Patent ID: 7832641

Claim:
A method for controlling an optical scanner having a housing, a movable oscillating element and an electrically operated drive mounted within said housing and wherein said movable oscillating element is mounted resiliently relative to said housing and said housing is subject to manual movement, and wherein said electronically operated drive includes a sleep state, an active state, a sense coil to sense active movement of said movable oscillating element, and a drive coil to periodically move said movable oscillating element over a path, said method comprising the steps of: (a) said sense coil sensing the active movement of said movable oscillating element within said housing in response to movement of said housing, and automatically generating a sense signal; (b) in response to the generation of said sense signal, said electronically operated drive automatically switching from said sleep state to said active state, and generating a drive signal causing said drive coil to generate electromagnetic forces causing said movable oscillating element to periodically move over said path; and (c) said sense coil detecting when the movement of said movable oscillating element over said path dissipates and, in response thereto, said electronically operated drive automatically returning to said sleep state.