Patent Publication Number: US-11042793-B2

Title: Portable data terminal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/372,743 for a Portable Data Terminal filed Dec. 8, 2016 (and published Mar. 30, 2017 as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0091608), now U.S. Pat. No. 9,959,495, which claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/483,470 for a Portable Data Terminal filed Jun. 12, 2009 (and published Dec. 16, 2010 as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0314443), now U.S. Pat. No. 9,519,814. Each of the foregoing patent applications, patent publications, and patents is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to devices for decoding decodable indicia, and more particularly, to portable data terminals that correlate environmental data with other data collected by the portable data terminal. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Portable data terminals that are equipped with hardware for reading decodable indicia are available in multiple varieties. Many of these are further configured with additional features, functions, and devices, all of which are combined into a single terminal that is operatively configured to collect, transmit, and receive different types of data. For example, there are many portable data terminals that can collect data using bar code scanning and imaging hardware, magnetic stripe reading hardware, and radio frequency identification tag (“RFID”) reading hardware, among many others. While such hardware permits a wide range of configurations and functionality for the portable data terminal, this hardware is often not equipped to collect data and information about the environment in the immediate vicinity of the terminal device. However, this data can be useful, and particularly beneficial if it can be correlated to the data encoded in one or more of the decodable indicia, or other data that is collected and processed by the hardware that is already incorporated into the portable data terminal. 
     There is therefore a need for a portable data terminal that is configured to measure, collect, and store data about the environment. It is likewise desirable that such a portable data terminal is configured to process the stored data so as to correlate the environmental data with the other data, e.g., a bar code, and/or an image. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There is provided embodiments of a portable data terminal that comprise an environmental sensing device with a sensing portion exposed to, or with access to the environment in surrounding relation to the portable data terminal device. Such embodiments are configured to operate in a manner so that the device can collect the environmental data, store the environmental data, and correlate the environmental data with other data, such as, for example, data that is stored in decodable indicia, which are decoded by, e.g., a bar code reading device. 
     For purposes of example only, in one embodiment, a portable data terminal having a housing in surrounding relation to one or more components for reading a decodable indicia, the portable data terminal comprising a memory, a control circuit communicatively coupled to the memory, an encoded information reader unit responsive to a signal from the control circuit, the encoded information reader unit comprising a data collection hardware device selected from one of a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device, an interface bus communicatively coupled to one or more of the memory, control circuit, and the encoded information reader unit, and an environmentally responsive device coupled to the interface bus, the environmentally responsive device comprising a sensing portion in communication with an environment external to the housing in a manner capturing an environmental reading for the environment. 
     In another embodiment, a hand held reader for reading data from the environment, the hand held reader comprising a housing comprising an aperture, an environmentally responsive device supportably connected to the housing in a manner exposing a sensing portion to the environment proximate the aperture, the sensing portion providing an environmental reading for the environment, an interface bus communicatively coupled to the sensing portion, a central processing unit coupled to the interface bus, the central processing unit providing a signal for capturing the environmental reading from the sensing portion, an encoded information reader unit coupled to the central processing unit, the encoded information reader unit comprising a data collection hardware device selected from one of a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device, a memory for storing the environmental reading and data from the data collection hardware device. 
     In still another embodiment, a data collection system for a portable data terminal having a housing with a form factor in surrounding relation to components of the portable data terminal, the data collection system comprising an interface bus comprising a two-wire interface, a temperature sensor coupled to the two-wire interface, the temperature sensor comprising a sensing portion exposed in a manner providing a temperature reading of an environment external to the housing, a memory for storing the temperature reading, and an encoded information reader unit in communication with the memory, the encoded information reader unit comprising a data collection hardware device selected from one of a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device, wherein the portable data terminal is operative in a first sensing mode that correlates data from the data collection hardware device, and the temperature reading in response to an operator initiated signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. Moreover, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of certain embodiments of invention. 
