Digital image capturing and processing system employing a plurality of area-type illuminating and imaging stations projecting a plurality of coextensive area-type illumination and imaging zones into a 3D imaging volume, and controlling operations therewithin using control data derived from velocity data collected from the automated detection of objects passing through said 3D imaging volume

An automatic digital image capturing and processing system for use in point of sale (POS) environments. The system comprising a system housing having an imaging window, a plurality of coextensive area-type illumination and imaging stations disposed in the system housing, for projecting a plurality of coextensive area-type illumination and imaging zones through the imaging window and into the 3D imaging volume, for capturing a series of area-type digital images of an object intersecting therewith during system operation. An object motion detection subsystem automatically detects the motion of objects passing through the 3D imaging volume, and generates velocity data in response to the detection of the objects moving through the 3D imaging volume during system operation, while a control subsystem, responsive to the velocity data, generates control data for controlling at least one exposure control parameter associated with the operation of the area-type imaging arrays within the coextensive area-type illumination and imaging stations, and also controlling and/or coordinating other operations of the subsystems during system operation.