Patent ID: 6116508
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a portable code reading device comprising:an electronic reading means for generating signals related to an examined code;a control circuit means cooperating with said electronic reading means to generate digital code data representing the examined code;a supporting means for supporting said electronic reading means and said control circuit means;a pointing means, capable of manual operation, for generating digital pointing control data by which to control a pointer of a remote processing device;wherein said remote processing device includes a user interface and a keyboard for communicating with said remote processing device, whereby said user interface is usable in conjunction with said pointer, said remote processing device further including at least one communication port;the improvement comprising an interface means for communicating data between said portable code reading device and said remote processing device, said interface means comprising:a code interface input capable of receiving said digital code data;a keyboard interface input capable of receiving digital keyboard data generated by said keyboard;an interface output capable of communicating with said interface inputs and said communication port of said remote processing device; andan interface input selecting means capable of selecting one of said code or said keyboard interface inputs in response to a control signal, whereby the selected input is thereafter capable of transmitting said digital code data or said digital keyboard data through said interface output, and thereafter to said communications port of said remote processing device.