Lapel data entry terminal

Abstract

To enhance the effectiveness of personnel conducting inventory management functions, including data entry of information for products as to their presence, absence, or location, the operator-user is provided with a small and lightweight lapel data entry terminal which can be comfortably worn on a lapel of the operator's clothing, and which can be used to enter data into a remote data center. The lapel data entry terminal provides for acquisition and entry of data derived from verbal pronouncement of code data into a microphone which is coupled to a transmitter through a speech or voice recognition sub-assembly and an analog-to-digital converter sub-assembly. The lapel terminal provides for acquisition and entry of data derived from optical scanning of codes affixed to objects, for example, optical bar code patterns. Such optical codes are read by an optical code reader whose signal output is also coupled to the transmitter. For optical code reading only, the lapel data entry terminal may be temporarily removed from the lapel, and optical code reading is actuated. The wearer of the lapel terminal can receive verbal instructions or directives from the remote data center through a radio receiver which is coupled to a loudspeaker or ear-piece through a digital-to-analog converter sub-assembly and a voice synthesizer sub-assembly. All components and sub-assemblies, as well as a rechargeable battery, are contained within the housing of the lapel data entry terminal.