Hand-held optical character reader with means for instantaneously reading information from a predetermined area at an optical sensing area

Claim 1

A portable optical reader for reading information from a first information area having information therein comprising indicia, the first information area having a predetermined height and width and disposed on a support surface external of said reader, said reader comprising: a) an area array of photosensor elements disposed at the interior of said reader and having a selected height and width; b) optical means for focusing an image of the first information area onto said area array and having a longitudinal optical axis and circular symmetry relative to said longitudinal axis; c) marker source means for projecting multiple marker beams along said longitudinal axis onto the support surface and for producing multiple marker spots on the support surface, the multiple marker spots delineating on the support surface a perimeter of a predetermined second area having a predetermined height and width greater than the predetermined height and width of the first information area; and d) light source means for illuminating the support surface and at least the predetermined second area; e) when said portable reader is disposed relative to the support surface such that the perimeter of the predetermined second area encompasses the first information area, said optical means will focus an image of the first information area onto said area array, said height and width of said array selected such that when the perimeter of the predetermined second area encompasses the first information area, the entire image of the first information area can be focused widthwise or heightwise on said area array and in either case be read by said reader.