Abstract: Systems and methods for reading machine-readable indicia (e.g., barcodes) can include emitting, by a code reading device, a light to illuminate a surface including a machine-readable indicia. The code reading device can capture an image of the machine-readable indicia, and determine whether an image quality parameter of the image of the machine-readable indicia captured by the image sensor satisfies a predefined condition (e.g., no reflections on the machine-readable indicia). Based on a determination that the image quality parameter of the image of the machine-readable indicia does not satisfy the predefined condition, the voltage being applied to the electrochromic component may be adjusted to cause an opacity level of the electrochromic component to be altered. Otherwise, the voltage being applied to the electrochromic component may remain unchanged.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device, e.g. of a photocell or light barrier, comprising an electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical transducer, and an optical tube assembly comprising an optical chamber, a first aperture proximal with respect to the transducer, and a second, distal aperture being formed in chamber wall. In at least one first half-section taken e.g. along optical axis, at least an intermediate portion of the chamber wall extending between a first and a second line has a local tangent at each point (P) oriented so that any stray light ray incoming from the boundary point of the first aperture in the opposite half-section would be so deviated at that point (P) as to impinge upon the chamber wall at an impingement point (Q) in said first halfsection and more distal than the distal line.

Abstract: A code reader may include a light source configured to illuminate a target area in which items are to be located for reading machine-readable indicia associated with the items, an image sensor configured to capture an image of the target area, an illumination drive circuit in electrical communication with the light source, and an image capture circuit. The image capture circuit may be configured to (i) enable and disable the image sensor to capture an image of the target area during the high illumination and a portion(s) of the low illumination of the target area, and (ii) read an image captured by the image sensor. The illumination drive signals may cause the illumination drive circuit to generate a high illumination drive signal to cause the light source to produce a high illumination, and generate a low illumination drive current to cause said light source to produce a low illumination.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to data readers including an improved imaging system that optimizes active and passive autofocus techniques for improving data reading functions. In an example, the data reader initially uses active autofocus techniques to focus a lens system based on a measurement reading by a rangefinder and acquire an image of an item in the field-of-view of the data reader. The data reader includes a decoding engine operable to decode an optical code of the item using the acquired image. If the decoding engine is unable to decode the optical code using the active autofocus technique, the data reader alternates to a passive autofocus technique to alter the focus settings of the lens system and reattempt the decoding process.

Abstract: A data reading system for predicting the removal of a data reader from a charging base unit based on the approach of a user's hand. The data reading system includes a data reader with a power supply, a base unit configured to receive the data reader and to charge the power supply of the data reader responsive to the data reader being coupled to the base unit, a sensor configured to detect the approach of a user's hand, and a processor in operable communication with the sensor and the data reader or the base unit. The processor is configured to apply an appropriate action, such as adjust an amount of current used to charge the power supply of the data reader in the base unit responsive to the sensor detecting the approach of the user's hand.

Abstract: A wireless charger adapter may include a structural member, a receive inductor coil supported by the structural member, an electrical circuit, and an output. The structural member may be placed in proximate location with a cradle of a wireless charging device inclusive of a transmit inductor coil. The receive inductor coil may inductively receive wireless power signals inductively transferred by the transmit inductor coil of the wireless charging device. The electrical circuit may convert the wireless power signals received by the receive inductor coil into electrical signals and the output may output the electrical signals from the electrical circuit to one or more external devices.

Abstract: A code reader includes an imager configured to capture an image, and a processor operably coupled to the imager. The processor performs an object detection operation having a configurable triggering threshold that may be set, at least in part, based on an amount of changes needed to be detected in order to trigger a positive result for object detection. The processor also initiates a scanning phase for the code reader to read and decode an indicia responsive to the positive result being achieved by the object detection operation.

Abstract: A system and method for performing laser marking may include identifying an event performed by a laser marking system. A laser marking unit may be driven to mark the feature on the part. The part may be illuminated with a visible illumination signal to indicate an occurrence of the event in response to identifying the event.

Abstract: A wireless charging device may include a first transmit coil disposed on a first layer, and a second transmit coil disposed on a second layer. The second transmit coil is electrically coupled to the first transmit coil. The first and second transmit coils form a transmit inductor to inductively transfer a wireless power signal. A wireless device capable of being powered by the wireless charging device may include a device housing including a first surface and a second surface. A first receive coil may extend in a first plane in alignment with the first surface. A second receive coil may be spaced apart from the first receive coil, and the second receive coil may extend in the first plane or a second plane different from the first plane and be aligned with the second surface, where the first and second coils inductively receive wireless power signals.