       Thus, for further understanding of the concepts of the invention, reference can be made to the following detailed description, read in connection with the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of one example of a portable data terminal that is made in accordance with concepts of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another example of a portable data terminal that is made in accordance with concepts of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of still another example of a portable data terminal that is made in accordance with concepts of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the drawings, in general, and  FIGS. 1-3  in particular, there is provided a portable data terminal and implementation thereof, embodiments of which are useful to collect data and information about the environment in surrounding relation to the device, and to correlate that environmental data with other data, e.g., image data, audio data, and data stored in decodable indicia, which are encoded, decoded, and otherwise captured by the portable data terminal. Devices of the type disclosed and described herein are particularly configured so as to interface with the surrounding environment, thus providing a point of access in which to gather the environmental data, e.g., temperature data, humidity data, barometer data, and dew point data. This data is stored in memory so that it is available for further processing, such as, for example, for displaying on a display, performing calculations, graphing, and transmitting, among many other processing paradigms. Such functionality is often included in embodiments of the portable data terminal because these devices are generally equipped with electrical components that are operatively configured for, e.g., imaging, bar code scanning, picture taking, and card reading. 
     For example, and as will be discussed in more detail below, portable data terminals of the type contemplated herein may include electrical components arranged as integrated circuitry. A portion of which can be located substantially internal to the housing, enclosure, or casement of the device. This internal circuitry may include, but is not limited to, processors, volatile memory, and non-volatile memory, all of which can communicate via one or more integrated busses. All of these elements are integrated together to instantiate system architecture (often imprinted on, and/or connected to a printed circuit board), which is designed to execute instructions, algorithms, and logical operations that instruct the overall functionality of the portable data terminal devices, and in particular embodiments of the data terminal, the functions discussed immediately above. 
     The methods, instructions, algorithms, and logic operations that are here, and generally conceived to be a sequence of steps or actions leading to a desired result and may be implemented, or enabled by software, and firmware. While it may prove convenient to discuss such software as if it were embodied in a single program, most implementations will distribute the described functions among discrete (and some not so discrete) pieces of software. These pieces are often described using such terms as “programs,” “objects,” “functions,” “subroutines,” “libraries,” “.dlls,” “APIs,” and procedures.” One or more of these may find favor in the present description, although there is not intention to limit the invention or the described embodiments to the recited configurations. 
     For example, software for use in embodiments of the portable data terminal can include an operating system, such as, but not limited to, WINDOWS CE, WINDOWS MOBIL, WINDOWS XP, LINUX, PALM, SYMBIAN, OSX, and their various versions, improvements, and revisions. Likewise the software and the firmware can include applications, and drivers that have executable instructions compatible with the operating system, and particularly written so that, when executed, the terminal operates in a certain operating mode, or with certain functionality. 
     With respect to the software described herein, those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there exist a variety of platforms and languages for creating software for performing methods outlined herein. Embodiments of the present invention can be implemented using MICROSOFT VISUAL STUDIO, or any number of varieties of C. The choice of the exact platform and language is often dictated by the specifics of the actual system constructed, such that what may work for one type of system may not be efficient on another system. It is also note that the methods disclosed and contemplated herein are not limited to being executed as software on a processor or digital signal processor (“DSP”), but can also be implemented in a hardware processor such as would be implemented with hardware design language (“HDL”) in an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”). 
     By way of non-limiting example, it is seen in  FIG. 1  that a high-level, schematic diagram of an example of a portable data terminal  100  is illustrated. Here, it is seen that the portable data terminal  100  can include a housing  102  that encapsulates in surrounding relation an interface bus  104 , a control circuit  106  such as may be provided by central processing unit (“CPU”) like a microprocessor integrated circuit chip, a memory  108 , a user input interface  110 , a user output interface  112 , and an encoded information reader unit  114 . The portable data terminal  100  can also include an environmentally responsive device  116  that has a sensing portion  118 , which as mentioned above is positioned relative to the housing  102  so as to capture environmental data for the environment exterior to the housing  102  of the portable data terminal  100 . 
