An optical symbol scanner assembly for detecting and decoding a symbol lying on a surface of an article, comprising</claim-text> a scanner device having a distal face on which is positioned a light-generating means for producing illumination to fall id symbol, and focusing means for focusing an image of said symbol on an imager device positioned proximally thereof in said scanner device, said focusing means defining an optic axis; and an illumination assembly adapted to be mounted on the distal face of said scanner device, including a lens barrel member having an optic axis aligned with the optic axis of said scanning device, and at least one light pipe having a flat proximal face to receive illumination from said light-generating means and an angulated distal face for projecting said illumination at a low angle relative to the surface of the article when said surface is disposed substantially at a right angle to said optic axis, such that when a distal end of said illumination assembly is positioned in contact with said article, the illumination impinges on said symbol with an axis thereof at a low angle in a range of about 10 to 18 degrees relative to the surface of said article with said optic axis thereof substantially normal to the surface of said article. view more

An optical symbol scanner assembly for detecting and decoding a two-dimensional optical symbol lying on a surface of an article, comprising</claim-text> a housing; a scanner device within said housing including an imager device and focusing means for ing an image of said optical symbol on said imager device, said focusing means defining a scanner optic axis; and an illumination arrangement mounted in said housing at one or more sides of said optic axis and having an illumination direction that is angulated to project light therefrom at a low angle relative to the surface of said article when disposed at a right angle to said optic axis, such that when said article is at a predetermined position on said optic axis, the light of said illumination impinges on said optical symbol with a principal axis thereof at a low angle of between about 10 and 18 degrees relative to the surface of said article with said scanner optic axis substantially normal to the surface of said article. view more