Cordless scanner and stylus

A handheld device

• a housing comprising a graspable shaft portion and an angled extension portion, a long axis of the graspable shaft portion forming an obtuse angle with respect to a central axis of the angled extension portion, the angled extension portion at least partially containing a scanning subsystem comprising at least a scanning window;
• a stylus nib protruding at least partially from the housing;
• a scan button positioned on the graspable shaft portion near the angled extension portion and away from the stylus nib;
• wherein the housing is of a size and shape suited to holding and operating the handheld device with one hand in either of a first orientation and a second orientation;
• wherein the handheld device functions as a cordless scanner to wirelessly send scan data when operated in the first orientation and functions as a digitizer stylus to generate user digitizer data when operated in the second orientation;
• and
• wherein when operating the device in the first orientation, the scan button is further positioned to act as a natural rest for a thumb of the one hand, the scan button enables selective initiation of scanning, and the scanner is enabled to be aimed during the scanning along a projection of the central axis of the angled extension portion.

A detachable stylus assembly including:

• a fastening portion adapted to detachably couple to a handheld device;
• and
• a projecting portion coupled to the fastening portion and adapted to provide stylus input;
• and
• wherein the handheld device includes an enclosure and a scan button, and the device is adapted to wirelessly communicate;
• wherein the enclosure includes a receiving portion compatible with the fastening portion and is adapted to receive the detachable stylus assembly;
• wherein the enclosure is compatible with operation of the handheld device as a scanner wirelessly providing scan data while in a first alignment in one hand;
• wherein the enclosure is compatible with operation of the handheld device as a stylus providing stylus input while in a second alignment in the one hand;
• and
• wherein the scan button is positioned to act as a natural rest for a thumb of the one hand during the operation in the first alignment, and the scan button enables selective initiation of scanning.

A method including the steps of:

• assembling a stylus assembly to a stylus assembly receptacle on a wireless handheld unit;
• and
• wherein the unit includes
• a scan button;
• a scanning subsystem comprising at least a scanning window,
• a housing comprising a graspable shaft portion and an angled extension portion, a long axis of the graspable shaft portion forming an obtuse angle with respect to a central axis of the angled extension portion, the angled extension portion at least partially containing the scanning window and the graspable shaft portion at least partially containing the stylus assembly receptacle;
• wherein the housing is suited to hold and operate the unit with one hand in either of a first orientation and a second orientation;
• wherein the unit serves as a cordless scanner to wirelessly send scan data when operated in the first orientation and serves as a stylus to enter stylus data when operated in the second orientation;
• and
• wherein the scan button is positioned on the graspable shaft portion near the angled extension portion and away from the stylus and the scan button is further positioned to act as a natural rest for a thumb of the one hand while holding the unit in the first orientation, the scan button enables selective initiation of scanning, and the device is enabled to be aimed during the scanning along a projection of the central axis of the angled extension portion.

A method comprising:

• holding a handheld data-entry unit in a first orientation by one hand and obtaining scan data of a first data set via use of a scanning subsystem comprising at least a scanner window, wherein the scanner window is at least partially enclosed in a angled extension portion of a housing of the data-entry unit, the housing further comprising a graspable shaft portion, a long axis of the graspable shaft portion forming an obtuse angle with respect to a central axis of the angled extension portion;
• holding the handheld data-entry unit in a second orientation by the one hand and obtaining stylus data of a second data set via use of a stylus nib mounted to an end of the graspable shaft portion away from the angled extension portion;
• and
• wherein the obtaining scan data is at least in part in response to selective activation of scanning by a thumb of the one hand via a scan button positioned on the graspable shaft portion near the angled extension portion and away from the stylus nib and further positioned to act as a natural rest for the thumb during the scanning.