Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor for the recognition of images on surfaces of objects in relative motion with regard to the sensor, especially for reading optical codes and/or characters and/or symbols on a surface of an object, comprising a plurality of sensor lines, each adapted to render line images in a temporal sequence, wherein the sensor is arranged to combine a plurality of line images of said sensor lines to yield a line image of the sensor, wherein each of said plurality of line images was captured by a different one of said sensor lines and at least some of said plurality of line images were captured at different points in time. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for the recognition of an image on a surface of an object and to a system for the acquisition of images on a surface of a moving target, comprising a conveyor for carrying target objects and a sensor as described above.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a smart electronic article surveillance (“EAS”) circuit that may be incorporated into electronic devices and used to selectively provide EAS and other functionalities. Such functionalities may be provided by “sharing” large electrical components across the different functionalities, which may include passive EAS capabilities, inductive charging, and/or wireless communications. One or more software or solid-state switches may be used to selectively and repeatedly change between the wireless communication/inductive charging capabilities and the passive EAS capabilities. The EAS functionality may be provided by using a switch to connect passive circuitry across an antenna component to form a passive EAS circuit. The non-EAS functionality may be provided by using the switch to de-couple the passive circuitry from then antenna and instead, couple the antenna to other electronic circuitry.

Abstract: In a handheld scanning device, a support frame configured to physically support an indicia scanning engine configured to scan and interpret an indicia and a light pipe within a casing of a scanning device. The light pipe extends along and flush against a surface of a planar portion of the support frame. Multiple ribs of elongate shape are formed integrally with the planar portion. A plurality of the ribs of the multiple ribs each define a gap in the elongate shape through which the light pipe may extend. The support frame may support the indicia scanning engine and the light pipe in predetermined relative positions to cause a central projection axis along which light is projected from an outlet end of the light pipe to extend in parallel with a central scanning axis extending from a front end of the indicia scanning engine, and toward a surface that carries the indicia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an active alignment method of a receiving device (2, 2?) including a sensor (4) and of a illumination device (6, 6?) including at least one light source (18, 8?) suitable for emitting a beam of light, including: —Assembling said receiving device (2, 2?); —Stably fixing said receiving device (2, 2?) on a chassis (30); —Actively aligning an optical group (11, 11?) of said illumination device (6, 6?) with respect to said light source (18, 18?); —Fixedly connecting said optical group (11, 11?) of said illumination device to said light source (18, 18?); —Actively aligning said illumination device (6, 6?) with respect to said receiving device (2, 2?); and —Stably fixing said illumination device (6, 6?) to said chassis (30).

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for identifying (recognizing) an object from its shape in a sequence of images utilizing sequence alignment matrices (SAMs). For a given image, an object is segmented and from the segmented object, a set of key points is extracted. From the extracted key points, a set of local feature descriptors, strictly related to the key points and uniquely ordered in sequence, are extracted. The feature sequence obtained from the segmented object is aligned with a counterpart or reference image (e.g., a model or another image) using a Sequence Alignment Matrix (SAM). A custom scoring technique for the alignment provides a quality index for the identification of the object.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operation for a machine-readable symbol reader for estimating the distance of a scanned target object or item labeled with indicia, such as a machine-readable symbol. The reader may include an illumination subsystem which projects a light pattern (e.g., line) out from the reader. The reader may capture an image of the target object while the light pattern is projected thereon and analyze at least one detectable characteristic of the pattern to estimate distance of the target object relative to the reader. A one-dimensional sensor array of the reader may be exploited in part for imaging a symbol and in part for imaging detectable characteristics (e.g., edges) of the projected illumination pattern which allows for estimation of the reading distance. A central portion of the one-dimensional sensor array may be dedicated to imaging a machine-readable symbol and lateral portions may be dedicated to implementing a range finder.

Abstract: A system and method for an active Q-switched fiber laser cavity may include a pump source for emitting a laser beam at a wavelength along an optical path including an active optical medium. A modulation device may be configured to introduce tunable losses into the optical path. The tunable losses may be achieved through modulation of the transmissivity of an optical element within the optical path, the modulation of said optical element being performed over (i) a first period of time in which a cavity Q curve increases from a first percentage value to a second percentage value of a maximum Q value and (ii) a second period of time in which the cavity Q curve increases from a third percentage value to a fourth percentage value of the maximum Q value. The cavity Q curve may non-linearly and smoothly transition between (i) the first and second percentage values and (ii) the third and fourth percentage values.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical unit for an opto-electronic system, said optical unit comprising: a first and a second opto-electronic component; a casing suitable for containing said first and second opto-electronic component; and a fastening system suitable for connecting together said first and second opto-electronic components, characterized in that said fastening system is fixed to a first end of said first opto-electronic component and to a first end of said second opto-electronic component and comprises: an elastic device movable between an undeformed operative position and a compressed operative position, and a mechanical fastening device suitable for taking said elastic device into said compressed operative position when said mechanical fastening device couples together said first and said second optoelectronic component.

