation of the photosensor is detected, whereupon the LED sources could be turned off, so that they are treated as a single shot light source.
A flex Qr rigid interface connection may extend between terminal 311 and RF module 312 above the level of sections 335 and 338.
The antenna 104 is offset laterally from connector 33~
(FIG. 12~ to avoid scanner/antenna electromagnetic interference issues, and may be formed with a right angle bend as at 324, FIG. 16. The length of antenna 104-1 beyond bend 324 may be adjusted to various desired angulae positions besides the horizontal disposition shown in FIG.
16. For example antenna element lOA-1 may be disposed vertically (as the data terminal is viewed in FIG. 16l.

. .
: . ' , ' ' . , ' . : . '' , 32 ~ $

The terminal control microproces~,or 212, FIG. 10, controls the supply of battery power to the ~F module as represented at 118-1, FIG. 10.
The signal levels transmitted at the interface between the low pass ilters 222, 226 of the terminal peripheral board 26, FIG. 9, and the transmit and receive level adjusts 204, 208 of the RF module 10~, e.g. if used for RF
module 312, FIG. 11, may be standardiæed to allow terminals and modules to be assembled independently, and then mated in final production, and interchanged in the field, without re-tuning in either case.
The base-band processing circuitry could be located in the RF module as in FXG. 10, and in this case digital ~ignals would be transmitted at the interface 250 ~etween the terminal and the scanner module.
Exemplary scanner technologies which may be used in the scanner modules of the present disclosure include that of U.S. Patent 4,882,47S issued November 21, 1989 and that of U.S. Patent 4,~77,949 issued October 31, 1989. The di~closures of U.S. Patent~ 4,877,949 and 4,882,476 are readily applicable to the reading of multiple line bar code indicia. For example, a two dimensional bar code of multiple lines can be envisioned occupying an area of 12.25 square centimeters, e.g. a square with sides of 3.5 centimeters. In accordance with an advantageous de~elopment of one of the inventors named herein, marker beams may delineate a field of view of square or circular configuration (e.g. by means of marker beams e~tending at four corners of a square cross section field o-view). The multiline bar code or other area information can be at an~
random angular orientation within the field of view as delineated by the marker beams, and an area image of the field of view of proper resolution is recorded in a dlgital image memory, whereupon the digital image may be rotated to a normalized orientation for decoding, for example. While a circular flash tube configuration would be of particular advantage, it is also feasible to utilize linear flash ~ ~ 7~ &~

tubes or series of pulse light sources arranged above and below a reader window of suitable configuration, e.g. a rectangular window capable of reading a single line bar code of a length such as five centimeters directly at the reading window, and because of the divergence of the marginal lines (and marker beams) defining the field of view, also capable of reading a single line bar code at any random angle providing the bar code is at a suitable dlstance from the reader window. The same area reader apparatus would then register a substantial number of line s~g~ents of a single bar code as a digital image made up of multiple image lines, or would provide the resolution in orthogonal directions so as to read a multiple line stacked or high density area type bar code pattern of any desired density. A particular advantage of the concepts of modular automatic reader units and modular automatic wireless communication units resides in the abilit~ to adapt these units readily to ever more advanced technological developments, and to adapt the data terminal embod~ing such modules to a wide diversity of users or applications. For example, modules adapted to different size hands and to left-handed and right-handed users are conceivable~ Also various user handicaps could be accommodated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF E'IGS. 20 -- 21 As shown in FI~. 20, a memory card 524 may insertable into a peripheral device connector 525 o a memory card controller board 526 which replaces peripheral board 126, FIG. 2. The memory card ma~ be used to increase the embedded memory of a basic terminal formed of housing parts 11, 12, e.g. by up to five hundred-twelve kilobytes of data 8torage capacity and/or may also store various application programs which may be run on the terminal. In a preferred embodiment memory card 524 may contain up to four megabytes of available memory or progr~mming and still be compatible with a basic computer terminal such as shown in FIGS. 1 through 8. The memory card may bc easily i~stalled in or ;

