A laser beam having a Mathieu-Gaussian intensity profile is provided, which
may be used for various optical scanning applications at various scanning
distances. The Mathieu-Gaussian beam exhibits a zone of illumination
characterized by a central spot and side lobes centered on an axis of
elongation of the zone of illumination. The zone of illumination may be
used with scanners that either generate a single scan line, or another
omni- or multi-directional raster pattern, to scan symbols over large
variations of distance.
