Abstract: A tactile switch on a mobile electronic device having a housing is provided. The tactile switch is comprised of a pressure sensitive interface on an exterior portion of the housing, a switch mechanism, and at least one pathway coupled to the pressure sensitive interface and extending from the pressure sensitive interface to the switch mechanism. The switch mechanism is at a remote location from the pressure sensitive interface. The pathway is formed in an interior portion of the housing. The tactile switch further includes a viscous fluid substantially filling the pathway. The tactile switch is configured such that when pressure is applied to the pressure sensitive interface, the viscous fluid exerts pressure on the switch mechanism, causing the switch to make an electrical contact.

Abstract: A device, system, and method are disclosed whereby farm produce harvested at a particular time and location can be tracked throughout the food supply chain, from farm or orchard to consumer market. If farm produce in the market is found to be unhealthy, contaminated, or otherwise unsuited for human consumption, the system and method enables identification of the source of harvesting, and so identification of other produce which was harvested at substantially the same time and location. This enables improved identification and containment of any problems in the produce food supply chain.

Abstract: By tracking a user's eyes, an indicia scanning system can make educated guesses as to what the user is interested in. This insight could be useful in dynamically configuring a camera system, configuring an indicia decoding process or even as a method to select data that the user is interested in.

Abstract: The invention features an image reader and a corresponding method for capturing a sharp distortion free image of a target, such as a one or two-dimensional bar code. In one embodiment, the image reader comprises a two-dimensional CMOS based image sensor array, a timing module, an illumination module, and a control module. The time during which the target is illuminated is referred to as the illumination period. The capture of the image by the image sensor array is driven by the timing module that, in one embodiment, is able to simultaneously expose substantially all of the pixels in the array. The time during which the pixels are collectively activated to photo-convert incident light into charge defines the exposure period for the sensor array. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the exposure period occurs during the illumination period.

Abstract: An optical dimensioning system includes light emitting assemblies configured to project a predetermined pattern on an object. The optical dimensioning system further includes an imaging assembly configured to sense light scattered and/or reflected of the object, and to capture an image of the object while the pattern is projected. A processing assembly, in the optical dimensioning system, is configured to analyze the image of the object to determine one or more dimension parameters of the object.

Abstract: Methods are provided for generating an estimated number of workflow cycles able to be executed with a remaining battery capacity of a battery in a device. A workflow cycle comprising a predefined series of tasks of a work application executed during a defined timeframe is defined. Beginning battery capacity is determined at start of work application execution. End battery capacity at completion of work application execution is determined. Battery usage estimate associated with work application is calculated from difference between beginning battery capacity and end battery capacity. The estimated number of workflow cycles able to be executed is based on the remaining battery capacity and the battery usage estimate.

Abstract: Barcode reading devices for creating an easy-to-use experience are provided. In one implementation, a barcode reading apparatus comprises a housing having at least a scan body and an image sensor disposed within the housing. The image sensor is configured to read the barcode. The apparatus further includes a scanning frame and a viewing frame. The scanning frame is formed in a first bottom surface of the scan body and is configured to enable the image sensor to visually detect the barcode when the barcode is placed in a scanning zone at least partially below the scan body. The viewing frame is formed in a first top surface of the scan body and is configured to enable a user to view the barcode through both the viewing frame and scanning frame when the barcode is placed in the scanning zone.

Abstract: A method is provided for constructing a composite image. The method comprises illuminating an object with light of a particular spectral band, capturing a digital image of the illuminated object using a monochromatic image sensor of an imaging device to obtain a monochrome image, repeating the steps of illuminating and capturing to obtain a plurality of monochrome images of the object illuminated by light of a plurality of different spectral bands, processing the plurality of monochrome images to generate image data for one or more output channels, and generating a color composite image from the image data. The color composite image comprises the one or more output channels.

Abstract: Various embodiments illustrated herein disclose a latching mechanism that enables engagement of modules on a mobile scanning device. The latching mechanism includes a release switch that translates between a first position and a second position. The release switch is coupled to a latch body that includes a first tongue section and a second tongue section. The first tongue section engages with the mobile scanning device, while the second tongue section engages with an attachment member. When the release switch is moved to a first position, the mobile scanning device is disengaged. When the release switch is moved to the second position, the attachment member is disengaged.

Abstract: The invention features an image reader and a corresponding method for capturing a sharp distortion free image of a target, such as a one or two-dimensional bar code. In one embodiment, the image reader comprises a two-dimensional CMOS based image sensor array, a timing module, an illumination module, and a control module. The time during which the target is illuminated is referred to as the illumination period. The capture of the image by the image sensor array is driven by the timing module that, in one embodiment, is able to simultaneously expose substantially all of the pixels in the array. The time during which the pixels are collectively activated to photo-convert incident light into charge defines the exposure period for the sensor array. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the exposure period occurs during the illumination period.

