Vehicle Data System

This invention relates to a vehicle data system wherein a multiplicity of devices, such as two-way radio data transceivers, bar code scanners, RF tag readers, large format keyboards and displays, printers, electronic scales and other types of measuring devices, may be associated on board an individual delivery route vehicle, material handling vehicle, or the like.

Factory and warehouse material handling can take many forms. The simplest operations may involve individuals manually carrying goods from one point to another. As materials get larger and more material is moved, carts or lift trucks are typically used. Highly automated operations may use computer controlled storage and retrieval systems with complex systems of conveyors, elevators and handling equipment. Whether the system is automated or not, most material handling operations utilize human operated lift trucks of some type. The non-automated operations generally require the lift truck operator to get written instructions from a foreman or supervisor and then begin moving product per those instructions. More automated operations have often used two-way mobile radio communications to give instructions to operators in real time.

Shipping and distribution operations generally involve loading trucks with the correct materials or products, sending them to the correct destinations at the correct time, and unloading them in the correct order. Error or inefficiency in any of these operations may cause loss of time, revenue and ultimately profit. In recent years, the formerly manual methods of directing these processes have been replaced by computer supported techniques including computerized order entry and shipping instruction, route accounting on delivery vehicles, and direct store delivery of products. While most large operations utilize central computer systems to automate many of these processes, the use of computer data terminals on the vehicle is expanding to provide better operator productivity, information control and customer service.

In connection with the use of portable data systems on board such vehicles, it is conceived that it would be highly advantageous to be able to readily expand the number and types of on-board peripherals. The ability to easily add peripherals, such as bar code scanners, RF tag readers, large format displays and keyboards, printers, electronic scales and other types of measuring devices, offers further improvements in accuracy and efficiency. The ability to monitor critical vehicle performance parameters such as fuel economy, engine temperature and oil pressure, odometer and tachometer readings and the like offer the capability to manage and optimize the efficiency of a fleet of vehicles. The most effective application of these system components would result if all of the parts could be integrated into the system in an organized, logical fashion.

An important feature would be the ability to quickly and conveniently disconnect a selected portable device from any non-portable components and operate the same in a portable mode when needed. One exemplary application of radio data terminals involves reading bar coded labels on items or materials that are not accessible by a vehicle. Another situation where portability is advantageous is in reading labels on all four sides of a shipping pallet with individual packing containers placed such that the bar coded labels are arranged on the outside surface of the "stack". It would be much more convenient for an operator to read all the associated labels by walking around the stack than to maneuver the vehicle around the pallet to read all the labels. Consequently, the radio terminal and scanner mounting system should ideally be configured so that the operator can easily remove the scanner from its mobile mount, with or without its data terminal attached, use the scanner portably, and return it to the mobile mount with minimal effort or care. Similarly, a route accounting terminal is removed from its vehicle mount regularly to be hand carried by the operator to the point where data is to be captured.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a vehicle data system wherein components can be readily detached for portable operation and wherein various peripheral devices can be readily accommodated.

A further object resides in the provision of such a vehicle data system wherein multiple devices may be connected at different locations in different vehicles and integrated into a vehicle data communication system on a dynamic basis without interrupting system operation.

In a presently preferred configuration particularly suited for forklift truck applications and the like, a portable data terminal and a set of peripheral devices are connected via a vehicle local area network (LAN) having the following characteristics:

(1) The LAN is configured so that multiple devices may be connected simultaneously.

(2) The LAN provides reliable two-way data communication.

(3) The LAN may have a total length up to hundreds of feet for operation on virtually any vehicle.

(4) Any connected device may be inactive or off without having an effect on the other devices.

Power for operation of the portable data terminal is provided by the internal terminal batteries when used portably and by the vehicle when the terminal is placed in the vehicle mount. Further, the terminal batteries may receive charge while the terminal is operating from the vehicle power so that full battery capacity is available when portable operation is required.

In accordance with a further development of the invention, portable terminals, for example, may be quickly removed from the system, and may be placed in generally random physical network locations by the terminal users.

It is a feature of the invention to provide a network capable of assigning suitable identification to a newly added terminal or the like on a dynamic basis without requiring each device to have its own unique "hard" address, and without interruption of system operation.

Yet another object is to provide a scanner with an independent rechargeable power source so that the scanner can be operable without being linked to the power source of the portable data terminal.

Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and from the individual features and relationships of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a vehicle data system in accordance with the present invention, and which may represent a data system associated with a gasoline-powered or battery-powered material handling vehicle such as a forklift truck.

FIG. 2 shows by a similar diagrammatic illustration a fixed data system which may utilize adapters and a local area network corresponding to that of FIG. 1, and may receive terminals from vehicles such as that of FIG. 1, for purposes of interchange of data with a host computer, and for recharging of the terminal batteries.

FIG. 3 shows a vehicle data system which may include the features and components of FIG. 1, and which further provides for plural terminals sharing a common peripheral device means such as a printer.

FIG. 4 shows a further vehicle data system in accordance with the present invention, which is particularly appropriate for product distribution applications and the like, features of FIG. 3 also being applicable to FIG. 4, and the RF link for example of FIG. 4 also being applicable to FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the various data processing layers of a preferred implementation of local area network and representing message frame construction for an outgoing transmission at the left and the inverse incoming frame reduction at the right, exemplary frame formats for the respective layers being represented centrally of the diagram, and an exemplary physical transmission link being indicated as a horizontal path at the bottom of the diagram (and corresponding to the LAN data bus transmission paths of FIGS. 1-4).

