Range finding in imaging reader for electro-optically reading indicia

An imaging reader for imaging targets, comprising:

• housing means movable by an operator;
• aiming means supported by the housing means and operative, during an aiming mode of operation, for projecting on a target an aiming light pattern that varies as a function of distance between the housing means and the target;
• imaging means supported by the housing means and operative, during the aiming mode, for capturing light from the aiming light pattern and for generating an electrical distance signal indicative of a target distance between the housing means and the target, and operative, during a reading mode of operation after the aiming mode, for capturing return light over a field of view from the target and for generating an electrical target signal indicative of the target;
• and
• control means operative, during the aiming mode, for processing the electrical distance signal into data indicative of the target distance, and operative, during the reading mode, for processing the electrical target signal into data indicative of the target located at the target distance.

A method of imaging targets, comprising the steps of:

• moving a housing by an operator;
• projecting on a target , during an aiming mode of operation, an aiming light pattern that varies as a function of distance between the housing and the target;
• capturing light from the aiming light pattern with a solid-state imager during the aiming mode, and generating an electrical distance signal indicative of a target distance between the housing and the target;
• processing the electrical distance signal during the aiming mode into data indicative of the target distance;
• capturing return light over a field of view of the imager from the target during a reading mode of operation after the aiming mode, and generating an electrical target signal indicative of the target;
• and
• processing the electrical target signal during the reading mode into data indicative of the target located at the target distance.