Machine vision device with switchable direct and diffused illumination

An indicia decoding device comprising:

• an image capture device;
• a material with switchable optical properties, wherein the material with switchable optical properties has a transparent state and a translucent state;
• an aiming assembly;
• and
• a light source, wherein the light source is positioned to illuminate a target of the image capture device, and the material with switchable optical properties is positioned between the light source and the target of the image capture device and configured to switch between the transparent state which is configured to provide direct illumination of the target and the translucent state which is configured to provide diffused illumination of the target,
• wherein the device is configured to change the state of the material with switchable optical properties responsive to a predetermined condition being met, and
• wherein the predetermined condition is a determination that at least one of a specularity of the target of the indicia decoding device, a saturation of an image, or a saturation of a portion of an image exceeds a predetermined threshold.