. ~
, 5~ ~ s~ '? ~ ;r~, removed from ter~inal by removal of end cap 18. with end cap 18 removed, memory card 24 may be inserted in or removed from peripheral device connector 525 which is shown in ~ore detail in PIG. 21 as being mounted on and electrically connected to the memory card controller board 526. When memory card 524 is installed in the peripheral device connector 525, it occupies an area of cavity 63 and extends through the opening 65 in wall 66 50 as to be manually accessible when the end cap 18 has been removed.
~ emory card controller board 526 may contain the electronic co~ponents and circuitry necessary to control the operation of memory card 524 as well as to interface the operation of me~ory card 524 with that of the terminal.
In addition, memory card controller board 526 provides the electronic circuitr~ required to interface the two-way data transfer which may occur through D-sub connector 19. In a preferred embodiment, memory card controller board 52fi may be a peripheral type device which may be exchanged or otherwise configured with other peripheral device controller boards such as 126, FIG. 2, to enable the use of various types of end cap devices. These various end cap devices may enable terminal to perform a wide variety of functions not currently possible with existing hand held data capture devices including, but in no way limited to, the two-way transfer of data through space using radio frequency waves as the data carrying medium, the two-way transfer of data over telephonic communication links, and the two-way transfer of data between the terminal and a bar code reading device.
Other parts shown in FIG. 20 have already been described with reference to FIG. 2 and have been given corresponding reference numerals.
Referring to FIG. 21, a lithium t~pe battery 536 may be mounted upon the host printed circuit board 37 and retained in position by a non-conductive type of moun~ing pod 572. When installed, battery 536 ma~ provide stand-by electrical power to ensure any data stored in the memor~

circuits is retained should the primary power supply drop below a predetermined level, and may further maintain the operation and memory of an integrated circuit type of real-time clock during the same conditions. The lithium battery 536 may be provided with a electrically non-conductive (e.g. mylar) strip 538, which when installed between the battery 536 and an electrically conductive battery retaining clip 539, may prevent activation of the stand-by battery power during the aforementioned,conditions until such a time as the non-conductive strip 538 is removed by the user. For ease of removal, non-conductive strip 538 may protrude through an opening 40, which may be located on the top end of computer terminal 10 and under the end cap 18 which may be attached thereto so as to be manually accessible when the end cap has bcen removed.
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection ma~ be provided exclusively through circuit techniques and board mounted devices ~rranged in such a manner as to protect the entire electronic circuitry of terminal 10 from the potentially harmful effects of transient signal phenomena, including that introduced to the terminal through any external connectors such as shown at 322, FIG. 11. The elimination of shielding devices commonly used to provide protection from said transient ~ignal phenomena on previous types of portable data capture terminals may enable lighter, molded polymeric materials to be used in the manufacturing process of certain components.

Further Discussion of FIGS. 3 and 4 It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the diagrams of FI~S. 3 and 4 are for the purpose of illustration of selected circuit features, Certain simplifications have been made. For example, standard parts such as data bus and address bus components are omitted to avoid cluttering the .
..
`

.

drawings with too many lines; further, e.g. in an actual circuit according to FIG. 4, pin 4 of the regulator 44 is actually connected to ground through a parallel circuit comprised of two zener diodes type TMPZ5240 each of a ten volt value. Thus circuit point 585 is connected with the cathodes of the two zener diodes, and the anodes of the twc zener diodes are connected to ground. The shunt cbnductor indicated at 32 in FIG. 4 may be taken as representing the shunt conductor 32 of FIG. 20. The below listed components were given the indicated circuit values in an implementati~n of FIG. 4:

~53 17.4 ohms .125 watt 1%
R64 61.9 ohms .125 watt 1%
~61 475 ohms .125 watt 1%
R58 one megohm .125 watt 1%
Transistors 45 and 47 were implemented as follows:
Transistor 45 type M~BT 3 9 0 6 Transistor 47 type ZVN 3306 Descri~tion of FIG. 22 -FIG. 20 shows host printed circuit board 37 with twelve conductive pads generally designated 690 in FIGS. 2 and 20, and specifically designated J1-1 through J1-12 in FIGS. 22. The surface contacts 32~, FIG. 11, may be formed as a free leg of a U-shaped part. The U-shaped part embraces a grooved edge of end wall 311~, FIG. 11, e.g. with a tongue part tending to retain the U-shaped part engaged with the end wall 311~. A free end part e~tending from the other leq of the U-shaped part includes a deflectable contact part for pressure engagement with a respective pad 690 of pri~ted circuit board 37.

