Bioptic scanner optical arrangement with single sensor split four ways

1. A bioptic barcode reader for capturing images of targets presented in a product-scanning region of the bioptic barcode reader, the bioptic barcode reader comprising:

a housing having an interior region;

an imaging assembly having a primary FOV, the imaging assembly including an image sensor with a plurality of photosensitive elements forming a substantially flat surface;

a decode module communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly and configured to decode a barcode captured in an image by the imaging assembly;

a generally horizontal window supported by the housing, the generally horizontal window configured to allow a first light to pass between the product-scanning region and the interior region of the housing;

a generally upright window supported by the housing, the generally upright window configured to allow a second light to pass between the product-scanning region and the interior region of the housing; and

a mirror arrangement positioned within the interior region, the mirror arrangement configured to divide the primary FOV into a plurality of subfields,

wherein the mirror arrangement is further configured to

(i) redirect at least two of the plurality of subfields through the generally horizontal window and

(ii) redirect at least another two of the plurality of subfields through the generally upright window,

wherein the bioptic barcode reader has no other imaging assembly communicatively coupled to the decode module and used to process images for decoding indicia,

wherein the plurality of subfields includes a first subfield, a second subfield, a third subfield, and a fourth subfield,

wherein the first subfield is associated with a first quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, the second subfield is associated with a second quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, the third subfield is associated with a third quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, and the fourth subfield is associated with a fourth quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, and

wherein at least one of (i) each of the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant is dimensionally equal to each other of the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant, (ii) each of the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant is a proportionally equal portion of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, or (iii) an orientation of each of the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant is equal to an orientation of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor.

2. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 1 , wherein the mirror arrangement includes:

a first fold mirror positioned directly within a first path of a first portion of the primary FOV, the first fold mirror configured to redirect the first portion of the primary FOV from a first path to a second path;

a first set of splitter mirrors positioned directly within the second path, the first set of splitter mirrors configured to split the first portion of the primary FOV into a first subfield and a second subfield, the first set of splitter mirrors further configured to (i) redirect the first subfield along a third path and (ii) redirect the second subfield along a fourth path;

a second fold mirror positioned directly within the third path and configured to redirect the first subfield through the generally upright window; and

a third fold mirror positioned directly within the fourth path and configured to redirect the second subfield through the generally upright window.

3. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 2 , wherein upon being redirected by the first set of splitter mirrors, the first subfield and the second subfield at least partially overlap.

4. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 2 , wherein the mirror arrangement further includes:

a second set of splitter mirrors positioned directly within a fifth path of a second portion of the primary FOV, the second set of splitter mirrors configured to split the second portion of the primary FOV into a third subfield and a fourth subfield, the second set of splitter mirrors further configured to (i) redirect the third subfield along a sixth path and (ii) redirect the fourth subfield along a seventh path;

a fourth fold mirror positioned directly within the sixth path and configured to redirect the third subfield along an eighth path;

a fifth fold mirror positioned directly within the eighth path and configured to redirect the third subfield through the generally horizontal window;

a sixth fold mirror positioned directly within the seventh path and configured to redirect the fourth subfield along a ninth path; and

a seventh fold mirror positioned directly within the ninth path and configured to redirect the fourth subfield through the generally horizontal window.

5. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 4 , wherein at least one of (i) upon being redirected by the first set of splitter mirrors, the first subfield and the second subfield at least partially overlap, and (ii) upon being redirected by the second set of splitter mirrors, the third subfield and the fourth subfield at least partially overlap.

6. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 4 , wherein the first set of splitter mirrors is located above a plane defined by the generally horizontal window relative to the imaging assembly.

7. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 6 , wherein the second set of splitter mirrors is located below the plane defined by the generally horizontal window relative to the imaging assembly.

8. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 1 , wherein a first optical length from the image sensor to the generally horizontal window is different from a second optical length from the image sensor to the generally upright window, first optical length being measured along the primary FOV and one of the plurality of subfields that passes through the generally horizontal window, the second optical length being measured along the primary FOV and one of the plurality of subfields that passes through the generally upright window.

9. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 8 , wherein the first optical length is longer than the second optical length.

10. A bioptic barcode reader for capturing images of targets presented in a product-scanning region of the bioptic barcode reader, the bioptic barcode reader comprising:

a housing having an interior region;

an imaging assembly having a primary FOV, the imaging assembly including an image sensor with a plurality of photosensitive elements forming a substantially flat surface;

a decode module communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly and configured to decode a barcode captured in an image by the imaging assembly;

a generally horizontal window supported by the housing, the generally horizontal window configured to allow a first light to pass between the product-scanning region and the interior region of the housing;

a generally upright window supported by the housing, the generally upright window configured to allow a second light to pass between the product-scanning region and the interior region of the housing; and

a mirror arrangement positioned within the interior region, the mirror arrangement configured to divide the primary FOV into a first subfield, a second subfield, a third subfield, and a fourth subfield such that the first subfield is associated with a first quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, the second subfield is associated with a second quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, the third subfield is associated with a third quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, and the fourth subfield is associated with a fourth quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor,

wherein at least one of (i) each of the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant is dimensionally equal to each other of the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant, (ii) each of the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant is a proportionally equal portion of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, or (iii) an orientation of each of the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant is equal to an orientation of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor.

11. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 10 , wherein the bioptic barcode reader has no other imaging assembly communicatively coupled to the decode module and used to process images for decoding indicia.

12. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 10 , wherein the mirror arrangement includes:

a first fold mirror positioned directly within a first path of a first portion of the primary FOV, the first fold mirror configured to redirect the first portion of the primary FOV from a first path to a second path;

a first set of splitter mirrors positioned directly within the second path, the first set of splitter mirrors configured to split the first portion of the primary FOV into a first subfield and a second subfield, the first set of splitter mirrors further configured to (i) redirect the first subfield along a third path and (ii) redirect the second subfield along a fourth path;

a second fold mirror positioned directly within the third path and configured to redirect the first subfield through the generally upright window; and

a third fold mirror positioned directly within the fourth path and configured to redirect the second subfield through the generally upright window.

13. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 12 , wherein upon being redirected by the first set of splitter mirrors, the first subfield and the second subfield at least partially overlap.

14. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 12 , wherein the mirror arrangement further includes:

a second set of splitter mirrors positioned directly within a fifth path of a second portion of the primary FOV, the second set of splitter mirrors configured to split the second portion of the primary FOV into a third subfield and a fourth subfield, the second set of splitter mirrors further configured to (i) redirect the third subfield along a sixth path and (ii) redirect the fourth subfield along a seventh path;

a fourth fold mirror positioned directly within the sixth path and configured to redirect the third subfield along an eighth path;

a fifth fold mirror positioned directly within the eighth path and configured to redirect the third subfield through the generally horizontal window;

a sixth fold mirror positioned directly within the seventh path and configured to redirect the fourth subfield along a ninth path; and

a seventh fold mirror positioned directly within the ninth path and configured to redirect the fourth subfield through the generally horizontal window.

15. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 14 , wherein at least one of (i) upon being redirected by the first set of splitter mirrors, the first subfield and the second subfield at least partially overlap, and (ii) upon being redirected by the second set of splitter mirrors, the third subfield and the fourth subfield at least partially overlap.

16. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 14 , wherein the first set of splitter mirrors is located above a plane defined by the generally horizontal window relative to the imaging assembly.

17. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 16 , wherein the second set of splitter mirrors is located below the plane defined by the generally horizontal window relative to the imaging assembly.

18. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 10 , wherein a first optical length from the image sensor to the generally horizontal window is different from a second optical length from the image sensor to the generally upright window, first optical length being measured along the primary FOV and one of the plurality of subfields that passes through the generally horizontal window, the second optical length being measured along the primary FOV and one of the plurality of subfields that passes through the generally upright window.

