# US 12,182,658 B2 · Indicia reader for size-limited applications

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- Number: US 12,182,658 B2
- Document ID: US12182658B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/052,323
- Filed: 2022-11-03
- Published: 2023-03-23
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2014-03-07
- Assignees: Hand Held Products, Inc.
- Applicants: Hand Held Products, Inc.
- Inventors: Chen Feng; Edward C. Bremer; Tao Xian; Sean Philip Kearney; Mehul Patel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12182658B2

## CPC

- G06K 7/10732: {Light sources}
- G06K 7/10881: {constructional details of hand-held scanners}
- H04M 1/0202: {Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03)}
- G06K 2207/1011: Aiming
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

An indicia-reading module is capable of integration into the smallest face of thin-profile smart device. The module employs chip-on-board packaging and a customized sensor enclosure to eliminate the stack-up height found in conventional packaging. The module also employs a customized frame to reduce volume by integrating circuit subassembly circuit boards into a unique architecture and by serving as the lenses for the illuminator and the aimer, thereby eliminating the need for any extra lenses or holders.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging apparatus, comprising:
an imaging module comprising an illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly, wherein the illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly is positioned on a circuit board; and
a frame comprising at least two sides, the at least two sides defining a region within which the circuit board is positioned, and wherein the frame further defines an aimer lens and an illuminator lens that serve as optics for the illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame facilitates coupling of the imaging module with the imaging apparatus through mounting pins and screws.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging module further comprises an interface circuit subassembly connecting the imaging module to a host device, wherein the interface circuit subassembly is positioned on a fourth rigid-flex circuit board, the fourth rigid-flex circuit board snap fits with the frame.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame is a clear polycarbonate frame and the frame comprises fittings molded into the clear polycarbonate frame, the fittings corresponding to the circuit board.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging module further comprises a micro controller to provide timing and control to the illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly comprises an illuminator driver circuit and an aimer driver circuit to supply power to an illuminator light source and an aimer light source, respectively.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises snap fitting features to allow snap fitting between the frame and the imaging module.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the imaging module further comprises a processor circuit subassembly, wherein the processor circuit subassembly is positioned on a third rigid-flex circuit board, the third rigid-flex circuit board snap fits with the frame.