Omnidirectional wide range hand held bar code reader

In a hand held bar code reader, having variable imaging optics, and flash illumination including variable flash illumination optics, a method of operation comprising:

• aiming said hand held bar code reader at a bar code by hand;
• providing a spotter beam to visually locate said bar code, said spotter beam being substantially parallel to one plane of said hand held bar code reader;
• measuring the range to said bar code from said hand held bar code reader using said spotter beam;
• measuring the focal length of said variable imaging optics using said spotter beam;
• setting the focal length of said variable imaging optics to provide magnification of said bar code image substantially at a predetermined level;
• setting the focal length of said variable flash illumination optics;
• measuring the level of ambient light;
• setting said flash of illumination energy level in accordance with said measured level of ambient light;
• providing a focused flash of illumination, said focused flash of illumination substantially covering the field of view of said bar code reader;
• capturing a two dimensional image, said two dimensional image containing the image of said bar code;
• and
• scanning said two dimensional image in an omnidirectional manner to read out information contained in said bar code.

In a hand held bar code reader having a two dimensional image capture means with a field of view defining an imaged area, said imaged area containing a bar code, said bar code reader comprising:

• means for providing a flash of illumination forming an illuminated area, wherein said illuminated area is substantially coincident with and substantially equal to said imaged area over a substantial portion of the operating range of said hand held bar code reader;
• means for capturing a two dimensional image of said imaged area;
• and
• means for processing said captured two dimensional image in an omnidirectional manner to read out information contained in said bar code.

A hand held bar code reader comprising:

• variable imaging optics;
• means for flash illumination, including variable flash illumination optics;
• aiming said hand held bar code reader at a bar code by hand;
• a spotter beam for visually locating said bar code, said spotter beam being substantially parallel to one plane of said hand held bar code reader;
• means for measuring the range to said bar code from said hand held bar code reader using said spotter beam;
• means for measuring the focal length of said variable imaging optics using said spotter beam;
• means for setting the focus of said variable imaging optics;
• means for setting the focal length of said variable imaging optics to provide magnification of said bar code image substantially at a predetermined level;
• means for setting the focal length of said variable flash illumination optics;
• means for measuring the level of ambient light;
• means for setting said flash of illumination energy level in accordance with said measured level of ambient light;
• means for providing a focused flash of illumination, said focused flash of illumination substantially covering the field of view of said bar code reader;
• means for capturing a two dimensional image, said two dimensional image containing the image of said bar code;
• and
• means for scanning said two dimensional image in an omnidirectional manner to read out information contained in said bar code.

In a bar code reader including a two dimensional imaging means with variable optics for capturing a two dimensional image containing the image of said bar code, a method for determining range and focal length comprising:

• providing a spotter beam to visually locate said bar code, said spotter beam being substantially parallel to a first plane of said bar code reader, and said spotter beam being at a substantially fixed angle to a second plane of said bar code reader;
• measuring the first displacement of said spotter beam in said two dimensional image along an axis perpendicular to said first plane;
• measuring the second displacement of said spotter beam in said two dimensional image along an axis perpendicular to said second plane;
• determining the focal length of said variable optics from said second displacement;
• and
• determining the range between said bar code and said bar code reader from said first and second displacements.

A bar code reader comprising:

• a two dimensional imaging means with variable optics for capturing a two dimensional image containing the image of said bar code;
• a spotter beam for visually locating said bar code, said spotter beam being substantially parallel to a first plane of said bar code reader, and said spotter beam being at a substantially fixed angle to a second plane of said bar code reader;
• means for measuring the first displacement of said spotter beam in said two dimensional image along an axis perpendicular to said first plane;
• means for measuring the second displacement of said spotter beam in said two dimensional image along an axis perpendicular to said second plane;
• means responsive to said second displacement for determining the focal length of said variable optics;
• and
• means responsive to said first and second displacements for determining the range between said bar code and said bar code reader.