FIG. 6 shows a preferred electrical interface arrangement for coupling each of the terminals and peripheral devices of FIGS. 1-4 with the LAN transmission link of these Figures. The illustrated electrical interface of FIG. 6 is an example of a "physical layer" as diagrammed in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic partial vertical sectional view illustrating constructional details of a preferred adapter for the systems of FIGS. 1-4, a portable battery powered terminal corresponding to that of FIG. 1 being shown as being inserted part way into the adapter channel, to the point of initial electrical contact; and also indicating in diagrammatic fashion a laser bar code scanner device in a separate vehicle mounting or holster means and coupled with the terminal via an extendable coiled cable.

FIG. 8 is a somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view showing the adapter contact assembly of FIG. 7 on a greatly enlarged scale.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic bottom plan view of the terminal of FIGS. 1 and 7, illustrating the external contact area of the terminal and also the connector fittings for coupling the terminal with a scanner such as the hand-held laser bar code scanner which is diagrammatically indicated in FIGS. 1 and 7.

FIG. 10 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view showing portions of a vehicle frame mounting a vehicle docking unit for receiving a hand-held data terminal, and mounting a reader head holster for receiving a bar code or RF tag reader or the like and shown coupled with the data terminal by means of an extensible cable.

FIG. 11 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevational view of the mounting arrangement of FIG. 10, with portions of the terminal receptacle means and received data terminal broken away and in section to reveal preferred details of construction, and with the reader holster shown in vertical section and having the reader head inserted therein.

FIG. 12 is a somewhat diagrammatic frontal elevational view of the terminal docking unit, with a portion thereof broken away to show internal parts.

FIG. 13 is a somewhat diagrammatic rear perspective view of the docking unit of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 showing an exemplary adjustable mount for adjustably positioning the terminal receptacle means at any desired angular orientation, e.g. so as to facilitate operation of the terminal keyboard and observation of the terminal display while the terminal is inserted into the docking unit.

FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view showing details of the RF data terminal of FIGS. 10-13.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a pistol grip scanner positioned in a docking module wherein the docking module is shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the scanner and docking module of FIG. 15.

FIG. 1 shows a system comprised of a portable battery operated data terminal 10 which may be connected through an adapter 11, and a set of peripheral devices such is 12-15 (e.g. devices that might be particularly suited for forklift truck applications), the terminal and peripheral devices being coupled via a local area network data bus 16 of a self-propelled manually steered vehicle 17. For the case of a forklift truck 17, adapters such as 11 may releasably accommodate terminals such as terminal 10 which receive and store data obtained by means of an optical bar code or RF tag scanner 18. As indicated at 19, vehicle power is generally available from the electrical system of the vehicle. Certain electric vehicles such as lift trucks may operate from voltages as high as 72 volts, so higher voltage operation must be accommodated as well as the more typical value of twelve volts.

A preferred LAN configuration for the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 6 may have the characteristics (1) through (4) described in the section headed SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION, and as further detailed hereafter in reference to FIG. 5.

A general characteristic of each LAN connected device in FIGS. 1 through 6 is that communication and control intelligence is required to receive and transmit information through the LAN. The terminal (e.g. terminal 10, FIG. 1) with its processor and memory system may serve as a communication controller or primary processor while each peripheral device (such as 12-15, FIG. 1) may comprise a secondary unit which typically contains a microcomputer to perform communication and control tasks. Certain applications may involve multiple terminals (such as 21-26, FIG. 2) connected to a single LAN data bus such as vehicle bus 16, FIG. 1, or such as LAN data bus 27 of fixed installation 28, FIG. 2. Multiple adapters such as 31-36 enable communication from terminal to terminal, and from any of multiple terminals to an RS-232 interface means such as 15, FIG. 1, or 37, FIG. 2. Such an interface may be used for data interchange with a host computer system overseeing a multiplicity of vehicles (such as 17, FIG. 1) or fixed installations (such as 28, FIG. 2), and may include the LAN controller (as indicated for interface means 37, FIG. 2).

Vehicle mounted terminals such as terminal 10, FIG. 1, may be removed from vehicle adapters such as 11 at the end of a working shift and physically inserted into one of the adapters 31-36 of a fixed installation 28 for transfer of accumulated data to a host computer. Components 15 and 37 may comprise LAN controller and protocol converters for adapting to an external RS-232 transmission system. Alternatively, a vehicle such as 17 could itself be coupled with a host computer via interface means 15, e.g. while for the case of an electrically driven vehicle, the vehicle batteries were being recharged. In each case, the batteries of terminals such as 21-26, FIG. 2, would be recharged e.g. from AC power as indicated at 38, FIG. 2. Where interface means 15, FIG. 1, does not include the LAN controller, terminals such as 10 may be automatically switched when in adapter 11 so as to activate primary LAN programming enabling the microcomputer of terminal 10 to act as the LAN controller when on board vehicle 17.

When such a terminal 10 is inserted in one of adapters 31-36 on the other hand, the terminal would operate as a standard secondary unit, and be identified dynamically by means of the primary programming of the LAN controller of interface means 37.

As shown in FIG. 3, a series of terminals such as 41-43 may be coupled with a LAN data bus 44 via respective adapters such as 45-47 which may be part of self propelled manually steered vehicle 48. Such multiple terminals can thus share peripheral devices on board the vehicle such as printer 49. Again the LAN controller may be external to the terminals, e.g. associated with printer 49 or an interface means such as 15, FIG. 1, or 37, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a data terminal 60 and peripherals 61-67 in an arrangement that might be particularly suited to a route or delivery truck application. The LAN communication protocol is preferably designed to coordinate and resolve all of the resultant communication requirements. As in FIG. 1, terminal 60 may contain programming to act as the LAN controller and may be removably received in a mobile mount adapter 70 of a vehicle 71 which supplies operating and recharging power to the terminal batteries as indicated at 72. RF coupling means 67 may alternatively contain the network controller and further may couple the LAN data bus 73 with a stationary host so that data from terminal 60 and from measurement means 61-65 may be supplied periodically to a host computer system, and data from the host may be supplied for example to printer 66 as needed. In FIG. 1, LAN data bus 16 may have an RF modem coupled therewith, and in each of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the terminals may receive scheduling information or the like whenever required during a working day, from a host computer system via an RF link, for example. Thus on-line communication with a host computer may be established at any time. The network controller when separate from the terminal may contain a special buffer memory for storing data for one or more terminals which may be temporarily disconnected from the network. Such network controller and buffer memory may be part of an RF unit having two-way on-line communication with a host computer, in any of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4.

