Integrated hand-held bar code processing device capable of automatic scan and data display

In a data capture system, a hand-held automatic scan reader unit for scanning an optical segment and having a pistol configuration with a barrel having a longitudinal axis, and a handgrip adapted to be held in one hand of an operator, said handgrip having a free end and a handgrip axis directed generally transversely to said longitudinal axis of said barrel,

• said barrel having a first end arranged proximally to the operator and a second end arranged distally to the operator and oriented towards the optical segment when said reader unit is held by the operator in a normal scanning/data entry position,
• said barrel of the pistol configuration containing an optical scanner means comprising optical source means for directing illumination along a path extending past said second end and onto the optical segment essentially instantaneously and sensor means for reading reflected optical information therefrom,
• said barrel having an upper surface disposed above and a lower surface disposed below said longitudinal axis, said upper surface extending from said first end toward said second end,
• said handgrip including a trigger manually actuable to cause said optical source means to direct said illumination,
• an array of data entry keys at a data entry region of said upper surface, each of said keys requiring a manually applied thrust generally in the direction of said handgrip by the other hand of the operator, said handgrip being affixed to said barrel at said lower surface so as to be located beneath said data entry region of said upper surface when said reader unit is held in its normal scanning/data entry position;
• and
• said data entry region of said upper surface sloping away from said longitudinal axis with reference to a direction viewed from said first end toward said second end so that with said first end disposed proximally to the operator and with said reader unit in the normal scanning/data entry position, the operator can simultaneously view directly said data entry region, comfortably grasp said handgrip to balance and support said reader unit, manually actuate said trigger with the one hand and readily manually actuate selected of said data entry keys with the other hand.