An imaging engine for an indicia reader, comprising: an imaging module for capturing an image of the imaging engine's field of view; an aiming module for projecting a visible aligning pattern onto a target to provide information regarding the imaging engine's field of view and to facilitate alignment of the image captured by the imaging module; an illuminating module for projecting light onto the target to illuminate the imaging engine's field of view; and a housing , wherein a first portion of the housing is configured to provide support and alignment for the imaging module , the aiming module, and the illuminating module, characterized in that : at least a second portion of the housing is (i) optically transparent, and (ii) shaped to form an integrated optical structure, wherein the aiming module comprises an aiming-module light source positioned by said alignment behind a housing aiming lens , the housing aiming lens being part of the housing's integrated optical structure and being configured to create the visible aligning pattern on the target, wherein the illuminating module comprises an illuminating-module light source positioned by said alignment behind a housing illuminating lens , the housing illuminating lens being part of the housing's integrated optical structure and being configured to provide uniform illumination within the imaging engine's field of view, wherein the housing has a front wall and said lenses are molded into the front wall. an imaging module for capturing an image of the imaging engine's field of view; an aiming module for projecting a visible aligning pattern onto a target to provide information regarding the imaging engine's field of view and to facilitate alignment of the image captured by the imaging module; an illuminating module for projecting light onto the target to illuminate the imaging engine's field of view; and a housing , wherein a first portion of the housing is configured to provide support and alignment for the imaging module , the aiming module, and the illuminating module, characterized in that : at least a second portion of the housing is (i) optically transparent, and (ii) shaped to form an integrated optical structure, wherein the aiming module comprises an aiming-module light source positioned by said alignment behind a housing aiming lens , the housing aiming lens being part of the housing's integrated optical structure and being configured to create the visible aligning pattern on the target, wherein the illuminating module comprises an illuminating-module light source positioned by said alignment behind a housing illuminating lens , the housing illuminating lens being part of the housing's integrated optical structure and being configured to provide uniform illumination within the imaging engine's field of view, wherein the housing has a front wall and said lenses are molded into the front wall. at least a second portion of the housing is (i) optically transparent, and (ii) shaped to form an integrated optical structure, wherein the aiming module comprises an aiming-module light source positioned by said alignment behind a housing aiming lens , the housing aiming lens being part of the housing's integrated optical structure and being configured to create the visible aligning pattern on the target, wherein the illuminating module comprises an illuminating-module light source positioned by said alignment behind a housing illuminating lens , the housing illuminating lens being part of the housing's integrated optical structure and being configured to provide uniform illumination within the imaging engine's field of view, wherein the housing has a front wall and said lenses are molded into the front wall. <EOS>