Description of FIG. 5

The application of a LAN communication structure for networking multiple portable terminals may present unique difficulties since the portable terminals may be removed from the system for various purposes such as those previously described herein. Further it is desirable to provide a system whereby the terminals may be placed in generally random physical network locations by the terminal users. Preferably the terminals may be identified on a dynamic basis as they are added to the local area network, without requiring a unique "hard" terminal address for each terminal which may be associated with the network.

A unique feature of the preferred LAN protocol of the present invention is in its structure for addressing that establishes "virtual" rather than permanent physical identification of the communicating devices. This is advantageous in that communication sessions may involve a set of physical devices and connections that are constantly being changed and rearranged (as is common with portable data terminals and their peripherals). The implementation of the LAN communication protocol preferably conforms to the International Standards Organization (ISO) reference model for Open System Interconnection with the functional operations broken into "layers" as diagrammed in FIG. 5. A detailed description of the LAN protocol is include in Appendix A (not reproduced herein, but is available in the file wrapper).

Description of FIG. 6

The physical electrical interface to the LAN is preferably as diagrammed in FIG. 6. Here the LAN data bus consists of a balanced two-wire signal pair 91 and 92 conforming to the EIA RS 485 interface standard with tri-state wire-OR capability for the desired multi-drop characteristic. Because of the need for moderate line lengths (up to 100 feet), relatively fast signalling rates (up to 1 Mhz), and high immunity to electrical noise, the physical communication link must be treated as a transmission line with low characteristic impedance, typically 12 Oohm. Line termination must be made through resistors such as 93 and 94 of a value equal to that characteristic impedance which results in a relatively high current required to drive a signal on the line. To achieve these characteristics, a line drive integrated circuit 95 is used that has sufficient output capability to provide the necessary output current. A typical device that has this capability is the Texas Instruments SN75176 type. In general, devices of this type are bipolar circuits that require significantly more operating current that is usually available in a portable product that is powered from batteries. To adapt the LAN data bus to the requirements of portable terminal devices such as shown in FIGS. 1-4, power to the line driver integrated circuit as indicated in FIG. 6 is switched e.g. by means of a power transistor 97 to minimize the battery current drain. Transistor 97 is shown as being controlled by a microcomputer 98 which may be part of the portable terminals of FIGS. 1-4. In general each peripheral in FIGS. 1-4 may also include a microcomputer for performing the functions of microcomputer 98.

It is useful to note that operation of the LAN is typically not needed when the terminal is being used in the portable mode, but is only required when the terminal is placed in a LAN interface adapter. In this mode, power for operation is provided externally from vehicle power rather than the terminal batteries. The quick removability of a terminal and scanner means from its mobile mount adapter means is symbolized by small circles 101 and 102 which in this case may represent the electrical connections formed between respective spring fingers 110, FIG. 7, of the mobile mount adapter means such as 11, and respective mating external contacts 111, FIGS. 7 and 9, of the terminal and scanner means.

With the driver/receiver and line termination arrangement as shown in FIG. 6, inactive or physically "not present" terminals represent virtually no loading or effect on the system. It is only when the terminal begins to transmit data that it is known to exist by the network. Consequently, no special switching or isolation is required to remove or replace a terminal from the system.

Description of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9

A significant difference between the LAN configurations typically used for personal computer networking and communications, and the configuration described here for use with portable data terminals has to do with the mechanical connector method employed for interface to the electrical network. Presently common commercially available LAN products may utilize coaxial cables and connectors, twisted pair conductors with some type of connector termination or in some cases, telephone wire with modular phone jacks. Each of these physical interface methods requires a "fastening" and "unfastening" operation when the attached device is connected and unconnected from the network. An important feature of the portable LAN described here is in its method of electrical connection between the LAN and the connected portable terminal which must be removed and replaced often during operation. To eliminate the need for fastening and unfastening of a connector, in a preferred embodiment conductive contacts 111 are exposed e.g. at an undersurface of each terminal such as terminal 10, FIG. 1, and each adapter such as 11 is provided with spring loaded mating contacts 110. The interface adapter holds the terminal securely in place while aligning the external contacts 111 with the mating contacts fingers 110. An additional feature of the LAN interface adapter for mobile mounting applications is in its "open face" which allows connection to a scanner such as 18, FIGS. 1 and 7, without impeding the placement and removal of the terminal from the adapter. Thus referring to FIG. 7, terminal 10 is shown in initial contact with the adapter indicated at 11, with a connector 120 leading to scanner 18 located in the open area of the adapter. The adapter may have a contact assembly 125 including spring fingers 110 aligned with respective terminal contacts 111. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of contact assembly 125 and shows the initial position of contact finger 110 at 110A, and shows a deflected position at 110B (the terminal being fully inserted into and frictionally held by the adapter to maintain the deflected condition 110B of the spring fingers).

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the terminal 10, showing its set of contacts such as 111, and showing connector fittings at 127 and 128 which may receive the scanner connector 120, FIG. 7. In FIGS. 7 and 9, adapter 11 is shown as comprising a base part 131 which may be notched at 132 to accommodate scanner fitting 120, and a pair of upstanding generally C shaped parts 133 and 134 which define a channel 135 for receiving the terminal 10. The parts 133 and 134 may have sloping surfaces such as 136, FIG. 7, which limit the downward movement of a terminal into the receiving channel, and serve to frictionally retain the terminal with a suitable degree of pressure between contacts such as 111 and mating spring fingers such as 110.