     The CPU  106  receives data from and outputs data to other sub-systems for storage, transmission, and additional processing. In the present example, the CPU  106  is implemented using any number of off the shelf solutions. These include, but are not limited to, embedded processors, general purpose processors, or any number of custom solutions including pre-configured field programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”), and ASICs. 
     The memory  108  can include a read only memory device (“ROM”)  120 , and a random access memory device (“RAM”)  122 . ROM  118  can be, e.g., an EROM or an EPROM. The memory  108  can also include a storage memory  124  such as a hard drive, and a flash memory device  126 , which may be integrated into the portable data terminal  100  as it is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , or in other embodiments it may be a type of replaceable, removable memory device such as a flash memory card, a USB memory device, and the like. 
     Preferably, but not necessarily, the memory  108  can retain numerous types of files, including, but not limited to, the operating system files, the application files, the driver files, and configuration files for configuring the portable data terminal  100 . Typically ones of the configurations files have executable instructions that are directed to particular hardware, integrated circuitry, and/or components of the portable data terminal  100 . These include, for example, radio transceiver devices, card reader devices, and bar code reader devices, examples of which are discussed in more detail below. In one embodiment, the configuration files can be retrieved from the portable data terminal  100  by a host computer (not shown) that communicates with the terminal  100  via a docking station (not shown), or remotely via wireless communication technology. While not necessary to the general construction and operation of devices of the type consistent with the embodiments of the portable data terminal  100 , the host computer is useful to modify, update, and otherwise change the configuration of the portable data terminal  100 . For example, it may be useful to retrieve certain ones of the configuration files from the terminal  100 , edit the files at the host computer, and then transfer the edited files back to the terminal  100 . 
     The user input interface  110  can include a pointer controller  128 , a keyboard  130 , a touch panel  132 , and a trigger  134 . Exemplary devices that can be used for devices of the user input interface  110  are generally discussed immediately below. Each of these is implemented as part of, and often integrated into the housing  102  so as to permit an operator to input one or more operator initiated commands. These commands may specify, and/or activate certain functions of the portable data terminal  100 . They may also initiate certain ones of the applications, drivers, and other executable instructions so as to cause the portable data terminal  100  to operate in an operating mode. 
     Devices that are used for the point controller  128  are generally configured so as to translate the operator initiated command into motion of a virtual pointer provided by a graphical user interface (“GUT”) of the operating system of the portable terminal  100 . It can include devices such as a thumbwheel, a roller ball, and a touch pad. In some other configurations, the devices may also include a mouse, or other auxiliary device that is connected, e.g., via wire, or wireless communication technology, to the portable data terminal  100 . 
     Implementation of the keyboard  130  can be provided using one or more buttons, which are presented to the operator on the housing  102 . The touch panel  132  may supplement, or replace the buttons of the keyboard  130 . For example, one of the GUIs of the operating system may be configured to provide one or more virtual icons for display on, e.g., a display  136 , or as part of another display device on, or connected to the portable data terminal  100 . Such virtual icons (e.g., buttons, and slide bars) are configured so that the operator can select them, e.g., by pressing or selecting the virtual icon with a stylus (not shown) or a finger (not shown). 
     The virtual icons can also be used to implement the trigger  134 . On the other hand, other devices for use as the trigger  134  may be supported within, or as part of the housing  102 . These include, but are not limited to, a button, a switch, or a similar type of actionable hardware that can be incorporated into the embodiments of the portable data terminal  100 . These can be used to activate one or more of the devices of the portable data terminal, such as the bar code reader discussed below. 
