Cordless scanner and stylus

Abstract

Convenience, ease of use, efficiency, and economy are some of the benefits of a cordless hand-held device implementing both a scanner and a stylus (active or passive) within a common housing. In an illustrative embodiment, the combined scanner/stylus device is ergonomically shaped and sized for extended comfortable use. During scanning, the device is generally held and aimed at a scan target using one hand as one would hold and aim a small flashlight. The long-axis of the device is thus kept generally parallel with an extended thumb, a scan button being positioned such that the thumb naturally rests atop it for selectively initiating a scan. To write on or tap on the input area of a PDA or Tablet PC, a user of typical coordination can, with the one hand holding the device, spin (rotate) the device to a position common for holding a writing implement.