Imaging arrangements and barcode readers including such imaging arrangements

1. An imaging arrangement for use in a barcode reader, comprising:

a housing;

a light source configured to emit light along a central light axis, the light source being disposed in the housing;

a lens having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the lens being disposed in the housing, the first surface configured to face the light source and structured to substantially collimate light received from the light source into a collimated beam, the second surface including surface structures structured to generate a patterned beam in response to receiving the collimated beam; and

an aperture, the aperture being disposed between the light source and the lens, the aperture sized to enable a first portion of the light emitted from the light source to pass through the lens and to prevent a second portion of the light emitted from the light source from passing through the lens,

wherein the aperture is disposed adjacent the first surface to enable a portion of the first surface to extend through the aperture toward the light source.

2. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the light source is at least one of a laser or a light emitting diode.

3. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to emit an aiming light.

4. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the first surface is convex.

5. The imaging arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the second surface is substantially planer relative to the portion.

6. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is between about 1.0 millimeters and 5.0 millimeters.

7. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the second surface includes ribs.

8. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , further including a camera disposed in the housing, the camera configured to capture image data associated with the patterned beam.

9. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the second surface is angled relative to the light source such that light reflected from the second surface toward the light source is directed at an oblique angle relative to the central light axis.

10. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the patterned beam is to be projected outside of the housing without passing through an additional lens.

11. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the lens is a single-molded part.

12. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is a substantially hyperbolic surface.

13. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the second surface is a defractive optical element, a refractive optical element, or an engineered diffuser.

14. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein an effective focal length of the lens is less than 5 millimeters.

15. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein a plane that extends along the second surface is disposed at an angle relative to the central light axis such that light reflected from the second surface toward the light source is directed at an oblique angle relative to the central light axis.

16. The imaging arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is a refractive surface, a Fresnel surface, or a diffractive surface.

17. An imaging arrangement for use in a barcode reader, comprising:

a housing including a front wall and a rear wall;

a light source configured to emit light along a central light axis, the light source to be disposed in the housing proximate the rear wall; and

means for collimating the light from the light source into a collimated beam and generating a patterned beam in response to receiving the collimated beam, the means for the collimating of the light and the generating of the patterned beam enables a distance between the front wall and the rear wall to be approximately 9 millimeters or less, wherein the means for the collimating of the light and the generating of the patterned beam is positioned proximate the front wall

wherein the means for the collimating of the light and the generating of the patterned beam includes a lens including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the lens to be disposed in the housing, the first surface configured to face the light source and structured to substantially collimate light received from the light source into the collimated beam, the second surface including surface structures structured to generate the patterned beam in response to receiving the collimated beam,

wherein the means for the collimating of the light and the generating of the patterned beam further includes an aperture, the aperture being disposed between the light source and the lens, the aperture sized to enable a first portion of the light emitted from the light source to pass through the lens and to prevent a second portion of the light emitted from the light source from passing through the lens, and

wherein a plane that extends along the second surface is disposed at an angle relative to the central light axis such that light reflected from the second surface toward the light source is directed at an oblique angle relative to the central light axis.

18. The imaging arrangement of claim 17 , wherein the housing is a rectangular prism.

19. The imaging arrangement of claim 17 , wherein the light source is a laser.

20. A barcode reader, comprising:

a housing;

an imaging arrangement disposed in the housing, the imaging arrangement comprising:

a light source configured to emit light;

imaging sensor having a plurality of photosensitive elements and configured to capture image data;

a controller configured to process the image data;

a lens having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface configured to face the light source and structured to substantially collimate light received from the light source into a collimated beam, the second surface including surface structures structured to generate a patterned beam in response to receiving collimated beam; and

an aperture, the aperture being disposed between the light source and the lens, the aperture sized to enable a first portion of the light emitted from the light source to pass through the lens and to prevent a second portion of the light emitted from the light source from passing through the lens,

wherein the controller is configured to cause the imaging sensor to capture the image data associated with the patterned beam.

21. The barcode reader of claim 20 , wherein the first surface is a refractive surface, a Fresnel surface, or a diffractive surface.

22. The barcode reader of claim 20 , wherein the second surface is a defractive optical element, a refractive optical element, or an engineered diffuser.

23. The barcode reader of claim 20 , wherein an effective focal length of the lens is less than 5 millimeters.