Portable data terminal including a scanning head that is secured to the terminal in a manner that allows the scanning head to be positioned in opposite orientations

A portable, hand-held data terminal for scanning and reading a bar code that includes a removable scanning head that can be secured to the terminal in one orientation for right-handed operation, and can be removed and secured to the terminal in an opposite orientation for left-handed operation. The scanning head includes a bottom panel having a tab and slot structure, and the terminal includes a top panel having a tab and slot structure. The positions of the slots of the top panel structure allow the tabs of the scanning head structure to be inserted between and then under the tabs of the top panel structure in a locked configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to a portable data scanning terminal and, 
more particularly, to a hand-held, portable bar code scanning terminal for 
collecting data scanned from a bar code where the terminal includes a 
removable and rotatable scanning head to allow for left-handed and 
right-handed operation. 
2. Discussion of the Related Art 
Portable, hand-held laser scanners that scan and read light reflective bar 
codes and other reflective indicia positioned on various types of 
merchandise and the like are widely available. Many bar code readers of 
this type usually include a laser scanning unit that is mounted on or 
within a reader housing, or connected to the reader by a suitable wire 
connection. The scanning unit includes a laser source, such as a laser 
diode, that generates a laser beam, and associated optics to focus and 
direct the laser beam. A reflected beam from the bar code is received by a 
photodetector associated with the scanning unit so that reflected light 
intensity patterns can be deciphered. Electrical signals generated by the 
photodetector that are representative of the light intensity pattern are 
then processed by processing systems within the reader in a manner that is 
well understood in the art. The bar code reader is generally equipped with 
a key pad and display screen so that an operator of the reader can input 
information, such as quantity of a particular item, and processed 
information by the reader can be displayed on the display screen. 
Many current bar code readers incorporate a compact scanning head or 
scanning unit secured to the reader. One specific bar code reader of this 
type is referred to as the PDT 3100 or PDT 3110 available from Symbol 
Technologies, Inc. of Bohemia, N.Y. By incorporating the entire reader 
into a single unit, one of the operator's hands is free to operate the key 
pads while the other hand activates a triggering switch for activating the 
laser beam for scanning. It has heretofore thought to be desirable to 
incorporate a scanning unit that can be switched to opposite orientations 
so as to allow left-handed and right-handed operators to activate the 
reader while at the same time effectively operating the key pads. In other 
words, by orienting the scanning unit in a right-handed direction, the 
right-handed operator can operate the reader and have easy access to the 
key pads with his left hand. Likewise, by orienting the scanning unit in 
an opposite direction, the left-handed operator can operate the reader and 
have easy access to the key pad with his right hand. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,900 issued to Metlitsky et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 
5,367,152 issued to Krichener et al. both disclose a hand-held bar code 
scanner that includes a scanning structure mounted on a housing of the 
scanner that is movable to accommodate both right and left-handed 
operators. A top wall of the housing is removable and rotatable 
180.degree. such that a mirror and associated window of the structure will 
emit and receive the laser beam from opposite directions. Different 
mechanisms are disclosed for securing the top wall to the housing. 
Although the prior art hand-held bar code readers that incorporate a 
reversible scanning unit have been at least somewhat successful in meeting 
the desires of the industry, there is still room for improvement of these 
types of readers. It is therefore an object of the present invention to 
improve upon known hand-held bar code readers that incorporate a 
reversible scanning head. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a portable 
hand-held data terminal for scanning and reading bar codes is disclosed 
that includes a removable scanning head that can be secured to the 
terminal in one orientation for right-handed operation, and can be readily 
removed and secured to the terminal in an opposite orientation for 
left-handed operation. The scanning head includes a securing structure on 
a bottom panel of the scanning head that includes a specially designed tab 
and slot configuration. A top housing panel of the terminal also includes 
a securing structure having an accommodating tab and slot configuration. 
The tab and slot configuration of both the scanning head and the top panel 
of the terminal are designed to allow reversible operation of the scanning 
head for both a right-handed and a left-handed orientation. In one 
embodiment, the positions of the slots of the top panel securing structure 
allow the tabs of the scanning head securing structure to be inserted 
between and then under the tabs of the top panel securing structure in a 
locked configuration in opposite left and right orientations. 
Additional objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will 
become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken 
in conjunction with accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The following discussion of the preferred embodiments directed to a 
hand-held, portable data terminal having a removable and rotatable 
scanning head is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to 
limit the invention or its applications or uses. 
First turning to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a portable data terminal 10 
for reading bar codes and other reflective data storing indicia is shown 
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The data terminal 10 
includes a scanning head 12 removably secured to a top panel 14 (see FIG. 
