Variable depth of field scanning and lighting devices and methods
Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, devices, barcode scanners, and software for variable depth of field scanning and lighting devices and methods. One such embodiment includes adjusting variable lenses on each of a plurality of barcode scanner scan-field lighting elements to a first depth of field and capturing a number of first images with a camera of a barcode scanner at the first depth of field. The method of this embodiment then outputs at least one of the number of the first images to a barcode reading process. This example method may then continue by adjusting the variable lenses of each of the plurality of barcode scanner scan-field lighting elements to a second depth of field, capturing a number of second images with the camera of the barcode scanner at the second depth of field, and then outputting at least one of the number of the second images to the barcode reading process. The adjusting, capturing, and outputting may then be repeated again in some embodiments for a third depth of field, a fourth depth of field, and onward, depending on the number of depths of field in a particular embodiment.
1. A method comprising:
adjusting variable lenses on each of a plurality of barcode scanner scan-field lighting elements to a first depth of field;
capturing a number of first images with a camera of a barcode scanner at the first depth of field;
outputting at least one of the number of the first images to a barcode reading process;
adjusting the variable lenses of each of the plurality of barcode scanner scan-field lighting elements to a second depth of field;
capturing a number of second images with the camera of the barcode scanner at the second depth of field;
outputting at least one of the number of the second images to the barcode reading process;
adjusting variable lenses on each of a plurality of barcode scanner scan-field lighting elements to a third depth of field;
capturing a number of third images with the camera of the barcode scanner at the third depth of field;
outputting at least one of the number of the third images to the barcode reading process; and
restarting the method.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the variable lenses to each of the first, second, and third depths of field further includes adjusting a variable lens of the camera to the same respective depth of field.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the depths of field of the variable lenses are adjusted by changing voltages of electrical current respectively applied thereto.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the voltages applied to the variable lenses to adjust the variable lenses to the first, second, and third depths of field are identified based on data stored in a memory of the barcode scanner.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the numbers of first, second, and third images are equal.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the numbers of first, second, and third images are set as a configuration setting based on a frame rate of the camera divided by the number of depths of field at which images are captured.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the variable lenses are variable focus lenses.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the variable focus lenses are liquid lenses.
9. A barcode scanner comprising:
at least one camera;
at least one scan field light array, each scan field light array to illuminate a scan field of one of the cameras of the at least one camera, the lighting elements of each scan field light array including variable lenses that focus light of the lighting elements at variable depths of field;
a processor, a memory device, and a barcode reading process stored in the memory that is executable by the processor;
instructions stored on the memory device executable by the processor to independently perform data processing activities with regard to each of the scan field lighting arrays, the data processing activities comprising:
adjusting the variable lenses on each lighting element of at least one scan field lighting array to a first depth of field;
capturing a number of first images with at least one camera at the first depth of field;
outputting at least one of the first images to the barcode reading process;
adjusting the variable lenses on each lighting element of at least one scan field lighting array to a second depth of field;
capturing a number of second images with at least one camera at the second depth of field;
outputting at least one of the second images to the barcode reading process;
adjusting the variable lenses on each lighting element of at least one scan field lighting array to a third depth of field;
capturing a number of third images with at least one camera at the third depth of field;
outputting at least one of the third images to the barcode reading process; and
restarting the data processing activities.
10. The barcode scanner of claim 9 , wherein the variable lenses are liquid lenses.
11. The barcode scanner of claim 9 , wherein adjusting the variable lenses to each of the first, second, and third depths of field further includes adjusting a variable lens of at least one of the at least one cameras to the same respective depth of field.
12. The barcode scanner of claim 9 , wherein the numbers of first, second, and third images are set as a configuration setting stored in the memory based on a frame rate of the camera divided by the number of depths of field at which images are captured.