Abstract: Described is an optical character recognition system wherein total data entry is accomplished through a hand held unit. The unit includes an optical scanner, a keyboard and a display which communicate with a portable character recognition unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control circuit used to conserve power in a portable optical recognition system. When the system is not being used or between actual scans of the reading electronics, power is supplied only to those circuits required to control power to the system and to permit sequence reading of items. An infrared signal is emitted from the reading device and when a document or other item to be read is scanned the infrared signal is reflected back into the scan unit and is detected, thereby sensing that a document is being read and turning the system on.