Hands-free body-mounted presentation scanning

Abstract

A mobile device is described. The mobile device includes a housing having a pistol grip portion. A data acquisition device is positioned in the housing adjacent to the pistol grip portion. The data acquisition device is adapted to acquire data from an object. The data acquisition device generates an electrical signal that is representative of the data. A control activates the data acquisition device. A processor receives the electrical signal from the data acquisition device. A support is worn on a torso of a user. The support supports the housing by the pistol grip portion such that the data acquisition device is positioned to acquire data from the object when the object is located in front of the torso of the user. The support enables hands-free operation of the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile device, comprising:
 a housing having a pistol grip portion;   a data acquisition device positioned in the housing adjacent to the pistol grip portion for acquiring data from an object, the data acquisition device generating an electrical signal representative of the data;   a control for activating the data acquisition device;   a processor for receiving the electrical signal from the data acquisition device; and   a support worn on a torso of a user for supporting the housing by the pistol grip portion such that the data acquisition device is positioned to acquire data from the object when the object is located in front of the torso of the user, the support enabling hands-free operation of the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the data acquisition device is chosen from the group comprising a laser scanner, an imager, and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile device of  claim 1  further comprising an illumination system aligned with the data acquisition device for illuminating at least a portion of the object. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the control for activating the data acquisition device comprises a sensor for automatically sensing a presence of the object proximate to the data acquisition device and activating the data acquisition upon sensing the presence of the object. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the control for activating the data acquisition device comprises a switch for activating the data acquisition device in an always-on presentation mode. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the control for activating the data acquisition device comprises a timer that periodically activates the data acquisition device. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the control for activating the data acquisition device comprises a motion sensor coupled to the housing that activates the data acquisition device upon sensing an impact to the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the control for activating the data acquisition device comprises a speech recognition module that activates the data acquisition device upon receiving a command spoken into a microphone of the mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the control for activating the data acquisition device comprises a video analytic module that activates the data acquisition device upon recognizing an image related to the object that is captured by a camera of the mobile device. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the support comprises a holster coupled to a strap adapted to surround at least a portion of the torso of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile device of  claim 1  wherein the support comprises a clip for coupling the mobile device to one of a belt, a lanyard and an article of clothing of the user. 
     
     
         12 . A torso-mountable mobile device for capturing a barcode symbol, comprising:
 a housing having a pistol grip portion;   an imager positioned in the housing adjacent to the pistol grip portion for capturing the barcode symbol, the imager generating image data corresponding to the barcode symbol;   a control for activating the imager;   a processor for receiving the image data from the imager; and   a support worn on a torso of a user for supporting the housing by the pistol grip portion such that the imager is positioned to capture the barcode symbol when the barcode symbol is located in front of the torso of the user, the support enabling hands-free operation of the mobile device.   
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 12  further comprising an illumination system aligned with the imager for illuminating the barcode symbol. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 12  further comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 12  wherein the control for activating the imager comprises a sensor for automatically sensing a presence of an object including the barcode symbol proximate to the imager and activating the imager upon sensing the presence of the object. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 12  wherein the control for activating the imager comprises a switch for activating the imager in an always-on presentation mode. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 12  wherein the control for activating the imager comprises a timer that periodically activates the imager. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 12  wherein the control for activating the imager comprises a motion sensor coupled to the housing that activates the imager upon sensing an impact to the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile device of  claim 12  wherein the control for activating the imager comprises a speech recognition module that activates the imager upon receiving a command spoken into a microphone of the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile device of  claim 12  wherein the control for activating the imager comprises a video analytic module that activates the imager upon recognizing an image corresponding to the barcode symbol that is captured by the imager. 
     
     
         21 . The mobile device of  claim 12  wherein the support comprises a holster coupled to a strap adapted to surround at least a portion of the torso of the user. 
     
     
         22 . The mobile device of  claim 12  wherein the support comprises a clip for coupling the mobile device to one of a belt, a lanyard and an article of clothing of the user.