Imaging engine employing planar light illumination and linear imaging

An imaging engine comprising:

• an engine housing;
• a plurality of linear imaging arrays and image formation optics dispersed in said engine housing that provide field of views corresponding to the plurality of linear image arrays;
• at least one illumination module dispersed in said engine housing, that produces planar light illumination that substantially overlaps the field of views corresponding to the plurality of linear imaging arrays;
• and
• supporting circuitry disposed in said engine housing, that operably cooperates with said plurality of linear image arrays and said at least one illumination module during operation of the imaging engine;
• wherein said planar light illumination is produced by at least one planar light illumination module comprising an illumination source, at least one focusing lens element, and at least one cylindrical lens element integrated into a modular housing disposed within said engine housing;
• and
• wherein said planar light illumination is produced by planar light illumination arrays disposed on opposite sides of said plurality of linear imaging arrays, each planar light illumination array comprising at least one planar light illumination module.