Discussion of Earlier Mobile System Development

The present application is related to the following earlier patent application: Phillip Miller et. al. application "MOBILE RESTAURANT SYSTEM AND NETWORK CONTROLLER THEREFOR" U.S. Ser. No. 06/915,023 filed Oct. 3, 1986, and abandoned Jan. 22, 1988.

The Miller et. al. U.S. application Ser. No. 06/915,023, is incorporated by reference in pending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/212,435 filed Jun. 28, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,823, issued Jun. 11, 1991 and was also incorporated into a parent of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/212,435, namely U.S. Ser. No. 06/928,916 filed Nov. 7, 1986, now abandoned.

The application of Phillip Miller et al U.S. Ser. No. 06/915,023 is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The incorporated application U.S. Ser. No. 06/915,023 in a second figure thereof shows a system block diagram including a network controller (NC) with a "RS 485" communications port (91) connected with a "RS 485" multi-drop bus system (75). System power from a vehicle power system (30,31,40) is supplied via a power line (PWR) to a series of point of sale registers (14-1 through 17-1) which are coupled to the RS 485 multi-drop bus system (75). In a fourth figure, a physical layout of a vehicle is shown wherein a conduit (140-1) for power and data (PWR & DATA) contains both a multi-drop data bus and power lines. Junction boxes (41-1, 51-1, 52-1, 54-1 and 55-1) serve to couple the multi-drop data bus and power lines with the point of sale registers (14-1, 16-1, 17-1). An unused junction box is shown in the PWR & data line. The fifth figure of the incorporated application shows the distribution of power from a vehicle system power source (e.g. a data processing battery 40-1) to the network controller via a power function box (41-1) and a further junction box (51-1) at the network controller (NC). A sixth figure illustrates charging of the data processing battery (40-1) from an alternator via suitable battery isolator means (such as 31-1). The ninth figure indicates the segments of conduit (140-IA, 140-IB, 140-IC) between successive junction boxes (41-1, 51-1, 54-1, 55-1, 52-1). This same type of power and data conduit system may be utilized in the product distribution vehicles (such as forklift trucks and delivery vans) illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 herein. Thus FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 may have devices 11 to 15, 45, 46, 47, 49, 61 to 67 and 70 receiving vehicle power in the same way as shown in the second and fourth figures of the incorporated U.S. application Ser. No. 06/915,023, for example, and FIGS. 1 to 4 may be provided with a network controller as shown in the twelfth figure through sixteenth figure (parts A through G) of the incorporated application.

The present disclosure represents significant improvements over the incorporated application, for example in providing one or more mobile mount adapters such as 11, FIG. 1, 45, 46, 47, FIG. 3, and 70, FIG. 4, on a multi-drop data bus with diverse peripheral devices such as 12 to 15, FIG. 1, 49, FIG. 3, and 61 to 67, FIG. 4. Further, various devices may be added to the system on a dynamic basis during system operation, and assigned addresses as they become active on the network.

Additionally the conduit system containing the LAN data bus and power supply conductors may also contain a charging power line for supplying charging power to one of the contact fingers 116 which mates with the charging current input contact e.g. IIIA, FIG. 9, of the terminal 10.

Discussion of Related Patent Application Concerning Battery Charging Control

A pending application of Steven E. Koenck "MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLLED FAST CHARGING SYSTEM" U.S. Ser. No. 07/266,537 filed Nov. 2, 1988, now abandoned is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/168,352 filed Mar. 15, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,523, issued Dec. 5, 1989, and the entire disclosures including the drawings of these U.S. application Ser. No. 07/168,352 and Ser. No. 07/266,537 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The twenty-seventh figure of these incorporated applications shows a charging arrangement which may be applied to an individually manned transport vehicle with local area network system as taught herein. Thus terminal 10 of the present disclosure may incorporate the terminal system (27-10A) and battery pack (27-1OB) of the twenty-seventh figure. A charger (27-22) may be mounted adjacent mobile mount adapter 11 and receive charging power from the vehicle. Where the vehicle system supplies power at a relatively high voltage such as seventy-two volts, preferably such voltage is reduced to a lower voltage value such as twelve volts at a location near the vehicle power source and then power at such lower voltage value is supplied by a suitable cable to the charger component (27-22). In this embodiment, the charger has terminals labeled +CHARGE, TEMP, GND, CHG CONTROL which would be connected to four of the spring fingers 110, FIG. 7, of the mobile mount adapter 11. The other two spring fingers 110 would be connected to the lines LAN+DATA and LAN-DATA of the twenty-seventh figure which would correspond with LAN data bus 16, FIG. 1. The LAN interface (27-39) of the twenty seventh figure would include line driver/receiver 95, FIG. 6, which would receive +5 volts and the Power control signal from the microcomputer of the terminal system (27-10A) of the twenty-seventh figure.

Where the terminal 10 is provided with an RF transceiver, the terminal may correspond with that described in the following pending application: George E. Chadima, Jr. and Darald R. Schultz, U.S. application Ser. No. 07/104,653 filed Oct. 2, 1987, "HAND-HELD COMPUTER SYSTEM," abandoned parent of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/406,822, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,113, issued Aug. 28, 1990.

The complete disclosure including the drawings of this U.S. application Ser. No. 07/104,653 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Further information concerning RF transceiver type terminals is found in (APPENDIX B is not reproduced herein, but is available in the file wrapper).

