Patents by Inventor Thomas Wulff

Thomas Wulff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7158374
    Abstract: A method and system for assembling a keypad or a keypad module to a processing portion of an electronic device is described. The keypad module is a sealed unit connectable to the pre assembled processing portion through a common interface. The keypad module includes a bezel substrate that has a locally thin region where an accessory can be placed. For example, a speaker may be included in the keypad module. The keypad module itself may be its own an electromechanical entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wulff, David E. Bellows
  • Publication number: 20060232484
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for insert-molding various electronic and mechanical parts as part of a housing of an electrical device. The insert molded components can comprise antennas, flex members and circuits, electronic, mechanical, and interface units that have been insert molded as part of a plastic housing that contains the electrical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Wulff, Ron Zancola
  • Publication number: 20060231630
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for insert-molding various electronic and mechanical parts as part of a housing of an electrical device. The insert molded components can comprise antennas, flex members and circuits, electronic, mechanical, and interface units that have been insert molded as part of a plastic housing that contains the electrical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Wulff, Ron Zancola
  • Publication number: 20060186207
    Abstract: Described is an improved trigger assembly for use in an electronic device. The trigger assembly includes a pressure sensitive member and a trigger button. The pressure sensitive member includes two or more conductive lines. The pressure sensitive member is secured to a portion of the mobile terminal. The trigger button is secured to the mobile terminal in a manner such that a force applied to the trigger button causes a resultant force to be applied on the pressure sensitive member. The force applied on the pressure sensitive member causes a change in an electrical property between at least two of the conductive lines. A module measures the electrical property between the conductive lines. A function of the device is initiated depending on a comparison of the measured electrical property to a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wulff, Azer Ilkhanov
  • Patent number: 7080787
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for insert-molding various electronic and mechanical parts as part of a housing of an electrical device. The insert molded components can comprise antennas, flex members and circuits, electronic, mechanical, and interface units that have been insert molded as part of a plastic housing that contains the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wulff, Ron Zancola
  • Patent number: 7055749
    Abstract: Described is an improved trigger assembly for use in an electronic device. The trigger assembly includes a pressure sensitive member and a trigger button. The pressure sensitive member includes two or more conductive lines. The pressure sensitive member is secured to a portion of the mobile terminal. The trigger button is secured to the mobile terminal in a manner such that a force applied to the trigger button causes a resultant force to be applied on the pressure sensitive member. The force applied on the pressure sensitive member causes a change in an electrical property between at least two of the conductive lines. A module measures the electrical property between the conductive lines. A function of the device is initiated depending on a comparison of the measured electrical property to a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wulff, Azer Ilkhanov
  • Patent number: 6973588
    Abstract: An architecture for updating corrupted instructions in a computing device. The computing device includes a housing for enclosing a flash memory for storing a boot loader routine, and at least one boundary-scan device internal to the computing device for processing the boot loader routine, and operatively disposed on a boundary-scan bus. The housing includes a boundary-scan port through which updated instructions are communicated and power provided. The port is concealed under a label, cover, or in a location that limits access by the device owner, such as the battery well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dana C. DeMeo, David Stern, Thomas Wulff
  • Publication number: 20050222801
    Abstract: Described is a system and method for monitoring a mobile computing Arrangement. The arrangement may include a sensor and a processor. The sensor detects first data of an event including a directional orientation and a motion of the arrangement. The processor compares the first data to second data to determine if at least one predetermined procedure is to be executed. The second data may include a predetermined threshold range of changes in the directional orientation and the motion. If the predetermined procedure is to be executed, the processor selects the predetermined procedure which corresponds to the event as a function of the first data. Subsequently, the predetermined procedures is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Wulff, Alistair Hamilton, Sudhir Bhatia, David Bellows, Kevin Cordes
  • Patent number: 6878016
    Abstract: A connector contact interface system for a portable device. The system includes a first arrangement of one or more fixed electrically conductive contacts of a first device, and a second arrangement of one or more electrically conductive pogo contacts in a second device, which pogo contacts of the second device are in substantially axial alignment with the respective fixed contacts of the first arrangement of the first device. When the connectors are in full engagement, the one or more pogo contacts and the respective one or more fixed contacts are in tip-to-tip abutment. The first arrangement is included either on a rigid or flexible circuit board or in connector housing of the first device, and the second arrangement is included in a connector housing of the second device. The contacts of either or both of the first and second arrangements are plated with a wear-resistant metal such as hard gold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wulff, David E. Bellows