4) of a data terminal housing 16. The scanning head 12 includes a 
specially configured housing 18 that conforms to the shape of the housing 
16. The housing 18 of the scanning head 12 is broken away to show a number 
of scanning components. These components include a laser diode 20 mounted 
on a scanning device 22. The scanning device 22 causes the laser diode 22 
to oscillate so as to scan a laser beam generated by the laser diode 22. A 
photodetector 24 is positioned within the housing 18 for receiving 
reflected laser beam signals from data storing indicia (not shown) such as 
a bar code. Other associated circuitry (not shown) for converting light 
intensity signals from the photodetector 24 to an appropriate electrical 
signal for data processing would also be included. The configuration of 
the scanning components within the scanning head 12 are known components 
for the purposes described herein. A translucent window 26 at one end of 
the housing 18 allows the laser beam from the laser diode 20 to be emitted 
from the scanning unit 12, and a reflected light beam to impinge the 
photodetector 24. As will be discussed in specific detail below, the 
scanning head 12 is removable from the terminal housing 16 and 
reattachable in an opposite orientation to allow for left-handed and 
right-handed operation. 
The hand-held, portable data terminal 10 is electrically connected to a 
scanning unit 30 by a cord 32. The scanning unit 30 can be any type of 
scanning unit known in the art such as a long range or medium range 
scanning unit. The cord 32 includes a connector 34 that is connected to an 
electrical port 36 (see FIG. 2) associated within the housing 16. In one 
embodiment, the port 36 is a 9-pin subminiature "D" scanner port known in 
the art. The scanning unit 30 includes similar scanning components to that 
of the scanning head 12. The terminal 10 is capable of accommodating both 
the scanning head 12 and the scanning unit 30 simultaneously for different 
ranges of scanning. The specific scanning unit 30 as shown in FIG. 1 is 
commercially available from Symbol Technologies, Inc. 
FIG. 2 shows a left side, plan view and FIG. 3 shows a right side, plan 
view of the data terminal 10 with the scanning unit 30 disconnected. The 
terminal housing 16 is separated into an upper wide portion 40, and a 
lower narrower portion 42. A display screen 44 positioned in a front panel 
46 at the upper portion 40 is provided for displaying processed data 
during operation of the terminal 10. In one embodiment, the display 44 is 
an 8 line.times.21 character-supertwist LED backlit LCD display having a 
64.times.128 DOT graphic capability. A slidably removable door 48 is 
slidably removable from a left side panel 50 of the upper portion 40. When 
the door 48 is removed, certain terminal components are accessible in the 
interior of the housing 16. Particularly, an 8-PIN, RJ-45 female phone 
connector 52 acting as an RS-232 input connector for downloading data is 
available. Additionally, a PCMCIA slot 54 is provided that accepts a 
PCMCIA type 1 and 2 data card (not shown). The data cards store data and 
other programming information for different applications of the terminal 
10 as is understood in the art. Further, a battery charging jack 56 and a 
charge indicator light 58 are provided for battery charging purposes. 
A keyboard 60 including a plurality of key pads 62 is positioned below the 
display 44 in the front panel 46 at the lower portion 42. The key board 60 
is a 55 key alpha-numeric, sealed elastomoner keyboard that allows input 
into the terminal 10 by an operator. A 6-volt rechargeable NI-CAD battery 
pack 64 is secured to a back surface of the housing 16. The battery pack 
64 can be charged while attached to the terminal 10 through the charging 
jack 56. A battery pack release button 66 allows the battery pack 64 to be 
released from the housing 16 so the battery pack 64 can be charged 
separate from the terminal 10 and/or the battery pack 64 can be replaced 
with other battery packs. The data terminal 10 can be run by a 
microprocessor NEC V25+, enhanced 80C86PC (not shown). All of the 
different data terminal components discussed above, except for the 
scanning head 12, are known in the art as the UDI 300 available from 
Universal Data, Inc. of Clarkston, Mich. Consequently, the operation of 
the terminal 10 is also known. As will be discussed in detail below, the 
scanning head 12 is a new feature added to the UDI 300. 
The scanning head 12 is situated for right-handed operation in FIGS. 1-3 in 
that an operator will grab the lower portion 42 with his right hand such 
that the window 26 is facing away from the operator, and the key board 60 
will be readily accessible to the operator's left hand. Reversal of the 
scanning head 12 so that the window 26 is facing in an opposite direction 
will allow a left-handed operator to grab the lower portion 42 with his 
left hand such that the window 26 is facing away from the operator, and 
the key board 60 will be readily accessible to the operator's right hand. 