Discussion of Claim Terminology and Modifications Pertinent Thereto

FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 illustrate vehicle data systems for vehicles such as forklift trucks and delivery vans which are utilized in product transport processes and the like. Such vehicles normally contain vehicle electric power means associated with the vehicle drive, e.g. a motive power engine driven alternator or generator and vehicle storage battery for use in starting the engine, or electric storage batteries which themselves provide the propulsion energy. The vehicle power represented at 19 in FIG. 1, and at 72 in FIG. 4 preferably is derived from the vehicle electric power means. Vehicle power may also energize the LAN devices 12 to 15, FIG. 1, 45, 46, 47 and 49, FIG. 3, and 66 and 67, FIG. 4, as well as the interface circuits for devices 12 to 15, 49 and 61 to 67 which may correspond with LAN interface 95, 97, 98, FIG. 6. In such a case vehicle power is supplied via suitable voltage regulator means to points such as 140 and 141 in FIG. 6 as well as to microcomputer 98, for each device permanently associated with the LAN data bus in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Where components such as 95, 97, 98 in FIG. 6 are part of a removable device such as terminal 10, FIG. 1, terminals 41, 42, 43, FIG. 3, and 60, FIG. 4, such components may be supplied from battery power carried with the removable device, or from charging power (+CHG) derived from the vehicle electric power means, e.g. 19 or 72. The local area network means of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 is preferably powered at least in part from vehicle electric power means and independently of fixed power sources (such as represented at 38 in FIG. 2).

While FIG. 1 shows an optical or RF scanner means 18 connected by a cable 150 and cable fitting 120 with a connector of the terminal 10 to form data terminal and scanner means, parts 10 and 18 may be in a single unit as shown for example in a pending application of Phillip Miller, et. al., U.S. Ser. No. 07/136,097 filed Dec. 21, 1987, now abandoned, Attorney Docket No. 6231. The entire disclosure of this application including the drawings is incorporated herein by reference.

The handle 215 (illustrated in FIG. 16) of the data terminal-scanner unit 210 may contain a series of external contacts corresponding to contacts 111, FIGS. 7 and 9, for engaging with spring fingers corresponding to fingers 110, FIGS. 7 and 8. In this case, the receiving channel of the mobile mount adapters of FIGS. 1 through 4 would frictionally receive the handgrip part 215 and support the horizontally extended undersurface of the scanner barrel, while providing adequate clearance so as to insure against actuation of the trigger 232 as the data terminal-scanner unit 210 is inserted into and removed from the various adapters, such as docking module 250. (FIGS. 15 and 16). Convenient access to the card receptacle 220 of the data terminal-scanner unit 210 would thus be provided while the terminal-scanner unit 210 was in place in the docking module 250. Also the terminal-scanner unit 210 would be held securely to enable normal application of manual pressure to the keyboard segments 11A and 11B. Battery charging contacts may be provided at the lower end of the handgrip 215 that make contact with charging studs on the docking module 250 for recharging of the batteries used to power the terminal-scanner unit 210. The hand-held unit may be microprocessor controlled and may operate from programming stored in random access memory that is lithium battery backed up. The entire unit may be environmentally sealed and water resistant, and free of connecting cables.

The docking module 250 may be a desk top type and include a charger for nickel-cadmium batteries contained in the terminal-scanner unit 210. The docking module 250 may include a receptacle for user replaceable EPROMS so that new programming in the base unit can be uploaded into the hand-held unit 210 when coupled with the base unit 250. Optical two-way communication with the hand-held unit 210 via a bar code reader window would free the interface of a mechanical connection for data communication.

In some applications, earlier developments of docking means may be utilized. For example, an integrated type scanner such as shown in the incorporated U.S. application Ser. No. 07/136,097 might have a docking means with a generally vertical receptacle channel for receiving the handle 215 up to the level of the trigger 232 (FIGS. 15 and 16). At the bottom of the receptacle channel a plug may project upwardly centrally to fit into a conforming recess at the base of the handle 215. The plug and recess may have cooperating parts of a conventional telephone jack connection for completing battery charging and communications data pathways to the rechargeable batteries and data circuitry of the hand-held scanner. The plug means of the docking receptacle would have an array of external conductors (metal wires) for interfitting with a mating female connector means having deflectable springs (metal wires) in the recess of the handle 215.

The conventional plug connector has a resilient retention means (latch element) automatically interlocking with the female connector with a perceptible snap action. A suitable mechanical or electrical release of the latch element of the plug connector, e.g. a miniature solenoid, is readily provided, or finger access to the plug means latch element could be provided from the rear of the docking receptacle.

Alternatively, the docking module 250 may contain interface components such as 95, 97, 98 which are energized from vehicle power, and also alternatively an optical coupling may be provided between a light emitting diode and light sensor of the terminal-scanner unit 210 of the incorporated application and the microcomputer 98 within each adapter for accommodating the interchange of data between the terminal-scanner unit 210 and the LAN data bus, e.g. to effect printout of data from the terminal-scanner unit 210 on a printer such as 14, FIG. 1, 49, FIG. 3 or 66, FIG. 4, or to effect transmission of data via component 37, FIG. 2, or 67, FIG. 4.

The present invention is particularly directed to an individually manned transport vehicle where the driver of the vehicle is the one concerned with operation of the on board devices. Since the driver at times must devote full attention to guidance of the vehicle, it is particularly appropriate that the data capture devices can be quickly inserted into and removed from mobile mount adapters, so that the driver may be completely unencumbered while driving the vehicle. It is advantageous to have a large area display which can be read at a distance e.g. from the driver seat of the vehicle. Such a display can provide information which is useful in moving from one work location to another, e.g. geographical type information; the display being positioned so that such information can be read at a glance e.g. during a brief stop of the vehicle while the driver remains at the controls of the vehicle.

