Patent ID: 8282004

Claim:
An indicia reading terminal comprising: an imaging assembly including an image sensor having a plurality of pixels; a memory for storing image data, and a controller for processing the image data for attempting to decode decodable indicia represented in the image data; a variable lens assembly for focusing an image of a target onto the image sensor, the variable lens assembly having a lens element comprising a deformable membrane and an opposing light transmissive member delimiting a cavity having optical fluid disposed therein, the lens element having an imaging axis extending through the deformable membrane, wherein the variable lens assembly further includes an actuator assembly for moving the deformable membrane to thereby change an optical characteristic of the lens element, and wherein the actuator assembly includes a piezoelectric actuator; wherein the indicia reading terminal is operative to move a lens setting of the lens assembly between at least first and second different lens settings, the lens assembly having a first plane of optimum focus at the first lens setting and a second plane of optimum focus at the second lens setting, the indicia reading terminal further being operative to expose a first frame of image data with the lens assembly at the first lens setting and a second frame of image data with the lens assembly at the second lens setting, and wherein the terminal is further configured so that the terminal is operative to subject each of the first and second frames of image data to a decode attempt for decoding of a decodable indicia, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is provided by a hollowed disc piezoelectric actuator having a hollowed portion disposed about the imaging axis and having a first piezoceramic layer and a second piezoceramic layer that extend substantially in parallel with the deformable membrane.