Abstract: A communication module for use with a portable terminal. The module includes a housing, mounting apparatus, a radio frequency transceiver and an indicia reader connector. The module can enable real-time, on-line communication with a remote host. The system can also include an antenna.

Abstract: An electroluminescent backlight panel for a video display system is automatically controlled by the varying ambient light levels. A light detector receives the ambient light level and sends a corresponding electrical signal to a microcontroller. The microcontroller controls the driving of the eletroluminescent backlight power supply according to varying ambient light levels until an optimum backlight output is reached. The automatic electroluminescent backlight control system is combined with an efficient power supply unit in order to further reduce battery energy consumption.

Abstract: A network is disclosed which utilizes modified preambles in a communication network to facility antenna diversity and multipath compensation. In one embodiment, an antenna diversity protocol first directs a mobile transceiver to select any antenna that enables successful receipt and identification of at least a portion of the preamble, i.e., the selection of a satisfactory antenna. Once a satisfactory antenna is identified, the diversity protocol extracts from received portions of the preamble information necessary to determine whether there is enough preamble remaining to conduct a best antenna search. If so, the other antennas are sequentially selected to evaluate their performance. Thereafter, the diversity protocol directs the mobile transceiver to select the best antenna based on a performance comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for routing data in a radio data communication system having one or more host computers, one or more intermediate base stations, and one or more RF terminals organizes the intermediate base stations into an optimal spanning-tree network to control the routing of data to and from the RF terminals and the host computer efficiently and dynamically. Communication between the host computer and the RF terminals is achieved by using the network of intermediate base stations to transmit the data.

Abstract: A portable terminal unit of tablet configuration contains an optical reader for scanning two-dimensional information on a target area. The terminal unit has an optical window near an underside thereof and contains an optical reader having a given depth of field and field of view at a given range from the window. The apparatus includes a ranger for operably determining the range of the target area from the terminal unit and a controller for operably controling activation of the reader. The controller may be configured to permit activation of the reader as: the target area is spaced within a certain tolerance range about an optimal focal length from the reader; the target area is spaced within the depth of field of the reader and motion of the terminal unit relative to the target area is halted; or the target area is spaced within the depth of field of the reader and motion of the terminal unit relative to the target area is reversed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a sequence and circuitry for powering a mixed logic voltage computer system wherein power is delivered to the system hardware in increasing order according to the power consumption level of the particular system hardware such that system power consumption during system startup is minimized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to detect the imminent removal of the battery from a portable electronic device and to automatically shut off said device before electrical power from the battery is lost.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic memory system having semipermanent memory storage, a memory device for rapid data transfer and temporary memory storage, and controller for monitoring and controlling writes to the semipermanent memory storage.

Abstract: A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network accommodates real time voice transmission both through dedicated, scheduled bandwidth and through a packet-based routing within the confines and constraints of a data network. Conversion and call processing circuitry is also disclosed which enables access devices and personal computers to adapt voice information between analog voice stream and digital voice packet formats as proves necessary. Routing pathways include wireless spanning tree networks, wide area networks, telephone switching networks, internet, etc., in a manner virtually transparent to the user.

Abstract: A battery charging method in an environment of variable temperatures provides for a temperature correction to determine an onset of an overcharge phase which is detected by a discernible thermal energy output of a charging battery. The method comprises a precursory operation of determining time period required for effecting a temperature change in the battery in response to a temperature change of an ambient space about the battery. The temperature of the battery is then monitored throughout the charging process by measuring the temperature of the battery at timed, predetermined intervals. Over the same timed intervals the temperature of the ambience is measured. A measured difference in the temperature of the ambience with respect to a prior temperature of the ambience is applied to a measured temperature of the battery as modified by a predetermined time delay factor.

Abstract: A data terminal utilizes a rotating flywheel system for energy storage and storage and retrieval. Energy storage and data storage systems are combined into a single system.

Abstract: A portable data collection terminal system has a housing having a display screen with coincident graphic data input and a keyboard on the frontal side thereof. An accessory pod, having a width less than the width of the display screen and a handgrip extension adapted to hold a selected accessory device, such as a laser scanner, is disposed on the housing, opposite said frontal side. The accessory pod has one or two activation, diaphragm-type switches disposed in a pod wall disposed transversely to the handgrip extension and extending outwardly from, opposite the frontal side, the housing. The switch or switches are connected in parallel, if more than one, and are disposed near an end of the pod wall such that they are operable by either a user's thumb or finger.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for a radio communication system having a multiplicity of mobile transceiver units selectively in communication with a plurality of base transceiver units which communicate with one or two host computers for storage and manipulation of data collected by bar code scanners or other collection means associated with the mobile transceiver units. A network controller provides selective interface means to be employed between the host computers and the base transceivers whereby low data rate base transceivers may be utilized with the network controller while spread spectrum or high data rate networked base transceivers may be also utilized. The network controller may allow selection of interface means for three of its ports from its front panel with use of three input keys. The network controller is entirely external to the host computer or computers, and can couple to a variety of commonly encountered host ports.