19. The bioptic barcode reader of claim 8 , wherein the first optical length is longer than the second optical length.

20. A bioptic barcode reader for capturing images of targets presented in a product-scanning region of the bioptic barcode reader, the bioptic barcode reader comprising:

a housing having an interior region;

an imaging assembly having a primary FOV, the imaging assembly including an image sensor with a plurality of photosensitive elements forming a substantially flat surface;

a decode module communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly and configured to decode a barcode captured in an image by the imaging assembly;

a generally horizontal window supported by the housing, the generally horizontal window configured to allow a first light to pass between the product-scanning region and the interior region of the housing;

a generally upright window supported by the housing, the generally upright window configured to allow a second light to pass between the product-scanning region and the interior region of the housing; and

a mirror arrangement positioned within the interior region, the mirror arrangement configured to divide the primary FOV into a plurality of subfields,

wherein the mirror arrangement is further configured to

(i) redirect at least two of the plurality of subfields through the generally horizontal window and

(ii) redirect at least another two of the plurality of subfields through the generally upright window,

wherein the bioptic barcode reader has no other imaging assembly communicatively coupled to the decode module and used to process images for decoding indicia, and

wherein the mirror arrangement includes:

a first fold mirror positioned directly within a first path of a first portion of the primary FOV, the first fold mirror configured to redirect the first portion of the primary FOV from a first path to a second path;

a first set of splitter mirrors positioned directly within the second path, the first set of splitter mirrors configured to split the first portion of the primary FOV into a first subfield and a second subfield, the first set of splitter mirrors further configured to (i) redirect the first subfield along a third path and (ii) redirect the second subfield along a fourth path;

a second fold mirror positioned directly within the third path and configured to redirect the first subfield through the generally upright window;

a third fold mirror positioned directly within the fourth path and configured to redirect the second subfield through the generally upright window;

a second set of splitter mirrors positioned directly within a fifth path of a second portion of the primary FOV, the second set of splitter mirrors configured to split the second portion of the primary FOV into a third subfield and a fourth subfield, the second set of splitter mirrors further configured to (i) redirect the third subfield along a sixth path and (ii) redirect the fourth subfield along a seventh path;

a fourth fold mirror positioned directly within the sixth path and configured to redirect the third subfield along an eighth path;

a fifth fold mirror positioned directly within the eighth path and configured to redirect the third subfield through the generally horizontal window;

a sixth fold mirror positioned directly within the seventh path and configured to redirect the fourth subfield along a ninth path; and

a seventh fold mirror positioned directly within the ninth path and configured to redirect the fourth subfield through the generally horizontal window.

21. A bioptic barcode reader for capturing images of targets presented in a product-scanning region of the bioptic barcode reader, the bioptic barcode reader comprising:

a housing having an interior region;

an imaging assembly having a primary FOV, the imaging assembly including an image sensor with a plurality of photosensitive elements forming a substantially flat surface;

a decode module communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly and configured to decode a barcode captured in an image by the imaging assembly;

a generally horizontal window supported by the housing, the generally horizontal window configured to allow a first light to pass between the product-scanning region and the interior region of the housing;

a generally upright window supported by the housing, the generally upright window configured to allow a second light to pass between the product-scanning region and the interior region of the housing; and

a mirror arrangement positioned within the interior region, the mirror arrangement configured to divide the primary FOV into a plurality of subfields,

wherein the mirror arrangement is further configured to

(i) redirect at least two of the plurality of subfields through the generally horizontal window and

(ii) redirect at least another two of the plurality of subfields through the generally upright window,

wherein the bioptic barcode reader has no other imaging assembly communicatively coupled to the decode module and used to process images for decoding indicia, and

wherein a first optical length from the image sensor to the generally horizontal window is different from a second optical length from the image sensor to the generally upright window, first optical length being measured along the primary FOV and one of the plurality of subfields that passes through the generally horizontal window, the second optical length being measured along the primary FOV and one of the plurality of subfields that passes through the generally upright window.

