Terminal having plurality of operating modes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A terminal comprising:
- an image sensor array having a plurality of pixels arranged over a two dimensional area;
an imaging lens for use in focusing an image onto the image sensor array wherein the imaging lens in combination with the image sensor array define a field of view of the terminal;
a light source bank for use in projecting light in a direction of the field of view;
a hand held housing incorporating the image sensor array;
wherein the terminal is configured to be operative in an operator selectable camera operating mode and an operator selectable flashlight operating mode;
wherein the terminal is operative so that when a trigger signal is activated when operating in the camera operating mode, the terminal captures and processes a plurality of frames of image data, and energizes the light source bank during exposure periods for the plurality of frames, the terminal in the camera operating mode having a first average power consumption attributable to activity of the image sensor array and image data processing; and
wherein the terminal in the flashlight operating mode responsively to activation of a trigger signal and during an active period captures a parameter determination frame and processes the parameter determination frame to determine an operating parameter determining an aspect of operation of the terminal in the flashlight operating mode, the terminal in the flashlight operating mode having a second average power consumption attributable to activity of the image sensor array and image data processing, the second average power consumption being lower than the first average power consumption, the terminal in the flashlight operating mode restricting operation of the image sensor array during an inactive period subsequent to the active period, the inactive period being longer than the active period.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is set forth herein a terminal having an image sensor array and a plurality of operator selectable operating modes. The image sensor array can have an associated light source bank. The operator selectable operating modes can include at least one camera operating mode and at least one flashlight operating mode. In the at least one camera operating mode the image sensor array and light source bank can be controlled for optimization of frame capture. In the at least one flashlight operating mode the image sensor array and the light source bank can be controlled for optimizing illumination of an operators viewing area with reduced average power consumption.
470 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A terminal comprising:
-
an image sensor array having a plurality of pixels arranged over a two dimensional area; an imaging lens for use in focusing an image onto the image sensor array wherein the imaging lens in combination with the image sensor array define a field of view of the terminal; a light source bank for use in projecting light in a direction of the field of view; a hand held housing incorporating the image sensor array; wherein the terminal is configured to be operative in an operator selectable camera operating mode and an operator selectable flashlight operating mode; wherein the terminal is operative so that when a trigger signal is activated when operating in the camera operating mode, the terminal captures and processes a plurality of frames of image data, and energizes the light source bank during exposure periods for the plurality of frames, the terminal in the camera operating mode having a first average power consumption attributable to activity of the image sensor array and image data processing; and wherein the terminal in the flashlight operating mode responsively to activation of a trigger signal and during an active period captures a parameter determination frame and processes the parameter determination frame to determine an operating parameter determining an aspect of operation of the terminal in the flashlight operating mode, the terminal in the flashlight operating mode having a second average power consumption attributable to activity of the image sensor array and image data processing, the second average power consumption being lower than the first average power consumption, the terminal in the flashlight operating mode restricting operation of the image sensor array during an inactive period subsequent to the active period, the inactive period being longer than the active period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A terminal comprising:
-
an image sensor having a field of view; an imaging lens for focusing an image onto the image sensor; and a light source for projecting light in a direction of the field of view; wherein the terminal is configured for; when operating in a camera mode and in response to a trigger signal, capturing frames of image data with the image sensor and energizing the light source during image sensor exposure periods for the captured frames of image data; and when operating in a flashlight mode and in response to a trigger signal; projecting light with the light source during a first image-sensor active period, a first image-sensor inactive period after the first image-sensor active period, a second image-sensor active period after the first image-sensor inactive period, and a second image-sensor inactive period after the second image-sensor active period; capturing a first parameter determination frame with the image sensor during the first image-sensor active period; processing the first parameter determination frame to determine a first operating parameter for the flashlight mode; capturing a second parameter determination frame with the image sensor during the second image-sensor active period; and processing the second parameter determination frame to determine a second operating parameter for the flashlight mode; wherein, when in the camera mode, the terminal has a first average power consumption attributable to activity of the image sensor array and image data processing; wherein, when in the flashlight mode, the terminal has a second average power consumption attributable to activity of the image sensor array and image data processing; wherein the second average power consumption is lower than the first average power consumption; wherein the first image-sensor inactive period is longer than the first image-sensor active period; and wherein the first operating parameter is a light source energization level. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A terminal comprising:
-
an image sensor having a field of view; an imaging lens for focusing an image onto the image sensor; and a light source for projecting light in a direction of the field of view; wherein the terminal is configured for; when operating in a camera mode and in response to a trigger signal, capturing frames of image data with the image sensor and energizing the light source during image sensor exposure periods for the captured frames of image data; and when operating in a flashlight mode and in response to a trigger signal, projecting light with the light source during an image-sensor active period and an image-sensor inactive period, capturing a parameter determination frame with the image sensor during the image-sensor active period, and processing the parameter determination frame to determine an operating parameter for the flashlight mode, the image-sensor inactive period being longer than the image-sensor active period; wherein, when in the camera mode, the terminal has a first average power consumption attributable to activity of the image sensor array and image data processing; wherein, when in the flashlight mode, the terminal has a second average power consumption attributable to activity of the image sensor array and image data processing; and wherein the second average power consumption is lower than the first average power consumption. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification