A compact laser scanner for use at a counter, such as a checkout counter, to produce a scanning pattern thereabove and into which a bar code can be inserted to enable the reading of the code. A scanner is of compact height and preferably comprises a housing of a height no greater than approximately six inches and taking up an area of no greater than 150 square inches. The housing includes a top having a horizontally disposed window through which the scanning pattern is projected and indicia for directing the location of the bar code within the scanning pattern. The scanning pattern consists of first, second and third groups of plural scan lines which intersect one another in a common area to produce a star-burst pattern when projected on a plane at approximately 45.degree. to the plane of the window, while intersecting in approximately a triangular configuration when projected on a plane approximately perpendicular to the window. The scanner includes a laser tube, a rotating polygonal reflecting member and plural beam folding mirrors all disposed within the housing. The polygonal reflecting member is arranged to be mounted about a vertical axis. The laser tube is mounted laterally of the polygonal reflecting member and provides a substantially focused beam thereon. The rotation of the reflecting member causes the beam to sweep across the reflecting surfaces, which surfaces fold the beam and direct it out through the window to create the pattern.

A protective cover and display device for a checkout countertop having a code scanner includes a sheet of material adapted to cover the scanner opening and adjacent portions of the countertop. The sheet includes a transparent window in the portion overlying the scanner opening and visually perceptible indicia, such as advertising copy, on the portion of the sheet surrounding the opening. In addition to providing advertising which is highly visible and disposed in a high traffic area, the sheet covers and protects the scanner opening which is typically a repository for the accumulation of dirt, food particles, and other foreign materials.

A compact counter-type bar code scanner produces a "five-apparent-source" scan geometry within an optimum scan volume above the deck of the bar code reader, with a total scanner housing height of less than 13 centimeters, and preferably about 11.5 centimeters. The optics are maximized to achieve approximately the same bar code reading efficiency and reliability as in previous much deeper bar code scanners producing similar scan geometry by reflecting the scanned beam off three surfaces, the last of which is horizontal.

A laser scanner system for producing and projecting a multi-line scanning pattern into a space in which a bar code is to be brought. The system includes plural modular laser scanners, each producing a line scan pattern, but mounted with respect to one another so that the pattern of each scanner is projected into the space to conjoin to form the multi-line pattern. Each module is arranged to receive light reflected off the object to convert that light into electrical output signals indicative of the bars and spaces of the code. The system also include means for decoding the output signals and for providing the decoded signals to some peripheral device, e.g., an electronic cash register or computer. In one embodiment the scanner is located adjacent a conveyor carrying bar coded items to form an automated check-out counter.

A viewing system for utilizing a linear array of detectors so that they may view the remote object in two separate directions by use of mirrors to reflect energy from the object to the row of detectors.