JPH0773264A - Scanner system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the changeover between the input of scanner data and the input of keyboard data in a portable computer/scanner system. CONSTITUTION:A scanner system consists of two housings 16 and 11 which are attached on a finger brace 15 and a wrist brace 22 respectively. Both braces 15 and 22 are attached onto a glove 10. The housing 16 includes an electro- optical scanner 17, and the housing 11 includes a processor module, a keyboard 13 and a display 20. The keyboard 13 is placed at a position on a wrist and close to the thumb so that an operator can operate the keyboard 13 while looking at the display 20. Then the operator can control the scanner 17 by operating a push-button switch provided on the brace 15 with his thumb.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in portable computers or typically optical scanners.

[0002]

Optical readers, such as bar code readers, are now quite common. Bar codes typically include a series of encoded symbols, each symbol consisting of a series of light and dark regions, typically rectangular. The width of the dark areas, ie the width of the bars and / or the light space between the bars, represents the encoded information. The bar code reader illuminates the code, senses the light reflected from the code, detects the width and spacing of the code symbols, and retrieves the encoded data.

Bar code reading type data entry systems improve the efficiency and accuracy of data entry for a wide variety of applications. Simplifying data entry in such systems facilitates more frequent and detailed data entry, such as efficient inventory checking, ongoing work tracking and the like. However, to obtain these benefits, the user or employee must use the bar code reader consistently. In many applications, an operator must carry a bar code reader as he moves around and manually operate the reader to scan codes on various objects. Therefore, the reader should be easy and convenient to operate and carry.

In addition, many applications require the use of bar code readers with other data input means, such as integrating multiple input elements into a single integrated data input terminal. . Such integrated systems typically include a keyboard for alphanumeric data entry, whether related to bar code data, a central data processing unit with associated RAM and ROM, and a display. It is equipped with. Integrated terminals of this type have been proposed to be small enough to be held by hand (US Pat. Nos. 4,916,441 and 5,14).
See 4,120).

[0005]

However, a unit having such many different elements is larger than a dedicated bar code reader, and it is troublesome to operate as a bar code reader especially for a long period of time. Tends to become. Further, prior art integrated devices often require the device to be held in one hand and the keyboard operated in the other hand. Such a manipulation requires the use of both hands and the user cannot perform other manual tasks at the same time. Moreover, this operation is cumbersome, requires the ability of the operator, and the operator is prone to fatigue quickly.

[0006] When the operator has to make a lot of keypad input while performing a scanning scan, and thus while the operator is using something else, the scanning device or keypad is suspended. Another problem arises when they have to be laid sideways. This is time consuming and can lead to equipment damage unless the operator is dexterous or careful.

[0007] Along with the problems associated with securing and carrying an unused integrated terminal, these problems tend to impede employee use of the data entry system, the purpose of the system, and especially otherwise bar code data. It overturns the benefits associated with input. Similar problems occur with other types of portable computers or data
It also exists in the device.

From the above discussion of the state of the art, there is still a need to manufacture a portable computer or data entry terminal system, especially one that includes an optical reading unit that is convenient to carry and easy to operate. Become obvious. It is an object of the present invention to facilitate switching between scanner data entry and keyboard data entry for a portable computer / scanner system.

Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the risks associated with switching between different parts of a handheld data entry device. Yet another object of the present invention is to eliminate operator fatigue that would otherwise result from constantly holding and operating the scanning instrument or keypad.

It is a further object of the present invention to increase the speed of keyboard entry or scanner entry of data into the portable computer / scanner system by the operator.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes a data terminal attached to a glove worn by a system operator. The system is functionally interconnected to the gloves,
It is divided into two attached housings. The first housing contains the electro-optic scanner and the second housing contains the scanner, the keypad, and the processing unit that processes the signals coming from the display. The interconnection of the scanner and the processing device etc. is preferably contained in a glove and the first housing is preferably attached to a finger brace which fits around the finger. The second housing further comprises
It is preferably attached to a wrist brace that fits around the wrist of the glove. Both braces are preferably in the form of separate rings for easy attachment to any size hand.

