Abstract: Disclosed herein are components, systems, and methods of a scanning system that operates in a retail environment to deter and prevent theft of items. The systems and methods include a plurality of imagers to capture a plurality of images of the item, and identifying key feature locations of the item based on the captured images. The systems and methods include a scanner to read a machine-readable symbol attached to the item, and accessing a database that includes stored key feature data associated with the specific machine-readable symbol attached to the item. The systems and methods further include one or more processors that generate key feature data for the item based on the key feature locations, compares the stored key feature data with the generated key feature data, and determines whether the stored key feature data matches the generated key feature data to a degree sufficient to surpass a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A portable electronic device having a touch screen with a floating soft trigger icon for enabling various functions of the electronic device, such as bar code reading, capturing RFID data, capturing video and images, calling applications, and/or placing phone calls. The floating trigger icon is displayed on the touch screen to enable easy identification and access of the trigger icon. The trigger icon may be selected via application of various unique control gestures to configure the electronic device. Based on the selected mode or function of the device, the trigger icon may alter its appearance to facilitate use of the device. The operation and functionality of the trigger icon may be programmed to customize operation of the device.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for the guided exchange of a replacement component for a mobile scanning device are provided. The replacement component may be another mobile scanning device, battery, or in some aspects, an empty charging port. The replacement component may be engaged by a remote charging station that communicates the current charge state to the mobile scanning device. In some aspects, this communication may be facilitated by wireless communication (e.g., an advertising packet, a bi-directional data exchange, or a combination of both). Once identified, a path from the mobile scanning device to the replacement component may be provided to the user. As the mobile scanning device approaches the remote charging station corresponding to the replacement component a locking mechanism may be disengaged and indicators provided to assist a user's identification of the target replacement component.

Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for pallet management and constructing a pallet stack may include generating a virtual pallet stack using virtual packages having sizes and shapes corresponding with known available actual packages. In response to identifying an actual package to be placed on a pallet, an indication may be provided to a worker where the identified actual package is to be placed on the pallet stack based on the location of a corresponding virtual package on the virtual pallet stack.

Abstract: An image-reading device, such as optical code readers used in retail environments to scan objects, is configured to select from various operational modes. The operational modes are selected based on an application of the image-reading device, such as optical code identification or image recognition. Red, white, and other color light sources are activated in patterns corresponding to an illumination sequence of the selected operational mode, while imagers are activated to capture an image based on an exposure pattern of the selected operational mode. Further, a repeating series of light pulses having different portions of light is provided. Various imagers are configured to capture images over one of the portions. This allows an operator to perceive one continuous light pattern, yet allows various imagers to capture an image under different light conditions used for different applications of the image-reading device.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a fixed retail scanner including a data reader comprising a main board, one or more camera modules, and a multi-port network switch disposed within a housing of the data reader. The multi-port network switch is configured to provide a network backbone for at least some internal devices within the housing of the data reader and for at least some external devices positioned external to the housing of the data reader and operably coupled with the data reader through the multi-port network switch. Related systems may include a remote server operably coupled to the fixed retail scanner through the multi-port network switch such that image data to the remote server may be communicated via the multi-port network switch from at least one of the main board or the at least one camera coupled to the multi-port network switch.

Abstract: A bi-optic data reader has a horizontal housing portion including a horizontal reading window, a vertical housing portion including a vertical reading window disposed between a left panel area and a right panel area of a body of the vertical housing portion, and a weigh platter having a horizontal weigh surface extending over the horizontal housing portion, and a crown extending over the vertical housing portion including overhanging portions that extend over the left panel area and the right panel area.

Abstract: Image processing to discriminate imaged objects that are adjacent or overlapping. Non-empty cells of the image that contain portions of the objects, and empty cells that lack any portions of the objects, are all determined. A global convex hull is defined to surround the non-empty cells of the image. Voids, including at least a first void and a second void, are found within the global convex hull, each being composed of contiguous empty cells and having a corresponding void boundary. A separation line is defined based on a first separation line endpoint along the void boundary of the first void and a second separation line endpoint along the void boundary of the second void, to separate two of the objects in the image. An output may be produced that includes indicia of at least portions of distinct boundaries of the objects in the image based on the separation line.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a fixed retail scanner including a data reader comprising a main board, one or more camera modules, and a multi-port network switch disposed within the data reader. A heat management system is disposed within the data reader housing and operably coupled with at least the multi-port network switch to dissipate heat therefrom. The disclosure includes a heat pipe thermally coupled to a switch processor, the heat pipe extending across at least a portion of the bi-optic housing to an air chamber formed within the bi-optic housing.

