Patent ID: 7819326

Claim:
A digital image capturing and processing network for use in a POS retail environment, comprising: a plurality of digital image capturing systems, wherein each said digital image capturing system is installed at a POS station and includes a system housing having an imaging window for supporting imaging of objects passing through a 3D imaging volume definable relative to said imaging window, and producing digital images of said objects passed through said 3D imaging volume; and a remote image processing server, in two-way data communication with each said digital image capturing system, for (i) receiving and processing digital images produced by each said digital image capturing system, (ii) performing at least one information abstraction process on said digital images, and (iii) transmitting information back to said POS station regarding said information abstraction process; wherein each said digital image capturing system includes a plurality of coplanar illumination and imaging stations, for generating and projecting a complex of coplanar illumination and imaging planes through said imaging window, and into said 3D imaging volume; wherein each said coplanar illumination and imaging station includes: (i) an array of planar illumination modules (PLIMs) for producing a substantially planar illumination beam (PLIB), wherein each said PLIM includes at least one illumination source and optics for producing said PLIB, and (ii) a linear image detection array having a field of view (FOV) on said linear image detection array and extending in substantially the same plane as said PLIB, and providing a coplanar illumination and imaging plane that is projected through said 3D imaging volume, for capturing linear digital images of each object passing through said 3D imaging volume.