Abstract: A computer apparatus for receiving a removable communication card such as a radio card or a modem card. A radio or modem is serf-contained inside a housing of the communication card and has an electrical interface for communicating information to and from the computer apparatus. The computer apparatus receives the communication card such that it engages the electrical interface. These contacts automatically connect the communication card to an appropriate antenna, telephone or telephone line. A radio communication card is connected to the appropriate antenna for the type and frequency of the radio. A modem card is connected to a standard telephone line, a cellular phone, or an antenna for a cellular phone if the cellular phone is also disposed within the housing of the modem communication card. Additionally, a switching matrix can be used to connect one set of contacts on a radio card or a modem card to one or more of a plurality of antennas and telephone lines.

Abstract: A hierarchical communication system is described in which two wireless local area networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed to link inherently portable or mobile computer devices. A series of radio base stations make up a infrastructure network. The infrastructure network and at least one portable computer device make up the first local area network. The communication on the first local area network is accomplished by spread spectrum frequency hopping communication. A second local area network allows for radio communication between a portable computer device and peripheral devices with built-in transceivers utilized by the portable computer device. The communication in each local area network is controlled by a reservation access communication protocol. The communication protocol facilitates frequency hopping synchronization and supports adaptive data rate selection based upon the quality of communication on the communication channel.

Abstract: In an exemplary fast charging system, a hand-held computerized terminal with rechargeable batteries therein may be bodily inserted into a charger receptacle. The terminal may have volatile memory and other components requiring load current during charging. The system may automatically identify battery type and progressively increase charging current while monitoring for an increase in battery terminal voltage to ascertain the level of load current. The battery temperature may be brought into a relationship to surrounding temperature such that by applying a suitable overcharge current value and observing any resultant temperature increase, the level of remaining battery charge can be determined. For example, if the battery is found to be relatively fully discharged, a relatively high fast-charge rate may be safely applied while monitoring battery temperature.

Abstract: A vehicle for transport, fork lift or delivery route operations, for example, includes on-board peripherals which are coupled through a Local Area Network (LAN) into a data system. A LAN data bus provides selective access to the peripherals or data devices such as, for example, a large area display, a keyboard, a printer and a data terminal. The data system controls or provides data on tasks executed by or in connection with the operation of the vehicle. To increase the versatility of the vehicle, the data terminal, multiple data terminals, or any of the other data devices may be removably coupled to the LAN to be operable externally of the vehicle. A mobile mount adapter provides a secure electrical connection of a respective data terminal to the LAN to removably incorporate the data terminal into the data system, and provide a common supply of both data and power to the data device.

Abstract: A transceiver apparatus for creating a wireless personal local area network between a computer terminal and one or more peripheral devices. A separate transceiver is connected to the computer terminal and to each peripheral device. The transceivers can be connected to the terminal or peripheral device either internally or externally. A low power radio is used to communicate information between the computer terminal and peripheral devices. Different transceivers can be used for modifying the carrier frequency and power of the local area network. The microprocessor is located inside each transceiver and controls the information flow of the transceiver including the communication protocol which allows each device to know if other devices are communicating, which devices are being communicated to, and selectively address the peripheral devices.

Abstract: A PCMCIA type module provides multiple grounding point to the internal circuit board. The internal circuit board is grounded to an electrically conductive outer housing at a plurality of contact points on the internal frame. The internal frame is electrically conductive and is specially constructed to have multiple ribs which provide multiple contacts from the circuit board to the outer housing.

Abstract: A method for inserting and extracting a data storage device in a computer storage system is provided. The method includes the step of providing a self-contained portable disk drive module including a complete hard disk drive unit and a plurality of conductors extending from the hard disk drive unit for carrying power, control and data signals necessary for operation of the hard disk drive unit. A carrier for receiving, and secured with, the complete hard disk drive unit to form a self-contained portable disk drive module, as well as a plurality of carrier connection contacts electrically connected to the first plurality of conductors are provided. The method also includes the step of providing a receiving unit having guide members and a plurality of receiving unit connection contacts. The guide members facilitate alignment between the carrier connection contacts and the receiving unit connection contacts as the disk drive module engages the receiving unit.