Importance

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Abstract

A portable, hand-held data processing assembly of modular structure includes a base unit with a keyboard and a display screen. An indicia reader module is housed in a housing shell which is attachable to the base unit. The indicia reader module can contain a reflected light indicia reader for non-contact essentially instantaneous reading of bar codes of the like disposed in a spaced, non-contacting relationship to the assembly. The indicia reader module can also include a processor. Additionally, the base unit can include a battery for powering the hand-held data processing assembly. A data collection and communications module can include a stacked arrangement of a communications interface main circuit board, a radio and a laser scanner assembly which are housed in a housing shell attachable to the base unit. A support frame and a plurality of ground planes in the sandwiched main circuit board and a routing circuit board form an RF cage for shielding RF interference which may be generated by the radio. Also disclosed is a method for reducing the operational power consumption requirements of laser bar code scanners by analyzing reflected laser light in order to determine the presence of optically readable information sets. In any described embodiment, the hand-held data processing assembly can include a multitasking operating system. The multitasking operating system can execute battery monitoring instructions and diagnostic routines while concurrently executing application programs.

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First Claim