The terminal 10 includes a right-handed laser trigger 70 and a left-handed 
laser trigger 72 both used to activate the laser diode 20 for right-handed 
and left-handed operation. The microprocessor within the terminal 10 is 
user programmable to allow the operator to program the microprocessor to 
only allow one or the other of the right-handed trigger 70 or the 
left-handed trigger 72 to activate the scanning head 12 depending on the 
operator's preference. For example, a right-handed operator can 
selectively program the microprocessor to only allow the right-handed 
trigger 70 to activate the scanning head 12 so that the operator can 
activate the scanning head 12 with his index finger. Or, the right-handed 
operator can selectively program the microprocessor to only allow the 
left-handed trigger 72 to activate the scanning head 12 so that the 
operator can activate the scanning head 12 with his thumb. Likewise, a 
left-handed operator can selectively program the-microprocessor to only 
allow activation of the scanning head 12 by the right-handed or 
left-handed trigger 70 or 72 depending on whether the left-handed operator 
wishes to activate the scanning head 12 by his index finger or thumb. This 
feature is a safety feature in that the terminal 10 prevents inadvertent 
activation of the laser diode 20 by the opposite trigger 70 or 72. 
FIGS. 4-8 depict a number of views of the data terminal 10 and scanning 
head 12 when the scanning head 12 is removed from the data terminal 10 so 
as to describe the manner in which the scanning head 12 is removable and 
reversible for both left-handed and right-handed operation. 
FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of the data terminal 10 with the scanning head 
12 removed to expose the top panel 14 and a securing structure 74. The 
securing structure 74 includes a raised rectangular edge member 76 secured 
to the top panel 14. Two front tab members 80 and 82 extend toward an 
inner area of the rectangular edge member 76 at a front side of the edge 
member 76. In this configuration, a slot 84 is defined between the tab 
members 80 and 82, a slot 86 is defined between the tab member 82 and a 
left end section 88 of the rectangular member 76, and a slot 90 is defined 
between the tab member 80 and a right end section 92 of the edge member 
76. Two back tab members 94 and 96 extend toward the inner area of the 
edge member 76 at a back side of the edge member 76. A slot 98 is defined 
between the tab members 94 and 96, a slot 100 is defined between the tab 
member 96 and the left end section 88, and a slot 102 is defined between 
the tab member 94 and the right end section 92. The tab members 80, 82, 94 
and 96 are raised on the edge member 76 so that a groove area is defined 
between each of the tab members 80, 82, 94, 96 and the top panel 14. A 
series of parallel spring-biased electrical connectors 104 extend through 
the top panel 14 between the tab members 80 and 94, as shown. 
FIG. 5 shows a bottom, plan view of the scanning head 12 exposing a 
securing structure 108. The securing structure 108 includes a raised 
rectangular edge member 110 extending from a bottom panel 112 of the 
scanning head 12. Two tab members 114 and 116 extend from the edge member 
110 away from an interior area of the edge member 110 at one side. In this 
configuration, a slot 118 is defined between the tab members 114 and 116, 
and a slot 120 is defined adjacent to the tab member 116 and opposite to 
the slot 118. Two tab members 122 and 124 extend from the edge member 110 
away from the interior area of the edge member 110 at an opposite side, as 
shown. A slot 126 is defined between the tab members 122 and 124, and a 
slot 128 is defined adjacent to the tab member 124 and opposite to the 
slot 126, as shown. A series of right-handed parallel electrical 
connectors 130 extend through the bottom panel 112 between the tab members 
114 and 122 and the slots 118 and 126. Additionally, a series of 
left-handed parallel electrical connectors 132 extend through the bottom 
panel 112 between the tab members 116 and 124 and the slots 120 and 128. 
In one embodiment, the housing 16 is formed of a front half 140 and a back 
half 142. The two halves 140 and 142 are two injection molded plastic 
parts that are secured together by screws (not shown) or other suitable 
fastening mechanisms. In this embodiment, a front half of the connecting 
structure 74 is integrally molded as part of the front half 140, and a 
back half of the connecting structure 74 is integrally molded as part of 
the back half 142. Likewise, the scanning head 12 is formed of two 
injection molded halves 144 and 146 that are secured together by screws 
(not shown) or the like in which one half of the connecting structure 108 
is integrally molded with the half 144 of the scanning head 12, and a 
second half of the connecting structure 108 is integrally molded with the 
other half 146 of the scanning head 12. 
The connecting structure 74 secured to the top panel 14 of the scanning 
head 12 and the connecting structure 108 secured to the bottom panel 112 
of the scanning head 12 provide a mechanism for securing the scanning head 
12 to the terminal 10 in both a right-handed and a left-handed 
orientation. FIG. 7 shows the scanning head 12 separated from the data 
terminal 10 for left-handed operation, and right-handed operation in 
phantom. FIG. 8 shows a side perspective view of the scanning head 12 
relative to the terminal 10. 
