Patent ID: 7611060

Claim:
A bar code reading device for reading a bar code disposed on a target, said bar code reading device comprising: an integrated circuit including an image sensor array, said image sensor array having a plurality of rows of pixels; a hand held housing encapsulating said image sensor array; an imaging lens capable of directing light reflected from a target onto said image sensor array, wherein said imaging lens is capable of first, second and third focus settings, wherein said bar code reading device when said imaging lens is at a first focus setting has a first best focus distance, wherein said bar code reading device when said imaging lens is at said second focus setting has a second best focus distance and wherein said bar code reading device when said imaging lens is at said third focus setting has a third best focus distance; a trigger for initiating reading of said bar code; wherein said bar code reading device is adapted so that responsively to said trigger being depressed, said bar code reading device captures a first frame of image data, a subsequent frame of image data, and a further subsequent frame of image data; wherein said bar code reading device is further adapted so that further responsively to said trigger being depressed said bar code reading device changes a focus setting of said imaging lens in such manner that said first frame of image data represents light incident on said image sensor array when said lens setting is at said first lens focus setting, said subsequent frame of image data represents light incident on said image sensor array when said lens setting is at said second focus setting, and said further subsequent frame of image data represents light incident on said image sensor array when said lens setting is at said third focus setting; and wherein said bar code reading device is further adapted so that further responsively to said trigger being depressed said bar code reading device subjects each of said first frame of image data, said subsequent frame of image data, and said further subsequent frame of image data to a decode attempt for attempting to decode said bar code.