The second housing receives data from the portable unit and may therefore include a radio transceiver used in a communication system with a central processing unit or host computer. Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, although some will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following review or be ascertained by practice of the invention. Could be The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 4 depicts in simplified form the electrical components of a data system, including a scanner, for entering data based on indicia scanned. The system includes a microprocessor that includes a central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM) for storing data, and read only memory (ROM) for storing fixed programming data and the like. The underlying data processing device 41 is included. The data processing device 41 itself comprises elements similar to those found in 16-bit handheld or laptop type personal computers. Cable connections 42 are provided for various signal communication between the data processing device 41 and the keyboard 43 and between the liquid crystal type display (LCD) 45 and the optical scanner 47. The battery system 49 is the data processing device 4
1, power is supplied to the keyboard 43, the liquid crystal display 45, and the optical scanner 47.

As used herein, the term "indicator" refers to a symbol pattern of alternating widths and bars of varying width, commonly referred to as a bar code symbol, as well as other primary It includes a wide range of alphanumeric characters as well as original or two-dimensional graphic patterns. In general, the term "marker" can be recognized or identified by scanning light across it and detecting reflected or scattered light as a representation of the variation in light reflectance at various points in a pattern or information. Applies to type patterns or information. Bar codes are an example of "markers" that the present invention can scan by using an optical reading unit, preferably in the form of a small mobile spot laser beam scanner.

FIG. 1B shows the operating position of a terminal containing the data system described above. The scanner 17 is a bar code reader that is placed in a position to read the bar code 12 and is completely contained within the housing 16. However, other types of sign recognition scanners can be installed in the housing 1.
It can also be mounted in 6 as shown. The housing is secured to the glove 10 and the user wears the glove with separate ring-shaped finger braces 15. The finger brace is preferably arranged to fit the user's index finger. However, other fingers may be used if deemed appropriate. Control switch 14 for easy operation by the system operator's thumb
Mounted on the finger brace 15. Scanner 1
7, the housing 11 and the battery system 49 are interconnected by conductors 19 located in or on the glove 10.

Alternatively, if the scanner 17 is a two-dimensional scanner to accommodate the increasing complexity of the scanner, the size of the housing 16 must increase with it. In some cases, it may be desirable to use only the light pen in housing 16 which cooperates with an external light collector (not shown). Under these conditions,
The conductor 19 extending from the housing 16 to the housing 11 may be composed of an optical fiber.

However, if the scanner 17 is complete in the housing 16, as in the preferred embodiment, the electrical conductors 19 send signals representative of the indicia to be scanned to a processing unit contained in the housing 11. Preferably, the conductor 19 is included in the fabric of the glove 10. However, this is not necessary as the wires can be attached to the outer or inner surface of the glove. The wire 19 is preferably mounted so as to run over the back of the operator's hand. Because this position does not strain the wire so much. The glove 10 and the wire 19 can be arranged to bundle the wires together, or they can be arranged to spread over most of the glove, as shown in FIG. 1B. In addition, the wires can be placed outside the back of the operator's hand.

The glove 10 need not completely surround the operator's hand. As shown in FIG. 1A, the glove does not surround the operator's thumb, or the glove covers not the entire operator's finger. Rather, as shown in FIG. 1A, the finger portion of the glove extends only between the indirect portion of the fist and the first indirect of the index finger, and may extend to other fingers as well. Of course, the glove may completely enclose part or the front of the operator's hand. 1A and 1B, the glove is a separate ring-shaped wrist brace 2 described below.
It extends completely up to the operator's wrist to accommodate 2.

The gloves are preferably made of a durable lightweight material with a layer on which the connector can be placed. Nylon is the ideal material, but other fabrics can be used. Under certain conditions, leather, fabric, or pliable plastic laminates may be suitable materials for gloves. However, in order to achieve the object of the present invention, it is preferred that the glove be as light and comfortable as possible so that the operator does not want to remove it.

Glove flexibility is particularly important in that the operator's index finger is used to orient the scanner as shown in FIG. Since the scanner is always placed on the back of the index finger, the operator can accurately orient the scanner 17 by pointing the appropriate target with the index finger. The finger brace 15 must hold the scanner in place on the finger as shown in Figures 3a and 3b, while the finger brace 15
The material must be flexible enough to accommodate the differences in finger size of different operators. Absorbing such differences is achieved by the gap 30 between the two ends of the ring-like structure of the brace 15.
The material of the separate ring-shaped finger brace is preferably in the form of a plastic that holds the scanner housing in place while allowing it to bend with the movement of the operator's fingers. The stability of the scanner position is also maintained by the connection between the separate ring finger brace 15 and the glove fabric.