     The user output interface  112  can include the display  136 , and an audio device  138 . Displays of the type suited for use on the portable data terminal  100  are generally configured to display images, data, and GUIs associated with the operating system and/or software (and related applications) of the portable data terminal  100 . The displays can include, but are not limited to, LCD displays, plasma displays, LED displays, among many others and combinations thereof. Although preferred construction of the portable data terminal  100  will include devices that display data (e.g., images, and text) in color, the display that is selected for the display  136  may also display this data in monochrome (e.g., black and white). It may also be desirable that the display  136  is configured to display the GUI, and in particular configurations of the portable data terminal  100  that display  136  may have an associated interactive overlay, like a touch screen overlay. This permits the display  136  to be used as part the GUI so as to permit the operator to interact with the virtual icons, the buttons, and other implements of the GUI to initiate the operator initiated commands, e.g., by pressing on the display  136  with the stylus (not shown) or finger (not shown). 
     The audio device  138  permits the portable data terminal  100  be used to gather, receive, transmit, and convey acoustic signals, e.g., voice, audio, and sounds. Although not provided explicitly in the figures illustrated and described herein, the audio device  138  may include receiving and conveying portions. For example, the receiving and conveying portions may be similar to, respectively, a microphone and a speaker found on telephonic devices, e.g., cellular telephones. 
     The housing  102  can be constructed so that it has a form, or “form factor” that can accommodate some, or all of the hardware and devices mentioned above, and discussed below. The form factor defines the overall configuration of the housing  102 . Suitable form factors that can be used for the housing  102  include, but are not limited to, cell phones, mobile telephones, personal digital assistants (“PDA”), as well as other form factors that are sized and shaped to be held, cradled, and supported by the operator, e.g., in the operator&#39;s hand(s). One exemplary form factor is illustrated in the embodiment of the portable data terminal  200  discussed in connection with  FIG. 2  below. 
     The encoded information reader unit  114  can include data collection hardware  140 , which can include, but is not limited to, one or more of a bar code reader device  142 , an RFID reader device  144 , and a card reader device  146 . The bar code reader device  142  may be provided by, e.g., an IT4XX/5XX Imaging Module of the type available from Hand Held Products, Inc. of Skaneateles Falls, N.Y. The IT4XX/5XX Imaging Module is configured with integrated circuitry to capture image data, which can be translated into visual image data by compatible circuitry and processors contemplated herein. The IT4XX/5XX Imaging Module is also configured with decode out circuitry that provides decoding of a plurality of different types of bar code symbols and other decodable symbols such as PDF 417, Micro PDF 417, Maxicode, Data Matrix, QR Code, Aztec, Aztec Mesa, Code 49, UCC Composite, Snowflake, Data Gliffs, Code 39, Code 128, Codabar, UPC, BAN, Interleave 205, RSS, Code 93, Codablock, BC412, Postnet, Planet Code, BPO Forcedate, Canadian Forcedate, Japanese Post, KIX(Dutch Post), OCR A and OCR B. 
     The RFID reader device  144  is of the type that can wirelessly interact with RFID transponders, and RFID tags that are compatible with the selected reader device. Exemplary ones of the RFID transponders, and RFID tag, can communicate with the RFID reader device  144  as a passive device (limited functionality), and active device (broader functionality). They are generally recognized, and so their functionality is not discussed in detail herein. An example of a suitable device for use as the RFID reader device  144  is provided by a Skyetek SkyeModule series reader and card reader from SkyeTek of Westminster, Colo. 
     Suitable card reader devices of type used as the card reader  146  can have reading and/or writing functionality. This includes, for example, devices compatible with information retrieved from (or encoded in) financial transaction cards, e.g., credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, electronic benefit cards, customer loyalty cards, and the like. It also includes other cards, like, for example, integrated circuit cards that are used as “tokens” for security applications, or as a tool for use in reconfiguring the data collection tool  100 . Other suitable devices for the card reader  146  may include an integrated circuit card (IC CARD) reader device (not shown), otherwise known as a smart card reader device. 
