Image reading device capable of producing illumination including a continuous, low-intensity level illumination component and one or more pulsed, high-intensity level illumination components

An image reading device comprising:

• an illumination system includes one or more illumination sources to produce illumination light and an illumination circuit to drive the illumination sources;
• an image sensor for capturing light reflected from a target illuminated with the illumination light during an exposure period;
• and
• a processor for controlling the illumination system, reading light data captured by the image sensor during a read-out period after the exposure period and decoding an image based on the light data during a decoding period after the read-out period;
• wherein the processor causes the illumination circuit of the illumination system to produce a first illumination light having a first intensity level continuously during a base illumination period that includes the exposure period and the read-out period by driving the one or more illumination sources, and a second illumination light having a second intensity level higher than the first intensity level during a pulsed illumination period having at least one pulse length in the base illumination period by overdriving the one or more illumination sources.