Abstract: A shopping support system includes: a bracelet including an accelerometer detecting linear movements of a hand and/or gyroscope detecting rotational movements of the hand, and that repeatedly wirelessly transmits indications of the linear and/or rotational movements; a set of stationary positioning devices that cooperate with the bracelet to repeatedly exchange wireless triangulation signals, and to measure relative strengths thereof where received; and a processor configured to repeatedly determine a current location of the hand within by repeatedly analyzing the relative strengths of the wireless triangulation signals where received to repeatedly triangulate a current location of the bracelet, repeatedly analyze the indications of linear and/or rotational movements to identify instances of picking up and/or putting down an item offered for purchase; and determine whether the item is being purchased based on changes in the current location of the hand, and on instances of picking up and putting down the one

Abstract: An imaging device has a focusing device flanked by electromagnets such that a magnetic levitation between the electromagnets and permanent magnets in the focusing device cause the focusing device to rotate about an axis. This rotation causes the optical axis of the focusing device to read an extended reading field beyond the ordinary reading field when the focusing device is in a balanced magnetic levitation position.

Abstract: An in-chamber device and method for calibrating a tunable-focus camera system may include an optical chamber that includes a housing, camera sensor, camera receiving lens, and illumination source. The housing may define an aperture, and the camera sensor may be disposed within the housing. The camera receiving lens may be disposed in the aperture and configured to enable light external of the optical chamber to be focused onto the camera sensor. The illumination source may be configured to output an illumination signal that is incident the camera receiving lens along a first axis via the camera receiving lens. The illumination signal may be reflected from a reflective element as a reflected illumination signal back through a second axis via the camera receiving lens so as to enable the reflected illumination signal to be sensed. The optical chamber may be used to automatically calibrate the tunable-focus camera system periodically or aperiodically.

Abstract: A fixed retail scanner and related methods comprises imagers configured to capture image data, and a processor operably coupled to the imagers. The processor configured to provide image data from at least some of the imagers in real-time during a transaction to a decoder within the data reader for decoding an optical code on an object within the image data, generate annotations for the image data based on an analysis of image content of the image data to generate annotated image data, and provide the annotated image data from at least some of the imagers to an external system in real-time during the transaction.

Abstract: An image-based optical scanner utilizes methods to improve throughput when decoding items in an environment when items may have only one label, while some items may have multiple labels such both 1D and 2D barcodes. The scanner may include maintaining and updating a local GTIN database during a learning phase, which may be based on its own data or data shared with other devices such as remote servers and/or other scanners. The scanner may also enhance decoding algorithms based on localization information to speed up the process of decoding 2D labels after a 1D label has been decoded.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a fixed retail scanner and related method for converting embedded register statistical data from one or more images into pixel data that is combined with image pixel data that is sent to the system processor for a fixed retail scanner. Such statistical data may include histogram data, image statistics, and other related information.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a data reading system and related methods of operation designed for optimizing and efficiently handling various image-processing functionalities of a data reading system. The data reading system includes a data reader configurable in at least a first image-processing mode for reading and decoding optical codes from acquired image data and in a second image-processing mode for performing image analysis to identify the item. The image-processing modes may be selectively or automatically toggled as needed for completing a transaction.

Abstract: An image-acquisition method includes capturing, with an image sensor that includes a pixel array, a first image-set of a scene illuminated by an aimer-pattern. Each image of the first image-set includes a respective image-region detected by a plurality of pixels of the pixel array that define an aimer-illuminated region of the pixel array that at least in part determines a region-of-interest (ROI) of the pixel array. The method also includes determining an ROI exposure-setting based on ROI pixel-values of the first image-set generated by the ROI of the pixel array. The method also includes capturing a second image-set of the scene while the exposure setting of pixels of the aimer-illuminated region equals the ROI exposure-setting.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method of identifying a linear barcode may include acquiring multiple events from an event-based camera imaging an object on which a linear barcode is positioned within the scene. The events may be grouped to form clusters of the events. A box may be formed around the linear barcode so as to identify a region-of-interest in which to process the linear barcode for decoding, thereby increasing speed for decoding the linear barcode as the code reader may focus on the region-of-interest within the box. In an embodiment, edges of features may be identified from the group events. Consecutive edges with the same or similar angle may be identified, thereby being indicative of the linear barcode.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device includes a housing having a front side and a back side. A primary electronic display may be positioned on the front side of the housing and may display interactive graphical user interfaces with which a user controls operation of the mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device may also include a secondary electronic display to display point-of-sale (POS) information to a customer to pay using a payment device that is enabled to perform wireless transactions. The secondary electronic display is positioned on the back side of the housing to enable the customer to view the secondary electronic display when performing a wireless transaction. The mobile electronic device may also include an antenna to communicate wireless signals with the payment device when performing the wireless transaction.