     In one embodiment, the portable data terminal  100  may also include a radio communication interface device unit  148 . This may include one or more radio transceiver devices  150 , such as an IEEE 802.11 radio transceiver device  152 , a Bluetooth radio transceiver device  154 , a WIMAX radio transceiver device  156 , and a cellular radio transceiver device  158  compatible with, e.g., GSM and CDMA protocols. Other examples of devices include, for example, global positioning system (“GPS”) devices, and similar devices that can provide geo-positional, positional, and location information. 
     Still other embodiments of the portable data terminal  100  may include a serial input/output interface  160 , and a power distribution circuit  162  that receives power from a variety of different power sources including a serial power source  164  (e.g., a USB cable), an AC/DC power supply  166 , and a rechargeable battery  168 . 
     An example of the interface bus  104  is a two-wire interface  170  that supports and which can transmit commands to a plurality of integrated circuits, e.g., the environmentally responsive device  116 . Each of the integrated circuits can be assigned a different two-wire interface address so that commands and/or parameter data that is intended for a specific integrated circuit can be sent to that specified integrated circuit. These commands may originate from the operator as the operator initiated command, mentioned above, and also internally as commands and instructions that are part of, and/or incorporated into the firmware, software, and other executable instructions of the portable data terminal  100 . 
     In the present example, the two-wire interface  170  includes a signal line  172 , or SDA line, and a clocking signal line  174 , or SCL line. Each of which are used, respectively, to transmit data (via signal line  172 ) and to transmit a clock signal (via the clocking signal line  174 ). In one example, each of the signal line  172  and the clocking signal line  174  are configured in accordance with a PHILLIPS I 2 C bus. While the details of the I 2 C bus will not be discussed in detail herein, it is contemplated that in the interface bus  104  of the present example, the signal line  172  can carry address information commands, such as, for example, read and write commands to addressable registers that are internal to I 2 C compatible hardware. 
     Exemplary devices that are used for the environmentally responsive device  116  are responsive to one or more environmental factors, such as, for example, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and other factors typical of the environment about the housing  102  of the portable data terminal  100 . The type and configuration of the environmentally responsive device  116  may be selected so that it can be coupled to the interface bus  104 . Generally such devices can be incorporated with the housing  102 , as, for example, an integral (and/or monolithic) part of the housing  102 . 
     In other embodiments of the portable data terminal  100 , it is also contemplated that the housing  102  can include a port, and/or a connector (hereinafter, “a serial bus connector”) that is included with the housing  102 , incorporated into the housing  102 , or otherwise disposed on the housing  102  so as to provide a removable, detachable interface that can receive the environmentally responsive device  116 . This can include, for example, modules that include all or part of the device  116 , which can be interchanged onto the device so as to provide one or more of the functional responses to the environmental factors discussed immediately above. In one example, the bus serial bus connector is coupled to the interface bus  104  (e.g., via cabling, and wiring) so as to permit the interchangeable module to communicate with the interface bus  104 . 
     Certain ones of the device  116  that are used may be compatible with the two-wire interface  170 , and in one construction of the portable data terminal  100  the device  116  is compatible with the PHILLIPS I 2 C bus. In one embodiment of the portable data terminal  100 , the sensing device  118  is a temperature sensing device, which measures the temperature of the environment around the portable data terminal  100 . An example of a temperature sensing device is the TI TMP75 Digital Temperature Sensor with Two-Wire Interface, manufactured and sold by Texas Instruments Incorporated of Dallas, Tex. 
     In view of the foregoing, various embodiments of the portable data terminal  100  may be a hand held device, such as data terminal  100 , PDAs, or other platform that have data collection hardware  140  with capabilities to capture and read images, some of which may have decodable indicia provided therein. PDAs are typically defined as hand held devices (or readers) that are used as a personal organizer, having many uses such as reading information bearing the indicia, calculating, use as a clock and calendar, playing computer games, accessing the Internet, sending and receiving electronic messages, facilitating telephonic voice communications, use as a radio or stereo, video recording, recording notes, use as an address book, and use as a spreadsheet. A plurality of buttons and keys may be used to control the operation of the PDA. This includes the buttons discussed in connection with the keyboard  130 , and the display  136 , as well as other buttons not necessarily discussed, but that are consistent with the functions, the capabilities, the control, and the operation of the portable data terminal  100  overall, and the data collection hardware  140  in particular. 
