Calibration and self-test in automated data reading systems

A calibration system for calibrating position and orientation parameters of an imaging system in an automated data reading system configured to decode first optical codes when the first optical codes are detected from items in response to the items being transported through a read zone established by the imaging system, the calibration system comprising:

• a planar calibration target configured to be coupled to a housing of the automated data reading system and superimposed in the read zone on a surface of the automated data reading system, the planar calibration target including spaced-apart second optical codes disposed at predetermined positions on a surface of the automated data reading system to define known locations of calibration-control points, the second optical codes each including multiple modules of contrasting colors positioned according to an optical code symbology to encode information based on a spatial arrangement of the multiple modules;
• an optical code decoder configured to receive, from the imaging system, image data representing an imaged portion of the planar calibration target that includes the second optical codes, and further configured to determine from the image data an observed location of a calibration-control point from each one of the second optical codes based on the spatial arrangement of the multiple modules to establish from the second optical codes observed locations of the calibration-control points;
• and
• a computing device configured to calibrate the position and orientation parameters based on differences between the known and observed locations of the calibration-control points.