Optical scanners having dual surface optical elements for dual working ranges

An optical scanner for reading indicia having areas of different light reflectivity, comprising:

• light source for producing a light beam, the light source including a beam shaping optical element;
• a scanning optical element for receiving the light beam and producing a scanning outgoing light beam therefrom;
• and
• a multi-surface reflector having a first surface of a first profile and a second surface of a second profile,
• wherein the beam shaping optical element of the light source, the scanning optical element, and the first and second profiles of the multi-surface reflector together shape the light beam so that the scanner is adapted to read an indicia at a first distance when the beam is reflected from the first surface and at a second distance when the beam is reflected from the second surface;
• wherein the multi-surface reflector comprises a fold mirror, the fold mirror being arranged to receive the scanning outgoing light beam and to direct it towards an indicia to be read.