Abstract: Methods of and systems for illuminating objects using planar laser illumination beams having substantially-planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through the field of view (FOV) of image formation and detection modules employed in such systems. Each planar laser illumination beam is produced from a planar laser illumination beam array (PLIA) comprising an plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM comprises a visible laser diode (VLD, a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith. The individual planar laser illumination beam components produced from each PLIM are optically combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially uniform power density characteristics over the entire spatial extend thereof and thus the working range of the system.

Abstract: A device reduces false positive memory error detections by using a masking unit and sensitivity mask data to exclude unused portions of the memory from the error detection computations. A device includes an error detection unit to read data from the memory and verify data integrity. The sensitivity mask data indicates unused portions of the memory. Unused portions of the memory may correspond with configuration data for unused portions of a programmable device. Each bit of the sensitivity mask data may indicate the usage of one or more bits of the data from the memory. In response to the mask data, the masking unit sets data from the unused portions of the memory to values that do not change the result of the error detection computations. This prevents any errors in data from the unused portions of the memory from raising an error signal.

Abstract: Volatility of a programmable logic device (PLD) or field programmable gate array (FPGA) is selectable to be volatile or nonvolatile. In the volatile mode, configuration or other data of the integrated circuit are lost once power is removed from the integrated circuit. In the nonvolatile mode, configuration or other data is retained even when power is removed from the integrated circuit. Upon power-up, in nonvolatile mode, the integrated circuit does not need external data. In an embodiment, the mode, whether volatile or nonvolatile, may be selected during manufacturing. In other embodiment, the mode may be selected by other means, such as by the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatically-activated wireless code symbol reading system comprising a bar code symbol reading mechanism contained within a hand-supportable housing having a manually-activatable data transmission switch. During symbol reading operations, the bar code symbol reading mechanism automatically generates a visible laser scanning pattern for repeatedly reading one or more bar code symbols on an object during a bar code symbol reading cycle, and automatically generating a new symbol character data string in response to each bar code symbol read thereby. During system operation, the user visually aligns the visible laser scanning pattern with a particular bar code symbol on an object (e.g. product, bar code menu, etc.) so that the bar code symbol is scanned, detected and decoded in a cyclical manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system and method for verifying, settling, guaranteeing and printing checks at a remote location, preferably an electronic retailer's facilities, via a network, preferably the Internet. The preferred method for verifying, settling, guaranteeing and printing checks over a network at a remote location comprises the following steps. A client computer is connected to a merchant server at a location remote from the client computer. An order is transmitted from the client computer to the merchant server. Payment by check is selected. The client computer is connected to a check server. Customer data is input to the client computer. The customer data is transmitted from the client computer to the check server. The customer data is transmitted from the check server to a check verification server. The check verification server transmits an approval, preferably comprising the customer data and a guarantee of payment to a merchant, to the client computer and the check server.

Abstract: An information service such as an airport information system relies on a network of Bluetooth™ transceivers to transfer information to a user's mobile phone, which is equipped with basic calendar functionality. The transceivers are connected to (an information server, which downloads the calendar from each of the devices and writes or updates the reminder in each device as appropriate. The mobile phone calendar therefore provides a backup in the event that the user moves outside of the network coverage, while the server carries out all of the necessary processing, so that the system does not rely on complex calendar software within the mobile devices.

Abstract: An automatically-activated wireless code symbol reading system comprising a hand-supportable housing having a manually-activatable data transmission switch under automatic communication range dependent control. When a bar code symbol is read, the bar code reader is located inside the predetermined RF data communication range of the system, then the symbol character data string, produced at substantially the same time as the manual activation of the data transmission switch, is transmitted to the base station over the wireless RF communication link. If the device is outside the range, then an audible and/or visual indication is automatically generated, and the packaged symbol character data string is packaged and transmitted to a data storage buffer aboard the bar code reader. Then when the bar code symbol reader is moved within the communication range of the system, the buffered/packaged symbol character data is automatically transmitted to the base station by the RF-based data communication link.

Abstract: A computer program resident on storage medium and method for using the program are provided that facilitate the creation of an extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) instance document in which one or more XBRL attributes of an XBRL taxonomy are associated with one or more locations in a business document. In one embodiment, the program comprises an utility that allows the program to be executed in a cooperative manner with a business document application that is capable of generating a business document (e.g., Word or Excel). When the business document application is executed, the program is also executed and operates such that a user is capable of: (a) simultaneously viewing at least a portion of an XBRL taxonomy and a business document that is being processed by the application and (b) causing an attribute of the XBRL taxonomy to be associated with a location in the business document in a manner that is visible on a computer display device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatically-activated wireless code symbol reading system comprising a bar code symbol reading mechanism contained within a hand-supportable housing having a manually-activatable data transmission switch. During symbol reading operations, the bar code symbol reading mechanism automatically generates a visible laser scanning pattern for repeatedly reading one or more bar code symbols on an object during a bar code symbol reading cycle, and automatically generating a new symbol character data string in response to each bar code symbol read thereby. During system operation, the user visually aligns the visible laser scanning pattern with a particular bar code symbol on an object (e.g. product, bar code menu, etc.) so that the bar code symbol is scanned, detected and decoded in a cyclical manner.

Abstract: A fully automated package identification and measuring system, in which an omni-directional holographic scanning tunnel is used to read bar codes on packages entering the tunnel, while a package dimensioning subsystem is used to capture information about the package prior to entry into the tunnel. Mathematical models are created on a real-time basis for the geometry of the package and the position of the laser scanning beam used to read the bar code symbol thereon. The mathematical models are analyzed to determine if collected and queued package identification data is spatially and/or temporally correlated with package measurement data using vector-based ray-tracing methods, homogeneous transformations, and object-oriented decision logic so as to enable simultaneous tracking of multiple packages being transported through the scanning tunnel.

