Methods and apparatus for determining bar code label location information

A system for synchronization of the angular position of a rotatable optical assembly (32) in a bar code scanner. The optical assembly is rotatable by a motor (30) which produces a fixed number of pulses per rotation, the pulses occurring at equal intervals such that each pulse indicates a degree of angular rotation of the motor. The pulses are continuously monitored and counted. Timing is simultaneously monitored. A synchronization label (410) is placed in the scanner such that light directed through the rotating optical assembly will strike the synchronization label and be reflected back to the rotating optical assembly when the rotating optical assembly is at a particular angular position, thus establishing an initial angular position of the rotating optical assembly. Once the initial angular position is established, timing is continuously monitored and pulses are continuously monitored and counted. When an event of interest, such as bar code scan occurs, the pulse count is evaluated and processed to determine an angular position of the rotating optical assembly with respect to the initial position as established at synchronization.