Patent ID: 8505824

Claim:
A bar code reader for decoding a target bar code on a target object, the bar code reader comprising: a housing supporting one or more transparent windows and defining an interior region, a target object being presented in relation to the housing for imaging a target bar code; an imaging system comprising a camera having an image capture sensor array positioned within the housing interior region for capturing an image of a bar code within a camera field of view; a light source for the camera positioned in close proximity to the image capture sensor of said camera; and one or more light reflecting fold mirrors positioned with respect to said light source and the sensor array for baffling light from the light source to a light source field of view and transmitting light that bounces from a target in the light source field of view back to the image capture sensor array; an image processing system comprising a processor having a stored program for identifying a bar code from images captured by the imaging system; wherein the imaging system has multiple cameras and light sources wherein each camera includes at least one light source positioned in close proximity to an associated image capture sensor; wherein the camera field of view essentially matches the light source field of view; and wherein a distance between the light source and a last of said fold mirrors positioned closest to the transparent window from which light from the light source exits the housing is at least one half the distance from the light source to said transparent window along a light path of travel.