# US 2013/0153658 A1 · Snap-on module for selectively installing receiving element(s) to a mobile device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153658 A1 - Document ID: US20130153658A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/713,676 - Filed: 2012-12-13 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: Intermec IP Corp. - Inventors: SCOTT R. HOPPER; SANDER LAM - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153658A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/1684: {Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675} - G06K 7/0004: {Hybrid readers} - G06K 7/10316: {using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers (antennas in general H01Q1/22)} - G06K 7/10386: {the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader} - H01P 11/00: Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing waveguides or resonators, lines, or other devices of the waveguide type - Y10T 29/49018: with other electrical component - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An apparatus and method for selectively attaching sensor(s) or antenna(s) to a mobile device at a convenient location are provided. The mobile device includes a body and a processing unit housed within the body for running an application, where the body includes a forward end and a rearward end that supports engagement with a charging dock. In addition, the rearward end accepts engagement of a snap-on module that physically assembles to and electronically interfaces with the mobile device. The antennas or sensors are externally mounted to the mobile device at a location proximate to the forward end of the body. Further, these antennas or sensors are interconnected to the snap-on module using media-routing conduit(s) that are configured to carry signals from the antennas or sensors to the snap-on module for distribution as an input to the application running on the processing unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular device comprising: a mobile device that includes a body and a processing unit housed within the body for running at least one application, wherein the body includes a forward end and a rearward end, and wherein the rearward end includes an electronic interface that is operably coupled to the processing unit; and a snap-on module that physically engages to the electronic interface at the rearward end of the mobile device, wherein engagement establishes a communication path between the snap-on module and the processing unit of the mobile device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular device of claim 1, wherein the electronic interface of the mobile device is designed to dock with a charger that distributes power to at least one battery internal to the mobile device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device represents a bar-code scanner with radio-frequency identification (RFID)-reading functionality provisioned within the processing unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device represents at least one of a mobile handset, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular phone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular device of claim 1, wherein the physical engagement between the snap-on module and the electronic interface represents a selective fastening between the rearward end of the mobile device and the snap-on module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular device of claim 1, further comprising one or more antennas or sensors that are assembled externally to the body of the mobile device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The modular device of claim 6, wherein, upon assembly to the mobile device, the one or more antennas or sensors are located proximate to the forward end of the mobile device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The modular device of claim 7, further comprising one or more media routing conduits that interconnect the one or more antennas or sensors, respectively, to the snap-on module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The modular device of claim 8, wherein the at least one media routing conduit is configured to carry signals from the one or more antennas or sensors to the snap-on module for distribution as an input to the at least one application running on the processing unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The modular device of claim 8, wherein the at least one media routing conduit includes at least one of coaxial cable, twisted wire, or optical cable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The modular device of claim 8, wherein the snap-on module includes one or more connectors that are designed to frictionally engage with one or more ends, respectively, of the at least one media routing conduit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The modular device of claim 8, further comprising fasteners for holding the at least one media routing conduit against the body of the mobile device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The modular device of claim 6, further comprising fasteners for holding the one or more antennas or sensors against the body of the mobile device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The modular device of claim 6, wherein the one or more sensors are configured for reading RFID tags. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The modular device of claim 6, wherein the one or more antennas are configured for receiving transmissions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The modular device of claim 1, wherein, during use, the rearward end of the mobile device is directed toward an operator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The modular device of claim 1, further comprising a boot, fabricated of resilient material, that covers a substantial portion of the body of the mobile device while allowing the electronic interface to be exposed for the purpose of docking to a charger. ### Claim 18 A method for selectively installing a snap-on module to a mobile device, wherein one or more antennas or sensors are interconnected to the snap-on module, the method comprising: providing the mobile device that includes a body and a processing unit housed within the body for running at least one application, wherein the body includes a forward end and a rearward end, and wherein the rearward end includes an electronic interface that supports engagement with a charging dock; engaging the snap-on module to the electronic interface of the mobile device, wherein engaging comprises: (a) physically assembling the snap-on module to the body of the mobile device; and (b) automatically establishing a communication path between the snap-on module and the processing unit of the mobile device via the electronic interface; installing the one or more antennas or sensors externally to the body of the mobile device such that the one or more antennas or sensors are located proximate to the forward end of the mobile device; and interconnecting the one or more antennas or sensors to the snap-on module using at least one media-routing conduit, wherein the at least one media routing conduit is configured to carry signals from the one or more antennas or sensors to the snap-on module for distribution as an input to the at least one application running on the processing unit. ### Claim 19 A modular device comprising: a mobile device that includes a casing and a processor protected by the casing, wherein the casing includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the second end exposes an electronic interface that is operably coupled to the processor; at least one battery that resides internally within the casing of the mobile device, wherein the electronic interface of the mobile device is designed to dock with a charger that distributes power to the at least one battery; a module that physically and electrically engages to the electronic interface at the second end of the mobile device, wherein engagement establishes a communication path between the module and the processor; one or more receiving elements that are assembled externally to the first end of the casing of the mobile device, wherein the one or more receiving elements comprises at least one of antennas or sensors; and one or more media routing conduits that interconnect the one or more receiving elements, respectively, to the module, wherein the one or more media routing conduits are configured to carry signals from the one or more receiving elements to the processor via the module. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The modular device of claim 19, wherein the module is configured to dock with the charge, thereby allowing for distribution of power from the module to the at least one battery through the electronic interface without disengaging the module from the mobile device.