초록 ▼

There is described an indicia reading terminal that can be operative to process a frame of image data for attempting to decode a decodable indicia. A frame can be a frame that is among a succession of frames for subjecting to processing subsequent to and during a time a trigger signal is active. Suc

There is described an indicia reading terminal that can be operative to process a frame of image data for attempting to decode a decodable indicia. A frame can be a frame that is among a succession of frames for subjecting to processing subsequent to and during a time a trigger signal is active. Such a succession of frames can include zero or more binned frames, zero or more unbinned frames, zero or more windowed frames, and zero or more unwindowed full frames. An indicia reading terminal can also include a variable focus imaging lens.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An indicia reading terminal comprising: an image sensor integrated circuit having a two dimensional image sensor array, said two dimensional image sensor array including a plurality of pixels, said indicia reading terminal including a binning module for applying a function using image information

1. An indicia reading terminal comprising: an image sensor integrated circuit having a two dimensional image sensor array, said two dimensional image sensor array including a plurality of pixels, said indicia reading terminal including a binning module for applying a function using image information values representative of light incident at a plurality of pixels of said image sensor array, said indicia reading terminal further including a windowing module for use in selectively addressing a subset of pixels of said image sensor array for read out of a windowed frame;an imaging lens for use in focusing an image of a target decodable indicia onto said two dimensional image sensor array;wherein said indicia reading terminal is operative so that said indicia reading terminal can process a succession of frames, said succession of frames including a binned frame, said succession of frames further including a windowed frame, the windowed frame having image data representing light incident at a group of pixels of said image sensor array, the group of pixels comprising less than 50% of a total number of pixels of said image sensor array, the windowed frame representing indicia within a defined area of a target substrate that is relatively smaller than a defined area within which indicia would be represented by a frame representing light incident on each pixel of said image sensor array;wherein said indicia reading terminal is operative to process a frame of said succession of frames for attempting to decode for decodable indicia. 2. The indicia reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said imaging lens is a variable focus imaging lens operative to define a plurality of best focus distances. 3. The indicia reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said imaging lens is a variable focus imaging lens operative to define a plurality of best focus distances, and wherein said indicia reading terminal is operative so that said variable focus imaging lens is moved between a plurality of best focus distance settings ranging between a shorter range and longer range, said indicia reading terminal being operative so that said variable focus imaging lens is controlled to be in said shorter range best focus distance setting during an exposure period for said binned frame. 4. The indicia reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said imaging lens is a variable focus imaging lens capable of defining a plurality of best focus distances, and wherein said indicia reading terminal is operative so that said variable focus imaging lens is moved between a plurality of best focus distance settings ranging between a shorter range and a longer range said indicia reading terminal being operative so that said variable focus imaging lens is controlled to be in said longer range best focus distance setting during an exposure period for said windowed frame. 5. The indicia reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said binning module includes an analog binning circuit incorporated in said image sensor integrated circuit for summing charges that have accumulated on a block of said plurality of pixels. 6. The indicia reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said binning module averages image information values that are associated with a block of pixel positions. 7. The indicia reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said binning module includes a CPU that sums multibit pixel values that are associated with a block of pixel positions. 8. The indicia reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said imaging lens is one of a deformable lens or a non-deformable fluid lens. 9. The indicia reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said indicia reading terminal is operative to capture a full unbinned frame, the full unbinned frame having a certain frame time, where a frame time of said windowed frame is less than said certain frame time. 10. The indicia reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said indicia reading terminal is operative so that said indicia reading terminal captures said windowed frame conditionally on satisfaction of a predetermined criteria. 11. The indicia reading terminal of claim 1, wherein said group of pixels is a continuous group of pixels centered at a center of said image sensor array. 12. An indicia reading terminal comprising: an image sensor integrated circuit having a two dimensional image sensor array, said two dimensional image sensor array including a plurality of pixels, said indicia reading terminal including a binning module applying a function using image information values representative of light incident at a plurality of pixels of said image sensor array;an imaging lens for use in focusing an image of a target decodable indicia onto said two dimensional image sensor array;wherein said indicia reading terminal is operative so that indicia reading terminal can process a succession of frames, said succession of frames including a first binned frame and a second binned frame;wherein said indicia reading terminal is operative to process a frame of said succession of frames for attempting to decode for decodable indicia; andwherein said first binned frame has a bin size larger than a bin size of said second binned frame, and wherein said imaging lens is a variable focus imaging lens capable of defining a plurality of best focus distances, and wherein said indicia reading terminal is operative so that said variable focus imaging lens is moved between first and second best focus distance settings, said first best focus distance being relatively shorter than said second best focus distance, said indicia reading terminal further being operative so that said variable focus imaging lens is controlled to be at said first best focus distance during an exposure period for said first binned frame, said indicia reading terminal further being operative so that said variable focus imaging lens is controlled to be at said second best focus distance during an exposure period for said second binned frame. 13. The indicia reading terminal of claim 12, wherein said imaging lens is a variable focus imaging lens capable of defining a plurality of best focus distances. 14. The indicia reading terminal of claim 12, including a color pattern filter disposed over said image sensor array, said indicia reading terminal being operative so that said binning module can be activated to convert color image information to monochrome image information. 15. The indicia reading terminal of claim 12, wherein said succession of frames includes an unbinned frame. 16. The indicia reading terminal of claim 12, wherein said succession of frames includes a windowed frame. 17. The indicia reading terminal of claim 12, wherein said succession of frames includes a first binned frame and a second binned frame, said first binned frame having a bin size larger than a bin size of said second binned frame. 18. The indicia reading terminal of claim 17, wherein said terminal is operative so that said indicia reading terminal processes said second binned frame conditionally on satisfaction of a predetermined criteria. 19. The indicia reading terminal of claim 12, wherein said imaging lens is one of a deformable lens or a non-deformable fluid lens. 20. An indicia reading terminal comprising: an image sensor integrated circuit having a two dimensional image sensor array, said two dimensional image sensor array including a plurality of pixels, said indicia reading terminal including a windowing module for use in selectively addressing a subset of pixels of said image sensor array for read out of a windowed frame having image data;an imaging lens for use in focusing an image of a target decodable indicia onto said image sensor array;wherein said indicia reading terminal is operative for capture of a succession of frames wherein said succession of frames includes a first frame and a second windowed frame, said first frame representing light incident on a larger number of pixels of said image sensor array than said second windowed frame, wherein said second windowed frame represents light incident at a group of pixels comprising less than 50% of a total number of pixels of said image sensor array, wherein said imaging lens is a variable focus imaging lens capable of defining a plurality of best focus distances, and wherein said indicia reading terminal is operative so that said variable focus imaging lens is moved between first and second best focus distance settings, said first best focus distance being relatively shorter than said second best focus distance, said indicia reading terminal further being operative so that said variable focus imaging lens is controlled to be at said first best focus distance during an exposure period for said first frame, said indicia reading terminal further being operative so that said variable focus imaging lens is controlled to be at said second best focus distance during an exposure period for said second windowed frame; andwherein said indicia reading terminal is operative to process a frame of said succession of frames for attempting to decode for decodable indicia.