To secure the scanning head 12 to the terminal 10 for right-handed 
orientation, the tab member 114 is positioned between the tab member 94 
and the end section 92 within the slot 102, the tab member 94 is 
positioned between the tab members 114 and 116 within the slot 118, the 
tab member 116 is positioned between the tab members 94 and 96 within the 
slot 98, and the tab member 96 is positioned adjacent to the tab member 
116 within the slot 120. Likewise, the tab member 122 is positioned 
between the tab member 80 and the end section 92 within the slot 90, the 
tab member 80 is positioned between the tab members 122 and 124 within the 
slot 126, the tab member 124 is positioned between the tab members 80 and 
82 within the slot 84, and the tab member 82 is positioned adjacent to the 
tab member 124 within the slot 128. 
By applying downward pressure on the scanning head 12 towards the top panel 
14, and sliding the scanning unit 12 towards the left end section 88 of 
the edge member 76 until the edge member 110 contacts the left end section 
88, the tab member 114 will be positioned between the tab member 94 and 
the top panel 14, the tab member 116 will be positioned between the tab 
member 96 and the top panel 14, the tab member 122 will be positioned 
between the tab member 80 and the top panel 14, and the tab member 124 
will be positioned between the tab member 82 and the top panel 14 in a 
locking engagement. Further, the right-handed electrical contacts 130 will 
be in contact with the data terminal electrical contacts 104 to provide 
the necessary connections between the scanning head 12 and the terminal 
10. 
To secure the scanning head 12 to the terminal 10 for left-handed 
operation, the tab member 114 is positioned between the tab member 82 and 
the end section 88 within the slot 86, the tab member 82 is positioned 
between the tab members 114 and 116 within the slot 118, the tab member 
116 is positioned between the tab members 80 and 82 within the slot 84, 
and the tab member 80 is positioned adjacent to the tab member 116 within 
the slot 120. Likewise, the tab member 122 is positioned between the tab 
member 96 and the end section 88 within the slot 100, the tab member 96 is 
positioned between the tab members 122 and 124 within the slot 126, the 
tab member 124 is positioned between the tab members 94 and 96 within the 
slot 98, and the tab member 94 is positioned adjacent to the tab member 
124 within the slot 128. 
By applying downward pressure on the scanning head 12 towards the top panel 
14, and sliding the scanning unit 12 towards the right end section 92 
until the edge member 110 contacts the right end section 92, the tab 
member 122 will be positioned between the tab member 96 and the top panel 
14, the tab member 124 will be positioned between the tab member 94 and 
the top panel 14, the tab member 114 will be positioned between the tab 
member 82 and the top panel 14, and the tab member 116 will be positioned 
between the tab member 80 and the top panel 14 in a locked configuration. 
In this configuration, the left-handed electrical terminals 132 will 
contact the data terminal electrical contacts 104 to provide the necessary 
connections between the scanning head 12 and the terminal 10. 
The scanning head 12 includes a locking member 150 for locking the scanning 
head 12 to the data terminal 10 for both the left-handed and right-handed 
orientations. The locking member 150 includes a rotatable locking plate 
152 that is positioned relative to a back panel 154 of the scanning head 
12. When the scanning head 12 is secured to the data terminal 10 in either 
the right-handed or left-handed orientation as discussed above, and the 
locking plate 152 is rotated to the position as shown in FIG. 6, a locking 
tab 156 is moved down to contact an inner surface of either of the end 
sections 88 or 92 depending on the orientation of the scanning head 12. In 
this locked configuration, the scanning head 12 is prevented from being 
slid backwards to remove the scanning head 12 from the data terminal 10. A 
light emitting diode (LED) 158 is positioned in the back panel 154 to 
provide an indication to the operator of when the data terminal 10 is 
reading a bar code during use. 
The embodiments discussed above and shown in the figures disclose a locking 
tab and slot configuration including four interlocking tabs on the 
scanning head 12 and the top panel 14. However, as will be appreciated by 
those skilled in the art, any reasonable number of interlocking tab 
members of this type can be incorporated. For example, the scanning head 
12 can include a single tab member on opposite sides of the edge member 
110, and the top panel 14 can include a corresponding tab member on each 
side of the edge member 76 for the left-handed and right-handed 
orientations. Further, other types of known mechanical locking 
configurations commensurate with the tab and slot configuration as 
discussed can also be utilized within the scope of the present invention. 
The removable and rotatable scanning head 12 provides a number of 
advantages not found in the prior art. For example, because all of the 
optical components of the data terminal 10 are located in the scanning 
unit 12, the scanning unit 12 can be removed and replaced with back-up 
scanning units when the components of an original scanning unit need 
service or repair. Further, the scanning unit 12 can be removed and 
replaced with different scanning units that may offer more or less 
scanning capabilities, such as longer range scanning, etc. Also, the 
manner in which the scanning unit 12 is switched from left-handed to 
right-handed, vice versa, orientations provides an easy and effective 
configuration for different operators to use the data terminal 10. 
The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary 
embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily 
recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and 
claims, that various changes, modifications and variations can be made 
therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as 
defined in the following claims.