Abstract: A striking tool is provided for interlocking with a bar-like tool having a fork end and/or a pike end. The striking tool uses two retaining features for retaining a bar-like tool. The pike can be replaced by or supplemented with an adz, or any other type of extrusion. The bar-like tool is preferably a halligan. The striking tool is preferably an axe having a handle and a striking head anchored to the handle. One of the bar-like-tool retaining features is located on the striking head and the other retaining feature is located on the handle. The two tools are detachably interlocked for storage or carrying purposes. The present invention is especially useful in the firefighting field.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity includes a keyboard for inputting data, a monitor for housing a display, and a reader for reading said indicia, wherein said reader is integrated into either said keyboard or monitor. The apparatus has a particular application in reading barcode symbols in instances where there is a need to save space or where there is a need to avoid the cost of purchasing a separate reader component.

Abstract: A system for transferring data between a centrally located site and a portable communications terminal via a telephone network, the site having associated therewith a look up table containing plurality of data records correlating to items disposed at a retail establishment, wherein each of the items has associated therewith a bar code encoded with the indicia unique to each item, with each of the bar coded indicia corresponding to a particular record in the table, the data containing at least a portion of said record.

Abstract: A method of reading bar code symbols includes determining one or more parameters based upon the quantity and/or quality of the data which is being acquired, and providing the user with information concerning that parameter. The parameter may, for example, be the rate at which code words in the symbol are being read, and that information may be passed to the user by way of an LED which flashes at a rate which varies with the data acquisition rate. For a given bar code symbol being read, the rate of flashing varies with the position of the bar code reader with respect to the symbol. To improve the data acquisition rate, the user simply moves and/or rotates the bar code reader with respect to the symbol in a direction which causes the rate of flashing to increase. The invention extends to a bar code reader having means for providing an indication to a user of the relative suitability, for optimal reading of a symbol, of the current position of the reader.

Abstract: A data compression method is defined, which achieves high efficiency when encoding source data drawn from two or more data subsets of differing sizes, and where these subsets are distributed throughout the source message. Methods for encoding and decoding these subsets are disclosed, and a typical bar coding application is described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically aligning a field of view of a two-dimensional bar code symbol reading device with a randomly oriented two-dimensional bar code symbol, wherein the symbol comprises a unique locatable pattern of bars and spaces, located along at least one side of the two-dimensioanl bar code. The invention uses standard omnidirectional scanning pattern for reading one-dimensional bar codes to locate the unique pattern in bar code, and works on the bar code located anywhere in the scanner field of view. The invention determines the angle of rotation of the bar code and the spatial location of the bar code in the scanner's field of view.

Abstract: A universal interface system for use with a data acquisition system including a data acquisition device such as a bar code scanner or scanner integrated terminal for providing digital data signals indicative of acquired data for transmission to a host device such as a computer, and a host device having host-specific input/output data format requirements. The universal interface system comprises universal data exchange means located in the data acquisition device for providing digital data signals in a universal data exchange format independent of the data format requirements of the host device; and a host interface cable coupled to the data acquisition device and to said host device, for transmitting acquired digital data from the data acquisition device to the host device, the interface cable comprising means for translating digital data from the universal data exchange format to the host-specific input/output data format requirements.

Abstract: A statistical basis for use in a self-scanning checkout system determines how many items to check in a shopper's shopping cart for incorrect or missing scans as well as which particular or types of items to check to determine if they were properly scanned, if the shopper is determined to be audited. The present invention does not audit every customer, but rather determines whether a given shopper or customer is to be audited on a given shopping trip based upon obtaining a minimum checkout loss for such customer. The methodology determines how many items to check for a given shopper as well as which particular items to check for that shopper.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-stage digital Automatic Gain Control (AGC)circuit for selectively sampling the outputs of a serially connected amplification stages and for selectively controlling the gain of one or more stages in order to keep the amplitude of the final stage output within a predetermined range. The AGC provides a "quick" adjustment to overall system gain so that the system can produce a regulated signal within a short period of time, thereby improving the regulation response time. The AGC includes a number of serially connected amplification stages, and a gain controller. The output of each amplification stage, in addition to feeding the next amplification stage, is also an input to the gain controller. The gain controller receives the amplification-stage outputs, processes the outputs, determines the required gains of the various amplification stages and adjusts the gains via a number of gain control signals.

