Indicia reading terminals and methods for decoding decodable indicia employing light field imaging

A method for decoding decodable indicia, the method comprising:

• obtaining a first plenoptic image data corresponding to a space containing the decodable indicia from an image sensor array of a hand held indicia reading terminal in responsive to detecting that a trigger has been actuated by an operator, to obtain plenoptic image data from said image sensor array;
• obtaining a first rendered image based on at least a portion of the plenoptic image data;
• and
• attempting a decode of the decodable indicia represented in the first rendered image;
• wherein the first rendered image is based on a plurality of different sub-aperture images obtained from the plenoptic image data, and wherein the different sub-aperture images are obtained having a predetermined offset shift corresponding to rendering the decodable indicia disposed at a predetermined distance from the indicia reading terminal.

An indicia reading terminal for decoding decodable indicia, said indicia reading terminal comprising:

• a plenoptic imaging subsystem comprising an image sensor array and plenoptic imaging optics operable to project a first plenoptic image of a space containing the decodable indicia onto said image sensor array;
• a hand held housing encapsulating a least a portion of said plenoptic imaging subsystem;
• a trigger for initiating operation of the plenoptic imaging subsystem to obtain plenoptic image data of the decodable indicia;
• an illumination source for projecting illumination onto the decodable indicia;
• an aimer for projecting an aimer pattern onto the decodable indicia;
• said indicia reading terminal operable, responsive to detecting that said trigger has been actuated by an operator, to obtain first plenoptic image data from said image sensor array;
• said indicia reading terminal operable to adjust at least one operating parameter of the indicia reading terminal based on said first plenoptic image data;
• said indicia reading terminal operable to project a second plenoptic image of the space containing the decodable indicia onto said image sensor array;
• said indicia reading terminal operable to obtain a first rendered image based on at least a portion of the second plenoptic image data;
• and
• said indicia reading terminal operable to attempt to decode the decodable indicia represented in the first rendered image;
• wherein said indicia reading terminal being operable to adjust the at least one operating parameter comprises said indicia reading terminal operable to adjust at least one of:
• an exposure period of said image sensor array;
• operation of said illumination subsystem for projecting illumination onto the decodable indicia;
• an exposure period of said image sensor array and operation of said illumination subsystem for projecting illumination onto the decodable indicia;
• and, a gain of the plenoptic image signals read out of the image sensor array.

A method for decoding decodable indicia, the method comprising:

• obtaining a first plenoptic image data corresponding to a space containing the decodable indicia from an image sensor array of an indicia reading terminal;
• adjusting at least one operating parameter of the indicia reading terminal based on said first plenoptic image data;
• obtaining a second plenoptic image data corresponding to the space containing the decodable indicia from the image sensor array of the indicia reading terminal;
• obtaining a first rendered image based on at least a portion of the second plenoptic image data;
• and
• attempting a decode of the decodable indicia represented in the first rendered image;
• wherein said indicia reading terminal being operable to adjust the at least one operating parameter comprises said indicia reading terminal operable to adjust at least one of:
• an exposure period of said image sensor array;
• operation of said illumination subsystem for projecting illumination onto the decodable indicia;
• an exposure period of said image sensor array and operation of said illumination subsystem for projecting illumination onto the decodable indicia;
• and, a gain of the plenoptic image signals read out of the image sensor array.

A terminal for measuring at least one dimension of an object, the terminal comprising:

• a plenoptic imaging subsystem comprising an image sensor array and plenoptic imaging optics operable to project a plenoptic image of a space containing the decodable indicia onto said image sensor array;
• said terminal operable to obtain plenoptic image data of the object from said image sensor array;
• and
• said terminal operable to determine at least one of a height, a width, and a depth dimension of the object based on at least a portion of the plenoptic image data;
• wherein said terminal comprises a multi-core processor, and wherein said terminal being operable to attempt to determine the at least one of the height, the width, and the depth dimension of the object comprises using different portions of the selected portion of the plenoptic image data processed by different ones of the multi-core processor.