A scanner for machine-readable symbols, such as barcodes and two-dimensional matrix symbols, employs at least two different light frequencies (colors). The first frequency supports accurate aiming of the scanner at a symbol. The second frequency supports illumination of a machine-readable symbol so that the reflected illumination light can be read at the second frequency by the scanner's optical imaging element. Employing two different light frequencies enables both aiming and scanning to occur simultaneously, while the aiming process does not interfere with the scanning process. It enables the aiming frequency to be used for additional purposes, such as providing signaling to a user of the scanner. In an embodiment, two distinct light sources are used in the scanner to provide the different light frequencies. In an embodiment, various color filters are employed to separate and distinguish light frequencies. In an embodiment, signal processing may be employed to digitally distinguish multiple separate frequencies in light reflected from the symbol.

An indicia reading terminal has a three-dimensional depth sensor, a two dimensional image sensor, an autofocus lens assembly, and a processor. The three dimensional depth sensor captures a depth image of a field of view and create a depth map from the depth image, the depth map having one or more surface distances. The two dimensional image sensor receives incident light and capture an image therefrom. The autofocusing lens assembly is positioned proximate to the two dimensional image sensor such that the incident light passes through the autofocusing lens before reaching the two dimensional image sensor. The processor is communicatively coupled to the two dimensional image sensor, the three dimensional depth sensor, and the autofocusing lens assembly.

An imaging sensor of an imaging reader senses return light from a target to be read by image capture along an imaging axis over a field of view that extends along mutually orthogonal, horizontal and vertical axes. Two aiming light assemblies are offset from the sensor and are spaced apart along the horizontal axis at opposite sides of the sensor, and direct two aiming light lines, each having a predetermined brightness, at the target. The aiming lines are collinear along the horizontal axis and have inner linear end regions that overlap on the target to form a bright, linear, aiming mark having a brightness greater than the predetermined brightness to visually indicate a center zone of the field of view, as well as outer linear end regions that visually indicate approximate end limits of the field of view, over a range of working distances.

Products associated with targets to be read by image capture are processed in a workstation having a window, a solid-state imager looking at a field of view extending through the window to a target to be imaged, and an illumination system for illuminating the field of view. A proximity system detects a product associated with the target in a selected zone outside the window. The proximity system has an infrared (IR) emitter for emitting IR light into an IR emission field, and an IR sensor for sensing return IR light within an IR detection field that intersects the IR emission field in the selected zone. A controller energizes the illumination system in response to the detection of the product in the selected zone, and processes return illumination light captured in the field of view by the imager.

A sample processing or assay instrument includes a moveable support. The moveable support defines a first pocket configured to receive a first object having a first machine-readable mark. The moveable support defines a second pocket configured to receive a second object having a second machine-readable mark. The moveable support also includes a first fiducial machine-readable mark and a second fiducial machine-readable mark. The instrument also includes an image capture device that captures a first image including the first fiducial machine-readable mark and the first machine-readable mark of the first object. The image capture device captures a second image that includes the second fiducial machine-readable mark and the second machine-readable mark of the second object. The instrument also includes a processor configured to associate information decoded from the first and second machine-readable marks with first and second locations on the moveable support.

There is provided in one embodiment an apparatus having an image sensor array. In one embodiment, the image sensor array can include monochrome pixels and color sensitive pixels. The monochrome pixels can be pixels without wavelength selective color filter elements. The color sensitive pixels can include wavelength selective color filter elements.

A window environmentally seals an imaging reader operative for reading a target by image capture. An integrated optical system having one or more optical elements is formed of one-piece construction with the window for optically modifying an aiming light and/or an illuminating light passing through the optical elements.

An attachment for a smart phone includes a targeting optic system which, when the attachment is secured to the backside of the smart phone, receives illumination emitted by the white light source and directs the illumination towards the target area from a location that is not directly in front of the camera's image sensor. The attachment directs illumination from the white light source in a direction parallel to the backside of the smart phone to a distance farther away from the camera's image sensor than a distance between the white light source and the camera's image sensor, and from that distance farther away from the camera's image sensor, directs the illumination into the target area.

A bar code reader device (10) having a bar code reader apparatus (12) with: a) a light emitter system (14); b) a light recovery system (28) capable of recovering light reflected from a working viewing zone through a reflected light conditioning system (30); and c) a photoelectric sensor. The device (10) includes an auxiliary optical system (36) that is arranged permanently in the working viewing zone at a distance from the sensor (26) and in series with the reflected light conditioning system (30) in such a manner that a fraction, but not all, of the working viewing zone is intercepted by the auxiliary optical system (36).

A method of reading machine-readable marks on a movable support and object of a sample instrument. The method includes capturing a first image of the moveable support as the moveable support moves from a first position to a second position using an image capture device; determining whether a first fiducial machine-readable mark on the moveable support is in the first image; determining, when the first fiducial machine-readable mark is in the first image, whether a first machine-readable mark on a first object coupled to the moveable support is in the first image at a predetermined position relative to the first fiducial machine-readable mark; and associating information decoded from the first machine-readable mark on the first object with a first location on the moveable support associated with the first fiducial machine-readable mark.