Methods and apparatus for efficient use of space in arranging and configuring optical components of bar code scanners

A spinner for use in a single window scanner, comprising:

• a hollow polygonal reflector having an open side to allow entry of laser light from a laser sources;
• a reflective interior surface within the polygonal reflector, the interior surface comprising a plurality of reflective facets to reflect laser light entering the polygonal reflector and to direct the reflected light out of the open side into which the laser light entered;
• a collector mirror within a volume enclosed by the spinner;
• and
• a motor connected to the polygonal reflector to spin the polygonal reflector in order to change position and angles of light reflected from facets of the polygonal reflector.

A method of scan beam generation in a single window scanner, comprising the steps of:

• generating a laser beam;
• directing the laser beam into an open side of a hollow rotating spinner;
• reflecting the laser beam from an inside surface of the spinner to produce a scan beam emerging from the open side of the spinner into which the laser bean entered;
• and
• successively reflecting the scan beam from at least three fixed mirrors in order to direct the scan beam along a relatively long optical path;
• moving the scan beam along another path determined by a motion and a shape of the spinner and shapes and arrangement of the fixed mirrors in order to define a scan pattern;
• and
• collecting and focusing diffuse reflected light generated by a reflection of the scan pattern from a bar code including directing the reflected light from a collector mirror within a volume enclosed by the spinner to a detector.