Patent US 5,689,104

An optical code reader is held in a hand of an operator and is brought near an article having a 2-dimensional code affixed thereto at the time of reading. The optical code reader includes a read window, a light source for illuminating an article via the read window, and a read control circuit for receiving light reflected by the article via the read window and detecting a 2-dimensional code from an image corresponding to the reflected light. The light source may include a guide beam projector for radiating guide light in a direction almost perpendicular to a read window plane, the guide light indicating a read range corresponding to the size of the read window on a plane parallel to the read window plane. Transparent cap may be provided at the read window for permitting a code on the article to be seen from the outside, while reducing external light entering the cap from the outside of the cap.