Socket Mobile, Inc.

Socket Communications, Inc.

John E Brandon

Leonard L Ott

Timothy Miller

Charles E Ader

Robert John Miller

Thomas J Newman

Allan Leafblad

Bobby Dale Gifford

Kevin J Mills

Michael Gifford

According to a technique of accuracy-enhanced scanning, a scan target is illuminated responsive to recognizing an aiming initiation action. The scan target is scanned responsive to recognizing a scanning initiation action. The illuminating and the scanning are performable independently of each other.

Accuracy-enhanced scanner

A multi-mode ring scanner (MMRS) has a ring unit for wearing on a finger. The MMRS optionally has a wrist unit coupled to the ring unit, such as via a cable. The MMRS optionally communicates wirelessly with a computing device. The ring unit has one or more scanners (such as an optical scanner or an RFID tag reader). The ring unit optionally has two paddle switches for activation by inward pressure from fingers adjacent to the finger. The two switches enable specifying operation of the MMRS in a plurality of modes and/or to communicate a plurality of information codes to the computing device. The computing device is optionally enabled to assign a function to each combination of activation of the two switches. A scanning system including the MMRS optionally provides feedback to a user based on feedback from a host processor.

Host feedback of scan status

An accuracy-enhanced scanner provides (in response to a first user input) illumination of potential scan targets and scans (in response to a second user input) a selected scan target. The user uses the illumination to aim the scanner at the selected scan target in between providing the first and the second user inputs. The scanner has switches to communicate the user inputs, to specify an operating mode for the scanner, and/or to communicate information codes to a computing device. The scanner has one or more scan engines (such as a barcode reader or an RFID tag reader), and optionally communicates wirelessly with the computing device. A scanning system including the scanner optionally provides feedback to the user based on feedback from a host processor. The scanner is any of a Multi-Mode Ring Scanner (MMRS), a cordless hand scanner, or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with an add-on scanner.

A portable scanner with improved user feedback provides scan data to a networked computing node via a wireless interface and the Internet. The portable scanner receives user feedback information from the networked computing node via the wireless interface and the Internet. The user feedback information indicates successful entry of the scan data into a database, or alternatively successful receipt of the scan data by the networked computing node. The portable scanner sets a scan status indicator to a final state in response to the user feedback information. Optionally, the database is a remote database that a local database is synchronized with, and/or the database is associated with the networked computing node. Optionally the portable scanner is wearable. Optionally the portable scanner is compatible with barcode and/or RFID technologies.

Portable scanner with improved user feedback

Multi-mode ring scanner

Host feedback of scan status for scanners wielded by hand

Multi-mode ring scannner

Convenience, ease of use, efficiency, and economy are some of the benefits of a cordless hand-held device implementing both a scanner and a stylus (active or passive) within a common housing. In an illustrative embodiment, the combined scanner/stylus device is ergonomically shaped and sized for extended comfortable use. During scanning, the device is generally held and aimed at a scan target using one hand as one would hold and aim a small flashlight. The long-axis of the device is thus kept generally parallel with an extended thumb, a scan button being positioned such that the thumb naturally rests atop it for selectively initiating a scan. To write on or tap on the input area of a PDA or Tablet PC, a user of typical coordination can, with the one hand holding the device, spin (rotate) the device to a position common for holding a writing implement.

Growing community of inventors

San Rafael, CA, United States of America

John E Brandon