Telxon Corporation

David B Vanhorn

Roger H Ramsey

Gary Kochis

Robert J Becker

Gregory R Canda

A customer information terminal system having a docking member for supporting a data collection device on a shopping cart, wall or the like. The docking member is dimensioned to receive the data collection device and allow for convenient storage thereof during and after use. The data collection device may take any number of forms, including a consumer assistant data terminal, a pen based data terminal, a scanning gun terminal or the like, and may communicate with a host computer system storing customer shopping data. The docking member may provide one or more degrees of movement, so that the data collection device may be situated in a convenient position. An interlock switch may also be provided to allow for the alternative selection of power sources. When the data collection device is located remote from the docking member, the interlock switch causes the device to be powered by an internal power source. When the data collection device is situated in the docking member the interlock switch causes the device to be powered by an external power source. In addition, the external power source can be used to charge the internal power source.

Customer information terminal system with a docking member for a data collection device

A charging station for charging a battery that powers a portable data collection device. The shopping cart carrying the data collection device is provided with one or more connection elements that engage a guide rail of the charging station and conduct current to the battery disposed on the cart. The data collection device is mountable to a shopping cart and includes a housing having a clamping assembly for releasably clamping the housing to a pushing bar of a shopping cart. The housing defines an interior region supporting device electronics. The device further includes an interactive touch sensitive visual display screen and a retractable, tethered dataform reader releasably mounted on the housing. When mounted on the housing, an imaging assembly and illumination assembly of the reader are continuously actuated to read a dataform presented to the reader. When removed from the housing, the reader is actuated by depressing a trigger on the reader. The device also includes a magnetic stripe reading assembly and communications circuitry including a radio transceiver module.

Battery charging station for shopping cart mounted portable data

A portable data collection device including an integral bar code dataform reader. The device includes a housing configured to be cradled in an operator's hand and be operated as a stand alone unit for dataform reading, data input via user interface keys and a display screen. The device further includes a removable handle with a pistol gripping portion permitting an operator to select between two gripping configurations. The handle is configured to snap fit onto the housing and includes a trigger which is depressed to initiate a dataform reading session. The trigger is part of a trigger assembly which includes an LED and a photosensor supported within a bottom portion of the housing. When the trigger is depressed, a mirror supported by the trigger reflects light from the LED onto the photosensor which results in the activation of the bar code dataform reader. Advantageously, a power source comprising a battery pack is removably disposed in the handle and is electrically coupled to circuitry supported in the housing to supplement a power source supported in the housing and provide increased operating time between rechargings.

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Columbia Station, OH, United States of America

David B Vanhorn