Patent ID: 7942331

Claim:
A modular apparatus for identifying symbols having data identifying characteristics, said apparatus being free-standing on a supporting surface, said apparatus including the following components—a light source producing a light beam, a rotating mirror for scanning said light beam along a remote target containing the symbols, light receiving optics for light reflected from the symbols, and processing electronics for recovering the symbols from the received light, said apparatus comprising: a first module having a wall which closes on itself to define a hollow enclosure for a three-dimensional interior space, said enclosure extending along an internal axis which is generally parallel to said wall and the interior space being exposed to an exterior thereof at first and second ends of said wall spaced apart along said axis, so that said first and second ends do not lie in a common plane; a mounting structure for the light source on said wall mounting the source directly to the wall so that its light beam is projected away from the wall and into the interior space; a window portion of said wall constructed to permit light transmission into and out of the interior space; a second module generally perpendicular to said axis substantially closing the interior space exposed at one of said first and second ends of said wall so as not to expose the interior space to the exterior, said second module having the light receiving optics mounted thereon so as to extend into the interior space towards the other of said first and second ends at a position to receive, through said window portion light reflected from the symbols; and a third module substantially closing the interior space at the other of said first and second ends of said wall so as not to be exposed to the exterior, said third module having a rotating mirror mounted thereon so as to extend into the interior space towards the one of said first and second ends at a position to have the light beam impinge thereon and to be reflected therefrom out of said window portion.