Scanner assembly

A laser bar code scanner assembly comprising:

• a housing body enclosing, at least partly, an interior;
• a window positioned on one end of the housing body;
• and
• a first scan module releasably affixed to the interior of the housing body which projects a laser beam through the window along an optical path to a laser bar code symbol, scans the beam over the symbol in a predetermined pattern, collects at least a portion of resultant light reflected from the symbol, and produces a digital signal comprising pulses;
• and
• a second scan module which is readily interchangeable with and plug compatible with the first scan module, and which is configured at least partly differently from the first scan module,
• wherein the second scan module comprises
• a first printed circuit board having first and second sides;
• a rotating optical scanning element positioned to the first side of the first printed circuit board;
• and
• a compact motor coupled to the optical scanning element and mounted to the first printed circuit board, the compact motor comprising a DC brushless motor having
• a motor shaft having one end coupled to the optical scanning element,
• a magnet yoke mounted inside the optical scanning element,
• a magnet affixed to the magnet yoke to form a segmented magnet which is mechanically coupled to a proximate end of the motor shaft, and
• at least three motor wire coils mounted on the first printed circuit board.