Bi-Optic Barcode Reader

Abstract

Embodiment of the present invention generally relate to bi-optic barcode readers. In an embodiment, the disclosure describes a barcode reader for use in a checkout workstation having a surface. The barcode reader includes: a lower housing portion having a top portion; a first optically transmissive window positioned in the top portion, a top surface of the first optically transmissive window defining a horizontal plane, the top portion of the lower housing being substantially parallel with the surface of the checkout workstation when the barcode reader is used in the checkout workstation; a raised housing portion having a second optically transmissive window, the raised housing portion extending at least partially above the top portion; and a PCB positioned substantially upright relative to the horizontal plane, the PCB having a first imaging assembly and a decode assembly, the barcode reader having no other printed circuit boards with another imaging assembly.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A barcode reader having a product scanning region for passing products to be checked out therethrough, the barcode reader comprising:
 a lower housing portion having a top portion;   a first optically transmissive window positioned in the top portion of the lower housing, a top surface of the first optically transmissive window defining a horizontal plane;   a raised housing portion having a second optically transmissive window, the raised housing portion extending at least partially above the top portion of the lower housing; and   a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned substantially upright relative to the horizontal plane and housed in the lower housing, the PCB having an imaging assembly and a decode assembly, the barcode reader having no other printed circuit board with another imaging assembly housed in the lower housing.   
     
     
         22 . The barcode reader of  claim 21 , further comprising a mirror arrangement,
 wherein the imaging assembly includes an imaging sensor having a first field of view (FOV), and   wherein the mirror arrangement is configured to split the first FOV into a first sub-FOV and a second sub-FOV, and wherein the mirror arrangement is further configured to redirect the first sub-FOV through the first optically transmissive window and the second sub-FOV through the second optically transmissive window.   
     
     
         23 . The barcode reader of  claim 22 , wherein the mirror arrangement is configured to redirect the first sub-FOV through the first optically transmissive window and the second sub-FOV through the second optically transmissive window such that the first sub-FOV and the second sub-FOV intersect above the top portion of the lower housing in the product scanning region. 
     
     
         24 . The barcode reader of  claim 22 , wherein the mirror arrangement is further configured to redirect the second sub-FOV through the second optically transmissive window such that a bottom edge of the second sub-FOV extends substantially parallel to the top portion of the lower housing. 
     
     
         25 . The barcode reader of  claim 22 , wherein the mirror arrangement is further configured to redirect the first sub-FOV through the first optically transmissive window such that a first central axis of the first sub-FOV is tilted toward the raised housing portion. 
     
     
         26 . The barcode reader of  claim 22 , wherein the mirror arrangement is further configured to redirect the first sub-FOV through the first optically transmissive window via only a first mirror. 
     
     
         27 . The barcode reader of  claim 26 , wherein the mirror arrangement is further configured to redirect the second sub-FOV through the second optically transmissive window via only a second mirror and a third mirror, the redirecting the second sub-FOV including splitting the second sub-FOV from the first FOV. 
     
     
         28 . The barcode reader of  claim 22 , wherein a central axis of the second sub-FOV passes through the second optically transmissive window at an oblique angle relative to the optically transmissive window. 
     
     
         29 . The barcode reader of  claim 22 , wherein the mirror arrangement is further configured such that, prior to being redirected through the first optically transmissive window, the first sub-FOV has an upper boundary that is non-parallel with the horizontal plane and a lower boundary that is non-parallel with the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         30 . The barcode reader of  claim 21 , wherein the imaging assembly includes:
 a first sub-field of view (FOV) that is redirected through the first optically transmissive window via only a first mirror; and   a second sub-FOV and a third sub-FOV that are obtained via a splitter mirror, the second sub-FOV being redirected through the second optically transmissive window via only a second mirror and the splitter mirror, and the third sub-FOV being redirected through the second optically transmissive window via only a third mirror and the splitter mirror.   
     
     
         31 . The barcode reader of  claim 21 , wherein the top portion of the lower housing includes a platter. 
     
     
         32 . The barcode reader of  claim 21 , wherein the platter is one of removeable and non-removeable. 
     
     
         33 . A bi-optic barcode reader comprising:
 a lower housing portion having a top portion with a generally horizontal window;   a raised housing portion having a generally upright window;   a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned substantially upright relative to the generally horizontal window and housed in the lower housing, the PCB having an imaging assembly with a first FOV and a decode assembly, the bi-optic barcode reader having no other printed circuit board with another imaging assembly housed in the lower housing; and   a mirror arrangement configured to split the first FOV into a first sub-FOV and a second sub-FOV, redirect the first sub-FOV through the generally horizontal window, and redirect the second sub-FOV through the generally upright window.   
     
     
         34 . The bi-optic barcode reader of  claim 33 , wherein the mirror arrangement redirects the first sub-FOV through the generally horizontal window via only a first mirror, and
 wherein the mirror arrangement further redirects the second sub-FOV through the generally upright window via only a second mirror and a third mirror, the redirecting the second sub-FOV including splitting the second sub-FOV from the first FOV.   
     
     
         35 . The bi-optic barcode reader of  claim 33 , wherein the mirror arrangement is further configured to redirect the second sub-FOV through the generally upright window such that a bottom edge of the second sub-FOV extends substantially parallel to the top portion of the lower housing. 
     
     
         36 . The bi-optic barcode reader of  claim 33 , wherein the mirror arrangement is further configured to redirect the first sub-FOV through the generally upright window such that a first central axis of the first sub-FOV is tilted toward the raised housing portion. 
     
     
         37 . A bi-optic barcode reader comprising:
 a lower housing portion having a top portion with a generally horizontal window;   a raised housing portion having a generally upright window;   a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned substantially upright relative to the generally horizontal window and housed in the lower housing, the PCB having an imaging assembly having a plurality of fields of view (FOVs) and a decode assembly, the bi-optic barcode reader having no other printed circuit board with another imaging assembly housed in the lower housing,   wherein the imaging assembly includes:   a first of the plurality of FOVs that is redirected through the first optically transmissive window via only a first mirror; and   a second of the plurality of FOVs and a third of the plurality of FOVs that are obtained via a splitter mirror, the second of the plurality of FOVs being redirected through the generally upright window via only a second mirror and the splitter mirror, and the third of the plurality of FOVs being redirected through the second optically transmissive window via only a third mirror and the splitter mirror.