Patent ID: 7614563

Claim:
A handheld symbology reader having a reader imager that acquires images of subjects comprising: a housing constructed and arranged to be held by and operated by a hand; a first light source array constructed and arranged to direct light in a radial direction inward toward and approximately normal to an optical axis of the reader imager; the array including a first light pipe having an axial portion that receives light projecting in an axial direction approximately parallel with the optical axis and a bevel edge that internally reflects the light into the radial direction; an illumination grid assembly including a transparent plate having an imager-facing side and a subject-facing side, the imager-facing side including, applied thereon, a plurality of grid elements with transparent spaces therebetween, each of the grid elements including a surface with a reflective center and a non-reflective edge facing toward the subject and a non-reflective surface facing toward the reader image; and wherein the transparent plate is constructed and arranged to internally reflect light in the radial direction and cause light from the array to reflect from the reflective center of each grid element and exit through the subject-facing side toward the subject as highly diffuse light while image light is returned to the imager from the subject through the transparent spaces.