Abstract: A keypad-overlay for use with an electronic device. The electronic device has a plurality of keys or signal input members coupled to electronic components within a housing of the electronic device. The signal input members have key indicia that identify key strokes usable in operation of the electronic components. The keypad-overlay is removably positioned adjacent to the signal input members. The keypad-overlay has a plurality of translucent cover members each positioned over a respective key indicia within the key indicia being visible to a user through the translucent cover member. The cover members have tactile indicators that provide a tactile indication to a user that the cover member has depressed a selected distance to accomplish a key stroke. The cover members have a key-activating protrusion positioned to engage and activate the key when the cover member is depressed toward the key.

Abstract: A new bar code symbology in an exemplary embodiment employs three bars (and spaces) within nine modules, similar to Code 93. Fifty-three data characters are defined, including several special mode characters. By employing these special mode characters, together with certain routines, three symbol characters can represent two 8-bit bytes, or one 16-bit word. As a result, the symbology can efficiently encode 8-bit bytes for use in computer processing, or encode 16-bit character sets such as Unicode. Symbology encodes extended channel interpretation (ECI) numbers, provides multiple numeric compression modes, provides a structured append using a single mode character, as well as other features.

Abstract: The disclosed system provides a UDP+ connection-oriented protocol layer that reliably communicates over the UDP transport layer in a hand-held device. By providing reliable communication over the UDP transport layer instead of using the TAP transport layer, memory requirements are reduced, and applications running on the hand-held device have reliable data transfers performed on their behalf. Additionally, the UDP+ layer is designed to communicate using a "persistent session." A persistent session is a mode of communication where, when a connection terminates, the data associated with the connection, including the packets that have not yet been transferred, is not discarded. Instead, in using a persistent session, UDP+ retains the data associated with a connection after it terminates, reestablishes the connection, and completes the data transfer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding profiles which fail to resolve narrow elements in machine-readable symbols formed as relief patterns, first begins by identifying which elements in the profile are resolved. Second, the distances between the centers of the resolved elements are determined. Third, closure boundaries are determined, and the widths of resolved elements are determined at the closure boundary. The type of resolved element is determined based on its measured width. Thereafter, a unit distance is determined for 1-wide narrow elements unresolved in the profile. Based on the unit distance and the width of two adjacent resolved elements, a matrix is constructed for determining the number of narrow elements unresolved between two resolved elements. Based on the measured center distances, the resolved element widths and the matrix, all of the unresolved narrow elements are identified in the profile and the profile is subsequently decoded.

Abstract: A new bar code symbology in an exemplary embodiment employs three bars (and spaces) within nine modules, similar to Code 93. Fifty-three data characters are defined, including several special mode characters. By employing these special mode characters, together with certain routines, three symbol characters can represent two 8-bit bytes, or one 16-bit word. As a result, the symbology can efficiently encode 8-bit bytes for use in computer processing, or encode 16-bit character sets such as Unicode. Symbology encodes extended channel interpretation (ECI) numbers, provides multiple numeric compression modes, provides a structured append using a single mode character, as well as other features.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus prints bars of symbol characters comprised of a plurality of rows which are in turn comprised of a plurality of close adjacent dots to improve print quality and modulation when the symbol is printed on a media which is or can be laminated. The basic method includes removing a portion of one dot or more from an end of each of the plurality of rows of pairs of wide bars separated by an intervening space. As a result, the inside edges of the wide bars are reduced, thereby increasing the width of the intervening space, and resulting in improved symbol print quality.

Abstract: A memory device comprises a substrate, an antenna on a first surface of the substrate, a microelectronic structure coupled to the antenna, a selectively deformable intermediate layer covering the first surface, the antenna and the microelectronic structure and conforming thereto, and an adhesive layer covering the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer may be deformable for selectively positioning the antenna with respect to the adhesive, and positioning the antenna with respect to an item to which the memory device is secured. The intermediate layer may be compressed, creating a relatively low profile for printing on the memory device. The intermediate layer may be an elastomerically compressible material, such as foam, or may be a selectively pressurizable and deformable envelope.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating geometric shapes or edges thereof in data collection symbols initially samples and stores an image of light reflected from the symbol. Thereafter, two routines are performed. A first routine performs low level vision processing by identifying linked points along edges, lines, curves or within shapes. At least one of three distortion compensating subroutines compensate for blocking, breaking, gaps or other severe distortions affecting shapes in the stored image. Under a first subroutine, an edge of a shape is tracked until a stopping condition occurs, at which point the shape is crossed so as to continue tracking on an opposite edge. Under a second subroutine, previously collected linear curve information is used to identify a jump point to continue tracking following a stopping condition. Under a third subroutine, mathematical morphology techniques are employed to close gaps or move blockage in shapes in the stored image.

