Data collection device having visual display of feedback indicators and messages
View Patent ↗A hand-held data terminal employs a projection display, thus eliminating the need for a flat screen display conventionally employed in hand-held data terminals. The projection display according to the present invention comprises a light source, a spatial light modulator for varying the light emitted by the light source to produce an optical image that corresponds to visual output of the data terminal, and a lens to project the resulting image. In this manner, the computer output that would normally be visualized using a display such as an LCD display may be viewed as a projected image on a nearby surface, thus allowing the data terminal to be made smaller while providing a robust visual user interface.
1. A data collection and communication apparatus, comprising:
a housing having a size and shape capable of being hand held;
an optical indicia reader, supported by said housing, capable of reading optical indicia located externally of said housing;
a manual data input component, located on a user-accessible surface of said housing, capable of accepting data input by a user's hand;
a wireless communication component, supported by said housing, capable of communicating data collected by the apparatus and capable of receiving data for use by the apparatus; and
a visual image generator, located in said housing, wherein said visual image generator projects an image through air and onto a plane oriented upwardly and generally vertically such that a user can view a generated visual image without looking downwardly.
2. The data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said visual image generator comprises an illumination device capable of projecting an image as a head up display.
3. The data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said head up display is located on a vehicle windshield.
4. The data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said manual data input component comprises a keypad.
5. The data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said optical indicia reader comprises a laser scanner.
6. The data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said visual image generator generates an image onto a plane that is not parallel to a plane containing said manual data input component.
7. The data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication component comprises a radio frequency communication component.
8. A portable data collection and communication apparatus, comprising:
a housing having a size capable of being portable;
an optical indicia reader, supported by said housing, capable of reading optical indicia located externally of said housing;
a manual data input component, located on a user-accessible surface of said housing, capable of accepting data input by a user's hand;
a wireless communication component, supported by said housing, capable of communicating data collected by the apparatus and capable of receiving data for use by the apparatus; and
a visual image generator, located in said housing, wherein said visual image generator projects an image through air and onto a plane oriented generally vertically such that a user can view a generated visual image without looking downwardly.
9. The portable data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said housing has a size and shape permitting it to be hand held.
10. The portable data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said visual image generator comprises an illumination device capable of projecting an image as a head up display.
11. The portable data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said head up display is located on a vehicle windshield.
12. The portable data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said manual data input component comprises a keypad.
13. The portable data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said optical indicia reader comprises a laser scanner.
14. The portable data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said visual image generator generates an image onto a plane that is not parallel to a plane containing said manual data input component.
15. The portable data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said wireless communication component comprises a radio frequency communication component.
16. A portable data collection and communication apparatus, comprising:
means for portably housing the apparatus;
means for reading optical indicia, supported by said means for portably housing;
means for manually inputting data, located on a user-accessible surface of said means for portably housing;
means for wirelessly communicating, supported by said means for portably housing, capable of communicating data collected by the apparatus and capable of receiving data for use by the apparatus; and
means for generating a visual image, located in said means for portably housing, wherein said means for generating a visual image projects an image through air and onto a plane oriented generally vertically such that a user can view a generated visual image without looking downwardly.
17. The portable data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said means for generating a visual image generates an image onto a plane that is not parallel to a plane containing said means for manually inputting data.
18. The portable data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said means for generating a visual image comprises an illumination device capable of projecting an image onto a generally vertical surface.
19. The portable data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said means for generating a visual image comprises an illumination device capable of projecting an image as a head up display.
20. The portable data collection and communication apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein said head up display is located on a vehicle windshield.