Imaging apparatus having lens element

An apparatus comprising:

• an image sensor array having a plurality of pixels, a memory for storing image data, wherein the apparatus is adapted for processing the image data for attempting to decode decodable indicia represented in the image data, a lens assembly for focusing an image of a target onto the image sensor array, the variable lens assembly including a lens element having a first light transmissive substrate and a second light transmissive substrate, the first light transmissive substrate including a first electrode, the second light transmissive substrate including a second electrode, the lens element further having liquid crystal material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the apparatus further being operative to expose during a first exposure period a first frame of image data with the lens assembly defining a plane of optimum focus distance “a” from the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus is further configured so that the apparatus is operative to subject the first frame of image data to a decode attempt for decoding of a decodable indicia, wherein the apparatus is configured so that the first exposure period occurs during a time at which a lens setting of the lens assembly is transitioning between a farther plane of optimum focus lens setting and a nearer plane of optimum focus lens setting, the plane of optimum focus distance “a” being intermediate a plane of optimum focus distance defined at the farther plane of optimum focus lens setting and a plane of optimum focus distance defines at the nearer plane of optimum focus lens setting, wherein a pixel of the image sensor array has a shielded storage region that stores subsequent to the first exposure period and prior to readout a charge representative of light incident on the pixel during the first exposure period, and wherein the image sensor array is controlled so that the first exposure period comprises a simultaneous exposure initiation time and simultaneous termination time for a plurality of rows of pixels of the image sensor array.

A computer program product for establishing a liquid crystal lens assembly lens setting, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:
• obtaining, by a processor, a liquid crystal lens assembly lens setting information from a configuration resource;
• determining, by the processor, responsively to the lens setting information lens element driving data;
• transmitting, by the processor, to a liquid crystal lens element driver circuit, the lens element driving data.