OCR and bar code reader with optimized sensor

Claim 1

A hand held optical reader for scanning and reading alphanumeric and bar code data and distinguishing between each and utilizing a common lens and illumination system for reading both alphanumeric and bar code data, comprising: an optical area array of photosensors having a plurality of columns of photosensors disposed on a substrate for scanning one face of a document and for producing electrical signals representative of data scanned from the document; a single rectangular photosensor disposed on said substrate, adjacent to and spaced apart from said optical area array of photosensors at a site outside said optical area array for scanning one face of the document and for producing electrical signals representative of data scanned from the document; a first processor connected to said area array of photosensors for receiving said electrical signals from said area array of photosensors and producing an output representative of any alphanumeric data scanned; a second processor connected to said single rectangular photosensor for receiving said electrical signals from said single rectangular photosensor and producing an output representative of any bar code data scanned; and an output selector means connected to said first processor and to said second processor for outputting data from either the output of said first processor or the output of said second processor, but not both.