~ header is indicated at 86, FIG. 20, on the host printed circuit board 37, for ~onnecting with a receptacle 5~7 on the peripheral device circuit board 526. One of such headers may be associated with lines 701-706, FIG. 22, and the header positions may bear the desiqnations as follows:

Associated Header Position Line, FIG. 22 _ Designation 7Q2 DS~

705 CTS .

It is found that a D t~pe connector such as 19, FIG. 20, does not require the same electrostatic discharge protection as the surface contacts 322, FIG. 11, since when a potential source exceeding about 4000 volts is brought into proximity to the connector 19, an arc is produced to the grounded conductive shell of the D connector~ even with a probe disposed at the center of the connector.
Surge protector component 710, FIG. 22, is located closely adjacent contact pads 690, and is electrically connected with pads J1-4 through J1-9 as illustrated in FIG. 22, the individual surge protection eleme~ts being designated SPl-1 through SP1-6 in FIG.
22. The interposed series resistors are designated 22-R4, 22-R6, 22-R8, 22-R15, 22-R16 and 22-R17, and each may have a value of one kilohm, .125 watt, 1%.
The exemplary electrostatic discharge protection for external surface contacts 322, FIG. 11, as shown in FIG. 22 provides protection to level converter 78, FIG. 3, (e.g. type MAX 236~ up to 20,000 volts~ for example at the following listed ports.

.
.
, ,, . : .
- : .

~ 3 8 ~ r~ ~

Port of Communications Signal Co~ponent Ty~e MAX 236 Line, FIG. 22 Designation ~~ De~gn~
-701 DTR 24 T~ OUT

706 RXD 4 Rl IN
Reference numerals 701-706 have correspondingly been applied to the lines connected with these ports of component 78 in FIG. 3.
The CH~G input from contact J1-12 is connected with C~RGX
line 43, FIGS. 4 and 22, via a conductor 717 having a shunt zener diode 22-T~l, type sMsG2o~o~ twenty volts. ~n inductance 22-L1, 270 microhenries, could be introduced in series between conductors 717 and 43 by severing the shunt conductor 718.
The circuitry associated with pads J1-10 and J1-3, and lines 720 and 721 (designated 485+ and 485~) may comprise a differential bus transceiver type 75176B: sufficient electrostatic discharge protection is prov;.ded b~ series resistance and shunt capacitance networks connected in lines 720 and 721.
In FIG. 11 only dielectric material of end wall 311~, is in the vicinity of the surface con-tacts 322 at the exterior of the terminals. Thus there is no external conductive shield in the vicinity of the surface contacts comparable to the metal shiel~
of the ~-connector 19, FIG. 1. The external surfaces of the housings are free of such grounded shields over distances about each surface conductor which are lar~e in comparison to the spacing between such surface conductors.
It will be apparent that many modi.fications and variations , ,: ~ -,', , : .
.

-, : . . , :

may be effected without departinq f~om the scope of the novel teachings and concepts of the p~esent disclosure.

.

' ', ' ' :

Claims (39)

1. In a data capture system, hand-held data terminal means having size and weight to be held in one hand, said hand-held data terminal means having data storage means for storing data therein during data capture operation, terminal receptacle means for releasably receiving hand-held data terminal means for the transmission of data between the data storage means of the terminal means and a data means separate from the terminal means, said hand-held data terminal means having external electrical contact pad means at the exterior thereof for coupling with said data storage means, said terminal receptacle means having cooperating electrical contact means for engagement with the external electrical contact pad means of hand-held data terminal means inserted into said terminal receptacle means such that data can be transmitted between a data means separate from the terminal means and the terminal means via said external electrical contact pad means and the electrical contact means in engagement therewith, and said hand-held data terminal means having electrostatic discharge protection circuitry connected with the respective external electrical contact pad means for protecting the data terminal means from detrimental transients due to electrostatic discharge at the external electrical contact pad means.

2. In a data capture system according to claim 1, said electrostatic discharge protection circuitry providing electrostatic discharge protection for an electrical discharge potential value substantially greater than four thousand volts.

3. In a data capture system according to claim 2, said external electrical contact pad means being substantially flush with the exterior of said hand-held data terminal means.

4. In a data capture system according to claim 1, said electrical contact pad means being generally flush with the exterior of the hand-held data terminal means.

