Optical code reading device having more than one imaging engine

A computing device comprising:

• a first imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a first plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• a second imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a second plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• switching circuitry for operatively switching between the first and second imaging engines;
• and
• a processor for controlling the switching circuitry for receiving one of the first and second plurality of signals, wherein the first imaging engine has a near-to-mid imaging range and the second imaging engine has a mid-to-far imaging range.

A computing device comprising:

• a first imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a first plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• a second imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a second plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• switching circuitry for operatively switching between the first and second imaging engines;
• and
• a processor for controlling the switching circuitry for receiving one of the first and second plurality of signals, wherein the imaging engines have at least one different depth of field and field of view.

A computing device comprising:

• a first imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a first plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• a second imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a second plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• switching circuitry for operatively switching between the first and second imaging engines;
• and
• a processor for controlling the switching circuitry for receiving one of the first and second plurality of signals, wherein at least one of the image sensors is a color image sensor.

A computing device comprising:

• a first imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a first plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• a second imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a second plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• switching circuitry for operatively switching between the first and second imaging engines;
• and
• a processor for controlling the switching circuitry for receiving one of the first and second plurality of signals, wherein the first image sensor provides higher resolution image than the second image sensor.

A computing device comprising:

• a first imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a first plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• a second imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a second plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• switching circuitry for operatively switching between the first and second imaging engines;
• and
• a processor for controlling the switching circuitry for receiving one of the first and second plurality of signals, wherein the switching circuitry includes a multiplexer.

A computing device comprising:

• at least two imaging engines each integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• switching circuitry for operatively switching between the at least two imaging engines;
• a processor for controlling the switching circuitry and for processing the plurality of signals;
• and
• an automatically focusing lens assembly for controlling movement of at least one lens of a lens assembly of at least one of the at least two imaging engines.

A computing device comprising:

• at least two imaging engines each integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• switching circuitry for operatively switching between the at least two imaging engines;
• and
• a processor for controlling the switching circuitry and for processing the plurality of signals, wherein at least one of the at least two imaging engines has one of a near-to-mid imaging range and a mid-to-far imaging range.

A computing device comprising:

• at least two imaging engines each integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• switching circuitry for operatively switching between the at least two imaging engines;
• and
• a processor for controlling the switching circuitry and for processing the plurality of signals, wherein the at least two imaging engines have at least one different depth of field and field of view.

A computing device comprising:

• at least two imaging engines each integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• switching circuitry for operatively switching between the at least two imaging engines;
• and
• a processor for controlling the switching circuitry and for processing the plurality of signals, wherein at least one of the at least two imaging engines includes a color image sensor.

A computing device comprising:

• a first imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a first plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• a second imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a second plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• a processor for receiving at least one of the first and second plurality of signals;
• and
• an automatically focusing lens assembly for controlling movement of at least one lens of a lens assembly of at least one of the imaging engines.

A computing device comprising:

• a first imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a first plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• a second imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a second plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• and
• a processor for receiving at least one of the first and second plurality of signals, wherein the first imaging engine has a near-to-mid imaging range and the second imaging engine has a mid-to-far imaging range.

A computing device comprising:

• a first imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a first plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• a second imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a second plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• and
• a processor for receiving at least one of the first and second plurality of signals, wherein at least one of the image sensors is a color image sensor.

A computing device comprising:

• a first imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a first plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• a second imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a second plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• and
• a processor for receiving at least one of the first and second plurality of signals, wherein the first image sensor provides a higher resolution image than the second image sensor.

A method for performing digital imaging, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least two imaging engines in a computing device, each imaging engine integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device at least one illumination source and an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image senor;
• selecting at least one of the at least two imaging engines;
• processing the plurality of signals corresponding to the at least one selected imaging engine;
• and
• automatically controlling movement of a lens assembly of at least one of the at least two imaging engines.

A computing device comprising:

• a housing defining at least one cavity;
• a first imaging engine mounted in said at least one cavity and integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a first plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor and at least one illumination source;
• a second imaging engine mounted in said at least one cavity and integrating in a single unit separate and apart from said computing device an image sensor for impinging an image thereon and outputting a second plurality of signals corresponding to the image impinged on the image sensor;
• switching circuitry for operatively switching between the first and second imaging engines;
• and
• a processor for controlling the switching circuitry for receiving one of the first and second plurality of signals, wherein the first imaging engine has a near-to-mid imaging range and the second imaging engine has a mid-to-far imaging range.