Data reader having compact arrangement for acquisition of multiple views of an object

An optical code reader comprising

• a housing including an upper housing section and a lower housing section formed in a generally L-shape, the lower housing section including at least one lower aperture and the upper housing section having an upper aperture, the upper and lower housing sections forming a view volume therebetween;
• a first imager disposed in the housing and a second imager disposed in the housing;
• a first mirror set for directing a first perspective of an object in the view volume through the upper aperture along a first image path to the first imager;
• a second mirror set for directing a second perspective of the object in the view volume through the at least one lower aperture along a second path to the second imager;
• a third mirror set for directing a third perspective of the object in the view volume through the at least one lower aperture along a third path to the second imager;
• wherein the second minor set includes a second set primary mirror, a second set secondary mirror and a second set tertiary minor, the second perspective of the object being reflected from the second set primary mirror upwardly to the second set secondary minor, then to the second set tertiary mirror, and then to the second imager,
• wherein the third minor set includes a third set primary minor, a third set secondary minor and a third set tertiary mirror, the third perspective of the object being reflected from the third set primary minor upwardly to the third set secondary minor, then to the third set tertiary mirror, and then to the second imager.

A method for obtaining images from multiple views associated with respective perspectives of an object within a view volume, comprising:

• providing a housing;
• providing, within the housing, an imager having an image field;
• arranging, within the housing, a first set of one or more first fold mirrors to reflect a first view associated with a first perspective of the view volume onto a first image region of the image field, the first image region capturing at least a first image from a first side of a three-dimensional object passing through the view volume;
• and
• arranging, within the housing, a second set of one or more second fold mirrors to reflect a second view associated with a second perspective of the view volume onto a second image region of the image field, the second image region capturing at least a second image from a second side of the three-dimensional object passing through the view volume, the second side being different from the first side, such that the imager acquires perspectives of views of more than one side of the three-dimensional object.