     The portable data terminal  100 , like the PDA, may be equipped with the ability to query and receive and transmit data, such as firmware via a communication link. This may be done by radio link or wired link. Upgrading firmware from a host, e.g., the host computer described above, to the PDA (also referred to as uploading or pushing) and duplicating configuration parameters may be performed by reading specific decodable indicia to ensure that the portable data terminal  100  is operating at the proper revision and have the proper configuration parameters. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an example of a portable data terminal  200  that is constructed in accordance with concepts of the present invention. Here, like numerals are used to indicate like components of  FIG. 1 , except these numerals have been increased by  100 . Moreover, because the example that is illustrated has a fully integrated housing  202 , some of the features of the internal circuitry discussed in connection with  FIG. 1  have been removed for clarity. In this connection, it is seen that in addition to the housing  202 , the portable data terminal  200  can include a user input interface  210  with a pointer controller  228 , and a keyboard  230 , a user output interface  212  that has a display  236  and an audio device  238 , and an environmentally responsive device  216  with a sensing portion  218 . 
     It is also seen that the housing  202  can include a front surface  276 , side surfaces  278 , and a back surface  280 , which is located on the side of the housing  202  that is opposite the front surface  276 . The front surface  276  has an aperture  282  where the sensing portion  218  is positioned so as to have access to the environment surrounding the housing  202 . This is, however, only one exemplary configuration of the location of the aperture  282 . It can be located in different locations in other embodiments of the portable data terminal  200 . That is, the aperture  282  can be located anywhere on the housing  202  in order to accommodate the sensing portion  218 , and to provide suitable access for the sensing portion  218  so that it can capture the environmental data from the environment. 
     More particularly, and with reference now to the section view of the example of a portable data terminal  300  that is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , it is seen that the portable data terminal  300  has a housing  302  that incorporates an environmentally responsive device  316  with a sensing portion  318 , where the housing  302  has a front surface  376  with an aperture  382  that is sized and configured to receive the sensing portion  318 . The portable data terminal  300  also includes circuit boards  384 , and a cable  386  that couples the sensing device  316  to the circuit boards  384 . The portable data terminal  300  further includes a mechanical interface  388 , and a protective cap  390  that is disposed over the sensing portion  318  in the present example of the portable data terminal  300 . 
     The circuit boards  384  are generally constructed as printed circuit boards that include one or more of the devices, components, and assemblies discussed in connection with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . That is, the integrated circuitry and other architecture that is needed to permit the portable data terminal  300  to perform its various functions is constructed as part of one or more of the circuit boards  384 . This include the interface bus  104  ( FIG. 1 ), and more particularly the two-wire interface  170  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     The cable  386  is likewise configured to permit communication of the sensing portion  318  with the circuit boards  384  so that the portable data terminal  300  can collect the environmental data. Typical cables that are used as the cable  386  are constructed so that they can couple the environmentally responsive device  316  to the interface bus  104  ( FIG. 1 ). For example, when coupling with the two-wire interface  170  ( FIG. 1 ), the cable  386  may include a data line (not shown) and a clock line (not shown). These connect, respectively, to the signal line  172  ( FIG. 1 ) and the clocking signal line  174  ( FIG. 1 ) of the two wire interface  170  ( FIG. 1 ). The cable  386  can also include other lines, e.g., power lines, and ground lines, that are selected based on, for example, the type of sensing apparatus that is used at the sensing portion  318  of the environmentally responsive device  316 . 
