Abstract: An apparatus for scanning a bar code affixed to an object and providing an electrical signal indicative of the scanned bar code. The apparatus includes a housing having a base portion and a window portion with the window portion being mounted above a rear section of the base portion. A forward section of the base portion has a flat top surface while the window portion has an optically transmissive window mounted in a side facing the top surface. The region above the top surface and adjacent the window defines a scanning region. Means are mounted within the housing for generating first, second and third scan patterns each comprised of a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart light scan lines. The first scan pattern scan lines each enter the scanning region through the window at planes each at a predetermined angle from planes parallel to the top surface.