Long range barcode scanning through conversion of coherent light

A method of optically scanning indicia on an object, comprising the steps of:

• providing a coherent light source for illuminating the object with coherent light;
• marking the object with an indicia including a first feature and a second feature with said first feature including emittance of non-coherent light and absorption of coherent light and said second feature including reflectance of coherent light without emitting non-coherent light;
• providing an imaging device capable of distinguishing coherent light from non-coherent light;
• scanning a work area with the coherent light and synchronizing movement of the coherent light with the imaging device for locating the indicia in a workspace;
• illuminating the indicia with coherent light generated by the coherent light source thereby causing the indicia to reflect coherent light and emit non-coherent light;
• and
• detecting presence or absence of the non-coherent light emitted from the indicia thereby identifying a pattern of one of said first feature and said second feature.