Electro-optic barcode reader

A barcode reader for reading barcodes having a plurality of interspaced marks of minimum standardized dimensions, comprising:

• a housing having first a first channel with a longitudinal axis and having a second channel with a longitudinal axis, each of the first and second channels in open communication with a barcode reading region defined at a preselected location of said housing, wherein the channels are provided in said housing such that an intersection of the first and second longitudinal axis of the channels forms an angle less than 90 degrees;
• a photo-detector having an active area, said photo-detector disposed in said housing such that the photo-detector active area is at least partially aligned along the longitudinal axis of the first channel;
• a photo-emitter disposed in the second channel and in open communication with said barcode reading region;
• at least one optical element having at least one curved surface, said at least one optical element disposed in the first channel of said housing to define a virtual optical window co-located at said barcode reading region, said at least one optical element having a field of view of a preselected shape selected to be no bigger than the minimum standardized dimension of the interspaced marks of the barcodes to be read and having a focal point originating at the active area of the photo-detector;
• and
• a second optical element having at least one curved surface, said second optical element disposed a first predetermined distance from said at least one optical element with the curved surface of the second optical element orthogonally disposed with respect to the at least one curved surface of the at least one optical element and wherein said housing includes first and second mating housing portions that, when mated together, are in light-sealing relation.