Terminal having illumination and exposure control

Abstract

There is set forth herein an indicia reading terminal having a first illumination and exposure control configuration and a second illumination and exposure control configuration, the first illumination and control configuration having a first associated illumination control and a first associated exposure control, the second illumination and exposure control configuration having a second associated illumination control and a second associated exposure control, wherein with the first illumination control active an average energization level of the illumination subsystem during exposure of one or more frames is higher than with the second illumination control active, and wherein with the first exposure control active an average exposure period of the image sensor array is shorter than with the second exposure control active.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An indicia reading terminal, comprising:
 an illumination subsystem for projecting an illumination pattern; and   an image sensor array for capturing an image of a target;   wherein the indicia reading terminal has (i) a first illumination and exposure control configuration having a first associated illumination control and a first associated exposure control and (ii) a second illumination and exposure control configuration having a second associated illumination control and a second associated exposure control;   wherein, with the first illumination control active, an average energization level of the illumination subsystem during exposure periods of one or more frames is higher than with the second illumination control active;   wherein, with the first exposure control active, an average exposure period of the image sensor array is shorter than with the second exposure control active; and   wherein the indicia reading terminal is operative to:
 activate the first illumination and exposure control configuration for capturing a first set of frames comprising one or more successive frames; 
 activate the second illumination and exposure control configuration for capturing a second set of frames comprising one or more successive frames; 
 attempt to decode decodable indicia utilizing a frame of the first set of frames; 
 attempt to decode a decodable indicia utilizing a frame of the second set of frames; and 
 switch between activation of the first illumination and exposure control configuration and the second illumination and exposure control configuration on a closed loop basis responsively to a sensed condition, the sensed condition being a measurement of motion of the indicia reading terminal. 
   
     
     
         22 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 21 , wherein the first associated illumination control and/or the second associated illumination control is a control for setting an energization level of the illumination subsystem to a certain predetermined value for each frame exposed during an activation period of the associated illumination and exposure control configuration. 
     
     
         23 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 21 , wherein the first associated exposure control and/or the second associated exposure control is a control for setting the exposure period of the image sensor array to a certain predetermined value for each frame exposed during an activation period of the associated illumination and exposure control configuration. 
     
     
         24 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 21 , wherein the first set of frames and/or the second set of frames is a single frame. 
     
     
         25 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first set of frames and the second set of frames is a plurality of frames. 
     
     
         26 . The imaging terminal of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the illumination subsystem comprises a light source having a maximum continuous operation energization rating; and   an average energization level of the light source during exposure periods of the image sensor array with the first illumination and exposure control configuration active exceeds the maximum continuous energization rating.   
     
     
         27 . The imaging terminal of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the illumination subsystem comprises a light source having a maximum continuous operation energization rating;   an average energization level of the light source during exposure periods of the image sensor array with the first illumination and exposure control configuration active is more than twice the maximum continuous energization rating; and   the average energization level of the light source during exposure periods of the image sensor array with the second illumination and exposure control configuration active does not exceed the maximum continuous operation energization rating.   
     
     
         28 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 21 , wherein:
 an average energization level of the illumination subsystem during exposure periods with the first illumination and exposure control configuration active in comparison to an average energization level of illumination subsystem during exposure periods with the second illumination and exposure control configuration active exhibits a ratio of greater than 3:1; and   an average exposure period of the image sensor array with the first illumination and exposure control configuration active in comparison to an average exposure period of the image sensor array with the second illumination and exposure control configuration active exhibits a ratio of less than 1:3.   
     
     
         29 . An indicia reading terminal, comprising:
 an illumination subsystem for projecting an illumination pattern; and   an image sensor array for capturing an image of a target;   wherein the indicia reading terminal has (i) a first illumination and exposure control configuration having a first associated illumination control and a first associated exposure control and (ii) a second illumination and exposure control configuration having a second associated illumination control and a second associated exposure control;   wherein, with the first illumination control active, an average energization level of the illumination subsystem during exposure periods of one or more frames is higher than with the second illumination control active;   wherein, with the first exposure control active, an average exposure period of the image sensor array is shorter than with the second exposure control active; and   wherein the indicia reading terminal is operative to:
 activate the first illumination and exposure control configuration for capturing a first set of frames comprising one or more successive frames; 
 activate the second illumination and exposure control configuration for capturing a second set of frames comprising one or more successive frames; 
 attempt to decode decodable indicia utilizing a frame of the first set of frames; 
   attempt to decode a decodable indicia utilizing a frame of the second set of frames; and
 switch between activation of the first illumination and exposure control configuration and the second illumination and exposure control configuration on an open loop basis without the switching being responsive to a sensed condition. 
   
