AUTOMATIC LASER PROJECTION SCANNER WITH IMPROVED LASER BEAM SCANNING EFFICIENCY

Disclosed is an automatic projection laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols. The system supportable on or above a countertop surface, and includes a laser scanning device having a compact housing from which it automatically produces an object detection field of volumetric expanse for automatic detection of objects, and a scan field including at least one scanning plane for automatic laser scanning of the code symbols on detected objects. Both the object detection field and the scan field spatially arranged with respect to each other and the compact housing to facilitate easy scanning of a bar code symbol presented within the scan field after the associated object has been detected within the object detection field, thereby improving the scanning efficiency of the system.