Patent ID: 7721966

Claim:
A method for reading one out of a plurality of optical codes present in a scan region, using a data reader, comprising the steps of: the data reader projecting a visible aiming pattern into the scan region; acquiring an image of the entire scan region into a sensor array including at least a first optical code and a second optical code; by operation of a user, aligning the aiming pattern onto the first optical code; processing a portion of the image of the scan region along a pattern of virtual scan lines to locate both the first and second optical codes at any position(s) within the scan region; the data reader determining if the aiming pattern intersects either one of the optical codes; if the aiming pattern is determined by the data reader to intersect the first optical code and to not intersect the second optical code, acknowledging and transmitting data acquired from the first optical code and not acknowledging and not transmitting data acquired from the second optical code.