Scanning mouse for a computer system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A solution to the problem of low cost convenient scanning is replacing a conventional mechanical mouse with an optical counterpart augmented to also scan documents.
The augmentation includes equipping the mouse with a second navigation mechanism so that rotation of the mouse can be detected and compensated for, with an image sensor and with a mechanism for transmitting digital image data to software in the computer that processes that data for display and other uses.
For example, imagine if you will that a user is engaged in normal computer activities with a mouse pointer, when the need to digitize some document arises.
He has an optical scanning mouse that does not need a mouse pad; that portion of his desktop that would otherwise have a mouse pad is simply open, save for the mouse.
He picks up the mouse, lays the document face up on the desk and replaces the mouse (for simplicity, assume that it is placed in the center of the document).
Let's say it is a three button mouse.
He presses the center (#3) button and Presto! The screen switches to a blank graphics display.
As he moves the mouse over the document the scanned portions are displayed.
Any adjustable parameters and needed commands are available on pop-up menus that appear when button #2 (right button of a right-handed configuration) is pressed.
Moving the mouse with button #2 pressed provisionally selects different items in the menu.
A selected choice is acted upon by releasing button #2.
Pressing button #1 (left button of a right-handed configuration) retains the graphics display, suspends scanning and produces a mouse pointer that may be used to select items or regions visible in the display.
Double clicking with button #1, or selecting an associated menu choice, suspends tracking with the mouse pointer and resumes scanning.
When the scanned image is satisfactory, some appropriate action is selected with the button #2 menu mechanism, say, storing the image in a file.
After that, pressing button #3 again, or double clicking it, or perhaps making an explicit menu choice, ends the scanning mode and the regular screen prior to scanning is restored