Patent ID: 7240842

Claim:
An optical information reading apparatus comprising: an optical sensor for picking up an image and reading means for optically reading an information code contained in pixel signals of an image region that is picked up by said optical sensor, comprising: switching means for selecting one of a plurality of capturing modes in accordance with predetermined conditions being set in a reading apparatus unit, said plurality of capturing modes including at least an ordinary capturing mode and a reduced-number capturing mode being registered beforehand in said reading apparatus unit, wherein said ordinary capturing mode is for capturing all of pixel signals contained in one image region being imaged by said optical sensor and said reduced-number capturing mode is for capturing a reduced number of pixel signals in said one image region compared with the pixel signals captured when said ordinary capturing mode is selected; capturing means for capturing the pixel signals in said one image region being imaged by said optical sensor according to said capturing mode being selected by said switching means; guide light emitting means for emitting a guide light toward a reading objective so that a user can recognize a substantial central position of said one image region being imaged by said optical sensor; and guide position detecting means for detecting the position of said guide light in said one image region when said guide light is emitted toward said reading objective, wherein said capturing means captures pixel signals from said optical sensor based on the position of said guide light being detected by said guide position detecting means.