Abstract: A wireless communication system having a terminal unit operates in a reduced noise state during receipt of a wireless transmission from a control unit. The terminal unit includes terminal circuitry, a radio and noise management circuitry. The noise management circuitry partially or fully disables operation of the terminal circuitry during a receipt by the radio. Noise management circuitry may disable a terminal processor, disable interrupts, buffer interrupts and otherwise modify operation of the terminal circuitry to reduce generated radio noise that would otherwise interfere with receipt of data by the radio. The wireless communication system includes noise management circuitry located in a control unit that operates in conjunction with noise management circuitry in a first terminal unit and a second terminal unit to schedule transmissions from the control unit. These scheduled transmissions allow the terminal units to perform required processing functions outside of the reduced noise period.

Abstract: A wireless communication system having a terminal unit operates in a reduced noise state during receipt of a wireless transmission from a control unit. The terminal unit includes terminal circuitry, a radio and noise management circuitry. The noise management circuitry partially or fully disables operation of the terminal circuitry during a receipt by the radio. Noise management circuitry may disable a terminal processor, disable interrupts, buffer interrupts and otherwise modify operation of the terminal circuitry to reduce generated radio noise that would otherwise interfere with receipt of data by the radio. The wireless communication system includes noise management circuitry located in a control unit that operates in conjunction with noise management circuitry in a first terminal unit and a second terminal unit to schedule transmissions from the control unit. These scheduled transmissions allow the terminal units to perform required processing functions outside of the reduced noise period.

Abstract: A wireless communication system having a terminal unit operates in a reduced noise state during receipt of a wireless transmission from a control unit. The terminal unit includes terminal circuitry, a radio and noise management circuitry. The noise management circuitry partially or fully disables operation of the terminal circuitry during a receipt by the radio. Noise management circuitry may disable a terminal processor, disable interrupts, buffer interrupts and otherwise modify operation of the terminal circuitry to reduce generated radio noise that would otherwise interfere with receipt of data by the radio. The wireless communication system includes noise management circuitry located in a control unit that operates in conjunction with noise management circuitry in a first terminal unit and a second terminal unit to schedule transmissions from the control unit. These scheduled transmissions allow the terminal units to perform required processing functions outside of the reduced noise period.

Abstract: A wireless communication system having a terminal unit operates in a reduced noise state during receipt of a wireless transmission from a control unit. The terminal unit includes terminal circuitry, a radio and noise management circuitry. The noise management circuitry partially or fully disables operation of the terminal circuitry during a receipt by the radio. Noise management circuitry may disable a terminal processor, disable interrupts, buffer interrupts and otherwise modify operation of the terminal circuitry to reduce generated radio noise that would otherwise interfere with receipt of data by the radio. The wireless communication system includes noise management circuitry located in a control unit that operates in conjunction with noise management circuitry in a first terminal unit and a second terminal unit to schedule transmissions from the control unit. These scheduled transmissions allow the terminal units to perform required processing functions outside of the reduced noise period.

Abstract: A battery capacity monitoring system readily indicates the remaining capacity of an uninserted battery pack upon an operator's request. Such request may involve the touching of one or more contacts disposed on the battery pack. The battery pack also includes a display and a communication means for communicating capacity information to the device in which it may be installed. The communication means may also be used to display status when the battery pack is not inserted. When inserted a device, the battery pack and device participate to determine time estimates for remaining battery life based on known device loading characteristics and current battery capacity. An operator viewing such information may more adequately determine the usage value of the current battery charge. Moreover, the battery pack and corresponding device are configured to detect the beginning of the process of removing a battery pack. In response, the device saves operational states and data before losing power.

Abstract: A portable computer system includes an input device such as a keyboard, a display, and a processor which is operable in a normal operational mode and in a reduced power mode, the processor carrying out program execution in each of the normal operational mode and reduced power mode. A timing arrangement switches the processor from its normal operational mode to its reduced power mode in response to the absence of any of a plurality of predetermined events during a predetermined time interval, the predetermined events including actuation of keys on the keyboard and transmission of information to the video display.

Abstract: A portable hand-held data terminal having a curvilinear cross-sectional keypad capable of operation by one hand. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention the keys may extend to various heights above the keypad depending on their function. For example, a scan trigger key may extend the farthest from the terminal, numeric keys may extend the next farthest, and alphabetic keys may extend the least. The data terminal may also provide a quick release pistol grip to terminal attachment which utilizes, in an exemplary embodiment, a pair of removably receivable compressible O-rings, a pair of removably receivable guides, and a lever-type latch mechanism. The invention may also provide an interface between the pistol grip assembly's trigger mechanism and the data terminal which does not require that the housing of the data terminal be pierced.

Abstract: A hand-held portable data collection system having an optical control link is described. A reflective sensor detects the actuation of a trigger by sensing when a cantilevered extension member of the trigger interposes the operational range of the sensor upon actuation of the trigger. The optical control link of the present invention may be utilized to provide a data communications link between a hand-held portable data terminal and a docking apparatus. The optical control link of the present invention may be further utilized as an optical character reader to read optically readable data files such as bar codes.

Abstract: A data processing system (100) includes a data processor or CPU (102) having decompression circuitry (208, 212) and decryption circuitry (210, 214) that operates on compressed/encrypted data to produce decompressed and decrypted data. The data processing system includes memory (104) in which instructions and data are stored in a compressed (110) and/or encrypted (114) format. The CPU (102) retrieves the compressed/encrypted data over a system bus (106). A bus interface unit (200) within the CPU (102) receives the compressed/encrypted data, decompresses and decrypts the data and stores the data in cache memory (202). An execution unit (204) and other components within the CPU (102) retrieve the decompressed and decrypted data and operate upon it. Alternatively, upon retrieval of compressed/encrypted data from memory (104) the data is stored in cache memory (202) in its compressed/encrypted format.

Abstract: A user-wearable docking system includes docking receptacles on a belt for receiving a plurality of electronic devices such as a hand-held personal data terminal, code reader, printer, etc. The plurality of electronic devices that are docked share power pursuant to one of several power management schemes. A power bus, disposed within a belt, connects all docks to supply power therebetween. Sharing battery power resources involves providing battery power for both device operation and for battery to battery recharging.

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 battery capacity monitoring system readily indicates the remaining capacity of an uninserted battery pack upon an operator's request. Such request may involve the touching of one or more contacts disposed on the battery pack. The battery pack also includes a display and a communication means for communicating capacity information to the device in which it may be installed. The communication means may also be used to display status when the battery pack is not inserted. When inserted a device, the battery pack and device participate to determine time estimates for remaining battery life based on known device loading characteristics and current battery capacity. An operator viewing such information may more adequately determine the usage value of the current battery charge. Moreover, the battery pack and corresponding device are configured to detect the beginning of the process of removing a battery pack. In response, the device saves operational states and data before losing power.

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 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 portable computer system includes a housing, a lid supported on the housing for movement between open and closed positions, a keyboard supported on the housing below the lid, and a display provided on the lid. When the lid is opened, the keyboard is accessible and the display is visible, whereas when the lid is closed the keyboard and display are hidden and protected. The computer system includes a processor disposed within the housing and having a first operational mode in which it executes instructions and a second operational mode in which it is in a reduced power suspend state from which it can automatically exit in response to a predetermined condition. The system includes an arrangement responsive to closing of the lid when the processor is in its first operational state for switching the processor to its second operational state.