Patent ID: 7878403

Claim:
A bar code decoding optical reader comprising: an imaging module supporting in combination a solid state image sensor, imaging optics for focusing an image onto said solid state image sensor, and at least one light source, wherein said optical reader has a field of view, wherein the imaging module has a front portion extending substantially in a first plane, and wherein said imaging module is adapted so that light from said at least one light source is projected toward a target defined by said field of view; and a housing having an enlarged head portion and a straight elongated body portion, the straight elongated body portion extending from the head portion and having a shorter circumference than a circumference of said enlarged head portion, said optical reader further being configured so that said straight elongated body portion is adapted to be held in a hand, said optical reader further being configured so that said straight elongated body portion extends rearward from said enlarged head portion in a line substantially directed toward said target and substantially normally relative to the first plane, wherein disposed at said enlarged head portion of said housing is a trigger for actuation of decoding operations, and wherein said imaging module is disposed within said enlarged head portion, and further wherein said optical reader is configured to capture an electronic representation of said target while said optical reader is at a distance spaced apart from said target.