Method and apparatus for rapid image capture in an image system

An apparatus, comprising:

• an image sensor configured to capture multiple images of at least a portion of a surface of a component in response to a trigger signal in an automated identification system, the multiple images comprising a series of images including a first image and at least one subsequent image;
• a memory, coupled to the image sensor, to store the multiple images;
• a processor, coupled to the memory, to process the multiple images to identify and read a symbol code, if any, contained within at least one or a combination of two or more of the multiple images;
• and
• an input/output interface, coupled to the processor, to receive the trigger signal.

An article of manufacture, comprising:

• a machine-readable medium that provides instructions, including instructions to:
• process a received trigger signal communicated from a triggering device in response to a location of a component in an automated identification system;
• capture multiple images of at least a portion of a surface of the component in response to the received trigger signal, the multiple images comprising a series of images including a first image and at least one subsequent image;
• store the multiple images in a memory;
• and
• process the multiple images to identify and read a symbol code, if any, contained within at least one or a combination of two or more of the multiple images.