Abstract: An optical scanner captures a plurality of images from a plurality of image-capture devices. In response to the activation signal, an evaluation phase is executed, and in response to the evaluation phase, an acquisition phase is executed. In the evaluation phase, a first set of images is captured and processed to produce a virtual frame comprising a plurality of regions, with each region containing a reduced-data image frame that is based on a corresponding one of the plurality of images. Also in the evaluation phase, attributes of each of the plurality regions of the virtual frame are assessed according to first predefined criteria, and operational parameters for the acquisition phase are set based on a result of the assessment. In the acquisition phase, a second set of at least one image is captured via at least one of the plurality of image-capture devices according to the set of operational parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for autofocus may include a light source for generating a light wave and a varifocal lens arranged in front of the light source. The varifocal lens may receive the light wave and generate a Fourier transform of a known semi-transparent pattern positioned on the rear focal plane (or input plane) of the varifocal lens therefrom. An image sensor may receive the Fourier transform carried by the light wave after being reflected from an object. A focus tunable lens may be arranged in front of the image sensor and through which the reflected light wave passes. A processor may adjust a focal length of the varifocal lens to cause the Fourier transform carried by the light wave to form a predefined (expected) pattern detected by the image sensor, and adjust a control parameter of the focus tunable lens until one or more spatial frequencies of the predefined pattern detected at the image sensor match one or more predefined spatial frequencies.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of performing a three-dimensional 3D point cloud registration with multiple two-dimensional (2D) images may include estimating a mathematical relationship between 3D roto-translations of dominant planes of objects in a 3D point cloud and bi-dimensional homographies in a 2D image plane, thereby resulting in a 3D point cloud registration using multiple 2D images. A trained classifier may be used to determine correspondence between homography matrices and inferred motion of the dominant plane(s) on a 3D point cloud for paired image frames. A homography matrix between the paired images of the dominant plane(s) on the 2D image plane may be selected based on the correspondence between the inferred motions and measured motion of the dominant plane(s) on the 3D point cloud for the paired image frames. The process may be less computationally intensive than conventional 2D-3D registration approaches.

Abstract: Systems and methods involving one or more wearable components that obtain information about a surrounding environment and provide information to a user to assist user in retrieving objects from the surrounding environment. The information may include navigation information related to a route that the user may take to retrieve an object, as well as information about the object to be retrieved. The wearable components may be include ones that may be mounted on the head of the user, as well as components that the user may wear on other parts of the body or that attach to clothing. The wearable components may include image sensors, microphones, machine-readable symbol readers, range-finders, accelerometers, and/or gyroscopes that may collect information from and about the surroundings of the user. The wearable components may also include one or more of a set of speakers and/or a display subsystem to provide information to the user.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting an image of a template object in a captured image may include comparing, by a processor, an image model of an imaged template object to multiple locations, rotations, and scales in the captured image. The image model may be defined by multiple model base point sets derived from contours of the imaged template object, where each model base point set inclusive of a plurality of model base points that are positioned at corresponding locations associated with distinctive features of the imaged template object. Each corresponding model base point of the model base point sets may (i) be associated with respective layers and (ii) have an associated gradient vector. A determination may be made as to whether and where the image of the object described by the image model is located in the captured image.

Abstract: An automated point of sale system uses one or more cameras to capture images of food products selected by a user for purchase at a food establishment. The point of sale system then compares the images captured to previously captured reference images of such food products being offered at the establishment to find a match for each product, determines the price of each food product the user has selected based on the comparison and match, identifies an account of the user based on a biometric identification of the user and/or reading information from a machine readable token of the user, and automatically causes the account of the user to be charged or debited for the food products identified, thus reducing the check-out time and increasing efficiency of food establishment point of sale systems.

Abstract: A wireless power system and method performs wireless power transmission with sensing to detect a distance and/or misalignment of a power receiver from the power transmitter. Power transmission is adjusted in response to the sensing detecting the distance and/or misalignment exceeding a determined threshold, or in response to instructions sent by the receiver based, at least in part, on a duration of the overvoltage condition exceeding a determined time period.

Abstract: A base station comprising: a wireless power receiver module to wirelessly receive energy from a portable device; a wireless transceiver module adapted to establish a wireless data communication with the portable device so as to wirelessly receive/transmit data; a wired interface for wired connection to an accessory device; a power distribution module coupled to the wireless power receiver module and adapted to supply the energy received from the portable device both to the accessory device, via the wired interface, and to the wireless transceiver module; a communication module coupled to the wireless transceiver module and to the wired interface, adapted to adapt data wirelessly received from the portable device, via the wireless transceiver module, into data suitable to be transmitted in a wired way to the accessory device, via the wired interface, and vice versa, to adapt data received in a wired way from the accessory device, via the wired interface, into data suitable to be transmitted wirelessly to the p

Abstract: A calibration process is started by a capacitive input variation when a capacitive button is pressed on a barcode reader. Or, the calibration process is started by the barcode reader scanning a configuration label or special label or barcode after the capacitive button on the barcode reader is inoperative. The calibration process realigns the input and the threshold to correctly configure the capacitive button.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cradle for wireless power recharging of an optical information reader including a first portion containing a power receiving coil to be charged, the cradle including: i) a first seat adapted to partially house the first portion of the optical information reader, the first seat having a plurality of walls, one of the walls being movable from a first operative position held when the first portion of optical information reader is not inserted in the first seat to a second operative position held when the first portion of the optical information reader is inserted in the first seat; and ii) a power transmitting coil located at the movable wall which is adapted to transmit power to the power receiving coil when the optical information reader is inserted in the first seat and the movable wall is in the second operative position.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring volume dimensions of objects may include flying a UAV to measuring points around an object within a defined area. Images of the object may be captured by the UAV at each of the measuring points. The captured images may be communicated by the UAV to a computing device remotely positioned from the UAV. Volume dimensions of the object may be computed based on the captured images. The volume dimensions of the object may be presented. In presenting the volume dimensions, the volume dimensions may be presented to a user via an electronic display.