Patent ID: 7270272

Claim:
A digital imaging-based bar code symbol reading system comprising: an image formation and detection subsystem having image formation optics for producing a field of view (FOV) upon an object to be imaged and an area-type image sensing array for detecting imaged light reflected off the object during illumination operations in an image capture mode in which substantially all rows of said area-type image sensing array are enabled; an LED-based illumination subsystem having an LED illumination array for producing a field of narrow-band illumination within said FOV during said image capture mode; an image capturing and buffering subsystem for capturing and buffering a digital image detected by said image formation and detection subsystem; a multi-mode image-processing based bar code symbol reading subsystem having a first mode and a second mode for processing said digital image, wherein during each bar code symbol reading cycle, said multi-mode image-processing based bar code symbol reading subsystem (1) automatically enters said first mode, and processes said captured digital image according to a first image-processing based bar code reading methodology in an attempt to read at least one bar code symbol graphically represented in said captured digital image; and (2) upon failure to read at least one bar code symbol graphically represented in said digital image during said first mode, automatically switching to said second mode, and continuing to process said digital image according to a second image-processing based bar code reading methodology in an attempt to read at least one bar code symbol graphically represented in said captured digital image; a system control subsystem for controlling and/or coordinating said subsystems; and a housing for containing said subsystems, and having a light transmission panel with an imaging window through which said FOV extends, said narrow-band illumination is projected, and narrow-band illumination reflected and/or scattered off said object is re-transmitted towards said area-type image sensing array.