Each of the connectors such as represented at 161 to 165, FIG. 1, 166 to 169, FIG. 3, and 171 to 173, FIG, 4, may be a standardized quick-connect and quick-disconnect type so that adapters and devices may be interchanged and placed at desired locations about each type of individually manned transport vehicle. For example, each connection such as 161 may include a set of spring fingers such as 110 receiving the LAN+ and LAN- connections such as 101, 102, FIG. 6. Each device may then include an interface such as shown at 95, 97, 98, and power supply means for energizing these components from vehicle electric power, (vehicle electric power being available e.g. from a twelve-volt d.c. plug-in power receptacle adjacent each connection 161-169, 171-173).

Each connection such as 110, 111, FIG. 7, may be maintained by a frictional ball and socket type detent such as indicated at 180, FIG. 7, which seats with an audible click into a terminal recess 181 when correct deflection of spring contacts 110 has been achieved.

Discussion of Existing commercially Available Components

The Route-commander" system by Norand consisting of a high-performance portable data terminal coupled to a ruggedized printer has virtually eliminated the use of manual route books and handwritten invoices in the beverage, snack, dairy and bakery delivery industries. Literature on this system is shown in (APPENDIX C is not reproduced herein, but is available in the file wrapper). This is one example where an individually manned transport vehicle may utilize a vehicle data system as disclosed herein.

With the introduction of low cost, efficient data communication radio systems such as the RT1200 and 2200 systems by Norand, it has become attractive to utilize radio data communications to automate the information processes used in material handling, particularly on lift trucks. The RT1210 and RT2210 data terminals are battery powered hand-held two way radio data transceivers with keyboard, LCD display, built in radio communication hardware and support for high performance optical bar code readers. Communication to the portable terminals is accomplished by interfacing an RM2216 terminal multiplexor and RB2212 base transceiver to a host computer through a communication port. The host computer may transmit to or receive data from any selected terminal at any time. Although the RT1210 and RT2210 terminals were originally designed for hand-held operation, they have been used in mobile applications by placing the entire terminal into a receptacle which holds the unit firmly in place and isolates the unit from vibration and shock. Power for operation is provided by the terminal battery pack. Literature pertaining to the commercially available components is shown in APPENDIX B.

FIG. 7 shows a holster 190 on base 131 for receiving and securely retaining a scanner such as 18, e.g. by a resilient liner 191 of the holster 190 frictionally engaging with a barrel 192 of the scanner. The holster 190 may be constructed e.g. at 193 to hold the handgrip part 194 and trigger 195 clear thereof so that the scanner of FIG. 7 is quickly and easily removed by manually grasping the handgrip part 194, and so that the trigger 195 will not be actuated as the scanner is manually inserted into the holster.

The scanner for bar codes need not be physically attached to the terminal. In configurations for warehouse scanning systems, a lot of the software effort involved may represent the accommodation of the periodic removal of major sections of the system to do remote scanning of marginally accessible codes. In conventional practice the scanner is always attached to the terminal by a pendant cable and if the code to be scanned is beyond the reach of the cable then the terminal must necessarily be removed from its holster. The terminal may represent a very significant portion of a "LAN" system and to remove it in this fashion may disable the system generally placing the terminal in its holster again may entail the reestablishment of the hierarchial or virtual address structure that was established prior to the removal of the terminal.

If, however, it is possible to only remove the scanner and to not be tied to the terminal by a cable then the degree of disability imposed upon the "LAN" system is significantly lessened and the software effort to develop such a system would be reduced.

The terminals now incorporate various types of scanner interfaces. Some of them have been add-on devices to accommodate scanner types manufactured by third parties. Others have been built-in and have been used to communicate with scanners such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,300. Some of these hand-held terminal devices provide power converters accommodating the requirements idiosyncratic to specific scanner types. All of such scanners directly draw power from the terminal, reducing operational time per battery charge.

A scanner such as 18, FIG. 7 or 675, FIGS. 10 and 11, may be operated while disconnected from the terminal on a permanent basis. Terminals presently connect with a host by an RF link and maintain contact without benefit of cable. Of course, terminals mounted on a vehicle will be drawing their power from the vehicular electrical system. The power requirements for a scanner connected by cable to a terminal on a vehicle as in FIGS. 7, 10 and 11 will not be a large factor in the power budget imposed upon the terminal.

Detaching the terminal from the scanner completely, provides benefits in the area of flexibility and ease of use. Since the scanner doesn't require contact with or attachment to the terminal the job of providing operating power no longer is the province of the terminal. The scanner, being completely portable would require its own battery pack but this pack would not have to be unusually capacious. Once the scanning function has been performed the scanner can be reinserted in its holster on the vehicle and charged back up to full capacity from vehicle power by its own charger.

The communication link replacing cable 150, FIG. 7, or cable 674, FIG. 10, may be ultrasonic but could also be infrared or even another very low power RF link. Various modulation and demodulation schemes could be employed and the choice of the most appropriate means of encoding data on the channel would depend greatly upon the channel type used. Once the code had been read, the link between the scanner and the terminal could employ one of the various error checking and correcting procedures.

Physically the terminals would still incorporate a form of scanner interface but the link would not be mechanical. It would be desirable to provide a bi-directional data path. The scanner would include the matching interface to implement the link and using a bi-directional data path the scanner could receive an acknowledgement after a scan. Reception of such an acknowledgement would constitute an indication of a valid scan and the illumination of an indicator light would provide operator feedback. The lack of a response from the terminal in a specified time period would constitute a negative acknowledgement and another indication on the scanner would signal the operator that another scan was necessary.

Appropriate scanners for this type of operation would include current wand and modified CCD type scanners of Norand Corporation and a number of other manufacturer's laser scanners.

This scanner would be used typically, by a forklift operator in close proximity to his vehicle. Limited range would not be a significant deterrent here and may even be a benefit in an operation where multiple units are in use.

Description of FIGS. 10-14

FIG. 10 shows subject matter similar to FIGS. 1 and 7 but in a more detailed manner and illustrates a presently preferred vehicle mounted docking unit 600.

