Abstract: A directional position system for use in facilities having rooms, hallways, and other areas can include a plurality of portable units carried or worn by selected users in the facility; a plurality of stationary units mounted in each of a number of locations within the facility; and an administrative unit. At least one of the portable units can include at least one button for sending a signal, when pressed, for a type of emergency. At least one of the stationary units can include a display for indicating a direction to move during an emergency. The administrative unit can be configured to be monitored by security personnel and can be configured to receive any signal transmitted from any of the plurality of portable units or any of the plurality of stationary units. The plurality of portable units, the plurality of stationary units, and the administrative unit can form a mesh network.

Abstract: A battery pack is detachably secured by a snap-type action to a handle of a generally gun-shaped scanning head in a system for electro-optically reading coded indicia, such as bar code symbols. The battery pack includes a set of rechargeable batteries mounted in a casing.

Abstract: An auditory beeper mounted in a hand-held scanning head of an electro-optical system for reading light-reflective indicia signals a user that the indicium has been found and is ready to be read by generating a series of sounds or beeps whose rate of beeping changes upon finding the indicium.

Abstract: A target bearing a coded indicium is found by a system for electro-optically reading indicia. Upon the determination that the indicium is located within a range of working distances relative to a hand-held housing, a user is prompted that the indicium is ready to be read. A sonic signal is transmitted by a ranger, and a return echo from the indicium is received. An auditory prompt, such as a single tone or a series of tones, advises the user that the indicium is within range.

Abstract: A method for operating application software in a safety critical environment, comprises loading application software into a computing system, linking the computing system to a set of safety critical rules to verify that the safety critical operations performed by the computing system satisfy rule criteria and running the application software in the computing system. Safety critical operations are performed as background functions during the running of the application software and if a failure to satisfy criteria for a safety critical operation is detected, the system determines the application specific operation being currently performed. The criteria, the action to be taken or both is dynamically adjusted if the currently performed application specific operation is critical operation.

Abstract: A system and method for operating application software in a safety critical environment have a data processor for effecting processing operations and an intermediate shell for interacting with an operating system and application software. A safety critical processor is receptive of a series of timing signals from the intermediate shell for determining that a time interval between two of the series of timing signals is greater than a predetermined value thereby constituting a potential safety critical failure and indicates a potential safety critical failure to the intermediate shell.

Abstract: A safety critical monitoring system and method for a microprocessor controlled embedded system has application specific program logic including a defined set of safety critical rules for the application system corresponding to criteria for safety critical operations to be performed by the central processing unit in accordance with the application specific program logic. The operating system or central processing unit is linked to the stored set of safety critical rules for verifying that the safety critical operations performed in accordance with the application specific program logic meet the criteria set by the safety critical rules.

Abstract: A system and method for operating application software in a safety critical environment comprises providing a data processor having an operating system for effecting processing operations and an intermediate shell which interacts with the operating system and application software to emulate a safety critical environment to the application software. The application software is run by interacting solely with the intermediate shell to effect a safety critical environment therefor.

Abstract: A system and method for operating application software in a safety critical environment comprises providing a data processor having an operating system for effecting processing operations and an intermediate shell which interacts with the operating system and application software to emulate a safety critical environment to the application software. The application software is run by interacting solely with the intermediate shell to effect a safety critical environment therefor.

Abstract: A portable laser diode scanning head, aimable at each symbol to be read, emits and receives non-readily-visible laser light, and is equipped with a trigger-actuated aiming light arrangement for visually locating and tracking each symbol. A compact laser diode optical train and an optical folded path assembly, as well as an interchangeable component design and an integral window construction for the head also are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for operating application software in a safety critical environment comprises providing a data processor having an operating system for effecting processing operations and an intermediate shell which interacts with the operating system and application software to emulate a safety critical environment to the application software. The application software is run by interacting solely with the intermediate shell to effect a safety critical environment therefor.

Abstract: A portable laser diode scanning head, aimable at each symbol to be read, emits and receives non-readily-visible laser light, and is equipped with a trigger-actuated aiming light arrangement for visually locating and tracking each symbol. A compact laser diode optical train and an optical folded path assembly, as well as an interchangeable component design and an integral window construction for the head also are disclosed.

Abstract: A portable laser diode scanning head, aimable at each symbol to be read, emits and receives non-readily-visible laser light, and is equipped with a trigger-actuated aiming light arrangement for visually locating and tracking each symbol. A compact laser diode optical train and an optical folded path assembly, as well as an interchangeable component design and an integral window construction for the head also are disclosed. Also disclosed is an optic means mounted in the laser diode scanning head including a focusing lens and an aperture stop for forming the emitted laser light to have a beam cross-section of an altered size within a working distance range.

Abstract: A portable laser diode scanning head, aimable at each symbol to be read, emits and receives non-readily-visible laser light, and is equipped with a trigger-actuated aiming light arrangement for visually locating and tracking each symbol. A compact laser diode optical train and an optical folded path assembly, as well as an interchangeable component design and an integral window construction for the head also are disclosed. An embodiment that employs a Fresnel optical element and an embodiment that discloses a curved scanning/connecting mirror are also disclosed.

Abstract: A portable laser diode scanning head, aimable at each symbol to be read, emits and receives non-readily-visible laser light, and is equipped with a trigger-actuated aiming light arrangement for visually locating and tracking each symbol. A compact laser diode optical train and an optical folded path assembly, as well as an interchangeable component design and an integral window construction for the head also are disclosed.

Abstract: A portable laser diode scanning head, aimable at each symbol to be read, emits and receives non-readily-visible laser light, and is equipped with a trigger-actuated aiming light arrangement for visually locating and tracking each symbol. A compact laser diode optical train and an optical folded path assembly, as well as an interchangeable component design and an integral window construction for the head also are disclosed.

Abstract: A portable laser diode scanning head, aimable at each symbol to be read, emits and receives non-readily-visible laser light, and is equipped with a trigger-actuated aiming light arrangement for visually locating and tracking each symbol. A compact laser diode optical train and an optical folded path assembly, as well as an interchangeable component design and an integral window construction for the head also are disclosed.

Abstract: A portable laser diode scanning head, aimable at each symbol to be read, emits and receives non-readily-visible laser light, and is equipped with a trigger-actuated aiming light arrangement for visually locating and tracking each symbol. A compact laser diode optical train and an optical folded path assembly, as well as an interchangeable component design and an integral window construction for the head also are disclosed.

Abstract: A portable, stand-alone, desk-top, laser scanning workstation includes a laser scanning head mounted above a support base. Objects bearing bar code symbols to be scanned are passed underneath the head for overhead scanning, or are passed along one side of the head for sideward scanning. The symbols are oriented face-up towards the handler all during their passage through the workstation to facilitate sighting and registration of the symbol with the laser light beam generated by the head. The workstation is self-supporting, is fully portable, can process objects of different sizes, and grants access to objects from either side of the workstation. The workstation is connected to a microprocessor-based microcomputer which is mounted within a desk-top console, as well as to a variety of peripheral devices such as a printer, a keyboard, a communications port, audio-visual annunciators and a data display.

Abstract: Interactive electronic polling/testing/didactic apparatus employs a microprocessor having fixed (ROM) and variable (RAM) memory connected thereto. A sequence of output visual messages are provided under microprocessor control.A user actuated input device, e.g., a keyboard, enters a user reaction to the visual material presented. The user responses are accumulated, and reported as via a digital printer. The response significance varies with application, and may represent for example, game results, preferences, opinion in a sampling or polling context, or educational achievement.