Multiple focus optical system for data reading applications

An optical system and method for data reading having a light source which generates an optical beam directed toward an object to be read and a focusing system in the outgoing light path which establishes multiple beam functions. In a preferred application, a scanning system includes a multifocal lens having a single lens element having an inner lens portion of a first focal length and an outer annular lens portion with a second focal length, the scanning system therefore establishing two separate focal positions from a single light source. Alternately, the system includes a focusing lens system with an corrector element disposed in the outgoing optical path, the corrector element having a plurality of optical zones, each zone having a different optical characteristic for modifying a portion of the outgoing optical beam. A zone may be a refractive region, a reflective region, a diffractive region, an empty region, a window region, or combinations thereof.