In FIG. 10, frame 601 may be a rigid part of a vehicle such as a forklift truck, delivery van, or the like. The docket unit may have a mounting stand 602 including a base 603 secured to frame 601 and an upright 604 which adjustably carries the docking unit terminal receptacle means 606. Receptacle means 606 has a channel 607 for receiving a data entry terminal 10 such as shown in FIG. 1. The terminal alternatively may be an RF terminal unit 610 and have a RF antenna 611 at its upper end as in FIG. 1.

Receptacle means 606 may have opposing sidewalls 622 and 624 which are interconnected by rear wall 626. Front wall parts 628A, 628B and 628C cover only the margins 610a, 610b and 610c of the terminal avoiding interference with keypad 629 of data entry terminal 610. Bottom wall 630 interconnects with sidewalls 622 and 624 and the front wall parts and the rear wall 626. Contact elements 632 normally project above the level of bottom wall 630. Guide rails 634, 635 (FIG. 12) have sloping upper edges 634a, 635a to engage data entry terminal 610 as it is inserted into channel 607, so as to guide the terminal into proper alignment with contact elements 632.

The parts 622, 624 and 626 fit within a mounting frame 640. The frame 640 has a housing 641 at its rear side which is carried by an adjustment mechanism 642 of vehicle mount 602.

Contact elements 632 are arranged in spaced apart fashion in correspondence with the spacing of contact pads such as 643, FIG 14. A gap 642 is present in bottom wall 630 and between parts such as 628A and 628C to accommodate connector 645 FIG. 11.

Detents 650 and 652 (see FIG. 12) may be carried on tabs such as 654, FIGS. 10 and 11, which have upper margins integral with rear wall 626. The tab 654 accommodate resilient deflection of the detents as the terminal 610 is inserted into channel 607. The detents 650, 652 define a fully inserted position of the terminal 610 wherein a desired degree of contact pressure has been established between contact elements 632 and contact pads 643, FIG. 14.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the RF terminal 610 has a connector 656 providing for signal communication according to the RS-232 format. In this way terminal 610 may be compatible with earlier versions of docking systems utilizing pin and socket type connectors. Where the docking unit 600 is to receive RF terminals according to FIG. 14, but which are not equipped with a LAN interface, such docking unit may be provided with a cooperating pin type connector 657 which is fully engaged with the terminal connector 656 when the terminal is inserted in channel 607 to the position established by detent means 650, 652.

When such transitional type terminal units are no longer required, the connector 657 may be dispensed with. An advanced type of RF terminal may omit connectors, so that the terminal is entirely free of recesses of the type indicated at 656 and 658 in FIG. 14. In this case, coupling to a separate reader unit such as 675, FIG. 10 may be by means of a wireless link avoiding the use of connector 656, FIG. 14, and coiled cable 674, FIG. 11. All electrical contact type connections will then take place through contact pads such as 643, FIG. 14, which are generally flush with the exterior of the terminal unit for maximum imperviousness of the terminal to contaminants and mechanical damage.

A connector is indicated at 676 in FIG. 10, for providing quick connection and disconnection with a flexible cable leading to a suitable interface means. A power connector 677, FIG. 10, may receive charging power via a second flexible cable. The second flexible cable may be connected with a battery charger for charging the batteries of terminal unit 610, and the battery charger may be energized from vehicle electric power as previously described.

Certain pin positions of connector 676 and the pins of power connector 677 may be connected via suitable interface circuitry with respective spring loaded contacts 632 so that all connections with a data terminal unit are via its contact pads 643, FIG. 14. Other pin positions of connector 676 may connect with pin positions of connector 657 to accommodate transitional type terminals which are not equipped to operate exclusively via the open type abutting contact means 643, FIG. 14.

Where the terminal 610 has a hand strap as indicated at 315, FIG. 14, the rails 634, 635, FIG. 12, may be configured to insure that such strap and its mounting parts do not interfere with insertion of the terminal into channel 607 of the terminal receptacle means 606. Thus rails 634, 635 may engage the terminal at regions such as indicated at 610d and 610e, FIG. 14.

Referring to FIG. 11, a plurality of contact elements 632 are deployed within a contact receiving block 678 of insulating material. Each contact element 632 comprises a formed resilient conductive strip having a first leg 680 in a fixed position. A second deflectable leg 682 of each strip is provided with a generally U-shaped section for projecting into channel 607. First leg 680 and second leg 682 are formed in generally parallel relationship and are connected by a reverse bend 688. Contact elements 632 are constructed of electrically conductive material with sufficient resilience so that deflectable leg 682 will return to a position with its free end at the upper end of a confining slot when not subjected to deflective force.

Each contact element 632 is fitted into contact receiving block 678 such that contact elements 632 are spaced apart in parallel insulated relationship with the U-shaped sections of legs 682 projecting into channel 607 as shown in FIG. 10. Second legs 682 are deflectable downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 11 as the terminal unit reaches fully inserted position. First leg 680 of contact element 632 is provided with a protrusion for establishing electrical contact with a conductive area on circuit board 690, FIG. 11, to which contact receiving block 678 is secured.

Referring to FIG. 11, it can be seen that contact receiving block 678 is positioned so as to extend into an opening of bottom wall 630.

Further details concerning a preferred embodiment of contact spring arrangement particularly for terminal unit 10, FIG. 1, are found in a pending application of Patrick H. Davis, U.S. Ser. No. 07/327,660 filed Mar. 23, 1989 and the disclosure including figures one through six of the drawings is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The second figure of this incorporated U.S. application Ser. No. 07/327,660 shows indentations for terminal 10, which correspond with indentations 691, 692, FIG. 14.

