Abstract:
A portable scanning apparatus is disclosed, which may include a bar code scanner module incorporated within a housing; a portable computer memory assembled to the bar code scanner and incorporated within said housing, wherein the computer memory is operable to receive and store data obtained by the bar code scanner, and wherein the assembly of the bar code scanner and the portable computer memory within said housing forms a compact and portable package.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application relates in general to scanning devices and in particular to a portable scanning apparatus able to operate independently of a host system. 
         [0002]    Portable bar code scanners are known in the art. Most such scanners have a size and form factor suitable for being held comfortably in the hand of a human operator. This device size may be suitable for applications such as scanning bar codes in supermarkets or other environments in which an employee is expected to carry work-related equipment around. However, the portability and flexibility of a scanner of this size may be limited outside the context of the work environment described above. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a scanner having more flexibility than what is currently available in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to one aspect, the present invention is directed to a portable scanning apparatus that may include a bar code scanner module incorporated within a housing; a portable computer memory assembled to the bar code scanner and incorporated within said housing, wherein the computer memory is operable to receive and store data obtained by the bar code scanner, and wherein the assembly of the bar code scanner and the portable computer memory within said housing forms a compact and portable package. 
         [0005]    Other aspects, features, advantages, etc. will become apparent to one skilled in the art when the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention herein is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    For the purposes of illustrating the various aspects of the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms that are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a memory stick scanner in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a scanner module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the scanner module of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a computer system useable in conjunction with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to phrases such as “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of phrases such as “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a portable scanning system  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Scanning system  10  may include memory stick (also known as a thumb drive)  100 , scanner module  200 , and/or battery  300 , which is preferably rechargeable. Scanning system  10  may periodically be connected to computing system  400  to upload and/or download data, and/or to charge battery  300 . Computing system  400  is discussed in greater detail in connection with  FIG. 4 . 
         [0013]    Scanning apparatus  10  preferably has a form factor that is longer (where length is the left-to-right dimension in  FIG. 1 ) than it is wide (where width is the up-down dimension in  FIG. 1 ). Moreover, scanning apparatus  10  may be sized so as to: (a) fit into a pocket, such as shirt pocket or pants pocket; (b) be attachable to a neck strap; and/or (c) be attachable to a standard personal keychain without being unduly cumbersome. 
         [0014]    Memory stick  100  may be used to receive and store scan data from scanner module  200 . Memory stick  100  may also be used to store operational data for scanner module  200 , which may be delivered to scanner module  200  as needed. For instance, if different operating conditions and different scanning tasks require different scan speeds, different lighting, and/or different analog scan data processing (such as, for instance, using different thresholds for distinguishing between a logic “0” level and a logic “1” scan data value), then an entire range of scanner module operating data could be stored in memory stick  100 , in computing system  400 , or in a combination of the foregoing. 
         [0015]    Battery  300  may be rechargeable, but need not be. Disposable batteries may be employed instead. Battery  300  may be configured so as to be removable from scanning apparatus  10  for recharging purposes, and/or to enable a substitute battery to installed within scanning apparatus  10 . However, alternatively, scanning apparatus  10  could be configured so that a rechargeable battery  300  is permanently affixed within scanning apparatus  10 . 
         [0016]    Scanning system  10  may further include connector  110  (for connecting to host computer  400 , or other computing system) and/or activation button  120 . Memory stick  100  may include Random-Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Flash memory, or any combination of the foregoing. Any suitable type of memory devices may be used for the RAM or ROM memory circuits. Moreover, the present invention is not limited to above-listed memory types. In one alternative embodiment, scanning system  10  could include a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver for transmitting scan data wirelessly to another device from scanning system  10  and/or for transmitting data to scanning system  10  from a remotely located device. Memory stick  100  may be used to store scan data obtained by scanning module  200 . However, memory stick  100  preferably includes enough data storage capacity to store a large amount of data from sources other than scanning module  200 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of scanner module  200  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Scanner module  200  may include laser diode  202 , focusing lens  204 , bending mirror  206 , laser beam  208 , motor  208 , motor  210 , printed circuit board  212 , polygon mirror  214 , and/or detector  216 . Moreover, scanner module  200  may be powered either by battery  300  ( FIG. 1 ), by a power source in a docking station such as computing system  400 , or by a combination of the foregoing.  FIG. 3  is a plan view of scanner module  200  of  FIG. 2 . Suitable connections may be implemented (not shown) to convey signal data from detector  216  to electronic circuitry on scanner module  200  (or on a device in communication with scanner module  200 ) to receive, process, and store scan data from detector  216 , as is known in the art. 
