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Apparatus and method comprising deformable lens element

  • US 8,505,822 B2
  • Filed: 10/08/2010
  • Issued: 08/13/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A hand held data collection terminal comprising:

  • a two dimensional image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels formed in a plurality of rows and columns of pixels;

    an imaging lens assembly comprising a deformable lens element for focusing an image onto said two dimensional image sensor, said imaging lens being adapted so that said deformable lens element can be deformed, said imaging lens assembly having an imaging axis, a first lens setting at which said deformable lens element is in a first state and a second lens setting at which said deformable lens element is in a second state; and

    a trigger for activating a trigger signal, said data collection terminal being adapted so that said trigger signal can be maintained in an active state by maintaining said trigger in a depressed position;

    wherein said data collection terminal is adapted so that responsively to said trigger signal being maintained in said active state, said hand held data collection terminal captures in succession a plurality of frames of image data, each of said plurality of frames of image data representing light incident on said image sensor at an instant in time, wherein said data collection terminal is adapted so that a lens setting of said imaging lens assembly is varied while said trigger signal is maintained in said active state in such manner that said lens assembly is at said first setting for an exposure period corresponding to at least one of said plurality of frames of image data, and said lens assembly is at said second lens setting for an exposure period corresponding to at least one of said plurality of frames of image data; and

    wherein said deformable lens element has a deformable surface, at least part of which transmits image forming light rays, wherein said hand held data collection terminal includes a force imparting structural member disposed to impart a force to said deformable surface, wherein said hand held data collection terminal is adapted so that said force imparting structural member is capable of imparting at least one of a pushing force or a pulling force to said deformable surface;

    wherein said force imparting structural member is adapted so that a pushing force imparted by said force imparting structural member to said deformable surface of said deformable lens element results in a decrease of a thickness of said deformable lens element alone said imaging axis.

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