22. A bioptic barcode reader for capturing images of targets presented in a product-scanning region of the bioptic barcode reader, the bioptic barcode reader comprising:

a housing having an interior region;

an imaging assembly having a primary FOV, the imaging assembly including an image sensor with a plurality of photosensitive elements forming a substantially flat surface;

a decode module communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly and configured to decode a barcode captured in an image by the imaging assembly;

a generally horizontal window supported by the housing, the generally horizontal window configured to allow a first light to pass between the product-scanning region and the interior region of the housing;

a generally upright window supported by the housing, the generally upright window configured to allow a second light to pass between the product-scanning region and the interior region of the housing; and

a mirror arrangement positioned within the interior region, the mirror arrangement configured to divide the primary FOV into a first subfield, a second subfield, a third subfield, and a fourth subfield such that the first subfield is associated with a first quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, the second subfield is associated with a second quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, the third subfield is associated with a third quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, and the fourth subfield is associated with a fourth quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor,

wherein the mirror arrangement includes:

a first fold mirror positioned directly within a first path of a first portion of the primary FOV, the first fold mirror configured to redirect the first portion of the primary FOV from a first path to a second path;

a first set of splitter mirrors positioned directly within the second path, the first set of splitter mirrors configured to split the first portion of the primary FOV into a first subfield and a second subfield, the first set of splitter mirrors further configured to (i) redirect the first subfield along a third path and (ii) redirect the second subfield along a fourth path;

a second fold mirror positioned directly within the third path and configured to redirect the first subfield through the generally upright window;

a third fold mirror positioned directly within the fourth path and configured to redirect the second subfield through the generally upright window;

a second set of splitter mirrors positioned directly within a fifth path of a second portion of the primary FOV, the second set of splitter mirrors configured to split the second portion of the primary FOV into a third subfield and a fourth subfield, the second set of splitter mirrors further configured to (i) redirect the third subfield along a sixth path and (ii) redirect the fourth subfield along a seventh path;

a fourth fold mirror positioned directly within the sixth path and configured to redirect the third subfield along an eighth path;

a fifth fold mirror positioned directly within the eighth path and configured to redirect the third subfield through the generally horizontal window;

a sixth fold mirror positioned directly within the seventh path and configured to redirect the fourth subfield along a ninth path; and

a seventh fold mirror positioned directly within the ninth path and configured to redirect the fourth subfield through the generally horizontal window.

23. A bioptic barcode reader for capturing images of targets presented in a product-scanning region of the bioptic barcode reader, the bioptic barcode reader comprising:

a housing having an interior region;

an imaging assembly having a primary FOV, the imaging assembly including an image sensor with a plurality of photosensitive elements forming a substantially flat surface;

a decode module communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly and configured to decode a barcode captured in an image by the imaging assembly;

a generally horizontal window supported by the housing, the generally horizontal window configured to allow a first light to pass between the product-scanning region and the interior region of the housing;

a generally upright window supported by the housing, the generally upright window configured to allow a second light to pass between the product-scanning region and the interior region of the housing; and

a mirror arrangement positioned within the interior region, the mirror arrangement configured to divide the primary FOV into a first subfield, a second subfield, a third subfield, and a fourth subfield such that the first subfield is associated with a first quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, the second subfield is associated with a second quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, the third subfield is associated with a third quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor, and the fourth subfield is associated with a fourth quadrant of the substantially flat surface of the image sensor,

wherein a first optical length from the image sensor to the generally horizontal window is different from a second optical length from the image sensor to the generally upright window, first optical length being measured along the primary FOV and one of the plurality of subfields that passes through the generally horizontal window, the second optical length being measured along the primary FOV and one of the plurality of subfields that passes through the generally upright window.