Accessory for conversion with housing with first connection includes host cable and host connector and second connection including a plug-in modular connector

Claim 1

An accessory for interconnecting a scanning head for electro-optically reading coded symbols and for transmitting decoded signals along a head cable connected to the head, and a host device having a data processor with a predetermined data exchange format for receiving the decoded signals, comprising: a housing located externally of the scanning head and the host device; first connection means on the housing for detachable connection to the host device wherein said first connection means includes a host cable having one end fixedly connected to said housing, and a host connector at an opposite end of the host cable; second connection means including a plug-in modular connector on the housing and accessible at an exterior surface of said housing for detachable connection to the head cable; conversion means within the housing connected to both connection means in a condition of use, and operative for converting the decoded signals from the scanning head into digital data signals having a format compatible with the predetermined data exchange format of the host device; and said housing and both connection means being mechanically interconnected as a portable, unitary assembly separate from the scanning head and the host device when not is said condition of use.