Abstract: A tunnel-type digital imaging system for use within retail shopping environments such as supermarkets. The system includes a tunnel configuration arranged about a conveyor structure for transporting objects therethrough, and an image capturing and processing subsystem embodied within the tunnel configuration, for generating a 3D digital imaging volume above the conveyor structure and within the tunnel configuration, for capturing digital 1D images of objects transported through the 3D imaging volume. The image capturing and processing subsystem includes a plurality of coplanar illumination and imaging stations.

Abstract: A method of and system for identifying a consumer product in a retail store environment when a bar code symbol on a product is not readable or has been removed from the product's packaging. The system comprises a database system, and a digital image capturing and processing system installed in the retail environment and in data communication with the database system. The digital image capturing and processing system is capable of capturing one or more digital images for each consumer product sold in the retail store environment, and storing the digital images in the database subsystem, along with product identifying information for each consumer product. When the imaged bar code symbol happens to be unreadable, or when the bar code symbol label happens to have fallen off or have been removed from the packaging, then one or more digital images of the consumer product are compared with digital images stored in the database subsystem to identify the consumer product graphically represented in the digital images.

Abstract: An digital image capture and processing system supporting employing an adaptive control process involving the real-time analysis of the exposure quality of captured digital images and the reconfiguration of system control parameters (SCPs) based on the results of such exposure quality analysis. By virtue of the present invention, the system enables the reliable reading of code symbols graphically represented in digital images, under demanding point-of-sale lighting conditions and other challenging environments.

Abstract: An omni-directional digital image capturing and processing system for use in a POS environment, comprising a system housing having an imaging window, and a plurality of coplanar illumination and imaging stations, disposed in the system housing, for generating and projecting a complex of coplanar illumination and imaging planes through said imaging window. At least one area-type illumination and imaging station is also disposed in the system housing, for generating and projecting an area-type illumination and imaging zone through the imaging window, which intersects with the complex of coplanar illumination and imaging planes within a 3D imaging volume definable relative to the imaging window, for omni-directional digital imaging of objects passing through the 3D imaging volume.

Abstract: An automatic digital-imaging based code symbol reading system supporting pass-through and presentation modes of system operation, automatic object direction detection and illumination control, and video image capture and processing techniques. By virtue of the present invention, the automatic digital-imaging based code symbol reading system ensures the reliable reading of code symbols graphically represented in digital images, in high-throughput point-of-sale and other environments.

Abstract: A system for and method of delivering manufacturer-specified consumer product information to consumers within a marketplace. Manufacturers and/or their agents remotely and actively manage UPN/TM/PD/URL data links for registered consumer products by updating information elements stored in a relational database so as to compose a menu of URLs for each consumer product registered in the relational database. Using an Internet-enabled client computer, a consumer transmits a request for information resources about a UPN-labeled consumer product registered with the relational database, using one or more of the UPN, TM and/or PD that are symbolically linked to the UPN assigned to a registered UPN-labeled consumer product. In response to the request, the UPN, TM and/or PD contained in the request are automatically recovered and used to access the URLs stored in the relational database and the accessed URLs are then transmitted back to the Internet-enabled client computer.

Abstract: Novel methods are disclosed for designing and constructing miniature optical systems and devices employing light diffractive optical elements (DOEs) for modifying the size and shape of laser beams produced from a commercial-grade laser diodes, over an extended range hitherto unachievable using conventional techniques. The systems and devices of the present invention have uses in a wide range of applications, including laser scanning, optical-based information storage, medical and analytical instrumentation, and the like. In the illustrative embodiments, various techniques are disclosed for implementing the DOEs as holographic optical elements (HOEs), computer-generated holograms (CGHs), as well as other diffractive optical elements.

Abstract: An automatically-activated bar code reading system including: a visible laser light source, scanning element and a plurality of stationary mirrors. When arranged in a first configuration, the visible laser light source, scanning element and plurality of stationary mirrors cooperate to produce a visible omni-directional laser scanning pattern with multiple laser scanning lines having substantially uniform spatial and temporal intensity characteristics at a given scanning plane parallel to a scanning window within a working distance of the system.

Abstract: A transportable basketball system having components which are arrangeable in a play configuration during which a basketball-related game can be played, and also in a transport configuration during which said transportable basketball system can be easily transported between a sand covered outdoor environment and a remote location. Preferably, the transportable basketball system comprises a wind-transmissive backboard structure having a backboard surface disposed substantially within a first plane, bounded by a frame structure, and characterized by a high degree of air permeability (i.e. transmissivity) across said backboard surface so that air currents, expected on said covered environment, can pass therethrough with minimal resistance, yet deflect a lightweight basketball when tossed thereagainst during basketball-related games.

Abstract: A hand-supportable digital imaging-based bar code symbol reading device comprises: an automatic object presence and range detection subsystem; an area-type image formation and detection subsystem having a CMOS area-type image detection array, and narrow-area and wide area image capture modes of operation; an LED-based illumination subsystem having LED arrays, and narrow-area and wide area illumination modes of operation; an automatic light exposure measurement and illumination control subsystem; an image capturing and buffering subsystem; and an image-processing bar code symbol reading subsystem.