  • Publication number: 20050068201
    Abstract: A method and system for assembling a keypad or a keypad module to a processing portion of an electronic device is described. The keypad module is a sealed unit connectable to the pre assembled processing portion through a common interface. The keypad module includes a bezel substrate that has a locally thin region where an accessory can be placed. For example, a speaker may be included in the keypad module. The keypad module itself may be its own an electromechanical entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wulff, David Bellows
  • Publication number: 20050017078
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for housing a stylus as part of a handle of a mobile terminal to increase utility. By designing a cavity within the handle of a mobile terminal, a compartment is obtained which in turn can be exploited for housing a stylus therein. The inner walls of such cavity can include sculpted ribs that function as a mechanism for guiding the stylus during insertion into the cavity. In one aspect, the stylus placed within the handle can be substantially parallel thereto. In addition, the stylus can be engaged in the cavity of the handle via a spring locking mechanism or any other suitable securing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Sudhir Bhatia, Alistair Hamilton, Jaeho Choi, Curt Croley, Thomas Wulff
  • Publication number: 20050017077
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for employing a housing as part of a hand held scanner as to increase utility and add ruggedness. The housing comprises an upper top housing and lower bottom housing, with the top housing comprising a set of accessory rails adapted to accept accessories associated with the hand hold scanner, and the lower housing including an adjustable mass element for balancing a weight of the scanner. Also, top housing can be adapted to accept various key pad configurations via a transitional mounting frame, and the bottom housing can hold a stylus. A bar code scanner system employing such housing can incorporate displays located on various sides of the housing and/or key pads to facilitate a reading from the scanner at slanted angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Sudhir Bhatia, Alistair Hamilton, Jaeho Choi, Curt Croley, Thomas Wulff
  • Publication number: 20050001037
    Abstract: Systems and methodologies are disclosed for isolating a portable hand held electronic unit from external mechanical shocks and/or vibrations by dampening them at several levels. The system can absorb an external mechanical shock at three different levels by employing an external bumper system, elastic housing design features, and an internal frame isolation. Moreover, such isolation assembly simplifies production of the portable electronic unit by enabling a “build to order process” according to a customer's specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas Wulff
  • Publication number: 20050001767
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for insert-molding various electronic and mechanical parts as part of a housing of an electrical device. The insert molded components can comprise antennas, flex members and circuits, electronic, mechanical, and interface units that have been insert molded as part of a plastic housing that contains the electrical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Wulff, Ron Zancola
  • Publication number: 20050003266
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for removing a power supply from a host unit running a computer program, without losing data or causing a cold boot. The present invention employs a retaining assembly for the power supply that delays removal of the power supply until shutting down of the computer program of the host unit. The system may further comprise a logic unit that estimates the period from initiating a power off for the unit, up to an actual shut down of the computer program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas Wulff
  • Patent number: 6822853
    Abstract: A method and system for assembling a keypad or a keypad module to a processing portion of an electronic device is described. The keypad module is a sealed unit connectable to the pre assembled processing portion through a common interface. The keypad module includes a bezel substrate that has a locally thin region where an accessory can be placed. For example, a speaker may be included in the keypad module. The keypad module itself may be its own an electro-mechanical entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wulff, David E. Bellows
  • Publication number: 20040229593
    Abstract: A hand held mobile terminal includes at least one torque cell for facilitating a torsionally stiff housing structure. The torque cell includes a plurality of first locking members located around a perimeter of a first housing and a plurality of second locking members located around a perimeter of a second housing. The first and second locking members are slidably engageable with each other so as to create a plurality of interlocking joints around the perimeter of the torque cell. Accordingly, the torque cell structure provides several advantages over the conventional mobile terminal housing, such as: better torsional rigidity, simplified assembly, improved volumetric efficiency, reduced need for shock absorbing materials, lighter overall weight, decoupling of impact loads, and mitigation of stress concentrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas Wulff
  • Patent number: D504110
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tine Berentzen, Carl Thelemann, Edward M. Voli, Thomas Wulff, Jaeho Choi
  • Patent number: D504659
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward M. Voli, Thomas Wulff, Jaeho Choi
  • Patent number: D512427
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaeho Choi, Curt Croley, Thomas Wulff