Norand Corporation

Broadcom Corporation

Intermec IP Corporation

Jeffrey S Krunnfusz

Darald R Schultz

Steven E Koenck

George E Hanson

Phillip C Miller

George E Chadima, Jr

William T Gibbs

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

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.

Hand-held data capture system with interchangeable modules

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.

A portable, hand-held data terminal of modular structure includes a base module with a keyboard and a display screen. A data collection and communications module includes a stacked arrangement of a communications interface main circuit board, a radio and a laser scanner assembly which are housed in a housing shell which is attachable to the base module. The radio is mounted in spaced relationship to one side of the main circuit board, while the laser scanner assembly is mounted to the other side of the main circuit board. A support frame and a plurality of ground planes in the sandwiched main circuit board and a routing circuit board form an RF cage for shielding RF interference which may be generated by the radio.

Laser scanner module having integral interfacing with hand-held data

A hand-held portable data entry terminal is encased by an elongate housing of substantially rectangular dimensions. The housing includes upper and lower housing shells which are assembled into a water tight housing. The upper housing shell supports on an upper surface a display and a keyboard with typically alphanumberic keys. The area taken up by the display and keyboard defines an overall width of the data terminal which may exceed the width of a readily hand fitting grip. The terminal consequently includes in a central portion of its lower housing shell a grip conforming portion of an inwardly displaced lower wall bounded by inwardly converging angled sidewalls. The depression in the center portion of the housing adjacent opposite end portions is spanned by a resilient strap disposed longitudinally across the grip conforming portion. A user may insert a hand into a space defined between the strap and the inwardly displaced surface. The strap enables a user to relax the grip on the terminal without the terminal being released from holding engagement of the data terminal with the user's hand. A battery pack inserted from a bottom end into a battery compartment at a bottom end of the lower housing shell is suitably mounted externally of a sealed environment within the housing. Sealed contacts extending through a wall of the battery compartment into the housing engage contacts of the battery pack and couple power supplied by the battery pack to the circuits of the data terminal within the sealed environment of the housing. The battery pack includes a plurality of external contacts for coupling an external battery charger to the battery pack, for initiating the charging process and for providing access to data transfer circuits through the battery pack to the interior of the data terminal.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Jeffrey S Krunnfusz