Portable computer with interchangeable keypad and method for operating same
US5576981A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 17, 1993 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 17, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0238
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A portable bar code reader including a keyboard and a bar code system computer wherein the bar code system computer is constructed for executing a standard operating system to enable the bar code system computer to execute standard application programs written for the standard operating system. The keyboard includes a keypad coupled to a keyboard processor and a keyboard memory wherein the keyboard memory is constructed to store a plurality of token data units. The keypad includes a plurality of keys and is constructed to provide a plurality of X-Y position signals wherein each X-Y position signal is indicative of an associated key being depressed. The keypad also includes a change meaning assembly constructed to provide a change meaning signal to the keyboard processor 308. The keyboard processor 308 is responsive to the change meaning signal to select a portion of the keyboard memory that stores the meanings of the keys associated with the change meaning signal. The plurality of X-Y position signals are used to select a particular token data unit from the portion of the keyboard memory selected wherein the particular token data unit is indicative of the meaning to be attributed t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.