Optical reader with selectable processing characteristics for reading data in multiple formats

A method for reading data, comprising the steps of:

• receiving light on a photosensitive detector;
• outputting a signal from said photosensitive detector;
• conditioning the signal according to a data format selected from a plurality of data formats;
• and
• generating a data signal representing features according to the selected data format and outputting said data signal to a decoder configured to recognize data in any of said different possible formats.

Apparatus for reading data, comprising:

• an optical data gathering system, said optical data gathering system comprising
• a photosensitive detector,
• a signal processor connected to said photosensitive detector, and
• an illumination source;
• and
• a controller connected to said optical data gathering system, said controller selecting operating characteristics of said optical data gathering system in response to optical conditions at different depth-of-field zones along an optical path of said photosensitive sensor.

An optical reader, comprising:

• a housing having a receptacle adapted to receive paper documents to be optically scanned;
• an imaging system located within said housing, said imaging system comprising at least one lens and a photosensitive detector;
• a door connected to said housing;
• a mirror affixed to said door, said mirror positioned along an optical path of the photosensitive detector for optically scanning a back side of a paper document inserted in said receptacle;
• an imaging window located along said optical path and between said lens and said door;
• and
• an illumination source;
• wherein a plurality of depth-of-field zones are defined along said optical path, at least one of said depth-of-field zones corresponding to a target region external to said housing viewable when said door is in an open position and blocked from view when said door is in a closed position.