Abstract: A method includes, in executing at least one routine of a scan engine pipeline, decoding an encoded data marking within a scan image captured by a scan engine to retrieve data encoded in the encoded data marking, encoding the data in at least one new encoded data marking within at least one generated image, and providing the at least one generated image to a camera pipeline through a camera driver interface to a camera pipeline; in executing at least one routine of the camera pipeline, relaying the at least one generated image to a camera scan application through a camera API; and in executing the camera scan application, decoding the at least one new encoded data marking within the at least one generated image to retrieve the first data.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a printed circuit board (PCB) on which electronics are disposed. A PCB shield may be disposed on the PCB. The mobile device may also include an electronic display on which visuals are displayed for a user to view. The electronic display may include a back plate and an antenna may be defined by the back plate. At least one contact may be electrically connected to a portion of the back plate defining the antenna. A screen may be disposed on an opposite side relative to the back plate such that an antenna pattern radiated by the antenna extends through the screen.

Abstract: A multi-camera system and method may include a first camera including a first lens and a first image sensor, and a second camera including a second lens in a second image sensor. The first image sensor may be communicatively coupled with the second image sensor, where the first image sensor is configured to communicate image data to the second image sensor. A camera controller may be configured to cause the first and second image sensors to capture and generate respective first and second image data. The first image data may be communicated from the first image sensor to the second image sensor, and the second image sensor may be configured to output a data stream inclusive of the first image data and the second image data.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a fixed retail scanner including a data reader having a multi-port network switch disposed within a housing of the data reader. The multi-port network switch is configured to be configurable to provide security features to the network, including method for locking ports of the switch to specific scanner accessories and other devices, creating virtual local area networks for the devices of the date reading system, and other locating features over the network.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a data reading system operable for obtaining and decoding data from items processed by a customer in a retail transaction, where the data reading system is further operable to identify an occurrence of a performance anomaly impacting operation of the data reading system and to communicate the performance anomaly to a user together with instructions for resolving the anomaly. The communication is presented to the user via a display and may include any of a video, audio, or text format to clearly communicate the details of the issue and the instructions for resolution.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a fixed retail scanner including a data reader, comprising a main board including one or more processors including a system processor, one or more camera modules, and an artificial intelligence (AI). The system processor is configured to transmit image data received from the one or more camera modules responsive to one or more event triggers detected by the system processor, and wherein the AI accelerator is configured to perform analysis based on an AI engine local to the AI accelerator in response to the event trigger. A remote server may also be operably coupled to the fixed retail scanner through the multi-port network switch, the remote server having a remote AI engine stored therein, wherein the local AI engine within the fixed retail scanner is a simplified AI model relative to the remote AI engine within the remote server.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a scanning system and related method for operating a document validation assist mode, such as for detecting counterfeit currency or other documents using a data reader such as a barcode reader. The data reader includes a camera, a visible illumination source, a non-visible illumination source, and a camera configured to capture a first image under a first illumination condition using the at least one visible light source, a second image under a second illumination condition using the at least one non-visible light source during a document validation assist mode. The electronic display is operably coupled to the data reader to receive the images from the data reader during the document validation assist mode. The electronic display is configured to display the first and second images in an alternating fashion at a frequency slower than a minimum flicker fusion frequency for human vision.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack may include at least one rechargeable battery cell and at least one phase change material (PCM) pouch in contact with the at least one rechargeable battery cell within a housing. The battery pack may include electrical conductors electrically connected to the at least one rechargeable battery cell to enable electrical power to be conducted to and from the at least one rechargeable battery cell. A compressible element, such as a foam element, may be positioned between a PCM pouch and an inside wall of the housing, thereby absorbing swelling of the rechargeable battery cell(s) to reduce risk of damage to the battery cells and battery pack. The electrical conductors may be formed on a rigid-flex printed circuit board (PCB).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for ensuring human safety in a workspace shared with a robot or other dangerous machinery. The system includes one or more sensors arranged to monitor the workspace. Data from each of the sensors is acquired and analyzed to determine the positioning and spatial relationship between the human and machine, along with any respective objects that either or both may be carrying as they each move throughout the workspace. The captured data is analyzed to mitigate potential collisions between the human and the machine in the workspace, including potential collisions that may be caused by the respective objects carried by the human or machine.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a data reading system and related methods of operation designed for efficiently calibrating a scale associated with the data reading system. Prior to powering the scale, the data reading system initially determines whether an item is present on the scale via images obtained by one or more data readers of the data reading system. Upon confirmation that the scale is clear of any items that may impact an initial zero weight, the data reading system powers on the scale to complete the initialization process and configure the data reading system for operation.