Psion Inc.

Psion Teklogix Inc.

Dinesh Gandhi

Alan Mangaroo

Bo Xu

Barry Boyd

Eddie Cantal

Michael Gleeson

A variable form factor multi-portion housing of a handheld computer. The housing includes a first housing portion to provide a first interior for mounting a first electronic component, the first housing portion having a common first mating surface for facilitating coupling to a secondary housing portion. The housing includes the secondary housing portion having a version configuration of a first form factor selectable from a family of different version configurations having a plurality of different form factors contributing to a selectable variable form factor nature of the multi-portion housing, such that each of the version configurations from the family of different version configurations has a same second mating surface that is configured to couple to the common first mating surface. The first form factor of the secondary housing portion is configured to facilitate at least one of housing a portion of the first electronic component or housing at least a portion of a second electronic component that is interconnected with the first electronic component. Further, the secondary housing portion extends from an intermediate location (between proximal and distal ends) to the distal end of the first housing portion, such that the intermediate location is positioned on a bottom or top surface of the housing of the mobile terminal. The first and second housings also provide a majority of the internal space of the multi-portion housing.

Multi-portion housing of a portable terminal having multiple back covers

A shock mount assembly is provided for mounting a circuit board in a housing of a handheld computer. The shock mount assembly comprises a frame, configured to receive the circuit board, and a clamp, configured to secure the frame to the housing. The frame comprises a plurality of tabs, each of the tabs sheathed in a shock-absorbent material and configured to be received by corresponding pockets in the housing. The clamp comprises receiving portions shaped to receive a corresponding tab of the frame. When the frame is secured to the housing by the clamp, the pocket of the housing and the receiving portion of the clamp encapsulate the corresponding tab of the frame, thereby restricting its movement. A frame and a housing are also provided.

Shock mount for circuit board

A method of forming respective overmoulds to protect and seal an enclosure apparatus is provided. Respective separate overmoulds for external surfaces of the enclosure and for sealing a cavity or cavities defined by the enclosure may be formed in a single injection moulding tool in a single operation. An enclosure component and enclosure are also disclosed.

Overmould for sealing using double overmould

A handle for a portable terminal having a user interface configured for interaction with a stylus. The handle comprises a handle body having the grip portion shaped for grasping by a hand of the user of the portable terminal, a proximal end of the grip portion for coupling to a housing of the portable computer, and a distal end of the grip portion. The handle has a receptacle connected to the handle body and located in the interior of the handle body, such that the receptacle is adapted for releasably retaining the stylus in the interior of the handle body. The handle bodyhas an aperture for facilitating access of the stylus into the receptacle. The receptacle has at least one arm having a first shaped feature (e.g. protrusion and/or notch/groove) adapted for engaging a second shaped feature (e.g. corresponding notch/groove and/or protrusion) of the stylus for providing the releasable retaining of the stylus when resident in the receptacle. The arm is biased towards a first position for facilitating the engagement of the first shaped feature (e.g. protrusion and/or notch/groove) with the second shaped feature (e.g. corresponding notch/groove and/or protrusion).

Pistol grip for a portable terminal with an internal receptacle for a stylus

A multi-portion housing for a portable terminal having a proximal end, a distal end, a bottom surface, and a top surface, the top surface configured for mounting a user interface between the proximal and distal ends. The multi-portion housing comprises a central housing portion providing a rigid body extending between the proximal and distal ends for facilitating rigidity of the multi-portion housing to inhibit deformation of the multi-portion housing, the central housing portion having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface. A second housing portion is secured to the central housing portion and has a first resilient seal positioned between a first mating surface of the second housing portion and a corresponding mating surface of the central housing portion, the corresponding mating surface of the central housing portion extending only partway between the proximal and distal ends and being positioned on either the upper or the lower surface. A third housing portion (e.g. an endcap) is secured to the second housing portion and has a second resilient seal positioned between a second mating surface of the second housing portion and a corresponding mating surface of the third housing portion. The first resilient seal and the second resilient seal are configured for inhibiting penetration of foreign contaminants into an interior of the multi-portion housing.

