Patent ID: 7121467

Claim:
An automatic data collection device for reading data carriers such as machine-readable symbols and radio frequency identification transponders, the automatic data collection device comprising: a housing; a symbol reading means carried by the housing for optically reading information encoded in machine-readable symbols; a radio frequency identification reading means carried by the housing for wireless reading information stored in radio frequency identification transponders; a position determining means carried by the housing for determining at least one of: 1) at least an approximate distance between the automatic data collection device and a target data carrier relative to an optimal distance between the automatic data collection device and the target data carrier, and/or 2) at least an approximate orientation of the automatic data collection device with respect to the target data carrier relative to an optimal orientation between the automatic data collection device and the target data carrier; and a visual indication means carried by the housing for providing a visual indication of the determined at least one of: 1) at least an approximate distance between the automatic data collection device and a target data carrier relative to an optimal distance between the automatic data collection device and the target data carrier, and/or 2) at least an approximate orientation of the automatic data collection device with respect to the target data carrier relative to an optimal orientation between the automatic data collection device and the target data carrier, wherein the position determining means comprises an output transducer operable to emit acoustical energy from the housing toward the target data carrier and an input transducer to receive acoustical energy returned from the target data carrier.