Abstract: A sales system having a plurality of wearable portable terminals each having an optical code reader and a wireless transceiver, a plurality of stationary terminals each having a wireless transceiver and a central database having information relating to goods to be sold by the system. A wireless network interconnects the portable terminals, stationary terminals and the central database.

Abstract: A system for reading a two-dimensional image, and for comparing the two-dimensional image to stored data representative of a known image. The optical scanning device comprises a sensor for capturing the two-dimensional image, which sensor includes a light source for projecting an emitted light towards the two-dimensional image and an optical assembly for focussing light, which may be ambient and or emitted light from the light source, reflected from the framed two-dimensional image onto a CMOS or CCD detector for detecting the focussed light, the detector including a photodiode array for sensing the focussed light and generating a signal therefrom.

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 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 and apparatus for aligning a scan pattern to a two dimensional bar code having parallel rows of codewords. The two dimensional bar code is scanned with a scanning pattern oriented such that a plurality of lines thereof cross the bar code rows. A determination if there is a non-zero angle between at least one of the plurality of lines and the rows by decoding codewords in rows intersected by the at least one line is made and the orientation of the scanning pattern is adjusted to reduce the absolute value of the angle.

Abstract: An improved method of displaying the features of a three-dimensional graphical object model for subsequent selection by a user employs icons in a feature tree which are three-dimensional miniatures derived from the actual features present in the object model that the icon represents. Each 3D miniature corresponds to a specific feature in the object and has a similar, and preferably the same, geometry. Displayed 3D miniatures are shown from a viewpoint and rotation which matches the viewpoint and object rotation used in the graphical window. As the object is rotated, the rotation of the miniatures changes accordingly and as various features in the object are edited, the corresponding miniature is updated accordingly. Actions can also be performed on the miniatures and these actions applied to the corresponding feature in the model.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scanning device for reading bar code symbols, wherein the scanning device comprises a housing having a substantially horizontal surface and a substantially vertical surface. A motor rotates a polygon mirror, which reflects a light beam from a light source and redirects it toward a mirror array and out a window in the substantially horizontal window. Another motor rotates another polygon mirror, which reflects a light beam from a second light source and redirects it toward a second mirror array and out a window in the substantially vertical surface. A plurality of sensors detects light reflected back from a bar code and generates a plurality of electrical signals proportional to the intensity of the reflected light.

Abstract: An improved method of cultivating kava plants is disclosed in which a growth medium is formed form a mound formed over a leveled bed of porous rocks, such as volcanic cinders. The bed material is substantially free of organic matter. The mound material is comprised of gravel smaller than the bed material, such as volcanic gravel, and includes organic matter. The kava plants are grown in the mound material. The plants can be harvested by lifting the plant from the mound using a modified forklift assembly. Relatively high mounded rows of other material can alternatively be used. An improved method of producing kava seedlings is also disclosed in which the apical tips of kava plant stems are cut. After buds develop along the stems, the stems are harvested, sectioned, and used to generate a large number of seedlings. Harvesting of remaining rootstock from the parent plant is delayed after harvesting of the stems to promote an increase in kavalactone concentration.

Abstract: A method and system for executing a streamed application on a client system utilizes a virtual file system installed in the client which is configured to appear to the operating system as a local storage device containing all of the application files required by the application. Prior to streaming, the application files are broken up into streamlets corresponding generally to various portions of the application files and these streamlets are delivered to the client by the server, preferably using a predictive algorithm to determine an optimal transmission order. After an initial set of streamlets is received, the application is executed from the virtual file system. File loads issued by the operating system to the virtual file system are translated to determine which streamlets correspond to the load request and the appropriate data is returned.

Abstract: A powder of dicalcium silicate is made by spray drying calcia and silica with incorporation of sodium and phosphorus or stabilized zirconia. The spray dried powder is sintered to form a thermal spray powder. Sprayed coatings have a web of interconnected, randomly oriented microcracks substantially perpendicular to the coating surface. The coatings are stable in thermal cycling and a hot corrosive environment.

Abstract: A hand held terminal has a display, a keying input, a printer, a processor for receiving information from the keying input and for directing information onto the display and to the printer and a housing for the keying input, display and processor. The printer is directly mechanically connected to the housing and the printer is a sheet fed printer.

Abstract: A composition for use in forming a dry film coating on metal surfaces to at least temporarily protect the surfaces from oxidation comprises at least 20% by weight of a combination of at least one saturated linear carboxylic monoacid with at least one unsaturated linear carboxylic monoacid. The monoacids are in the form of alkaline, alkaline-earth or amine salts. The carbon chain of each acid comprises an uneven number of carbon atoms varying from 5 to 21. At least 0.5% by weight of a triazole derivative can be added to enhance the anti-corrosion effect. The composition is water-soluble and the dry protective film can be formed by diluting the composition in water, applying the diluted composition to a metal surface and then air drying it.

Abstract: High speed scanning arrangements in scanners for reading bar code symbols by oscillating a scanner component in single or multi-axis scan patterns.

Abstract: A system and method for reading a two-dimensional image, and for comparing the two-dimensional image to stored data representative of a known image. The optical scanning device comprises a sensor for capturing the two-dimensional image, which sensor includes an LED array for projecting an emitted light towards the two-dimensional image. The sensor also includes a lens disposed forward of the LED array for focussing the emitted light and thereby framing the two-dimensional image. The sensor further includes an optical assembly for focussing an ambient light reflected from the framed two-dimensional image. And the sensor includes a CMOS (or CCD) detector for detecting the focussed ambient light, the CMOS detector including a photodiode array for sensing the focussed ambient light and a processor for processing the ambient light to obtain an electrical image signal. The optical scanning device also compresses the electrical image signal.

Abstract: A scanner determines whether a target is a bar code symbol and, if so, whether that symbol is one-dimensional or two-dimensional. For two-dimensional symbols, the scanner aligns a scanning pattern with the symbol and expands the scanning pattern to reach only to the top and bottom edges of the symbol, not beyond. The scanner also has a microprocessor-control scanning engine that uses a coil to drive a scanning element and pick up feed back signals from the scanning element. A pulse-width-modulated regulator also provides fast and efficient operation for driving the coil. The scanning engine can also be designed to generate a pattern that precesses across the target, and a powerful interface to the scanning engine allows decoding and control logic to work efficiently with and independently of the scan engine.

Abstract: A method and system for lapping a magnetic transducer using an electrical lapping guide is presented. This includes rough lapping the transducer based on a first signal and fine lapping the transducer based on a second signal from a dummy transducer. The dummy transducer can have electrical properties substantially similar to electrical properties of the magnetic transducer. The first signal can include a stripe height calculated as a function of a reference resistor element and an analog resistor element. The second signal can include lap to reader resistance from the dummy transducer and a stripe height calculated from a reference resistor element and an analog resistor element. The dummy transducer can also provide process noise monitoring capability during lapping.

Abstract: A method for producing a substantially smooth surface on a computer disk media comprises providing a substantially smooth master surface. A curable polymer dielectric composition is applied to the master surface as well as the surface of the disk to be smoothed. The master surface is then pressed onto the disk surface and the polymer is cured. The master surface is then removed and the cured polymer forms a smooth surface on the disk.