Multi-portion housing of a portable terminal having a central portion

A variable form handheld computer may be configurable either as a short form handheld computer or as long form handheld computer. The variable form handheld computer comprises a variable form housing frame configurable as either a short form housing frame or a long form housing frame. The variable form housing frame comprises a plurality of handheld computing modules comprising a keyboard module, a circuitry module, a battery module and a variable form display screen. The variable form display screen is configurable either as a short form display screen or a long form display screen. The long form housing frame securely frames the handheld computing modules when the variable form display screen is configured as the long form display screen, and the short form housing frame securely frames the plurality of computing modules when the variable form display screen is configured as the short form display screen. The variable form handheld computer is configurable as the long form handheld computer using the long form housing frame, and is configurable as the short form handheld computer using the short form housing frame.

System and method for variable form handheld computer configurable via modular display screen

A variable form handheld computer may be configurable either as a short form handheld computer or as long form handheld computer. The variable form handheld computer comprises a variable form housing frame configurable as either a short form housing frame or a long form housing frame. The variable form housing frame comprises a plurality of handheld computing modules comprising a display module, a circuitry module, a battery module and a variable form keyboard, the variable form keyboard configurable either as a short form keyboard or a long form keyboard. The long form housing frame securely frames the handheld computing modules when the variable form keyboard is configured as the long form keyboard, and the short form housing frame securely frames the plurality of computing modules when the variable form keyboard is configured as the short form keyboard. The variable form handheld computer is configurable as the long form handheld computer using the long form housing frame, and is configurable as the short form handheld computer using the short form housing frame.

System and method for variable form handheld computer configurable via modular keyboard

A handle for the housing of a portable computer has a grip portion for grasping by the hand of the user, a proximal end having a proximal surface for mating with an adjacent surface of the housing, and a distal end. The handle also has an actuator assembly for operating one or more scanning functions and is located in the grip portion. A releasable connection mechanism is positioned on the proximal surface and including an operable latch extending outwardly from the proximal surface adapted for engaging with the corresponding first slot in the adjacent surface of the housing. At least one protrusion extends outwardly from the proximal surface for engaging with the corresponding second slot in the adjacent surface of the housing. A control coupling is established once the proximal surface is mated with the adjacent surface through engagement of the releasable connection mechanism.

Removable pistol grip for a portable terminal

A portable terminal having a handle configured for connection to an enclosure of the portable terminal, such that the portable terminal has one or more scanning functions for interacting with information objectsin a logistics environment. The handle has a handle body having a grip portion shaped for grasping by a hand of the user of the portable terminal, a proximal end of the grip portion for coupling to the housing of the portable terminal, and a distal end of the grip portion. An actuator assembly of the handle is configured for affecting the operation of one or more scanning functions and is positioned in an aperture of the handle body for access by one or more fingers of the user's hand. The actuator assembly includes an actuator body connected at a proximal portion to the handle body by a pivot connection, biasing member(s) for biasing the actuator body towards a first position, and a face portion of the actuator body configured for contacting with the one or more fingers such that the face portion has a raised portion for defining the plurality of actuator regions for interaction with the one or more fingers for facilitating rotation of the actuator body about the pivot connection for displacement from the first position to a second position into an interior of the handle body, wherein the displacement of the actuator body affects the operation of the one or more scanning functions (e.g. via activation of a switch by a control arm).

Actuation mechanism for a pistol grip having multiple actuation positions regions

A portable computing device including a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface connected to one another by a pair of sides, a proximal end and a distal end, the top surface including a user interface for operation by a user. The device comprises a planar surface located on the bottom surface at the proximal end, such that the planar surface extends to either side of a centerline of the housing and in a direction towards the distal end. The planar surface defines a plane and the centerline extends in a direction between the proximal end and the distal end. The device has at least one protrusion located on the bottom surface at the distal end, such that the at least one protrusion extends between the bottom surface and the plane, such that the at least one protrusion has a respective peripheral surface lying on the plane on both sides of the centerline. The at least one protrusion and the planar surface provide stability of the device when placed on a surface adjacent to the bottom surface, the stability facilitating operation of the user interface by the user.

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Brampton, Canada

Dinesh Gandhi