A hand-held and self contained electronic scanning apparatus for scanning information on a document disposed outside the apparatus includes a housing that can be manually positioned adjacent a surface of a document and manually swept across a scanning area on the medium during a scanning sequence; a scanner disposed in the housing and having a scan head with a plurality of scan elements such as light sensitive elements for scanning information as an image of the document within the scanning area; and an electronic control circuit disposed in the housing for controlling the scanner to scan information on the document during a scanning sequence, the control circuit comprising compensation for reducing image distortion based on detecting position of the light sensitive elements during a scanning sequence.

The light source unit (lid), which is substantially a right triangle, is supported to be freely rotatable via the hinge at the bottom of the main body casing. The light source for illumination and the assist roller are arranged in the light source unit. When operating the scanner system, the scanning window is opened by rotating the light source unit. When not operating, the scanning window is closed by rotating the light source unit to the right bottom of the main body casing, and the scanning face is protected. Moreover, the magnets are used to lock and hold the light source unit in the opening state or the closing state. The main power source is turned on when the opening state of the lid is detected by the Hall sensor or the reed switch, and the scanner system becomes operatable.

A data capturing module combined with a portable data terminal of the hand-held type to record handwritten data. Using a digitized pad, the module can provide for direct input of handwritten data into the system, or a peripheral digital scanner can be employed to provide for data entry. Depending upon the particular application, the module therefore provides for data entry of handwritten text or graphics using the data terminal and other components of a portable data system to enter, display, print or otherwise communicate the handwritten data.

A writing instrument that also functions as a computer peripheral. The writing instrument has the general configuration of a ball-point pen. The pen includes a ball for ink writing that is operatively associated with internal sensors that precisely detect the distance and direction of ball movement and relay that directional and distance data to a microprocessor which records a series of vectors similar to a computer mouse. The pen also includes interchangeable memory cartridge for the storage of the data and a wireless computer connect, for example infrared, that can communicate generated or stored data to an associated computer. The pen also includes an external LED data display, a speaker/microphone and an ink reservoir.

An architecture for communication of remote devices to a digitizing display includes a contact sensing mechanism and a position sensing mechanism whose outputs are multiplexed for transmission from the stylus to an antenna located proximate to the digitizing display. The digitizing display also includes a transmitter for transmitting information from a pen-based computer system to the stylus for storage or utilization in the stylus.