Abstract: An Internet-based remote monitoring, configuration and service (RMCS) system capable of monitoring, configuring and servicing a planar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based network. The network has one or more nodes and performs object identification and attribute acquisition functions. Each node is a PLIIM-based subsystem operably connected to a digital communications network interconnectable to the infrastructure of the Internet. The Internet-based RMCS system comprises a monitoring subsystem for remotely monitoring a set parameters associated with the PLIIM-based network. The set of parameters relate to network, system and/or subsystem characteristics of the PLIIM-based network. The RMCS also includes an analyzing subsystem for remotely analyzing the parameters to diagnose (i) performance failures in the PLIIM-based network, as well as (ii) the operation and performance of the PLIIM-based network.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatically-activated wireless code symbol reading system comprising a bar code symbol reading mechanism contained within a hand-supportable housing having a manually-activatable data transmission switch. During symbol reading operations, the bar code symbol reading mechanism automatically generates a visible laser scanning pattern for repeatedly reading one or more bar code symbols on an object during a bar code symbol reading cycle, and automatically generating a new symbol character data string in response to each bar code symbol read thereby. During system operation, the user visually aligns the visible laser scanning pattern with a particular bar code symbol on an object (e.g. product, bar code menu, etc.) so that the bar code symbol is scanned, detected and decoded in a cyclical manner.

Abstract: A fully automated package identification and measuring system, in which an omni-directional holographic scanning tunnel is used to read bar codes on packages entering the tunnel, while a package dimensioning subsystem is used to capture information about the package prior to entry into the tunnel. Mathematical models are created on a real-time basis for the geometry of the package and the position of the laser scanning beam used to read the bar code symbol thereon. The mathematical models are analyzed to determine if collected and queued package identification data is spatially and/or temporally correlated with package measurement data using vector-based ray-tracing methods, homogeneous transformations, and object-oriented decision logic so as to enable simultaneous tracking of multiple packages being transported through the scanning tunnel.

Abstract: A wireless bar code symbol reading system for use in a work environment, comprising a wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader in two-way RF communication with a base station operably connected to a host system, by way of an RF-based wireless data communication link having a predetermined RF communication range over which two-way communication of data packets can occur in a reliable manner. When the wireless bar code symbol reader is located inside of the predetermined RF communication range based on measuring the strength of the detected reference signal, it automatically transmits to the base station, the symbol character data string produced while the reader is located inside of the predetermined RF communication range. When the wireless reader is located outside of the range, based on measuring the strength of said detected reference signal, the reader automatically collects and stores the symbol character data string produced during that time.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically reading bar code symbols using a reading device containing a laser beam configured to provide a scan field. The method involves automatically detecting the presence of a bar code within the scan field by flickering the laser beam. In automatic response to the detection of a bar code, the automatic bar code symbol reading device generates a laser beam scanning pattern and reads the detected bar code by producing scan data signals from the detected bar code and thereafter collecting and analyzing these data signals. Further aspects of the present invention relate to hand-holdable data collection devices adapted for use with the automatic bar code symbol reading device to form a portable symbol reading system characterized by versatility and simplicity of use.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of evaluating the internal structure of a grinding wheel through ultrasonic inspection.

Abstract: An automatically-activated laser scanning 2-D bar code symbol reading system for use in a work environment, wherein a hand-supportable 2-D bar code symbol reader is arranged in two-way communication with a base station operably connected to a host system. The 2-D bar code symbol reader includes (i) a bar code symbol data detector for automatically detecting each line of said 2-D bar code symbol, and producing a line of scan data for buffering in a buffer memory, (ii) an audible data capture buffering indicator for automatically generating audible sounds as each line of bar code symbol data is captured and buffered in said buffer memory, and (iii) a decode processor for automatically decode processing an entire set of scan data collected in said buffer memory and corresponding to a scanned 2-D bar code symbol, and generating a symbol character data string representative of said read 2-D bar code symbol.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for illuminating objects using planar laser illumination beams having substantially-planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through the field of view (FOV) of image formation and detection modules employed in such systems. Each planar laser illumination beam is produced from a planar laser illumination beam array (PLIA) comprising an plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM comprises a visible laser diode (VLD, a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith. The individual planar laser illumination beam components produced from each PLIM are optically combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially uniform power density characteristics over the entire spatial extend thereof and thus the working range of the system.

Abstract: A planar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based system comprising a linear image formation and detection module having (i) an image sensing chip having a plurality of conductive pins establishing electrical interconnections with conductive elements within a chip mounting socket mounted on an electronic camera board, and (ii) image forming optics with a field of view. The system also includes a heat-exchanging structure, rigidly connected to the image formation optics, and having (i) a body portion provided with heat exchanging elements, (ii) a plurality of apertures through which the plurality of conductive pins on the image sensing chip pass to establish electrical interconnections with the conductive elements within the chip mounting socket, and (III) a plurality of mechanical elements for releasably engaging the package of the image sensing chip so as to rigidly maintain the image sensing chip in alignment with the image forming optics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically reading bar code symbols. One aspect of the present invention concerns a method of reading bar code symbols using an automatic hand-holdable bar code symbol reading device that includes a hand-holdable housing containing operative elements which provide an object detection field and a scan field each defined external to the housing. The the presence of an object is automatically detected within the object detection field by sensing object sensing energy reflected off the object. In response, the hand-holdable device automatically detects the presence of a bar code within the scan field using a laser. Then, in automatic response to the detection of a bar code, the automatic hand-holdable bar code symbol reading device reads the detected bar code in the scan field by producing scan data signals from the detected bar code and thereafter collecting and analyzing the same.