     By way of non-limiting example, and as it is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the aperture  382 , the mechanical interface  388 , and the protective cap  390  are configured in a manner that permits the sensing portion  318  to be exposed to the environment surrounding the housing  302 . For example, the mechanical interface  388  positions the sensing portion  318  relative to the aperture  382  so that the sensing portion  318  extends out of the housing  302 . Exemplary mechanical interfaces can include multiple pieced assembles with portions that can receive and secure the sensing portion  318  such as, for example, via mechanical fasteners, adhesives, and snap-type fittings. These may be incorporated integrally as part of the housing  302 , or as separate pieces parts that are assembled and attached to the housing  302 . 
     The protective cap  390  is typically configured to protect the sensing portion  318 , as well as to seal the open portion of the housing  302  at the aperture  382 . It may be desirable that it is constructed of materials that are resistant to damage, such as may occur by dropping, crushing, or attempting to puncture the protective cap  390 . Preferably, the materials of construction are also selected so as to promote, or facilitate the data collection that occurs via the sensing portion  318 . For example, if the sensing portion is designed to sense temperature of the environment, then the material for the protective cap  390  may have certain thermal properties that are conducive to transferring thermal energy from the environment to the sensing portion  318 . 
     As discussed above, the embodiments of the portable data terminals  100 ,  200 ,  300  are operative in a plurality of operating modes, which can be activated by the operator via the operator initiated instruction. Generally the operating modes comprise modes that capture environmental data, and information from the data collection hardware, as well as other data and information, e.g., time, date, and location. For example, the operating modes may include a mode for collecting environmental data, and storing the environmental data in the memory in response to the decoding of the decodable indicia. Decoding is a term used to describe the interpretation of the decodable indicia by, e.g., the bar code reader. Information respecting the various reference decode algorithms is available from various publication standards, such as by the International Organization (“ISO”). 
     The operating modes may also include a mode for collecting environmental data, where the environmental data is captured at one or more configurable time periods, with or without being initiated by the operator initiated command. This measured data may be stored in memory. It can also be retrieved from the memory so that it can be displayed on the display as a graph, in a spreadsheet, or other display method consistent with the concepts disclosed herein. In one embodiment of the portable data terminal  100 , the operating modes include a mode where the environmental data is measured continuously such as, for example, when the configurable time period is substantially zero. Here, the measured data can be stored in memory, and/or displayed on the display of the portable data terminal as a part of, or incorporated into one of the GUIs of the operating system. 
     Still another operating mode may permit the portable data terminal to correlate the environmental data with the information that is decoded from the decodable indicia. For example, and discussing an implementation of the portable data terminal in, e.g., a warehousing environment, a operator initiate scanning of a bar code of a product via the operator initiated command (e.g., by pressing a button), and record data about the environment in the warehouse at a time contemporaneously with bar code scan. The portable data terminal can store the information from the bar code, the environmental data in a file in the memory. This file may have both the information and the environmental data in e.g., a correlated format. In some embodiments, the information from the bar code, and the environmental data may be stored in separate files, with the portable data terminal being operatively configured to access, and correlate, the information and the environmental data from the separate files. In still other embodiments, the portable data terminal may also record the time of the scan, the location of the scan (e.g., via GPS), and store this additional information along with, and/or correlated to, the bar code and environmental data. Examples of other operating modes and functionality as it relates to the environmentally responsive device are further disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0185432, filed as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/669,987, on Feb. 1, 2007 by Caballero et al., and assigned to Hand Held Products, Inc. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0185432 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     It is contemplated that numerical values, as well as other values that are recited herein are modified by the term “about”, whether expressly stated or inherently derived by the discussion of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term “about” defines the numerical boundaries of the modified values so as to include, but not be limited to, tolerances and values up to, and including the numerical value so modified. That is, numerical values can include the actual value that is expressly stated, as well as other values that are, or can be, the decimal, fractional, or other multiple of the actual value indicated, and/or described in the disclosure. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by claims that can be supported by the written description and drawings. Further, where exemplary embodiments are described with reference to a certain number of elements it will be understood that the exemplary embodiments can be practiced utilizing either less than or more than the certain number of elements.