Abstract: A holster assembly for a hand-held computer or other hand-held electronic device. The holster assembly has first and second holster sides connected together to define a receiving area with an open end and a substantially closed end opposite the open end. The open end is sized to allow the hand-held computer to be moved into and out of the receiving area between installed and removed positions. The first holster side is a molded, compressed foam structure having a first contoured surface shaped to substantially cover the first side portion when the hand-held computer is in the installed position. The second holster side is a molded, compressed foam structure having a second contoured surface facing the first contoured surface and being shaped to substantially cover the portion of the second side surface. A holster retaining strap is attached to the first holster side to allow the holster assembly to be retained on, as an example, the belt of a user or the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating geometric shapes or edges thereof in data collection symbols initially samples and stores an image of light reflected from the symbol. Thereafter, two routines are performed. A first routine performs low level vision processing by identifying linked points along edges, lines, curves or within shapes. A rapid pixel linking subroutine identifies edge pixels in symbol images lacking distortion. If the edge or shape suffers from distortions, then one or more distortion compensating subroutines locate sequential linked pixels despite such distortions. The resulting coordinates of linked points, which represent lines, curves and other geometric shapes, are then employed by a second routine which identifies patterns within the identified lines/curves. Based on these identified patterns, types of symbols from various symbologies can be identified and located within the stored image.

Abstract: A rechargeable power pack comprises a housing, an energy storage device received in the housing, and a set of contacts extending from the housing and electrically coupled to the energy storage device to provide an electrical input current to the energy storage device at a first time and an electrical output current from the energy storage device at a second time. The electrical contacts are preferably formed as a set of prongs sized and dimensioned to be received in a standard electrical outlet. The rechargeable power pack may contain a charging circuit, a discharging circuit, and a switch to selectively couple the charging circuit and the discharging circuit between the contacts and the energy storage device. Additional circuitry may be provided for decoupling the charging circuit when either a voltage, temperature, or time has exceeded some predefined value.

Abstract: A printer for printing on a manually moved print medium. The printer may use thermal or inkjet printing and has user feedback and input. A roller-type position detector enables the printer to be used without a mechanical paper drive mechanism. The printer monitors the print medium as the print medium is propelled through the printer to identify when particular printing fields are aligned to the printhead. The printer then activates the printhead to print image portions in the printing fields. An alternative embodiment of the printer uses a flexible mounting of the printhead. In this embodiment, the paper roll diameter is determined in conjunction with monitoring the rotation of the paper roll to determine the position of the paper without requiring a roller-type position detector.

Abstract: A printer for printing on an outer layer of a print medium on a print medium roll. The printer includes a base and a cover, which are pivotally coupled in a "clamshell" configuration for movement between a closed position in which the printhead is located in a printing position proximate the path of the media and an open position that is spaced from the printing position. The printer may use thermal or inkjet printing. The printer is used without a mechanical paper drive mechanism. The printer monitors movement of an outer wrap of the print medium as the print medium roll rotates in response to a user pulling print medium from the print medium roll. In one embodiment, the printer detects movement of the print medium with a metering roller and an optical rotation sensor. In another embodiment, the printer monitors movement of the print medium by detecting movement of index marks on the print medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for object identification including a multi-meter terminal having a plurality of data modules, a triggering device for initiating one of the plurality of data modules to retrieve object identification data from an object, a radio module for downloading the retrieved object identification data to a host and a housing containing the data modules, triggering device and the radio module.

Abstract: A clamshell printer having a base and a cover pivotally mounted to the base for movement between an open and a closed position, wherein the open position provides unhindered access to a media path and a print head in the printer. The printer may include a platen formed integrally therein or a platen rollingly supported in the printer. A media supply, such as a continuous sheet of linerless thermal media in the form of a roll may be quickly and efficiently drop-loaded into the printer, with no threading of the media required. Unhindered access to the print head is also provided. The printer may or may not include a drive mechanism for advancing the media through the printer. The print head is controlled by a microprocessor mounted to a circuit board in the printer. The circuit board may be spring-biased to urge the print head toward a printing position, which is located at an effective printing distance from the media and the platen. A window may be formed in the printer for observing the media supply.

Abstract: A method and apparatus locates edges of patterns in a stored image, such as edges of start/stop patterns of machine-readable symbols (e.g., PDF 417 symbols). The present invention first divides the stored image into analysis regions and samples each region using a 16-beam star pattern. The beam patterns are analyzed to detect for edges that may correspond to edges of start/stop patterns of the symbol. Coast lines, or elongated edges, of the detected edges are analyzed for parallelism and minimal length to filter out any spurious detected edges. Thereafter, the coast lines are analyzed to confirm that a start or stop pattern has been located. A second start/stop pattern is thereafter located, boundary points are determined at a periphery of the symbol, and finally the symbol is analyzed for its geometric shape to confirm that the located boundary points conform to an accepted geometry for this symbol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing, reading, and updating information abode a plurality of target objects. The apparatus includes a data reader and a plurality of readable and writable tags, each tag including a memory. The reader produces a modulated interrogation signal or beam for activating and writing to the tag. The detector within the tag detects the modulated interrogation signal and, in response thereto, accesses the memory for reading or writing. The tag also includes an emitter so that the tag may be read by the reader. During reading, data is retrieved from the memory and the emitter within the tag is modulated to produce a data signal representing the retrieved data. The tags also include optically readable symbols that supply control information for use by the reader in reading from and writing to the memories of the tags. In one embodiment, the tag takes the form of a photonic tag, the interrogation signal being formed as a modulated optical beam.

Abstract: A printer and method of printing including in a feedback mechanism having an imaging head for imaging, digitizing, or sampling at least a portion of a symbol, a comparator for comparing the imaged portion to a print command provided by a print logic print driver so as to generate print logic update information, whereby the print logic is updated in real time in response to the print logic update information.