Abstract: A method of reducing the cost of transmitting data from a portable or mobile hand-held data terminal to a remote data receiving station over a wireless communications network by determining the associated data transmission cost for each communication link between the terminal and the station; and selecting a data transmission link from the terminal to the station such that data transmission cost is minimized.

Abstract: An optical code reading system and method are provided for reading optical codes imprinted or displayed on, or behind, reflective surfaces. The system includes an extended light source, including one of a backlight assembly and a frontlight assembly, emitting an extended-beam light for directly illuminating an optical code, at least one image sensor for sensing light reflected by the optical code and generating signals related to at least one image of the optical code, and at least one processor for processing at least a portion of the signals, generating a decodable image corresponding to the signals, and decoding at least a portion of the decodable image.

Abstract: Points of sale or service. According to various embodiment, a point of sale or service includes a register, a peripheral and a protocol converter. The protocol converter communicatively couples the register and the peripheral. The register may communicate with the protocol converter using a first protocol while the peripheral communicates with protocol converter using a second protocol. The register and the protocol converter may communicate using TCP/IP. A second peripheral may communicate with the register using the first protocol and without the aid of the protocol converter. The point of sale or service may further include a processor communicatively coupled to the protocol converter, for accessing the first peripheral.

Abstract: An image projector is supported by a vehicle to project a two-dimensional image on a projection surface, such as a portion of a windshield, an instrument panel, or a seat back, within the vehicle, for viewing by an occupant of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a communication port integral with a battery pack assembly is disclosed. The system provides a pathway between an external unit and a host unit via a printed circuit board of the battery pack. The battery pack can include communication ports mounted on the printed circuit board for interfacing with external units. The printed circuit board further includes a substrate(s) formed with a predetermined wiring pattern electrically and/or mechanically joined to the CPU of the host unit, as well as the battery cell(s).

Abstract: A high gain, low signal-to-noise, transimpedance amplifier is prevented from saturation even in the presence of bright sunlight by an offset adjustment circuit utilizing a field effect transistor as a variable resistor.

Abstract: An arrangement for, and a method of, correcting for image distortion in an image projection system include making the scan lines of the projected image all of the same length by adjusting the amplitude of a drive signal used to sweep a laser beam to form each scan line of the image.

Abstract: A telemetric contextually based spatial audio system is integrated into a mobile terminal including a headset and antenna. The headset includes an electronic compass which determines head orientation data for the user. The terminal's geographical position can either be determined locally (e.g. onboard GPS) or by network triangulation. The orientation and position data are sent to a server which overlays the position and head orientation data onto a locally stored “floor plan”, describing an object(s) of interest. The floor plan relates the user's viewpoint to a database of contextual audio clips. A regionally significant portion of the database and respective triggers are sent to the terminal. The terminal using the database information recalculates which audio clip(s) to play. The terminal then convolves the respective audio clip(s) via an impulse response function so as to be perceived by the user as emanating from the exact spatial position of the object specified by the system.

Abstract: A wireless data communications system has mobile units which become associated with access points. Association between a mobile unit and an access point is changed as mobile units move within an area having a plurality of access points. Selection of an access point for association with a mobile unit is made according to selection criteria including a plurality of selection parameters. The system includes arrangements for determining location of a mobile unit within the area. The selection parameters include location of the mobile unit or direction of movement of the mobile unit when there are a plurality of access points available for association with the mobile unit.

Abstract: Multi-tier system for digital radio communication. The multi-tier system has a first-tier base station with relatively long-range radio and has a second-tier base station with relatively short-range, low power and cheaper radios. The system can be more versatilely configured to meet demands of various applications. The application may include data capture using bar code readers, radio frequency readers and other automatic data capture devices. The system may also be used to control hotel door locks, individual room temperature control, remote video monitoring—all without having to wire and with much flexibility given the two types of radios employed.

Abstract: The influence of speckle noise in degrading performance of a reader for electro-optically reading a multiple element symbol is reduced by constructing wavelets for each element width, correlating each wavelet with a differentiated signal derived from light scattered from the symbol to obtain a correlated signal having peaks, each peak corresponding to a middle of a respective element, and processing the peaks to decode the symbol. Edge detection of the elements, which is susceptible to speckle noise degradation, is not used for decoding.

Abstract: A portable instrument incorporates an electro-optical assembly for reading indicia during a reading mode, and for projecting a bit-mapped image during a display mode. A manually operable switch on the instrument is disposed for selecting one of the modes. The image is formed by pulsing a laser at selected times on selected scan lines.

Abstract: Crosstalk between a drive coil and a feedback coil is eliminated by a motor drive circuit operative for generating the drive coil as a square wave, and by removing the crosstalk which occurs at zero transitions of a feedback signal. The drive coil is used to oscillate a scan mirror employed in an image projection arrangement or an electro-optical reader.

Abstract: A wireless data communication system has a first station or mobile unit is linked to a second station configured as an access unit to support packet communication, voice or data, where the voice packets are transmitted in the Continuously Aware Mode (CAM) mode while other packets are buffered by the access point and held until asked for by the first station when in a Power Saving-Poll (PSP) mode. A monitoring apparatus at the access point monitors all transmitted packets and sorts the packets to the mobile unit according to CAM or PSP mode. Voice packets are sent out immediately to the mobile unit. Other packets are stored at the access point. The packet arrival rate may vary during transmission and due to random packet delays introduced by propagation characteristic and processing apparatus. The packet arrival rate and delays are taken into account by the first station in an algorithm to determine and extend the normal safe period in which the station receiver may be powered off.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that facilitate configuration of a keypad by end users of the portable host device, via employing a mapping component that can map individual keys of the keypad to characters and/or functions predefined by a user (e.g., defined for the host unit via a proprietary application/software). The reconfigurable keypad of the present invention can provide for a one touch access to special characters and/or performance of predetermined functions designated by the user, and thus facilitates performances of customized functions that can be unique to the end users.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for insert-molding various electronic and mechanical parts as part of a housing of an electrical device. The insert molded components can comprise antennas, flex members and circuits, electronic, mechanical, and interface units that have been insert molded as part of a plastic housing that contains the electrical device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for insert-molding various electronic and mechanical parts as part of a housing of an electrical device. The insert molded components can comprise antennas, flex members and circuits, electronic, mechanical, and interface units that have been insert molded as part of a plastic housing that contains the electrical device.

Abstract: Dies that are attached to a die plate can be transferred to a substrate. For example, holes in the die plate can be filled with an expandable material. A stimulus source, such as a laser beam/laser light can be directed to the material in a hole, causing the material to expand. Expansion of the material can cause a die that is covering the hole to be released from the die plate to come into contact with a substrate. A mask can be used to prevent the material in a hole from being expanded by the stimulus source. In another example, a pin plate is used to release a die from the die plate. Pins of the pin plate are selectively actuated to cause selected die(s) to be released. An actuator plate having a plurality of actuators can be moved across the pin plate, with actuator(s) selectively actuating corresponding pin(s).

Abstract: In an aspect of the present invention, an individual carries a mobile communications device, such as a cell phone, that listens for readers attempting to read tags associated with the individual. In a further aspect of the present invention, the mobile communications device operates to mask the transmissions of these readers, to prevent them from reading the tags.

Abstract: A method for assembling a plurality of electronic devices is described. A plurality of dies separated die from a wafer are attached to a support surface. The plurality of dies is transferred from the support surface to a substrate structure that includes a plurality of tag substrates.