Wireless interface for bar code scanner

A wireless arrangement for permiitting any of a variety of data collection devices to be carried by a person and used remotely from a data entry and processing station at a distance from the person, the data collection device having an elongated flexible cable extending therefrom that terminates at a device multiple-pin connector and having pins for supplying power to the device and pins for signal to and from the device, comprising a housing, a two-way wireless interface unit disposed within said housing and adapted for interconnection with a data input device and adapted to communicate wirelessly via a remote wireless interface unit with said data entry and processing station;

• a battery disposed within said housing supplying direct current (DC) electrical power at a voltage sufficient to drive said two-way wireless interface unit;
• a standard multiple pin connector mounted on said housing and adapted to connect with said data collection device through said cable and device multiple-pin connector;
• and a wiring arrangement within said housing connecting said battery, said two-way wireless interface unit, and said standard multiple-pin connector for permitting data to pass between said interface unit and selected pins of said standard connector, and also imposing said DC power on a predetermined pin of said standard connector, such that said battery also powers, said data collection device;
• wherein said cable includes a flexible elongated cord connecting said data collection device and the device multiple-pin connector of said wiring arrangement such that said cable carries data to and from said data collection unit and carries said DC power to said data collection device, such that any other available data collection device having a cable terminated in a similar device multiple-pin connector can be substituted for the first-mentioned data collection device.

A wireless arrangement for permitting a data collection device to be used remotely from a data entry and processing station, comprising a housing, a two-way wireless interface unit disposed within said housing and adapted for interconnection with a data input device and adapted to communicate wirelessly via a remote wireless interface unit with said data entry and processing station;

• a battery disposed within said housing supplying direct current (DC) electrical power at a voltage sufficient to drive said two-way wireless interface unit;
• a multiple pin connector mounted on said housing and adapted to connect with said data collection device through a cable that terminates in a mating multiple-pin connector;
• and a wiring arrangement within said housing connecting said battery, said two-way wireless interface unit, and said multiple-pin connector for permitting data to pass between said interface unit and selected pins of said connector, and also imposing said DC power on a predetermined pin of said connector, such that said battery also powers said data collection device;
• wherein said cable includes a flexible elongated cord connecting said data collection device and the multiple pin connector of said wiring arrangement such that said cable carries data to and from said data collection unit and carries said DC power to said data collection device;
• and further comprising a splitter adapter interposed between said multiple pin connector and the mating multiple-pin connector of said data collection device;
• including additional multiple pin connectors for mating with said multiple pin connector and said mating multiple-pin connector, respectively;
• and an additional interface connector for connecting to an additional external device.