Patent ID: 7347371
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: G02B,G06K

Abstract:
1. A scanner that processes indicia having an indicia area comprising: an aiming pattern generator that emits a crosshair aiming pattern that includes a relatively thick horizontal line long enough to impinge upon and illuminate a strip of the indicia that encompasses the entire breadth of the indicia when the scanner is within an operative range of the indicia, the aiming pattern also including a relatively thin vertical line that intersects the horizontal line; an imaging system that includes a pixel array, a focusing lens to focus an image of the target object onto the pixel array, the lens movable along a path of travel; and an automatic focusing system operating to move the lens along the path of travel to a position suitable for properly focusing an image of the target object onto the pixel array, the automatic focusing system analyzing a position of the crosshair aiming pattern within an image of the beam reflected from the target object and projected onto the pixel array by the lens and employing a distance algorithm to determine a distance between the imaging system and the target object and moving the lens along its path of travel to a suitable position for properly focusing the target object onto the pixel array.