US4850009A — Portable handheld terminal including optical bar …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 136 words

A portable handheld terminal, comprising: (a) a housing; (b) keyboard means disposed on the housing for entry of data; (c) display means disposed on the housing for display of data; (d) optical sensor means disposed in the housing for sensing bar code indicia on an object; (e) electromagnetic transceiver means contained in the housing for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals representing the exchange of data between the portable handheld terminal and a remote location while the portable handheld terminal is in use, said electromagnetic transceiver means including means for initiating transmissions to the remote location; (f) control means contained in the housing operatively interconnected to the keyboard means, display means, optical sensor means, and electromagnetic transceiver means for controlling operation of the portable handheld terminal; and (g) power supply means for powering the portable handheld terminal.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 136 words

A portable handheld terminal, comprising: (a) a housing; (b) keyboard means disposed on the housing for entry of data; (c) display means disposed on the housing for display of data; (d) optical sensor means disposed in the housing for sensing bar code indicia on an object; (e) electromagnetic transceiver means contained in the housing for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals representing the exchange of data between the portable handheld terminal and a remote location while the portable handheld terminal is in use, said electromagnetic transceiver means including means for initiating transmissions to the remote location; (f) control means contained in the housing operatively interconnected to the keyboard means, display means, optical sensor means, and electromagnetic transceiver means for controlling operation of the portable handheld terminal; and (g) power supply means for powering the portable handheld terminal.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 84 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including elongated handle means interconnected to the housing for holding the housing, the elongated handle means extending generally along a surface of the housing opposite that of the keyboard means and display means, the elongated handle means being displaced from the surface of the housing along a portion of its length whereby the elongated handle means can be grabbed by a user's fingers extending through an opening formed between the elongated handle means and the housing.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the elongated handle means is interconnected to a first end portion of the housing and extends back longitudinally toward a second end portion of the housing.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the elongated handle means includes a first arcuate portion interconnected to the housing and a second substantially linear portion spaced apart from the surface of the housing.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the elongated handle means is formed of one piece with the surface of the housing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 45 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the optical sensor means includes binary imaging means including a plurality of imaging elements arranged in an X-Y configuration for sensing the bar code in both the X and directions, whereby the optical sensor means is self-scanning.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the binary imaging means includes a charged coupled device and supporting electronics.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the binary imaging means includes an optical RAM sensor and supporting electronics.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 33 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein switch for activating the binary imaging means is positioned on the surface of the elongated handle means facing away from the surface of the housing.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the optical sensor means is located proximate one of first and second longitudinally spaced apart end portions of the housing.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power supply means is removable.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power supply means is rechargeable.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 16 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic transceiver means includes RF transceiver means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 30 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the binary sensor means includes an array of sensor elements positioned in a planer arrangement, sensor means being associated with the housing.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 184 words

A portable handheld terminal, including: (a) a portable handheld terminal, including: (i) a housing having first and second spaced apart, opposing major surfaces extending longitudinally of the housing between first and second end portions; (ii) keyboard means disposed on the first surface for entering data; (iii) display means disposed on the first surface for displaying data; (iv) optical sensor means disposed in the housing for sensing bar code indicia; (v) RF transceiver means contained in the housing for transmitting and receiving RF signals representing the exchange of data between the portable handheld terminal and a remote location while the portable handheld terminal is in use, said RF transceiver means including means for initiating transmission to he remote location; (vi) control means contained in the housing and operatively interconnected to the keyboard means, display means, optical sensor means, and RF transceiver means for controlling operation of the portable handheld terminal; and (vii) power supply means for powering the portable handheld terminal; and (b) base station means including RF transceiver means for communication with the portable handheld terminal while the portable handheld terminal is in use.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 184 words

A portable handheld terminal, including: (a) a portable handheld terminal, including: (i) a housing having first and second spaced apart, opposing major surfaces extending longitudinally of the housing between first and second end portions; (ii) keyboard means disposed on the first surface for entering data; (iii) display means disposed on the first surface for displaying data; (iv) optical sensor means disposed in the housing for sensing bar code indicia; (v) RF transceiver means contained in the housing for transmitting and receiving RF signals representing the exchange of data between the portable handheld terminal and a remote location while the portable handheld terminal is in use, said RF transceiver means including means for initiating transmission to he remote location; (vi) control means contained in the housing and operatively interconnected to the keyboard means, display means, optical sensor means, and RF transceiver means for controlling operation of the portable handheld terminal; and (vii) power supply means for powering the portable handheld terminal; and (b) base station means including RF transceiver means for communication with the portable handheld terminal while the portable handheld terminal is in use.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 85 words

A system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the base station means includes: (a) programmed microprocessor and memory means for controlling communication between the portable handheld terminal and a central computer system electrically wired to the base station means; (b) power supply means for powering the base station means; (c) charger assembly means for charging the power supply means of the portable handheld terminal; and (d) data over voice (DOV) means for communication with the central computer by telephone wires using data over voice techniques.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 87 words

A portable handheld terminal system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the housing includes elongated handle means interconnected to the housing and extending longitudinally along the second major surface of the housing for holding of the housing by a user, the elongated handle means being displaced from the second major surface along a portion of its length, whereby the elongated handle means can be grasped by a user's fingers extending through an opening defined between the elongated handle means and the second major surface of the housing.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 42 words

A portable handheld terminal system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the base station means and the portable handheld terminal include cooperating communication port means for electrical interconnection and transfer of data between the base station means and the portable handheld terminal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-07-17	1993-01-16	1993-07-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-07-17	1997-01-16	1997-07-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-07-17	2001-01-16	2001-07-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Portable handheld terminal including optical bar code reader and electromagnetic transceiver means for interactive wireless communication with a base communications station

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