Patent ID: 7494065

Claim:
An optical code reader system comprising: a dual aim/illumination assembly comprising a single light source generating: a) light having a first intensity for providing an aim pattern visible to a user for aiming the aim pattern at a target during an aim period of a scan cycle having at least an aim period and an exposure period: and b) light having a second intensity greater than the first intensity for providing illumination during the exposure period of the scan cycle, the exposure period begins at a time after lapse of a time interval associated with the aim period: and an imager module having an array of photo sensors for sensing incident light, and generating image signals corresponding to the sensing during the exposure period, wherein the dual aim/illumination assembly includes circuitry operating on a current provided to the light source, wherein the circuitry operates on the current for causing the current to flow at a first current flow during the aim period and at a second current flow greater than the first current flow during the exposure period, wherein the second current flow is greater than the first current flow, wherein the circuitry includes parallel first and second current paths, and the current provided to the light source is a sum of the current flowing through the first path and the current flowing through the second path.