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-reading device, such as optical code readers used in retail environments to scan objects, is configured to select from various operational modes. The operational modes are selected based on an application of the image-reading device, such as optical code identification or image recognition. Red, white, and other color light sources are activated in patterns corresponding to an illumination sequence of the selected operational mode, while imagers are activated to capture an image based on an exposure pattern of the selected operational mode. Further, a repeating series of light pulses having different portions of light is provided. Various imagers are configured to capture images over one of the portions. This allows an operator to perceive one continuous light pattern, yet allows various imagers to capture an image under different light conditions used for different applications of the image-reading device.

Abstract: An electromagnetic braking assembly for maintaining an actuator shaft in position, and methods for utilizing the same, are provided. The actuator shaft may include an object, e.g., an imaging lens, which is movable in accordance with movement of the shaft. The braking assembly may include a braking coil to which electricity may be applied to produce a magnetic field, a braking magnet capable of changing position as it interacts with the magnetic field, and a braking spring coupled with the magnet such that the spring changes position as the magnet changes position. When the braking spring is in one position, the spring exerts pressure on the actuator shaft substantially preventing the shaft from engaging in linear movement and thus maintaining the shaft in position. When the actuator shaft is in another position, the braking spring does not exert pressure on the shaft permitting the shaft to engage in linear movement.

Abstract: A microcontroller-based code reader and method of reading a machine-readable indicia may include capturing, by an imager, an image of a machine-readable indicia disposed an object. An image subsample of an image captured by the imager may be read from the imager. The image subsample or partial image data may be stored in an embedded memory of a microcontroller in electrical communication with the imager. The machine-readable indicia may be decoded from the image subsample.

Abstract: A dynamic dimensioning system includes at least one camera, a range finder, and a tachometer. A computer may be used to perform a dynamic calibration operation for the cameras coupled over a communications network. The dynamic calibration operation includes a calibration estimate routine configured to generate default configuration parameters selected by a user from among a plurality of pre-defined user inputs via a graphical user interface, and a calibration refinement routine configured to refine the default configuration parameters to generate a completed set of calibration parameters that are set for the at least one camera. The dynamic calibration operation may be performed without first performing any static calibration operation.

Abstract: A first imager has a relatively high resolution and a relatively narrow first field-of-view. Information about objects in an environment is detected or captured, and used to steer the first field-of-view of the first imager. The sensor(s) may take the form of a second imager with a relatively lower resolution and relatively wider second field-of-view. Alternatively, other types of sensors, for instance presence/absence sensors may be employed. The first field-of-view may be directed toward an object that satisfies one or more conditions, for instance matching a particular SKU. The first field-of-view may track a moving object, for instance via a tracking mirror and actuator. This approach may be employed in retail locations, for example in grocery or convenience stores, for instance to reduce various forms of theft or in industrial environments.

Abstract: A portable electronic device having a touch screen with a floating soft trigger icon for enabling various functions of the electronic device, such as bar code reading, capturing RFID data, capturing video and images, calling applications, and/or placing phone calls. The floating trigger icon is displayed on the touch screen to enable easy identification and access of the trigger icon. The trigger icon may be selected via application of various unique control gestures to configure the electronic device. Based on the selected mode or function of the device, the trigger icon may alter its appearance to facilitate use of the device. The operation and functionality of the trigger icon may be programmed to customize operation of the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing erroneous weighing of items such as by detecting items extending beyond a periphery of a weigh platter whereby in one configuration, the system employs a light source disposed in or on a housing of a scanner-scale for producing a light beam along an edge of the weigh platter, the light beam being modulated to contain a defined packet of data; a detector for receiving the data-modulated light beam, the detector being disposed in or on the housing; and a processor coupled with the detector for decoding the defined packet of data responsive to the detector receiving the data-modulated light beam. Various indicators for alerting the operator of off-scale detection are also described.

Abstract: A captured image contains a region of interest (ROI) including a plurality of characters to be recognized as text, and non-ROI content to be excluded from the OCR. The captured image is preprocessed to detect and locate the ROI in the captured image, and to determine a boundary of the ROI, including transforming the captured image to a first feature descriptor representation (FDR), and performing a comparison between the first FDR and at least one ROI template that includes at least a second FDR of a representative ROI image. The preprocessing produces an output to be provided to an OCR engine to perform autonomous OCR processing of the ROI while ignoring the non-ROI content based on the determined boundary of the ROI.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an inventory management system including one or more imagers mounted to shelving or other structures displaying items for sale, where the imagers are designed to capture images of the items and relay information to a database for purposes of tracking the items and managing inventory. The imagers are compact, low power devices incorporating wireless means for communicating with the database and may include solar cell arrays for charging purposes.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a self-checkout system including a base and a scan gate extending over at least a portion of the base, the scan gate having a field of view that encompasses 360-degree coverage of the items such that the scan gate is able to obtain and read encoded data on any surface of the item passing through the scan gate. The base may include one or more rails positioned along the periphery to help retain items on the surface of the base once they have been passed through the scan gate.