Abstract: A electro-optical memory includes a substrate on which is printed (or otherwise inscribed) a complex symbol or "label" or "bar code" of a high density two-dimensional symbology. The bar code contains component symbols or "codewords" which are placed in row and column formation, with a variable number of codewords per row, and a variable number of rows. The symbology utilizes implicit bar code encoding scheme for implicit encoding the number of rows and the number of columns of codewords, as well as a predetermined amount of error correction. The symbology is capable of supporting a fixed number of bar code variants, with each variant having a predetermined number of rows and columns of codewords, and a predetermined error correction capability. For some codewords the implicit encoding scheme is combined with a gray coding scheme to reduce the inter-row codeword crosstalk.

Abstract: A lightweight, easy to grasp and manipulate hand-held optical scanning device for scanning and digitizing image data from a two-dimensional bar code symbol for subsequent decoding in a personal computer platform. The scanning device achieves a small footprint in the user's workspace by utilizing a non-folded, substantially vertical optical path extending from an image viewing area upwardly to a linear charge-coupled device (CCD) array upon which the successive rows of the target two-dimensional bar code symbol are imaged. The scanning device is easily aligned with the symbol by placing it behind the symbol, and scanning of the successive rows of the symbol is accomplished by swiping or rolling the scanning device towards the user. Mechanical rollers on the underside of the scanning device provide translation information for use in clocking data out of the linear CCD array in order to scan the successive rows of the two-dimensional bar code symbol.

Abstract: A miniature high speed bar code scanning element is detachably mounted within an industry standard PCMCIA card for implementation in personal computing devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically aligning a field of view of a two-dimensional bar code symbol reading device with a randomly oriented two-dimensional bar code symbol, wherein the symbol comprises a unique locatable pattern of bars and spaces, located along at least one side of the two-dimensioanl bar code. The invention uses standard omnidirectional scanning pattern for reading one-dimensional bar codes to locate the unique pattern in bar code, and works on the bar code located anywhere in the scanner field of view. The invention determines the angle of rotation of the bar code and the spatial location of the bar code in the scanner's field of view.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a checkout system providing for the pre-processing of scannable merchandise in a customer's possession. The system employs a portable data scanner which is in communication with a checkout register. The portable data scanner is used to record in a data file an itemized list of articles reflecting merchandise in the customer's possession prior to reaching the checkout register. The customer is provided with a transaction identifier which can be read by the checkout register to retrieve the data file and finish processing of the transaction, thereby increasing the throughput of the checkout register.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the function of document processing machines such as copying machines and facsimile machines. Control data is submitted to a controller in a two-dimensional symbology having error correcting capability. The control data is decoded and used to process a plurality of documents without the need of a manual keying of instructions by an operator controlling the document processing machine.

Abstract: Bar code decoding methods and apparatus are disclosed wherein prototype characters are generated using calculated bar code distortion attributes. The vector distance measurements between the scanned bar code characters and the prototype characters are advantageously utilized to provide advanced and improved decoding.

Abstract: A system for transferring data between a centrally located site and a portable communications terminal via a telephone network, the site having associated therewith a look up table containing plurality of data records correlating to items disposed at a retail establishment, wherein each of the items has associated therewith a bar code encoded with the indicia unique to each item, with each of the bar coded indicia corresponding to a particular record in the table, the data containing at least a portion of said record.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a checkout system providing for the pre-processing of scannable merchandise in a customer's possession. The system employs a portable data scanner which is in communication with a checkout register. The portable data scanner is used to record in a data file an itemized list of articles reflecting merchandise in the customer's possession prior to reaching the checkout register. The customer is provided with a transaction identifier which can be read by the checkout register to retrieve the data file and finish processing of the transaction, thereby increasing the throughput of the checkout register. The merchandise is placed in a container which is sealed prior to reaching the checkout register.