Abstract: A hand-supportable digital imaging-based bar code symbol reading device comprises: an ir-based object presence and range detection subsystem; a multi-mode area-type image formation and detection subsystem having a field of view (FOV) and narrow-area and wide area image capture modes of operation; a multi-mode LED-based illumination subsystem having narrow-area and wide area illumination modes of operation; an automatic light exposure measurement and illumination control subsystem; an image capturing and buffering subsystem; an image-processing bar code symbol reading subsystem; and a system control subsystem. The LED-based multi-mode illumination subsystem produces three different fields of LED-based illumination in automatic response to the detection of different conditions within the FOV, by the automatic object presence and range detection subsystem.

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: Disclosed are novel reflective microflakes for use in making “additive-primary” coloring media having improved reflection characteristics over the red, green and blue super-bright color characteristics, and “super-white” coloring media having Magnesium-Oxide like color characteristics. The coloring media of the present invention provides a palette of colors for imparting color characteristics or forming color images upon surfaces of arbitrary surface geometry. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the microflakes are made from cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material, wherein the pitch of the helices of the liquid crystal molecules in each CLC microflake varies along the thickness dimension (i.e. transverse to the surface) thereof. Depending on the final spiral structure of the materials utilized, the CLC circularly polarizing materials reflect either left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized light.

Abstract: An Internet-based method of and system for monitoring space-time coordinate information and biophysiological state information collected from an animate object moving along a course through the space-time continuum. The Internet-based system comprise a wireless GSU-enabled client network device affixed to the body of an animate object. The wireless device includes a global synchronization unit (GSU) for automatically generating time and space (TS) coordinate information corresponding to the time and space coordinate of the animate object with respect to a globally referenced coordinate system, as the animate object moves along a course through the space time continuum. The device also includes biophysiological state sensor affixed to the body of the animate object, for automatically sensing the biophysiological state of the animate object and generating biophysiological state information indicative of the sensed biophysiological state of the animate object along its course.

Abstract: Electro-optical glazing structures having total-scattering and total-transparent modes of operation which are electrically-switchable for use in dynamically controlling electromagnetic radiation flow in diverse applications.

Abstract: An Internet-based system for enabling a time-constrained competition among a plurality of participants over the Internet. The Internet-based system comprises: a primary server having an embedded global positioning system (GPS) receiver; one or more web servers for providing information about the competition on the World Wide Web (WWW); a login server for enabling participants to log-in with the system prior to the competition; a competitor/participant database for storing information about each participant registered to participate in the competition; an invitation-to-respond/response database for storing invitations-to-responds (ITRs) (e.g. queries, problems, etc.) to be simultaneously displayed to participants at the competition, as well as the responses provided by each of the participants in response to the ITRs; one or more competition-promoting servers, each having an embedded GPS receiver, and conducting the competition process; and a plurality of GSU-enabled client machines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for mechanically-assisted liposuction treatment. The apparatus includes a hand-holdable housing, an electro-cauterizing cannula assembly, and a reciprocation mechanism. The hand-holdable housing has a cavity adaptable for receipt of a portion of the electro-cauterizing cannula assembly. The electro-cauterizing cannula assembly includes an inner cannula and an outer cannula, each having a distal end and a proximal end and at least one aspiration aperture about the distal end. The inner cannula is disposed within the outer cannula and the inner and outer aspiration apertures are in at least partial registration to form an effective aspiration aperture. The reciprocation mechanism is disposed within the housing and is operably associated with either the inner or outer cannula so that one of the cannulas can be selectively caused, to reciprocate relative to the housing while the other is stationarily disposed relative to the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for extending path-length of metal-fuel tape during discharging and/or recharging operations so that a supply of metal-fuel tape contained within a cassette device or on a supply reel can be rapidly discharged and/or recharged in an improved manner. During discharging operations, a plurality of discharging heads are selectively arranged about the extended path-length of metal-fuel tape so as increase the rate at which electrical power is powered from the system. During recharging operations, a plurality of recharging heads are selectively arranged about the extended path-length of metal-fuel tape to decrease the time required to recharge the metal-fuel tape transported through the system.

Abstract: Disclosed are various types of metal-air FCB-based systems comprising a Metal-Fuel Transport Subsystem, a Metal-Fuel Discharging Subsystem, and a Metal-Fuel Recharging Subsystem. The function of the Metal-Fuel Transport Subsystem is to transport metal-fuel material, in the form of tape, cards, sheets, cylinders and the like, to the Metal-Fuel Discharge Subsystem, or the Metal-Fuel Recharge Subsystem, depending on the mode of the system selected. When transported to or through the Metal-Fuel Discharge Subsystem, the metal-fuel is discharged by one or more discharging heads in order produce electrical power across an electrical load connected to the subsystem while H2O and O2 are consumed at the cathode-electrolyte interface during the electro-chemical reaction.

Abstract: A light controlling film is disclosed, comprising a polymerized polymer network varying spatially in a direction normal to the film surface, where the polymerized polymer network is a crosslinked high molecular weight polymeric material mixed with a low molecular weight nematic material exhibiting cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) order, wherein an electric field impressed in the film controls the reflection bandwidth of circularly polarized light.