A code reader (100, 200), comprising: at least one imager configured to capture image data of a scene including a machine-readable indicia; characterized by further comprising: a first circuit in electrical communication with said at least one imager, and configured to receive the image data from said at least one imager and to pre-process the image data to produce pre-processed image data (I1'); a second circuit in communication with said at least one imager and said first circuit and configured to receive the pre-processed image data (I1') from said first circuit, and configured to: control operation of said at least one imager; process the pre-processed image data (I1') including the machine-readable indicia to decode and/or identify data represented by the machine-readable indicia; and output the decoded and/or identified machine-readable indicia data to a computer; a third circuit in electrical communication with said first circuit and configured to receive the pre-processed image data (I1') from said first circuit, and configured to: process the pre-processed image data (I1') to produce processed image data; and output the processed image data to the computer. at least one imager configured to capture image data of a scene including a machine-readable indicia; characterized by further comprising: a first circuit in electrical communication with said at least one imager, and configured to receive the image data from said at least one imager and to pre-process the image data to produce pre-processed image data (I1'); a second circuit in communication with said at least one imager and said first circuit and configured to receive the pre-processed image data (I1') from said first circuit, and configured to: control operation of said at least one imager; process the pre-processed image data (I1') including the machine-readable indicia to decode and/or identify data represented by the machine-readable indicia; and output the decoded and/or identified machine-readable indicia data to a computer; a third circuit in electrical communication with said first circuit and configured to receive the pre-processed image data (I1') from said first circuit, and configured to: process the pre-processed image data (I1') to produce processed image data; and output the processed image data to the computer. a first circuit in electrical communication with said at least one imager, and configured to receive the image data from said at least one imager and to pre-process the image data to produce pre-processed image data (I1'); a second circuit in communication with said at least one imager and said first circuit and configured to receive the pre-processed image data (I1') from said first circuit, and configured to: control operation of said at least one imager; process the pre-processed image data (I1') including the machine-readable indicia to decode and/or identify data represented by the machine-readable indicia; and output the decoded and/or identified machine-readable indicia data to a computer; control operation of said at least one imager; process the pre-processed image data (I1') including the machine-readable indicia to decode and/or identify data represented by the machine-readable indicia; and output the decoded and/or identified machine-readable indicia data to a computer; a third circuit in electrical communication with said first circuit and configured to receive the pre-processed image data (I1') from said first circuit, and configured to: process the pre-processed image data (I1') to produce processed image data; and output the processed image data to the computer. process the pre-processed image data (I1') to produce processed image data; and output the processed image data to the computer.