Norand Corporation

Broadcom Corporation

Intermec IP Corporation

Lsi Logic Corporation

Norand Technology Corporation

Other

Lsi Corporation

Intermec Technologies Corporation

Par Technology Corporation

Par Microsystems Corp.

Broadcom Corpoation

George E Hanson

Phillip C Miller

Steven E Koenck

Darald R Schultz

Keith K Cargin, Jr

Ronald L Mahany

Arvin D Danielson

Alan G Bunte

Dennis A Durbin

Patrick H Davis

Steven H Salvay

Darrell L Boatwright

William T Gibbs

Stephen J Kelly

Robert G Geers

Guy J West

Joseph Jay Kubler

Roger L Wolf

Steven R Kunert

Jerry L Walter

Jeffrey S Krunnfusz

Robert Charles Meier

Richard A Sherman

Robert B Jaeger

Julie Ann Miller, Legal Representative

Robert J Traeger

Jonathan R White

Ronald E Luse

Charles D Gollnick

Richard C Arensdorf

James R Hutton

Glen S Adams

Paul F Beard

Dennis Silva

John G Pavek

Jon Rasmussen

Richard P Shindley

Kristi T Feltz

Phillip Miller

David A Harris

Portable measuring devices which communicate by low power transceivers through a communication controller with a printer device collect weight and size data on articles to be shipped. The collected weight and size data are combined with origin and destination data, and labels are printed bearing pertinent shipping and routing information in machine readable format. The labels are attached to the articles to be shipped and accompany the articles to their respective destinations. At transfer points the labels are read by scanner devices which also communicate by low power transceiver links with the communication controller. The wireless linking of the scanner devices promotes human safety by the absence of cords which could cause entanglement of an operator in mechanized conveying equipment. The communication controllers at each stage of the shipping process have the capability of transferring received and updated status information on the shipped articles to a central data station.

Multi-level hierarchical radio-frequency communication system

A mobile customer service station operating within a wireless multi-hop communication network includes a console on a wheeled chassis. The console carries and houses a number of components which are used in merchandising operations to conclude customer purchase transactions. The items supported externally on the console are a printer for printing purchase receipts, customer credit charge agreements and records of transactions, and a magnetic card reader for reading information from a magnetic stripe of a customer's credit card. In one embodiment, the operation of the printer, credit card reader and the cash drawer is controlled by a multi-function control unit located within an enclosure of the console. The control unit is electrically powered by a self-contained power source which is preferably a deep cycle rechargeable battery. The console also houses a transceiver unit which under the control of the control unit is capable of interactive communication with a premises network. In another embodiment, the mobile service station comprises an access device which participates with a variety of peripherals at the station in a lower power communication LAN, while providing higher power communication to other network devices via a premises network with routing via a wireless spanning tree configuration.

Transaction control system including portable data terminal and mobile customer service station

Enhanced mobility and address resolution in a wireless premises based network

A latch for retaining moving parts on an enclosure service module (ESM) is provided. This latch comprises a retaining groove in the latch that holds a self-clinching standoff fastener attached to the ESM. A return spring is contained within a molded cavity in the latch, and an alignment groove in the latch is placed at one end of the return spring. The alignment groove guides an alignment pin on the ESM into a secure position, and the return spring applies pressure against the pin while the pin is in the alignment groove.

Integrated CRU latch

A portable, hand-held data terminal of modular structure includes a base module with a keyboard and a display screen. A data and communications module may be selected from a number of different data and communications modules, each having different types of data communications transceivers, or including in addition data collection devices, such as shelf label readers or bar code readers. The base module includes a microprocessor-controlled data communications and control interface having a predetermined protocol. To adapt the various types of data and communications modules for selection of any one thereof to become attached to the base module and function therewith, each of the data and communications modules includes a microprocessor operable to function as an emulator to interact with the microprocessor of the base module and communicate with the microprocessor of the base module in accordance with the protocol of the data communications and control interface of the base module.

Data processing and communications device with interchangeable modules

Disclosed is a system and method employing a magnetic proximity switch to enable the transfer of power between a power supply unit and a docking unit or to transfer data between a docking unit and a peripheral module such as a disk drive or controller module. Power may be transferred through the switch, or a signal from the switch may be employed to enable a control circuit. The control circuit may control a plurality of voltages or currents and may ramp voltages or currents to limit surge current when a module is installed or removed. The control unit may also be employed to place data and control signals in a high impedance state when a module is not docked, limiting electromagnetic radiation.

Magnetic proximity interface control

A data communications device includes a base unit having a first microprocessor and a data and communication module received by the base unit that includes a second microprocessor and a transceiver. The data and communication module is selected from a plurality of data and communication modules each having different types of transceivers. A program is stored in one of the base unit and the data and communication module to control communication of control signals and data between the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor according to a uniform data protocol that is understandable to the base unit.

System and methods for evaluating a charge state of a battery are provided. A light source is configured for emitting light through an electrolyte contained within the battery. An optical element determines the charge state based on the light passing through the electrolyte. The optical element may comprise an optical sensor such as a CCD. Such a CCD may be used to determine the location of light impinging the surface of the CCD. In one embodiment, the system includes a processor for determining the index of refraction for the electrolyte based on the location where refracted light impinges a CCD. From that index of refraction, a specific gravity of the electrolyte may be calculated to determine the charge state of the battery.

Systems and methods for evaluating a charge state of a battery based on optical properties of the battery electrolyte material

A sealing mechanism for a customer replaceable unit (CRU) within a computer system is provided. The sealing mechanism comprises a faceplate for the CRU, wherein insertion and extraction latches are recessed into a trench within that faceplate. The backside of the faceplate has a protruding rim around the perimeter. The rim engages a groove in the subsystem enclosure, which surrounds the aperture that the CRU engages. Since the faceplate incorporates a perimeter ridge and a trench structure, the interacting groove follows the contour of the trench. Thus the rim and groove both trace the faceplate trench around the faceplate. The groove in the subsystem enclosure has an entrenched section at both ends of the receptacle perimeter that accommodate sections of the faceplate rim that trace the trench in the faceplate. A compliant seal material seated is in the groove of the chassis-mating surface, wherein the seal material follows the contours of the chassis-mating surface and ensures electrical contact between the chassis-mating surface and protruding faceplate rim.

Convoluted EMC seal for subsystem CRU's in advanced controller based subsystems

Multi-level hierarchial radio-frequency system communication system

A communication system including a battery powered mobile service station is used to provide transactional support within a premises. The mobile service station includes a plurality of network devices that operate on a second wireless network, where at least one of the plurality of network devices participates on a first wireless network. In one embodiment, a network device participates as a slave device on the first wireless network and participates as a master device in the second wireless network. In another embodiment, a mobile service station includes a mobile network device that simultaneously operates over a wireless premises network and a wireless peripheral sub-network having a relatively shorter range than the wireless premises network. One or more peripheral devices communicate with the mobile network device in the peripheral sub-network. The mobile service station includes a battery power supply and may further include a peripheral device coupled to the battery. The mobile network device mounts to the service station and has access to the battery. The service station houses a number of peripheral devices which are used in merchandising operations to conclude customer purchase transactions. The peripheral devices may include a printer, a magnetic card reader and a cash drawer, and may wirelessly communicate with the mobile network device.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

George E Hanson