Abstract: Systems and methods for securing and charging a machine-readable symbol reader in a position that enables the machine-readable symbol reader to continue to capture machine readable codes. The machine-readable symbol reader is secured by a stand that includes a base, an arm, and a cradle. The cradle includes a housing that forms a cavity that is sized and shaped to securely receive a portion of the head of the machine-readable symbol reader. The cavity may further align the window on the secured machine-readable symbol reader with an aperture such that the machine-readable symbol reader can continue to capture visual representations of machine-readable symbols.

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 reader contains a housing with a window having a peripheral rim. The housing has a device for reading coded information which generates a field projecting through the window towards the outside of the housing, and has a device for visually indicating the result to a user. The visual indication device generates an indication appearing substantially at least on the window, on a portion of the peripheral rim of the window, or on a portion of the housing adjoining laterally the peripheral rim of the window. The housing portion is at least on the left side, right side, or below the window. Additionally, a camera based checkout security system includes at least a checkout security camera and a fixed position reader of coded information. The checkout security camera generates a camera field of view directed towards the window of the fixed position reader of coded information.

Abstract: Two or more colors are used in an aiming pattern, where the high contrast between the edges of the two illuminated portions identifies the centerline of the field of view (FOV). The centerline is used as an intuitive and highly recognizable aiming pattern. The colors are generated by light sources, such as LEDs or laser diodes. The edges of the two figures produced by the light sources create a high visibility color contrast line/stripe. Additionally, the aiming pattern can be created using illuminators in the barcode reader, allowing for the barcode to maintain compactness.

Abstract: During a description technique, a local descriptor for an object may be generated by computing a 2-dimensional histogram of pairs of angles between pairs of line segments that are aligned with edge pixels associated with the object. The pairs of line segments belong to a subset of k neighboring or proximate line segments. Moreover, this 2D histogram may represent the relative displacement and the relative orientations of the pairs of line segments in the subset as weights in bins or cells defined by angular quantization values, and the 2D histogram may exclude lengths of the line segments. Subsequently, the generated 2D histogram may be compared to predefined sets of descriptors in a model library that are associated with a set of objects, and the object may be identified as one of the set of objects based on a group of match scores determined in the comparisons.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided reconstructing barcode signals utilizing sequence alignment matrices. A barcode signal is received that is associated with a portion of a barcode symbol and includes a sequence of bar elements and space elements in alternating order. A sequence alignment matrix (SAM) is built such that each row represents an element of an already reconstructed portion of the barcode symbol, each column represents an element of the received barcode signal sequence, and the potential alignments are placed on a plurality of diagonals thereof. A score is assigned to each matrix square that includes an element of the received barcode signal sequence and a diagonal score is calculated for each of the plurality of diagonals by summing the scores for each matrix square respectively comprising each of the plurality of diagonals.

Abstract: A decoding device may include a processor that may include a core component configured to: analyze watermark metadata to identify a watermark ROI from among multiple candidate ROIs in response to generation of the watermark metadata, determine whether rectification is to be performed within the watermark ROI, perform watermark decoding with the rectified watermark ROI data to decode data encoded within a digital watermark within the rectified watermark ROI in response to performance of the rectification, and transmit the data to a server via a network in response to successful decode of the data. The processor may also include a SIMD component configured to perform at least one of: a watermark transform with the captured image to generate the watermark metadata, and the rectification within the watermark ROI to generate the rectified watermark ROI data in response to the determination by the core component to perform the rectification.

Abstract: A clutter filter configuration tool for a safety laser scanner. The clutter filter configuration tool may first operate the safety laser scanner in an environment to learn the environmental clutter level and present the same to a user. Subsequent to this “teach-in” phase, the configuration tool may provide a clutter filter selection process which presents the environmental clutter level to the user and allows the user to select a suitable configuration for a clutter filter. The configuration tool may also provide a clutter filter simulation process wherein the clutter filter chosen by the user is verified and a test is performed using the selected clutter filter. The results may be reported on a visualized graph. The configuration tool may also determine a real area to be monitored utilizing a floor projection area and an orientation of the laser scanner.

Abstract: A trigger assembly and scanner terminal are described. The trigger assembly includes two parts. A rigid first part stores a pressure sensitive switch and a printed circuit board. An elastic second part contacts the pressure sensitive switch in response to a level of pressure applied to the trigger assembly. The first part and second part are formed from a continuous piece.