Importance

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Abstract

A bar code scanning engine (34) is disposed in a housing (12) with a device (24, 26) which tracks the movement of the housing over a surface (22) displaying symbols such as bar codes and provides an integrated bar code reading and locating assembly, commonly known as a mouse (10). When the mouse is in proximity to the bar code on the surface over which it tracks, switches (18, 19) on the mouse are actuated and circuitry in the mouse associated with the device and with the scanning engine initiates scanning, and provide outputs representing the location of the mouse on the surface and the bar code. The circuitry may be adapted to enable bar code scanning only when the mouse is located at selected positions on the surface where bar codes are expected to be found. The entire mouse assembly may be lifted from the surface and operated in a manner similar to a tethered hand-held bar code scanner using switches (18), (19) and scanner engine (34).

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First Claim