5. In a data capture system according to claim 1, said electrical contact means of said terminal receptacle means comprising at least six electrical contacts of open configuration, said at least six electrical contacts being arranged in a linear series for engagement with respective correspondingly arranged external contacts of such a hand-held data terminal means.

6. In a data capture system according to claim 1, said external electrical contact pad means of said terminal means being clear of grounded shields at the exterior of the terminal means over distances which are large in comparison to the spacing between said external electrical contact pad means.

7. In a data capture system, a data capture terminal unit of size and weight to be held in one hand, said terminal unit having a plurality of external contact pads generally flush with the exterior thereof and having signal carrying pathways connected with said contact pads, means comprising said contact pads for effecting data communication with an external device, and electrostatic discharge protection means connected with the respective signal carrying pathways for protecting the data capture terminal unit from detrimental effects due to electrostatic discharge at the external contact pads..

8. In a data capture system according to claim 7, said external contact pads providing for open abutment type electrical engagement with cooperating contact means.

9. In a data capture system according to claim 7, said electrostatic discharge protection means comprising circuitry providing electrostatic discharge protection for electrical discharge potential values substantially greater than four thousand volts.

10. In a data capture system according to claim 7, said external contact pads being surrounded by dielectric material and being free of any encompassing metallic shielding such that electrostatic discharge potentials substantially exceeding four thousand volts are effective to produce transient discharge currents along the signal carrying pathways connected with said external contact pads.

11. In a data capture system according to claim 10, said electrostatic discharge protection means comprising transient suppressing circuit elements connected with the respective signal carrying pathways.

12. In a data capture system, a hand-held data terminal of size and weight to be held in one hand during use, said data terminal comprising:
(a) user interface means providing for user interaction with the data terminal during data capture operations, (b) wireless data transmission means operative to wirelessly transfer data signals between the data terminal and an external host, (c) control means operatively interconnected with the user interface means and with the wireless data transmission means and operative for controlling data capture operation of the data terminal under user supervision, (d) portable power supply means for powering the data terminal; and (e) a module containing said wireless data transmission means, (f) said module being readily removable and replaceable with respect to the data terminal.

13. In a data capture system according to claim 12, said module containing said wireless data transmission means being removable and replaceable without requiring tuning adjustments.

14. In a data capture system according to claim 12 or 13, said wireless data transmission means having a digital interface with the remainder of the data terminal such that said module containing said wireless data communication means is removable and replaceable without requiring tuning adjustments.

15. In a data capture system, a hand-held data terminal of size and weight to be held in one hand during use, said data terminal comprising:
(a) user interface means providing for user interaction with the data terminal;
(b) a radio frequency transceiver unit for effecting wireless data communication with a remote host;
(c) control means operatively interconnected with the user interface means and with the radio frequency transceiver unit for controlling data capture operations of the data terminal;
(d) portable power supply means for powering the data terminal; and (e) a module secured to said data terminal and having the radio frequency transceiver unit as an operative part thereof such that the data terminal is capable of on-line wireless communication with a remote host.

16. In a data capture system according to claim 15, said module containing said radio frequency transceiver unit, being removable and replaceable as a unit with respect to said data terminal.

17. In a data capture system according to claim 16, said module being removable and replaceable without requiring any tuning adjustments.

18. In a data capture system, a hand-held data terminal of size and weight to be held in one hand during use, said data terminal comprising (a) user interface means providing for user interaction with the data terminal, (b) automatically operating data transducing means automatically operative to transduce data signals in the furtherance of automatic data capture operations, (c) control means operatively interconnected with the user interface means and with the automatically operating data transducing means for controlling data capture operations of the data terminal, and (d) portable power supply means for powering the data terminal;
(e) said automatically operating data transducing means comprising a wireless communication unit, said wireless communication unit being removable and replaceable without requiring tuning adjustments.

19. In a data capture system according to claim 18, said wireless communication unit having a digital interface with the remainder of the data terminal such that said wireless communication unit is removable and replaceable without requiring tuning adjustments,

20. In a data collection system, a hand-held computerized data collection terminal having user interface means providing for interaction with a user of the terminal during data collection operation, said terminal having computer processor means and control circuitry connected therewith for controlling operation of said terminal, said terminal having battery means for supply operating power to said computer processor means and said control circuitry, said terminal comprising a terminal housing having peripheral device electrical connector means therein accessible from the exterior of said housing, peripheral device circuit means electrically and mechanically coupled with the peripheral device electrical connector means, and a protective cover secured to said terminal housing and protectively enclosing said peripheral device circuit means.

