An indicia-reading module, comprising: a sensor module including a filter, a sensor integrated circuit die, and an adjustable imaging lens for imaging the indicia reading module's field of view onto the sensor integrated circuit die, wherein the sensor integrated circuit die includes a plurality of pixels; and an illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly (i) for projecting electromagnetic radiation toward indicia within the indicia-reading module's field of view and (ii) for projecting a sighting pattern that corresponds with the indicia-reading module's field of view; a processing circuit subassembly for rendering indicia information, or for providing timing and control to the sensor integrated circuit die and the illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly; an interface circuit subassembly for connecting the indicia-reading module to a host device; characterized in that: the indicia-reading module comprises a frame for housing the sensor module and the illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly, wherein the frame serves as at least one of an illuminator lens and an aimer lens for the illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly; and the indicia-reading module is configured to facilitate narrow-edge integration into a thin-profile smart device by directly mounting the sensor integrated circuit die on, and electrically interconnect the sensor integrated circuit die to, a substrate, wherein the sensor integrated circuit die is hermetically sealed within a structure formed by the substrate, a housing, and the filter. a sensor module including a filter, a sensor integrated circuit die, and an adjustable imaging lens for imaging the indicia reading module's field of view onto the sensor integrated circuit die, wherein the sensor integrated circuit die includes a plurality of pixels; and an illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly (i) for projecting electromagnetic radiation toward indicia within the indicia-reading module's field of view and (ii) for projecting a sighting pattern that corresponds with the indicia-reading module's field of view; a processing circuit subassembly for rendering indicia information, or for providing timing and control to the sensor integrated circuit die and the illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly; an interface circuit subassembly for connecting the indicia-reading module to a host device; characterized in that: the indicia-reading module comprises a frame for housing the sensor module and the illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly, wherein the frame serves as at least one of an illuminator lens and an aimer lens for the illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly; and the indicia-reading module is configured to facilitate narrow-edge integration into a thin-profile smart device by directly mounting the sensor integrated circuit die on, and electrically interconnect the sensor integrated circuit die to, a substrate, wherein the sensor integrated circuit die is hermetically sealed within a structure formed by the substrate, a housing, and the filter. the indicia-reading module comprises a frame for housing the sensor module and the illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly, wherein the frame serves as at least one of an illuminator lens and an aimer lens for the illuminator-aimer circuit subassembly; and the indicia-reading module is configured to facilitate narrow-edge integration into a thin-profile smart device by directly mounting the sensor integrated circuit die on, and electrically interconnect the sensor integrated circuit die to, a substrate, wherein the sensor integrated circuit die is hermetically sealed within a structure formed by the substrate, a housing, and the filter.