     
     
         30 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 29 , wherein the first associated illumination control and/or the second associated illumination control is a control that allows an energization level of the illumination subsystem to vary between frames exposed during an activation period of the associated illumination and exposure control configuration. 
     
     
         31 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 29 , wherein the first associated exposure control and/or the second associated exposure control is a control that allows an exposure period of the illumination subsystem to vary between frames exposed during an activation period of the associated illumination and exposure control configuration. 
     
     
         32 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 29 , wherein the first set of frames and/or the second set of frames is a plurality of frames. 
     
     
         33 . The imaging terminal of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the illumination subsystem comprises a light source having a maximum continuous operation energization rating;   an average energization level of the light source during exposure periods of the image sensor array with the first illumination and exposure control configuration active exceeds the maximum continuous energization rating; and   the average energization level of the light source during exposure periods of the image sensor array with the second illumination and exposure control configuration active does not substantially exceed the maximum continuous operation energization rating.   
     
     
         34 . The imaging terminal of  claim 29 , wherein:
 an average energization level of the illumination subsystem during exposure periods with the first illumination and exposure control configuration active in comparison to an average energization level of illumination subsystem during exposure periods with the second illumination and exposure control configuration active exhibits a ratio of greater than 2:1; and   an average exposure period of the image sensor array with the first illumination and exposure control configuration active in comparison to an average exposure period of the image sensor array with the second illumination and exposure control configuration active exhibits a ratio of less than 1:2.   
     
     
         35 . An indicia reading terminal, comprising:
 an illumination subsystem for projecting an illumination pattern; and   an image sensor array for capturing an image of a target;   wherein the indicia reading terminal has (i) a first illumination and exposure control configuration having a first associated illumination control and a first associated exposure control and (ii) a second illumination and exposure control configuration having a second associated illumination control and a second associated exposure control;   wherein, with the first illumination control active, an average energization level of the illumination subsystem during exposure periods of one or more frames is higher than with the second illumination control active;   wherein, with the first exposure control active, an average exposure period of the image sensor array is shorter than with the second exposure control active;   wherein the indicia reading terminal is operative to:
 activate the first illumination and exposure control configuration for capturing a first set of frames comprising one or more successive frames; 
 activate the second illumination and exposure control configuration for capturing a second set of frames comprising one or more successive frames; 
 attempt to decode decodable indicia utilizing a frame of the first set of frames; 
   attempt to decode a decodable indicia utilizing a frame of the second set of frames;   wherein an average energization level of the illumination subsystem during exposure periods with the first illumination and exposure control configuration active in comparison to an average energization level of illumination subsystem during exposure periods with the second illumination and exposure control configuration active exhibits a ratio of greater than 2:1; and   wherein an average exposure period of the image sensor array with the first illumination and exposure control configuration active in comparison to an average exposure period of the image sensor array with the second illumination and exposure control configuration active exhibits a ratio of less than 1:2.   
     
     
         36 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 35 , wherein the indicia reading terminal is operative to switch between activation of the first illumination and exposure control configuration and the second illumination and exposure control configuration on a closed loop basis responsively to a sensed condition. 
     
     
         37 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 35 , wherein the indicia reading terminal is operative to switch between activation of the first illumination and exposure control configuration and the second illumination and exposure control configuration on a closed loop basis responsively to a sensed condition, the sensed condition being an ambient light level. 
     
     
         38 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 35 , wherein the indicia reading terminal is operative to switch between activation of the first illumination and exposure control configuration and the second illumination and exposure control configuration on a closed loop basis responsively to a sensed condition, the sensed condition being a terminal range. 
     
     
         39 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 35 , wherein the indicia reading terminal is operative to activate and deactivate the first illumination and exposure control configuration and/or the second illumination and exposure control configuration a plurality of times in response to activation of a trigger signal. 
     
     
         40 . The indicia reading terminal of  claim 35 , wherein the indicia reading terminal is operative to activate the second illumination and exposure control configuration prior to activating the first illumination and exposure control configuration in response to activation of a trigger signal.