         [0018]    The scanner module shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  is exemplary. The present invention is not limited to the specific implementation of scanner module shown therein. Any one of several possible configurations of a modern scanner could be used in conjunction with a memory stick in embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0019]    When not connected to a host device, scanning apparatus  10  preferably runs on power from battery  300  which may be rechargeable and/or removable from scanning apparatus  10 . In this mode of operation, a human operator may initiate operation of scanner module  200  by pressing button  120 . Scanner module  200  may then scan a bar code, or other image, and receive scan data from the image. The scan data may then be digitized and stored either in memory within scanner module  200  or in memory stick  100 . Computational power sufficient to operate scanner module  200  and to coordinate the transfer of data to memory stick  100  may be incorporated within a processor within scanning apparatus  10 . This processor (not shown) may be incorporated within scanner module  200 , or within memory stick  100 . Alternatively, some data processing capability may be incorporated within processors within both memory stick  100  and scanner module  200 . Scanning apparatus  10  may continue operating in this mode until battery  300  needs recharging or replacement, or until memory stick  100  has no more storage space. 
         [0020]    Scanning apparatus  10  may be connected to a host device such as computing system  400 . When connected in this manner, scanning apparatus  10 , and particularly the memory stick  100  portion thereof, may be configured to appear to a host system, such as computing system  400 , as an external drive having data accessible by the host system. 
         [0021]    Scanning apparatus  10  may be configured to self-install upon being connected to a host system such as computing system  400 . At least one conductive path between computing system  400  and scanning system  10  may be used to charge battery  300 . Separately, scanning system  10  may upload stored scan data from scanning module  200  and/or memory stick  100  to a memory device within computing system  400 . Scanning system  10  may also download data from a host device, which data could include ordinary payload data for storage in memory stick  100  which is not relevant to scanner module  200 . Scanning system  100  could also download data that includes operational parameters for the operation of scanner module  200 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a computing system  400  adaptable for use with one or more embodiments of the present invention. For instance, computing system  400  may serve as a host computer to which scanning system  10  may be coupled to. Moreover, a computing system incorporating one or more of the components (depicted with individual blocks in  FIG. 4 ) may be incorporated within scanner module  200  to store operational data for controlling the scanning operation (i.e. to control motor speeds, do initial processing on scan data, etc.), to store scan data received at detector  216 , to control data transfer between scanner module  200  and memory stick  100 , and/or other functions useful for the operation of scanning apparatus  10 . 
         [0023]    In computing system  400 , central processing unit (CPU)  402  may be coupled to bus  404 . In addition, bus  404  may be coupled to random access memory (RAM)  406 , read only memory (ROM)  408 , input/output (I/O) adapter  410 , communications adapter  422 , user interface adapter  406 , and display adapter  418 . 
         [0024]    In an embodiment, RAM  406  and/or ROM  408  may hold user data, system data, and/or programs. I/O adapter  410  may connect storage devices, such as hard drive  412 , a CD-ROM (not shown), or other mass storage device to computing system  400 . Communications adapter  422  may couple computing system  400  to a local, wide-area, or global network  424 . User interface adapter  416  may couple user input devices, such as keyboard  426 , scanner  428  and/or pointing device  414 , to computing system  400 . Moreover, display adapter  418  may be driven by CPU  402  to control the display on display device  420 . CPU  402  may be any general purpose CPU. 
         [0025]    It is noted that the methods and apparatus described thus far and/or described later in this document may be achieved utilizing any of the known technologies, such as standard digital circuitry, analog circuitry, any of the known processors that are operable to execute software and/or firmware programs, programmable digital devices or systems, programmable array logic devices, or any combination of the above. One or more embodiments of the invention may also be embodied in a software program for storage in a suitable storage medium and execution by a processing unit. 
         [0026]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.