Patent ID: 7597263

Claim:
A reader for electro-optically reading indicia in a working range of distances, comprising: a) a housing having a presentation area; b) an illuminator for illuminating the indicia with first level illumination light in a detection mode of operation, and for illuminating the indicia with second level illumination light in a reading mode of operation, wherein the light intensity of the first level illumination light is lower than the light intensity of the second level illumination light; and c) a solid-state imager in the housing and including an array of image sensors for capturing light over a field of view from the indicia through the presentation area in the detection mode to detect whether the indicia are present in the working range and to change the illuminator to the reading mode when the indicia are in the working range, and for capturing light over the field of view from the indicia through the presentation area in the reading mode to read the indicia in the working range.