Electronic shutter for a dual-mode imager

A method for selecting an optimum electronic shutter mode used for imaging and decoding a target object with an imaging reader, the method comprising:

• capturing a test image of a target object with an imaging reader having an electronic shutter operating in a first exposure mode;
• measuring the ambient lighting surrounding the imaging reader during the capturing of said test image of the target object with a processor located within a scanning arrangement of the imaging reader;
• evaluating the measured ambient lighting with said processor against a prescribed threshold programmed in said processor;
• and
• switching said electronic shutter mode from said first exposure mode to a second exposure mode when said measured ambient lighting is greater than said prescribed threshold for future imaging operations and maintaining said electronic shutter mode in said first exposure mode when said measured ambient lighting is less than said prescribed threshold for future imaging operations.

A method for selecting an optimum electronic shutter mode used for imaging and decoding a target object with an imaging reader, the method comprising:

• capturing a test image of a target object with an imaging reader having an shutter means operating in a first exposure mode;
• measuring the ambient lighting surrounding the imaging reader during the capturing of said test image of the target object with a processing means coupled to said imaging reader;
• evaluating the measured ambient lighting with said processing means against a prescribed threshold programmed in said processing means;
• and
• switching said shutter means mode from said first exposure mode to a second exposure mode when said measured ambient lighting is at or less than a programmed value from said prescribed threshold for future imaging operations and maintaining said shutter means mode in said first exposure mode when said measured ambient lighting is greater than said programmed value from said prescribed threshold for future imaging operations.

An imaging reader for scanning and decoding a target object, the imaging reader comprising:

• a scanning arrangement comprising a sensor assembly for capturing an image from a target object, the sensor assembly having a field-of-view focused by an optical arrangement onto a sensor array located within the sensor assembly;
• a programmable microprocessor located within and coupled to said scanning arrangement operating an electronic shutter for controlling the exposure time of pixels located in said sensor array, the electronic shutter having a global shutter mode and a rolling shutter mode;
• an image test control system associated with said scanning arrangement for evaluating lighting conditions surrounding the imaging system and for assigning a brightness value based on the evaluation, the image test control system further selects an optimum mode for future images by said imaging reader based on said brightness value by selecting between said global shutter mode and said rolling shutter mode;
• and
• a threshold programmed into said microprocessor such that if said brightness value is at or less than a programmed value in said microprocessor from said threshold said electronic shutter is switch from said global shutter mode to said rolling shutter mode for future imaging operations and if said brightness value is greater than said programmed value in said microprocessor from said threshold said electronic shutter mode is set at said global shutter mode for future imaging operations.