Patent ID: 7222790

Claim:
An apparatus for optically reading an information code, the apparatus comprising: a case having one wall with a reading window through which light is transmittable, the reading window having a length and a width; an area sensor with a pixel area composed of pixels, the pixels being arranged in rows and columns; and an image system having an optical axis and configured to focus light on the pixel area of the area sensor so that an image corresponding to the information code is picked up by at least part of the pixels in the pixel area as pixel data, the light being reflected from the information code based on the irradiated light, wherein the area sensor is disposed in the case such that; the pixel area is opposite to a window surface of the reading window, and a center of the pixel area is coaxial with the optical axis of the imaging system; and row and column directions of the area sensor are inclined to directions along the length and width of the reading window, respectively, while the pixel area is orthogonal to the optical axis of the imaging system.