The indentations 691, 692 receive the detents with a discernable abrupt action which advises the operator that the fully inserted position has been reached. FIG. 11 shows one of the detents, e.g. 650, engaged in a cooperating segmental spherical indentation 691 of the terminal. As the terminal is removed from channel 607, the detents 650 and 652 are cammed out of the receiving indentations 691, 692 by the mating segmental spherical surfaces thereof against the bias of the tabs 654. As a plate 693 containing indentations 691, 692 clears the detents, the detents assume a normal position as shown in FIG. 10. Upon insertion of the terminal, its plate 693 cooperates with the segmental spherical external surfaces of the detents to deflect the detents rearwardly until the cooperating indentations of the terminal are moved into register therewith.

The front wall sections 628A, 628B may have raised ribs such as 694, FIGS. 10 and 11 with tapered upper ends 694a for cooperating with rails 634, 635 in the low friction guidance of the terminal into a precise position relative to spring loaded contact elements 632.

The employment of detents 650 and 652 in cooperation with indentations 691, 692, FIG. 14 permits frame 640 to be disposed in other than generally vertical orientation while still in the docking unit with firm reliable interengagement of contact pads such as 643, FIG. 14, with contact elements 632 in spite of vehicle jarring and vibration.

FIG. 13 shows a rear perspective view of the docking unit, showing a handle 695 which serves to loosen a clamping arrangement so that the terminal receptacle means 606 can be angularly adjusted fore and aft as represented by double headed arrow 696 and/or swiveled laterally about the axis of post 604 as indicated by double headed arrow 697. A preferred adjustment mechanism 642 is commercially available and is covered by U.S. Pat. No. 2,898,068.

Also shown in FIG. 13 is a signalling means 698 such as a horn for communicating with the operator particularly in a high noise environment. Toggle switch 699 may serve to disable the signalling means 698 when a high intensity audible signal is not required. The horn mechanism 698 is to be placed inside housing 641 in a future version.

Discussion Re FIGS. 10-14

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a holster 700 on base 601 for receiving and securely retaining a scanner 675, e.g. by a resilient liner 701 of the holster 700 frictionally engaging with a barrel 702 of the scanner. The holster 700 may be constructed to hold the handgrip part 704 and trigger 705 (FIG. 11) clear thereof so that the scanner is quickly and easily removed by manually grasping the handgrip part 704, and so that the trigger 705 will not be actuated as the scanner is manually inserted into the holster. FIG. 11 shows a resilient liner 701 and stop elements 706 of resilient material.

By way of example, in place of pin type connectors at the fixed end of the terminal receptacle, an open, abutment type contact arrangement such as represented by spring contact elements 632, FIGS. 10 and 11, may be applied to the movable retainer part, with a suitable flexible electrical connector, so that a terminal such as 10, FIG. 1, can have its bottom end inserted into engagement with the movable retainer, utilizing manual force on the terminal 10 to displace the retainer against the action of its biasing spring. When the receiving space of the receptacle is sufficiently large, the upper end of the terminal may be pressed into the receptacle. The retainer will then hold the terminal in the seated position by virtue of its overhanging lip, with external contact pad means, in pressure engagement with the spring contact elements. The spring bias on the retainer will exert a greater force than the contact spring elements so that pressure engagement is established corresponding to that represented in FIG. 11. To remove the terminal, the sides of the terminal should be manually accessible so that the terminal can be manually shifted against the action of the spring bias on the retainer whereupon the upper end of the terminal can be lifted out of the receptacle and the terminal disengaged from the retainer.

The various parts of the docking unit receptacle means 606 may be identical to parts forming a wall mounted docking unit. Further details of a single docking unit for home or office use and of a wall or table mounted multiple docking assembly utilizing many parts identical to those of FIGS. 10-13 is found in the application of Patrick H. Davis, entitled "RECHARGING AND DATA RETRIEVAL DOCKING APPARATUS" U.S. Ser. No. 07/327,660 filed Mar. 23, 1989 and the disclosure including the drawings of this application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Further Discussion Re a wireless Scanning System

The components of the system are: Scanner e.g. 675, FIG. 10, (or multiple scanners); holster e.g. 700, FIG. 10, to accommodate the scanner(s); data terminal (hand-held, vehicle mount, counter or work surface mount, wall mount, or other,) e.g. 10, FIG. 1, or 610, FIGS. 10-14.

Functions of the components: Data terminal: One of many classes of data terminals described above which processes, stores, and/or communicates (via RF, cable or modem) data which is entered to it from an entry means. Such entry means may include, but not be limited to: keyboard, scanner, modem, voice, DEX/UCS.

Compatible terminal: A data terminal which has additional circuits and hardware to communicate with the wireless scanner without electrical or physical connection to the wireless scanner. The communicating medium is RF, magnetic and/or ultrasonics. The data is transferred via a low power RF magnetic link or through an ultrasonic link.

Scanner: One of many classes of scanners which typically read bar code information or other machine readable codes (wand, laser, flash type). The scanner may incorporate some degree of user interface such as a keyboard and/or display.

Wireless scanner: A scanner which incorporates an integral power source by which the wireless scanner is able to read, process (if necessary) and communicate the read code to a compatible terminal without having physical or electrical cable connection to the terminal. These batteries may be the rechargeable type. The wireless scanner incorporates circuits to process (if necessary) and communicate the read code to a compatible terminal. The data is transferred via a low power RF or magnetic link or through an ultrasonic link. The communicating medium is RF, magnetic and/or ultrasonics. The wireless scanner utilizes a power source consisting of batteries. The scanning device has a self contained power supply which may include, but not be limited to, Nicad batteries. The scanning device may be placed in a holster device which may provide charging of the scanning device batteries.

Holster: The holster device in addition to holding the scanning device, may provide charging of the scanning device batteries from the holster device batteries or from some other power source. Thus, a holster device can be portable or it can be fixed. The holster device may be worn on a belt around the waist, or mounted to a vehicle.