Method, system, and apparatus for a multiple path image scanner

1. A multiple path image scanner apparatus for scanning an optical code, the apparatus comprising:

an image capture device operable to capture a plurality of images;

a plurality of mirrors aligned to provide a plurality of optical image paths to a focal plane where the optical image paths pass through the same optical aperture in the scanner;

a path directing device including a mirrored polygon operable to direct an image from each of the optical image paths to the image capture device, and wherein the path directing device adapted to receive and direct one of the optical image paths without any of the mirrors;

an image focusing lens between the path directing device and the image capture device where the lens focuses each of the plurality of images on to the image capture device; and

a processing circuit adapted to cause the image capture device to capture the image from each of the optical image paths and to cause the decoding of the optical code using one or more of the captured images.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the path directing device is a polygon.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the path directing device has at least one reflective side.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the path directing device rotates at or less than 720 RPMS.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is adapted to detect position information for the path directing device and to use the position information to determine when to cause the image capture device to capture the image.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processing circuit uses a calibration image to determine the position of the path directing device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is adapted to store one or more of the captured images.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical code includes a bar code.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical code includes alphanumeric text.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of mirrors is aligned so that the optical path extending from the mirror is generally in a vertical direction.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of mirrors is aligned so that the optical path extending from the mirror is generally in a horizontal direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit causes the optical code to be decoded by another processing circuit.

13. A method for use in a multiple path image scanner apparatus to scan an optical code, the method comprising:

rotating a path directing device including a mirrored polygon to a first position to reflect a first image from a first mirror to an image capture device where the first image passes through an optical aperture of the image scanner, wherein the path directing device is rotatable 360 degrees of rotation;

passing the first image through a lens to focus the first image on the image capture device;

causing the image capture device to capture the first image;

rotating the path directing device to a second position to reflect a second image from a second mirror to the image capture device where the second image passes through the optical aperture of the image scanner;

passing the second image through the lens to focus the second image on the image capture device;

causing the image capture device to capture the second image; and

decoding an optical code by processing either or both the first and second images.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the path directing device is a polygon rotating at or less than 720 RPMs.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the path directing device has at least one reflective side.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the optical code includes a bar code.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the optical code includes alphanumeric text.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first mirror is aligned so that the optical path extending from the mirror is generally in a vertical direction.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second mirror is aligned so that the optical path extending from the mirror is generally in a horizontal direction.

20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising detecting the position of the path directing device.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising using the position of the path directing device to determine when to cause the image capture device to capture an Image.

22. A multiple path image scanner system for scanning an optical code, the system comprising:

a server computer adapted to store information associated with the optical code;

a local computer in communication with the server computer; and

an image scanner device in communication with the local computer, the device comprising:

an image capture device operable to capture a plurality of images;

a plurality of mirrors aligned to provide a plurality of optical image paths to a focal plane where the optical image paths pass through the same optical aperture in the scanner;

a path directing device including a mirrored polygon operable to direct an image from each of the optical paths to the image capture device;

an image focusing lens between the path directing device and the image capture device where the lens focuses the each of the plurality of images on to the image capture device; and

a processing circuit adapted to cause the image capture device to capture the image from each of the optical paths and to cause the decoding of the optical code using one or more of the captured images, and wherein the processing circuit is further adapted to predict when the path directing device is in positions that cause the optical paths to align with the image capture device.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the path directing device is a polygon.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the path directing device has at least one reflective side.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the path directing device rotates at or less than 720 RPMS.

26. The system of claim 22 , wherein the processing circuit is adapted to detect position information for the path directing device and to use the position information to determine when to cause the image capture device to capture the image.

27. The system of claim 22 , wherein the processing circuit is adapted to store one or more of the captured images.

28. The system of claim 22 , wherein the optical code includes a bar code.

29. The system of claim 22 , wherein the optical code includes alphanumeric text.

30. The system of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the plurality of mirrors is aligned so that the optical path extending from the mirror is generally in a vertical direction.

31. The system of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the plurality of mirrors is aligned so that the optical path extending from the mirror is generally in a horizontal direction.