In the closed state (shown below) the scanner looks like a normal flip case. The user would naturally press the latch button to open the “Eyeglass case.”

The latch button is mounted via the button flexure to the scanner case. The flexure provides the restoring force for the button to bring it back to its original state.

When the latch button is pressed with the scanner in the closed state, it pushes on the tip of the latch flexure that holds the two green sliding pieces together. Springs are connected between the connection points (four springs in total) on the case and the sliding pieces. When the scanner is closed, the springs are in tension. As the latch flexure tip is pushed out of the slot, the sliding pieces retract and the tip of the latch flexure rides on the surface of the sliding part (see picture below). The scanner can be closed by pushing the two end caps together. As the scanner is closed, the latch flexure rides up onto the sliding piece and continues to ride along it, until it falls into the slot.

The figure below shows the scanner with the major electronic components inside, namely the inverter for the EL lights, the RFID reader and its antenna, and a 7.2 V battery pack. The battery pack is used to run the RFID, EL lights and a microcontroller (chip) that stores data from the RFID and later outputs it via the data&power port when the scanner is docked into a docking station. The batteries can be recharged in a docking station via the power&data port. The microcontroller is not shown in the picture above, but it will be placed above the RFID reader. Slots are provided on the green sliding portion so that they do not interfere with the button on the front and the power&data port on the back.