For greater flexibility in absorbing operator finger size differences, the separate ring finger brace 15 can be made of a softer material such as leather. Both ends of the skin ring can be clamped together with a suitable clamp such as Velcro ™. scanner·
The overall structure supporting the housing 16 is less stable in this arrangement, but may be more comfortable for the operator. Either of these two versions can house the control switch 14.

In FIG. 1, the control switch 14 is depicted as mounted on the outside of the index finger opposite the thumb. This arrangement facilitates easy operation with the thumb. However, since the finger brace constitutes a rigid ring, the gap 30 shown in Figure 3A may be omitted. In this case, the control switch 14 can be placed on the bottom of the ring opposite the scanner 17 to be operated by the user's thumb.

The control switch 14 is preferably a push button type which activates the scanner only while the switch is pressed. Alternatively, the control switch 14 may be a slide switch that continuously activates the scanner once the switch is in the proper position.
The battery system 49 of FIG. 4 can be included in the housing 11 of FIG. 1B. The housing also supports the liquid crystal display unit 20, the keypad 13 and the processing unit 41 (see FIG. 4). External host
To provide a data link to the computer, the data processing device 41 has a "C" external to the module housing.
OM "port 49. The COM port may be a standard contour serial or parallel type data port.

An external connector to the "COM" port (not shown) connects to the host computer system for downloading data from the portable system to the host and / or programming the portable system from the host. It can take the form of a cable connection. As shown in FIG. 2, the processor housing 11 is supported against the glove 10 by a separate ring-shaped wrist brace 22. The housing 11 extends partially around the brace 22 and provides a substantial surface area so that the necessary contact passages to the housing 11, such as the "COM" connection and the connection to the scanner 17, are provided wherever convenient. be able to. The housing 11 is preferably arranged so that the display 20 is at the top and the keyboard 13 is inside the operator's wrist so that the operator can easily view the display while manipulating the keyboard with the opposite hand. be able to.

Although the keyboard 13 is relatively small compared to the handheld keyboards known in the prior art, this reduced size is not necessarily a disadvantage. Keyboards containing a limited set of keys can be programmed or trained by special operations, thus allowing "toning" of key activation to increase the functionality of the limited set of keys. Input keys are typically used to enter actual alphanumeric data. The alphanumeric value assigned to each key can be programmed into the data processing unit and keyboard either alone or in combination with one or more function keys. For example, 4
Repeated activation of one of the two function keys causes the keyboard 13 to cycle between numeric mode and one or more character modes. The numeric mode may mimic a computer keyboard or a numeric pad on a calculator, and each letter mode may mimic part of a letter keyset. For the convenience of the operator, the LCD display can provide an indication of the current keyboard mode.

Similar to the finger brace 15 of FIG. 3A, the wrist brace 22 of FIG. 2 retains sufficient rigidity to hold the display and keyboard in place for effective use, while It must be flexible enough to accommodate differences in wrist size. Flexibility is provided by the gap 32, which is partially ring-shaped. The required stability is partially facilitated by the connection of wrist brace 22 to glove 10. Another means of stabilization can be provided by the glove itself in the form of a wrist fastener (not shown) that holds the glove securely on the user's wrist. Such fasteners may be Velcro ™ or other types of fasteners that can be easily operated with just one hand. Similar to the finger brace 15 (which supports the scanner housing 16), the wrist brace 22 can be made of various materials with the required combination of stability and flexibility.

As mentioned above, the battery system 4
Nine batteries can be contained within the housing 11. However, the battery may be placed somewhere on the user's body and connected to the housing 11 through a flexible cable (not shown). The external battery is preferably rechargeable and could be placed in a container that fits in the operator's pocket.

As an alternative to the control switch 14 mounted on the side of the finger brace 15, the scanner can be activated from the keyboard 13. A pressure switch placed in the glove or on the housing 11 could also be used to activate the scanner. Still other alternatives include voice activation and object sensing (i.e., activating the scanner when the object is near the scanner).

Further, while the operator wears gloves and moves around to collect bar code data and / or enters alphanumeric data, the system operates between the data processor 41 and an external host computer system. A wireless transceiver 48 (eg, infrared or radio frequency), shown in phantom in FIG. 4, may be included to enable bidirectional data communication. In the preferred embodiment using wireless communication, the wireless transceiver will be of the broadband type contained in a housing worn on the wrist. The transceiver module will include a shield to prevent interference and will be housed in the housing 11. The system of this aspect would further include a flexible RF antenna (not shown) connected to the transceiver. The antenna could be sewn or woven into the fabric of the upper part of the glove.

