Hand-held instant bar code reader having automatic focus control for operation over a range of distances

In a bar code reader system, a hand-held bar code reader positionable by hand at varying distances from a bar code to be read and operable in a stationary position relative to a bar code positioned at a distance from said reader within a certain operative range, said reader comprising:

• bar code sensor means for generating an output signal in accordance with a bar code image incident thereon, and reading distance adaptation means for automatically adapting the reader to the reading of a bar code at varying distances therefrom by causing an image of the bar code to be substantially focused at the image sensor means, said image sensor means including a plurality of portions and said reading distance adaptation means including passive optical path means providing a plurality of selectively usable paths to said plurality of portions of said image sensor means of different effective focal lengths;
• (b) path use control means for effecting use of the portion of said image sensor means and the corresponding one of said selectively usable paths which provides the focal length most closely approximating the effective optical distance to a bar code to be read;
• (c) said optical path means including bar code image receiving mirror means which provide a plurality of separate segments for receiving images from regions in front of and at different distances from said reader and for reflecting received images along said selectively usable paths.

In a bar code reader system, a hand-held bar code reader positionable by hand at varying distances from a bar code to be read and operable in a stationary position relative to a bar code positioned at a distance from said reader within a certain operative range, said reader comprising:

• (a) bar code sensor means for generating an output signal in accordance with a bar code image incident thereon, and reading distance adaptation means for automatically adapting the reader to the reading of a bar code at varying distances therefrom by causing an image of the bar code to be substantially focused at the image sensor means, said image sensor means including a plurality of portions and said reading distance adaptation means including passive optical path means providing a plurality of selectively usable paths to said plurality of portions of said image sensor means of different effective focal lengths;
• (b) path use control means for effecting use of the portion of said image sensor means and the corresponding one of said selectively usable paths which provides the focal length most closely approximating the effective optical distance to a bar code to be read;
• and
• (c) said optical path means including lens means through which common portions of a plurality of said paths extend, and mirror means for providing said separate path portions of different effective focal lengths.