Capacitive touch proximity sensing switch in a barcode scanning device

A barcode scanning device, comprising:

• a device mounting article which defines a device cavity for securely containing a portable processing device;
• and
• a device scanning article, wherein the device scanning article is communicated with the portable processing device and includes,
• an activation button, and
• at least one capacitive touch sensor configured to sense when the device scanning article is being touched by a user, wherein when the activation button is engaged and the at least one capacitive touch sensor senses that the device scanning article is being touched by a user, the device scanning article is configured to optically interact with a barcode to obtain barcode information and communicate the barcode information to the portable processing device.

A method for implementing a barcode scanning device, wherein the barcode scanning device includes an activation button and at least one capacitive touch sensor configured to sense when the device scanning article is being touched by a user and wherein the barcode scanning device is configured to operate only when the activation button is engaged and when the at least one capacitive touch sensor senses that the device scanning article is being touched by the user, the method comprising:

• associating a portable processing device with the barcode scanning device;
• handling the portable processing device to cause the capacitive touch sensor to sense the user;
• and
• engaging the activation button to cause the barcode scanning device to sense a barcode having barcode information and to obtain the barcode information;
• and
• communicating the barcode information to the portable processing device.