MULTISPECTRAL IMAGING BIOMETRICS

1 .- 28 . (canceled)

29 . A method for acquiring an image of an optical code, the method comprising:

first configuring optical components of a biometric imager in a close-up configuration, the biometric imager integrated in a portable electronic device;

first imaging a purported skin site in contact with a platen of the biometric imager while the optical components are in the close-up configuration;

second configuring the optical components in a macro configuration that is distinct from the close-up configuration; and

second imaging an optical code out of contact with the platen while the optical components are in the macro configuration.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the first imaging is performed in close temporal proximity to the second imaging.

31 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising:

associating a first image acquired by the first imaging with a second image acquired by the second imaging; and

using the associated first and second images in at least one of a legal audit trail or a forensic chain of evidence.

32 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the first imaging comprises:

acquiring an image of the purported skin site; and

processing the image to perform a biometric function.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the biometric function comprises at least one of biometric identification or biometric authentication.

34 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the first imaging comprises:

illuminating the purported skin site;

receiving light from the purported skin site during the illuminating; and

acquiring a direct image of the purported skin site from the received light.

35 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the second imaging comprises:

receiving light from the optical code; and

acquiring a direct image of the optical code from the received light.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the second imaging further comprises:

illuminating the optical code,

wherein the receiving is during the illuminating.

37 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising:

applying wavefront coding to correct for different focal positions subsequent to the acquiring.

38 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the acquiring comprises scanning text or graphics.

39 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising:

processing the image to decode the optical code.

40 . The method of claim 39 , further comprising:

initiating a service automatically in response to decoding the optical code.

41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the initiating comprises at least one of:

downloading, to the portable electronic device, information relating to a product identified by the optical code; initiating a promotion corresponding to the optical code; or initiating a gaming activity selected in accordance with the optical code.

42 . The method of claim 29 , wherein:

the optical components comprise an adjustable focus mechanism;

the first configuring comprises adjusting the adjustable focus mechanism to focus substantially on the platen; and

the second configuring comprises adjusting the adjustable focus mechanism to focus substantially past the platen.

43 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the adjustable focus mechanism comprises at least one of: a set of optical lenses in an optical zoom arrangement; a liquid lens that operates to adjust focus by electro-wetting; or a micro-electromechanical micro-optical system.

44 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the optical code comprises a barcode.

45 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the optical code comprises a machine-readable symbol.

46 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the biometric imager is a multispectral imager.

47 . A system for acquiring an image of an optical code, the system comprising:

an imager that is integrated in a portable electronic device and operates to acquire a direct image of a purported skin site located in a close-up region when optical components of the imager are configured in a close-up configuration and to acquire a direct image of an optical code located in a macro region when optical components of the imager are configured in a macro configuration, the macro region being further from the imager than the close-up region; and

an adjustable focus mechanism that operates to selectively focus the imager in the close-up configuration or the macro configuration.

48 . The system of claim 47 , wherein the purported skin site is located in the close-up region when it is in contact with a platen of the imager.

49 . The system of claim 47 , wherein the imager:

comprises at least one illumination source that operates to illuminate at least the close-up region; and

operates to acquire the direct image of the purported skin site by:

illuminating the purported skin site with the at least one illumination source;

receiving light from the purported skin site during the illuminating; and

acquiring the direct image of the purported skin site from the received light.

50 . The system of claim 47 , wherein the imager operates to acquire the direct image of the optical code by:

receiving light from the optical code; and

acquiring the direct image of the optical code from the received light.

51 . The system of claim 47 , wherein the imager:

comprises at least one illumination source that operates to illuminate at least a portion of the macro region; and

operates to acquire the direct image of the optical code by:

illuminating the optical code with the at least one illumination source;

receiving light from the optical code during the illuminating; and

acquiring the direct image of the optical code from the received light.

52 . The system of claim 47 , wherein the adjustable focus mechanism comprises at least one of: a set of optical lenses in an optical zoom arrangement; a liquid lens that operates to adjust focus by electro-wetting; or a micro-electromechanical micro-optical system.

53 . The system of claim 47 , further comprising a computational unit, interfaced with the imager and the adjustable focus mechanism, that operates to:

first configure the imager in the close-up configuration;

first acquire the direct image of the purported skin site in the close-up region while the imager is in the close-up configuration;

second configure the imager in the macro configuration; and

second acquire the direct image of the optical code while the imager is in the macro configuration.

54 . The system of claim 53 , wherein the computational unit operates to first acquire in close temporal proximity to second acquiring.

55 . The system of claim 53 , wherein the computational unit further operates to process the direct image of the purported skin site to perform a biometric function.

56 . The system of claim 53 , wherein the computational unit further operates to:

process the direct image of the optical code by applying wavefront coding to correct for different focal positions subsequent to the second acquiring.

57 . The system of claim 53 , wherein the computational unit further operates to:

process the direct image of the optical code by decoding the optical code.

58 . The system of claim 57 , wherein the computational unit further operates to:

initiate a service automatically in response to decoding the optical code.

59 . The system of claim 47 , wherein the imager is a multispectral biometric imager.

60 . The system of claim 47 , further comprising:

the portable electronic device.