Socket Mobile, Inc.

Socket Communications, Inc.

Cognex Corporation

Micheal L Gifford

Kevin J Mills

David James Stein

An assisted aimer for rapid, accurate, and low-cost imaging of barcodes, includes a hand-held device, such as a smart phone or tablet, having a digital camera with built-in flash, a specialized software application executing on the phone, and an aimer apparatus attached in front of the flash aperture for forming an aimer beam at a predetermined distance. The aimer beam assists a user in accurately pointing the device at a target barcode. The aimer is attachable directly to the smart phone or camera, or is made a part of an enclosure that accepts the smart phone or tablet into a self-aligning receiving space. Aiming beam assistance enables the camera, its auto-focus, and the installed software application image processing to deliver rapid, snappy, barcode imaging.

Assisted aimer for optimized symbol scanning by a portable computing device having an integral camera

Aimer beam formation facilitating rapid barcode processing by a user with a standard smart phone

An aimer accessory for a mobile device and method of use is provided. The accessory includes a body configured for being affixed to the mobile device. The body includes a collimator terminating with a grating disposed in a distal portion thereof. The grating is configured to receive light from a lamp of the mobile device and to generate a light pattern on the surface containing a barcode. Registration of the light pattern and the barcode in a scan area enhances the ability of the mobile device to capture a barcode image. Registration may be configured for blind or target mode scanning. In blind mode, the registration occurs on detection of the light pattern and barcode in a viewing angle of a camera of the mobile device. In target mode, the registration occurs on a detection of the light pattern hovering over the barcode in a viewing angle of the camera.

Aimer accessory for capturing a coded image

Portable computing hosts, such as PDAs, are customized for use in diverse applications, such as media and game players, through use of a first-level removable expansion module having player-specific circuitry and a slot for a second-level removable module, such as a removable memory. For example, in combination with a connected or attached user interface device (e.g., earphones), these modules provide a host with external-interface circuitry and/or application-specific functions as well as second-level removable memory functions. The removable memory may be used to store and playback digitally encoded media such as music, audio, or video. The removable memory may also be used directly or predominantly by the player's application specific circuitry within the first-level removable expansion module. In illustrative embodiments, an industry standard physical and electrical interface couples the application specific module to the portable computing host, which provides user interface functions for the application.

Nested removable-removable modules with game and media-player applications

The utility of portable computer hosts, such as PDAs (or hand-helds), is enhanced by methods and apparatus for removable expansion cards having application specific circuitry, a second-level-removable memory, and optional I/O, in a number of illustrative embodiments. In addition to providing greater expansion utility in a compact and low profile industrial design, the present invention permits memory configuration versatility for application specific expansion cards, permitting easy user field selection and upgrades of the memory used in conjunction with the expansion card. Finally, from a system perspective, the present invention enables increased parallelism and functionality previously not available to portable computer devices.

High-density removable expansion module having I/O and second-level-removable expansion memory

Computer hosts, such as PDAs, are customized for use in bar code scanner applications through use of a first-level removable expansion module having bar code related circuitry and a slot and internal connector for a second-level removable memory. In combination with a connected or attached I/O device for scanning bar codes, these modules provide embedded bar code scanning I/O adapter and/or application-specific functions as well as second-level removable memory functions. The removable memory may be used to store a backup copy of the scanned data for restoration in the event the original scan data is lost or corrupted. Restoration may occur using any interface compatible with the removable memory. The removable memory may also be used by the bar code scanner application specific circuitry within the first-level removable expansion module. In illustrative embodiments, an industry standard physical and electrical interface couples the application specific module to the computer host, which provides user interface functions for the application.

First-level removable module having bar code I/O and second-level removable memory

Methods and apparatus for closed-case removable expansion cards having a removable memory enhance the utility of portable computer hosts, such as PDAs. In both a first and second embodiments the closed-case removable expansion cards preferably use a Type II CompactFlash form factor. In the first embodiment the removable memory is in combination with an external-I/O connector or attached external-I/O device, providing both I/O and memory functions in a single closed-case removable expansion card. This increases the expansion functional density for portable computer hosts, such as PDAs. That is, it increases the amount of functionality that can be accommodated within a given volume allocation for expansion devices. In the second embodiment the removable memory is a private memory for application specific circuitry within the closed-case-removable expansion card. This enhances the utility of portable computer hosts, such as PDAs, as universal chassises for application specific uses. The standard CompactFlash physical and electrical interface couples the application specific card to the host, which provides user interface functions for the application. The cards include a top located slot and an internal connector for accepting a MultiMediaCard as the private removable memory. In addition, the application specific card will generally have some manner of I/O to required external devices, such as scanning devices, sensors, or transducers. Otherwise, all functionality for the application specific function is self-contained within the application specific card.

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San Leandro, CA, United States of America

Micheal L Gifford