Abstract: An indicia reader can include an indicia-capturing system, an indicia-decoding module, and an audio indicator system having a sound source. An indicia-reader housing can support these components, and the housing includes two adjacent mounting surfaces and a sound port opening formed within a portion of the common edge of the two adjacent surfaces. The indicia reader can be operatively mounted in at least two different positions by attaching one of the two adjacent surfaces to a support structure. The reader's sound port opening is in acoustic communication with the sound source of the audio indicator for transmitting audible indications emitted via the audio indicator system when the indicia reader is mounted in either of the at least two different mounting positions.

Abstract: A method to associate a unique identifier (ID) of an object, such as a Bluetooth Low Energy beacon, to a spatial coordinate in a facility is described. In one embodiment, the method utilizes a visual indicator, such a barcode to transfer a beacon's unique ID to a mobile device. In another embodiment, the method transfers a beacon's unique ID to the mobile device via an optical data transmission. For either embodiment, the transfer is activated by a user prompting an activation sensor, such as a push button, on the beacon, or by the user sending a wireless signal from the mobile device to the beacon.

Abstract: A system and a method for validating items gathered (i.e., picked) as part of a logistics process are disclosed. The picking system uses one or more sensors to sense the physical attributes of an item (e.g., weight, color, size/shape, etc.). The sensed-physical attributes are compared to expected-physical attributes stored for the item. Based on the comparison, a user may receive feedback confirming or rejecting the picked item. In some embodiments, the picking system uses the collected physical data to improve, or add to, the expected-physical attributes. The picking system may also be integrated with a powered-industrial vehicle and/or a warehouse management system to improve usability and effectiveness.

Abstract: A smart battery power balance system and method to maximize the operating life of a mobile computing device and a portable peripheral (e.g., a peripheral having scanning capability). The mobile computing device battery and portable peripheral battery parameters such as battery level, velocity/rate of consumption and usage history are collected. A curve fitting and estimation is done to predict the empty time for complete battery discharge of the mobile computing device and portable peripheral. Based on this analysis, if the calculated empty time of the mobile computing device battery is less than the portable peripheral battery, the portable peripheral charges the mobile computing device battery and if the calculated empty time of the mobile computing device battery is greater than that of the portable peripheral battery, the portable peripheral battery does not charge the mobile computing battery.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable medium are provided. One system includes a transmit antenna, at least one receive antenna, and a controller configured to operate the transmit antenna and the at least one receive antenna to acquire coupled signal information from a device under test. The system also includes a processor configured to approximate a shape of a structure within the device under test using changes in resonance determined from the coupled reflected signal information and caused by different materials forming the structure.

Abstract: A method for processing the packages in a material handling environment is disclosed. The method includes receiving an image of a field of view of an image capturing device. The image comprising at least one decodable indicia having a predefined shape, the at least one decodable indicia attached to a package. The method further includes identifying one or more decodable indicia image coordinates, wherein each of the one or more decodable indicia image coordinates define a corner of the at least one decodable indicia using a 2-dimensional (2D) coordinate system. The method further includes transforming the one or more decodable indicia image coordinates to one or more decodable indicia spatial coordinates in the 3D coordinate system. Further, the method includes comparing the one or more decodable indicia spatial coordinates with one or more 3D region coordinates to determine whether the package is within a 3D region.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatuses and systems are disclosed for establishing a secure communication channel between a network establishment service and a monitoring node. An example method includes retrieving, by a processor of a network establishment service, a monitoring node identifier (MID) corresponding to a monitoring node associated with a particular monitoring platform, wherein the MID comprises a private token unique to the monitoring node. The example method further includes identifying, by node configuration circuitry of the network establishment service and based on information regarding the monitoring node, a preferred gateway node for communicating with the monitoring node. The example method further includes logically pairing, by the node configuration circuitry of the network establishment service, the monitoring node with the preferred gateway node, and transmitting, by communications circuitry of the network establishment service, the association information to the preferred gateway node.

Abstract: There is provided in one embodiment an apparatus having an image sensor array. In one embodiment, the image sensor array can include monochrome pixels and color sensitive pixels. The monochrome pixels can be pixels without wavelength selective color filter elements. The color sensitive pixels can include wavelength selective color filter elements.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for executing optical character recognition faster than at least some traditional OCR systems, without sacrificing recognition accuracy. Towards this end, various exemplary embodiments involve the use of a bounding box and a grid-based template to identify certain unique aspects of each of various characters and/or numerals. For example, in one embodiment, the grid-based template can be used to recognize a numeral and/or a character based on a difference in centerline height between the numeral and the character when a monospaced font is used. In another exemplary embodiment, the grid-based template can be used to recognize an individual digit among a plurality of digits based on certain parts of the individual digit being uniquely located in specific portions of the grid-based template.