Patent ID: 8567682

Claim:
A portable terminal, comprising: a handheld computer operable as a stand-alone device, including: operational components having: a display including a viewing area observable by a user, a keyboard including an input area operable by the user; and a device for capturing information from a target by pointing the device toward the target and acquiring an image of the target, the display and the device being operably coupled to a processor, an expansion connector coupled to the processor, the expansion connector operable to detachably couple to a peripheral including at least a handle to be held by the user, a non-folding housing mounting the operational components such that the viewing area of the display is arranged obliquely upward with respect to the input area of the keyboard, and the device mounted on the housing is pointed downward at an angle in the range from about 15 degrees to about 20 degrees with respect to the input area of the keyboard, the device being operable, when activated by the user holding the terminal, to acquire the image at a downward angle with respect to the viewing area of the display to allow the user to view the viewing area of the display while also having a line of sight to the target.