I'm building an application that uses a barcode reader for input. The application uses a <select> element for changing between scan modes.

If a user opens the mode selection menu, but then chooses the same mode they are in presently, then I cannot blur the <select> using the following:

$("#mode-select").change(function() {
  //switch the mode
  //...
  $(this).blur();
});

This becomes problematic due to the scanner input. The scanner acts as a keyboard, and ends a successful scan by submitting a return character. If the <select> has focus this opens the mode selection menu unexpectedly, causing people to call my office.

Illustration here: select any new value and the <select> loses focus. Select the same value and it does not. I would like it to lose focus regardless.

How can I blur the <select> in this instance, or otherwise implement similar behavior?