US 5,410,141 · Granted 1995-04-25
The Modular Handheld Scanner That Let Workers Read Barcodes Any Which Way
Imagine a rugged handheld device that lets warehouse workers or delivery drivers scan barcodes at any angle—upside down, sideways, whatever—and still read them perfectly. This patent describes a modular gadget with swappable scanner attachments, a touch screen for signatures, and wireless communication, all built tough enough for fieldwork.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a handheld data terminal where a removable peripheral module—containing either a laser barcode scanner or flash image reader—snaps into a user interface layer with a display and signature pad. The scanner has uniform resolution in all directions, so it can capture and rotate a barcode image to any orientation before decoding it. What's protected is this modular stacking design, the automatic re-orientation logic, and the wireless link between the scanner module and the main interface unit.
Why it matters
In the early 1990s, handheld barcode scanners were clunky and single-purpose. This patent pioneered the idea of a modular terminal where workers could swap scanner hardware without replacing the whole device, saving cost and flexibility. The ability to read barcodes at any angle was especially valuable in logistics and retail, where packages and pallets arrive in all orientations. The integrated signature capture also positioned the device for delivery confirmation and field transactions.
Real-world use
When a delivery driver scans a package label at a weird angle or a warehouse worker quickly scans incoming inventory without rotating the item, they're relying on the omnidirectional barcode-reading logic this patent locked down.
Original USPTO abstract
The disclosure relates to battery powered hand-held data entry terminals wherein a peripheral module may contain an automatically operating full image reader and a wireless communication unit. The reader reads at least one full line of indicia and may comprise a laser bar code scanner or a flash type image reader. Preferably the reader has uniform resolution in orthogonal directions in the field of view so that an area image can be read at any arbitrary angular orientation and re-oriented as a stored digital image to a normalized orientation before decoding. The user interface may lie in a first longitudinally extended layer and the peripheral module may lie in a second longitudinally extended adjoining layer. In normal reading disposition of the automatic reader, the user interface may be close to its normal orientation for user interaction therewith to provide for smooth transitions between reading and user interaction operations. A hand grip portion preferably underlies the user interface for comfortable support thereof during manual actuations. The peripheral module and hand grip portion may be used entirely separately from the user interface and may have a wireless link with the user interface. The user interface may comprise a digitizer/display with resolution for accurately digitizing and displaying a person's signature. Signatures may also be digitized via an optical full image reader for immediate verification.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 5,410,141
- Filing date
- 1990-06-07
- Grant date
- 1995-04-25
- Assignee
- Norand
- Inventor(s)
- KOENCK; STEVEN E., MILLER; PHILLIP, DANIELSON; ARVIN D., MAHANY; RONALD L., DURBIN; DENNIS A., CARGIN; KEITH K., HANSON; GEORGE E., SCHULTZ; DARALD R., GEERS; ROBERT G., BOATWRIGHT; DARRELL L., GIBBS; WILLIAM T., KELLY; STEPHEN J.
- CPC class
- G06F1/1698
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