An imaging module for electro-optically imaging a target, includes an energizable illuminating light source for illuminating the target with illumination light for return from the target, an energizable solid-state imager for capturing return light from the target, and a controller for energizing the imager during an exposure time period to capture the return light at a frame rate, for deenergizing the imager during a non-exposed time period, and for energizing the illuminating light source not only during the exposure time period, but also during the non-exposed time period, to produce a plurality of illumination light pulses at an illumination rate that enables the human eye to perceive the illumination light pulses as substantially continuous. The illumination rate of one or more of the illumination light pulses produced during the non-exposed time period is substantially independent and decoupled from the frame rate.