Various known optical reading devices can serve as the scanner 17. In a typical optical scanner system, a light source, such as a laser, produces a beam of light that is optically modified at a working distance to form a beam spot of a certain size, which is guided by an optical component along an optical path. And is directed at a bar code symbol placed near the working distance to reflect off the symbol.
An optical sensor or photodetector extending across the symbol and having a field of view slightly beyond the symbol detects the variable intensity light reflected from the symbol and produces an electrical signal indicative of the detected light. The scanning component is placed in the light path. The scanning component may sweep the beam spot along the symbol, traverse the symbol and follow the scan line across the symbol, or may scan the field of view of the photodetector,
Alternatively, both may be used.

US Patent Nos. 4,251,798; 4,360,798; 4,3
69,361; 4,387,297; 4,593,186; 4,496,831; 4,409,47
0; 4,460,120; 4,607,156; 4,673,803; 4,736,095; 4,7
58,717; 4,816,660; 4,808,804; 4,816,661; 4,760,24
8; 4,871,904; 148,669, 147,708 laser scanner systems and components of the type illustrated by
Inserted in the text for reference.

The digitizer processes the analog signal,
A pulsed signal is generated, in which the width and space between the pulses corresponds to the width of the bars and the space between the bars. The digitizer acts as an edge detector or waveform adjustment circuit, and the threshold set by the digitizer determines the point where the analog signal represents a bar edge. The pulse signal from the digitizer is applied to the decoder. First,
The decoder determines the pulse width and signal spacing from the digitizer. The decoder then analyzes its width and spacing to find and decode a reasonable bar code message. This involves analysis to recognize reasonable characters and sequences, as limited by appropriate code criteria. In addition, this also includes an initial recognition of the particular fiducials that the scanned symbol follows. This reference recognition is typically referred to as automatic discrimination. Typically, the functions of the various decoders, along with associated program memory and random access data memory, are performed by the microprocessor.

In the exemplary implementation of the portable data system shown in the figure, the scanner 17 includes at least a laser light source, scanning components or other means for producing beam movement, and a photodetector. The digitizer and / or microprocessor decoder may further include the elements of the scanner contained within housing 16. However,
Since the size of the housing 16 is increased accordingly,
Mounting on the operator's finger may be problematic. In such a case, the scanner would provide the digital data signal to the data processing device in the housing 11 by the wire 19. The data processing device preferably functions as a decoder.

Alternatively, the optical reading unit is the glove 1
It may be in the form of a contact or wand type device attached to a zero index finger. In this case, the operator activates the data system and places the tip of the wand on the surface on which the sign appears and manually moves the tip across the sign. One or more optical fibers carry the light from the light source to a scan head unit containing optical elements for producing the scanning movement of the light beam. Published European patent application No. 264,956 discloses an example of such an optical code reading unit using optical fibers. To adapt this approach to the present invention, the laser diode that produces the scanning beam will be placed in the housing 16. The optical fiber would then be connected to the processing housing 11. The optical fibers may be sewn into the channels of glove 10 or woven into the fabric.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a premises 50 containing the inventory management system in which the present invention is used. Each operator 52 wears gloves 10. To enter data into the system, the operator directs the gloved scanner to inventory 51 and reads the indicia on the inventory. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the terminals worn on the glove 10 each include a wireless transceiver. These transceivers are used to transmit data from the portable terminal to the base station / data transmission device 53. Preferably, base station 53 is mounted to ceiling 56 to facilitate simple low power communication between base station 53 and operator 52.
Further, ceiling mounting facilitates clarity of the communication line between the base station 53 and the host computer 55 through which information is sent for processing. The host computer 55 further relays the data to the base station 5 for relaying to a portable terminal contained on the glove 10.
Can be sent to 3. Alternatively, each operator 52
Direct communication between the portable terminal and host computer 55 can also be performed. However, under certain circumstances, inventory or other obstructions can make complete transmission of data problematic.

The preferred embodiment includes two input devices, preferably a keyboard and an optical scanner. These two
Because of the placement and mounting of the individual devices, the operator can easily switch between scanned marker data entry and keyboard data entry while checking the input by the display. Although the various arrangements of the invention have been taken as examples, the invention is not limited thereto. Therefore, various additional modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the invention is not limited to the structures, modifications, and the like included in the claims.
It should be considered to include all variations, combinations or equivalent arrangements.

