US 7,460,170 B2Granted

Computer expansion module having image capture and decoding functionality

AssigneeHand Held Products, Inc.

InventorsRobert C. Gardiner, James Crill, Colleen Gannon, James Montoro

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Abstract

A computer assembly having a host computer and a detachably attached computer expansion module. The computer expansion module includes a 2D imaging module, and may include short range imaging optics. In a “picture taking” mode actuated by input into the host computer, the expansion module captures an image, and without launching a decoding algorithm, sends the captured image to the host computer which displays the image on an integrated display of the host computer. In a “decode” mode actuated by input to the host computer, the expansion module captures an image, executes a decoding algorithm, and sends a decoded out message to the host computer, which displays the decoded out message on an integrated display of the host computer.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A computer assembly comprising:

a host computer having an externally accessible device connector for receiving an expansion module;
an expansion module, said expansion module including:
a host connector configured to detachably attach to said device connector;
an imaging module including a 2D image sensor;
and
a control circuit in communication with said imaging module, wherein said control circuit captures frames of image data corresponding to image signals generated by said 2D image sensor;
wherein said host computer includes a power source in electrical communication with said expansion module;
and
wherein said expansion module includes a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) integrated circuit (IC) and a sleep control system, said sleep control system comprising a switch coupled to said power source, said switch having closed contact state wherein power is supplied to all electrically powered components of said expansion module, and an open contact state wherein power is not supplied to said imaging module but is still supplied to said UART IC.

6 more elements

A computer assembly comprising:

a host computer having an externally accessible device connector for receiving an expansion module and a power source;
an expansion module, said expansion module including:
a host connector configured to detachably attach to said device connector;
an imaging module including a 2D image sensor;
a control circuit in communication with said imaging module, wherein said control circuit captures frames of image data corresponding to image signals generated by said 2D image sensor;
wherein said host computer includes a power source in electrical communication with said expansion module;
wherein said expansion module includes a sleep control system, said sleep control system comprising a switch coupled to said power source, said switch having closed contact state wherein power is supplied to all electrically powered components of said expansion module, and an open contact state wherein power is not supplied to said imaging module;
and
wherein said sleep control system is configured to be redundantly controlled by a signal generated by said host computer and by a signal generated by said control circuit.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.