21. In a data collection system according to claim 20, said peripheral device circuit means having a peripheral device electrical connector fitting accessible at the exterior of the protective cover and coupled with said computer processor means via said peripheral device circuit means and said peripheral device electrical connector means for providing data communication with a peripheral device.

22. In a data collection system according to claim 9 or 21, said peripheral device circuit means comprising wireless data transmission means.

23. In a data collection system according to claim 22, said wireless data transmission means being removable and replaceable with respect to said terminal without requiring tuning adjustments.

24. In a data collection system according to claim 22, said wireless data transmission means having a digital interface at said peripheral device electrical connector means.

25. In a data collection system according to claim 22, said wireless data transmission means comprising radio frequency transceiver means and baseband circuitry for receiving digital data signals from the peripheral device electrical connector means for transmission and for supplying received data signals in digital form to the peripheral device electrical connector means.

26. In a data collection system according to claim 22, said terminal housing containing a peripheral device circuit carrying member mounting said peripheral device electrical connector means for automatic engagement with said wireless data transmission means as the protective cover is applied to said housing.

27. In a data collection system according to claim 20 or 21, said terminal housing containing a peripheral device circuit carrying member mounting said peripheral device electrical connector means, and said computer processor means comprising a control microprocessor on the circuit carrying member and controlling supply of battery power to the peripheral device circuit means.

28. In a data collection system according to claim 27, said control microprocessor supplying digital data signals to said peripheral device circuit means via said peripheral device electrical connector means.

29. In a data collection system according to claim 27, said peripheral device circuit means comprising radio frequency transceiver means having a digital interface connected with said control microprocessor via said peripheral device electrical connector means.

30. In a data collection system according to claim 29, said radio frequency transceiver means being automatically coupled with said peripheral device electrical connector means as the protective cover is applied to said housing.

31. In a data collection system according to claim 20 of 21 , said terminal housing containing a peripheral device circuit carrying member mounting said peripheral device electrical connector means for automatic engagement with the peripheral device circuit means as the protective cover is applied to said housing.

32. In a data collection system according to claim 20 or 21 , said peripheral device circuit means comprising a memory card removably inserted into the peripheral device electrical connector means, and removable from the housing upon disengagement of the protective cover from said housing.

33. In a data collection system according to claim 32, said terminal housing containing a memory card controller board with said peripheral device electrical connector means thereon and arranged to automatically electrically connect with an edge of the memory card as the memory card is inserted into the housing with the protective cover disengaged therefrom.

34. In a data capture system according to claim 20, said data collection terminal having signal carrying pathways for the transmission of data at a substantially higher rate than the peripheral device circuit means enclosed by said protective cover, and having external conductive metal pads at an exterior surface thereof electrically connected with said signal carrying pathways.

35. In a data collection system according to claim 21, said data collection terminal having external conductive metal pads at an end thereof and having signal carrying pathways coupling said metal pads with said computer processor means for the transmission of data at a substantially higher rate than the data communication provided via said peripheral device electrical connector fitting.

36. In a data collection system according to claim 35, said peripheral device electrical connector fitting having connector elements connected via circuitry within the terminal with respective ones of said external conductive metal pads such that external data communication can take place via the peripheral device electrical connector fitting or via the conductive metal pads.

37. In a data collection system according to claim 34, 35 or 36 , said signal carrying pathways in the data collection terminal having transient suppressing circuit elements connected therewith to protect circuit components associated with said signal carrying pathways from electrostatic discharge transients.

38. In a data collection system according to claim 20 or 21 , said housing having auxiliary battery means for supplying backup operating power to the terminal along an electric current flow path, and an insulating strip of electrical insulating material extending into said housing from the vicinity of said protective cover for maintaining the electric current flow path in an open circuit condition until the insulating material is displaced.

39. In a data collection system according to claim 38, said auxiliary battery means having an electrically conductive clip arranged for electrically contacting said auxiliary battery means and having an end of said insulating strip interposed between the auxiliary battery means and said clip for preventing the electrical contact between said clip and said auxiliary battery means until such time as said insulating strip is pulled to a non current flow interrupting position.