[0037]

The input device does not need to be carried or even handled. The device only needs to be operated. In this way, operation is simplified, scanning speed is increased, and potential damage to the device is minimized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 (A) is an external view showing the bottom of the hand of an operator who wears the glove of the present invention. FIG. 1B is an external view of the present invention in a state where it is mounted on an operator's hand when scanning a sign.

FIG. 2 is a detailed front view showing a computer housing and its mounting structure.

3A and 3B are a front view and a side view showing a scanner and a mounting structure thereof.

FIG. 4 is a simplified electrical block diagram of a scanner and terminal system used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an inventory management system using the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 gloves 11 housing 12 bar code 13 keypad 15 finger brace 16 housing 17 scanner 19 conductor 20 liquid crystal display unit 22 wrist brace 49 battery system 51 inventory 53 base station 55 host computer

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Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. A glove worn by a system operator's hand, and a first glove attached to the glove by a first attachment.
And a processing device means to be attached to the glove by the second attachment, the processing device means for processing an electrical signal representative of a sign, and a signal representing alphanumeric data input to the processing device means. Actuating a second housing having a keypad for generating, a video display for displaying the data representative of the indicia and the alphanumeric data, the first housing and the second housing A data terminal comprising a cable for enabling connection, the first housing for projecting a light beam onto the indicia to be read, for scanning the indicia and generating an electrical signal representative of the indicia. A scanner system including an electro-optical scanner for detecting the light intensity of the reflected light from the sign. 2. The first housing comprises a first ring-shaped brace attached to the glove so as to fit around the finger of an operator wearing the glove. Scanner system. 3. The scanner of claim 1 wherein said second housing comprises a second ring-like brace attached to said glove so as to fit around the wrist of the gloved operator. system. 4. The scanner system according to claim 2, further comprising a switch disposed on the first ring-shaped brace for activating the electro-optical scanner. 5. The scanner system of claim 2, wherein the switch is located on a portion of the brace on the first ring facing the operator's thumb. 6. The scanner system of claim 4, wherein the switch comprises a push button switch. 7. The scanner system according to claim 1, wherein the gloves are made of an elastomer material. 8. The scanner system of claim 1, wherein the cable is located within the material of the glove. 9. The scanner system according to claim 3, wherein the second housing is placed on a glove on the back of the operator's hand between the finger joint and the wrist. 10. A scanner system as recited in claim 1, wherein the scanner includes the beam of light along a finger extending through a first ring-shaped brace in a direction that an extended finger normally points. A scanner system characterized by being arranged so as to be projected. 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the first ring-shaped brace is placed so as to be attached between the finger joint of the fist of the operator's hand and the first joint of the index finger. Scanner system. 12. A data terminal as recited in claim 3, wherein the video display is placed on the glove on the back of the operator's wrist and the keypad means is placed on the glove on the inner portion of the operator's wrist. A scanner system characterized by being operated. 13. The scanner system of claim 1, including a transceiver disposed in the second housing. 14. The scanner system of claim 13, wherein the transceiver operates at radio frequency. 15. The scanner system of claim 13, wherein the transceiver operates at infrared light frequencies. 16. The scanner system of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises an optical fiber cable. 17. The scanner system of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises an electrical conductor. 18. A glove to be worn on a system operator's hand, first and second housings attached to the glove, and a first housing containing a scanner unit for optically scanning a sign to be read. A scanner system comprising: a housing, a second housing for accommodating a video display, and an electrical conductor interconnecting the first and second housings. 19. The scanner system of claim 18, wherein the second housing further includes means for processing electrical signals received from the scanner unit. 20. The scanner system of claim 19, wherein the second housing further includes a keypad for emitting signals representative of alphanumeric data. 21. The scanner system of claim 18, including a first mount for holding a first housing on a finger of the gloved operator. 22. The scanner system of claim 18, including a second mount for holding a second housing on a wrist of the gloved operator. 23. A glove to be worn on the hand of a system operator, first and second housings attached to the glove, and a scanner unit for optically scanning a sign to be read. A first housing,
Said second housing containing a keypad input for generating a signal representative of alphanumeric data; said first and second housings
An electrical conductor interconnecting the housings of. 24. The scanner system according to claim 23, wherein said second housing further includes means for processing electrical signals from said scanner unit. 25. The scanner system of claim 24, wherein the second housing further includes a video display. 26. The scanner system of claim 23, including a first mount for securing the first housing to a finger of the gloved operator. 27. The scanner system of claim 23, including a second mount for securing the second housing to the wrist of the gloved operator.