Uniform illumination image capture

A device comprising:

• a light source;
• a light sensing array;
• and
• an electronic circuit configured to:
• select a range of distances from the device;
• determine a pulse length based on the range of distances;
• cause the light source to generate a light pulse with the pulse length, wherein the pulse length defines a beginning of the light pulse and an end of the light pulse, wherein the light pulse has a modulated decay that is substantially linear such that the light pulse has an intensity that decays from a maximum at the beginning of the light pulse to zero at the end of the light pulse, wherein the light pulse reflects from an object located at an object distance within the range of distances to provide a reflected light pulse;
• and
• use the light sensing array to sense an integrated intensity of the reflected light pulse during an exposure time, wherein the exposure time is controlled based on the range of distances and the modulated decay such that the integrated intensity of the reflected light pulse is substantially independent of the object distance.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

• selecting a range of distances from an image capture device, wherein the image capture device comprises a light source and a light sensing array;
• determining a pulse length based on the range of distances;
• causing the light source to generate a light pulse with the pulse length, wherein the pulse length defines a beginning of the light pulse and an end of the light pulse, wherein the light pulse has a modulated decay that is substantially linear such that the light pulse has an intensity that decays from a maximum at the beginning of the light pulse to zero at the end of the light pulse, wherein the light pulse reflects from an object located at an object distance within the range of distances to provide a reflected light pulse;
• and
• using the light sensing array to sense an integrated intensity of the reflected light pulse during an exposure time, wherein the exposure time is controlled based on the range of distances and the modulated decay such that the integrated intensity of the reflected light pulse is substantially independent of the object distance.