Abstract: An electronic apparatus such as a computer terminal, video camcorder, portable picture phone or a bar code reader includes a display which is arranged to pivot so as to provide optimum ease of viewing for the user. A reader such as an optical scanner for scanning indicia, for example bar code symbols, comprises a handle portion and, mounted pivotally thereon, a head portion. The angle of the head portion relative to the handle portion can be adjusted by rotating the head portion as desired. The reader can thus be used to read bar code symbols that would otherwise be inaccessible. In an alternative embodiment a reading head is mounted pivotally on a fixed terminal and is movable so as to accommodate the physical requirements of the operator.

Abstract: A self-check apparatus is operative for processing a sales transaction of an article having an attached surveillance tag, each attached surveillance tag bearing a coded indicia such as a bar code. The self-checkout apparatus stores an indication of the articles which have been selected for purchase. When the surveillance tag is presented to the apparatus for deactivation, the bar code on the tag is scanned, and a check is made to verify that the surveillance tag is attached to an article which has been selected for purchase, and provided such verification is made, the surveillance tag is deactivated.

Abstract: A hand held optical scanning device having a body portion with an optical scanner module at a first forward end and having a keypad and display mounted on an upper surface. The handle portion extends from the body portion near the forward end and is oriented at a selected angle to cause a second rearward end of the bottom surface of the body portion to rest on the radial surface of a user's hand when a user grips the handle. The hand held optical scanning device is further provided with a resilient seal interposed between the body portion and upper handle portion which functions to provide a ready made stand for the device.

Abstract: A data transfer system for an LCD price tagging arrangement includes an electro-optical scanner and one or more LCD price tags. Each LCD price tag is associated with a given product in a retail outlet and carries price or other information relating to that product. The LCD price tag includes an electro-optical detector for detecting a beam generated by the scanner. The scanner light beam generating source is modulated such that the beam carries product information. Accordingly the price or other product information on the LCD price tag can be quickly and efficiently updated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the function of document processing machines such as copying machines and facsimile machines. Control data is submitted to a controller in a two-dimensional symbology having error correcting capability. The control data is decoded and used to process a plurality of documents without the need of a manual keying of instructions by an operator controlling the document processing machine.

Abstract: An optical reader for reading indicia such as bar codes comprises a first and second light source for generating first and second light beams of mutually orthogonal polarization orientations, and a polarized beam splitter for combining the beams without the effects of parallax or vignetting. One of the light sources is a short range light source and the other is a long range light source. The reader may be a scanner or a field of view reader. In addition, an optical reader is provided capable of reading all 2D symbologies comprising a flying spot laser scanner arrangement and a field of view reader. The respective laser sources generate light at different wavelengths and a dichroic filter is provided to allow either system to be used without parallax effects. The laser scanner beam can be used to aim the reader when carrying out field of view reading.

Abstract: An electro-optical bar code symbol reader initiates reading of a symbol when a target bearing the symbol is detected within a predetermined distance of the reader. The reader is mounted on an operator's arm by being strapped around the operator's wrist. A keyboard and a display are provided on the reader for data entry and display.

Abstract: An integrated scanner for scanning a barcode is formed on a common substrate. The scanner may include a micro-machined mirror, a laser diode, and a detector, mounted on a single substrate or several connected substrates. Lenses can be used to focus a laser beam from the laser diode as well as expand a laser beam deflected by the micro-machined mirror. The scanner may also scan a barcode without using a micro-machined mirror by rotating the laser diode.

Abstract: A scanner has a window in its housing through which the scanning beam emerges to impinge upon an indicia to be read. The beam scans in a raster fashion over the window, and as it does so it impinges upon beam position indicating means which locate the position of the beam with respect to the scanner in at least certain portions of the scan pattern. Specifically, the beam position indicating means determines the position of the beam in a direction perpendicular to the overall scanning direction. In a preferred embodiment, the beam position indicating means may comprise one or more CCD's which provide electrical output signals dependent upon the position of the beam when it impinges upon them. Alternatively, the beam position indicating means may comprise passive code means such as a stacked series of bar code symbols. The location of the beam when it scans across the symbol can be determined by the unique pattern of reflections.

Abstract: A electro-optical memory includes a substrate on which is printed (or otherwise inscribed) a complex symbol or "label" or "bar code" with a high density two-dimensional symbology utilizing gray coding scheme for at least part of its content. The bar code contains component symbols or "codewords" placed in row and column formation, a variable number of codewords per row, and a variable number of rows. Codewords indicating spacial arrangement are encoded using gray code, and codewords representing actual information are encoded using any two-dimensional code having at least three subsets of codewords, with each subset containing a full information character set. The memory may be used in conjunction with a scanner and a suitable control system in a number of applications, e.g., robotics operations or automated object searching.

Abstract: A semi-retroreflective optical scanning system has an optical scanning element which directs a scanning light beam via a stationary holographic optical element in a scan path across indicia to be read. Light from the indicia is collected by an optical collector, such as a lens or a mirror, which focuses it onto a small optical detector via the scanning element. The field of view of the optical detector scans across the indicia in synchronization with the outgoing scanning beam from the holographic optical element. Since the incoming reflected light is not limited by the aperture of the scanning element, the signal-to-noise ratio remains high even when a small scanning element is used. In a further embodiment the light source, scanning element collector and detector are provided in a common plane, the collector and scanning element sharing a common optical axis and a light source being provided substantially off axis to allow reduction in the scanning element size.

Abstract: High speed scanning arrangements in scanners for reading bar code symbols by oscillating a scanner component in a single line pattern, the scanner component being suspended from a flexural assembly for oscillating movement. A stop is operative for contacting the scanner assembly in the event that the arrangement is subjected to external shock forces.

Abstract: A combined range laser scanner and method for electro-optically reading indicia such as bar codes having parts of different light reflectivity which utilizes two laser diode optical illumination systems optimally focused for different working ranges. A first laser illumination system is optimized for contact operation and has a range extending to approximately two feet. The second laser illumination system is optimized for longer range scanning from approximately two to seventeen feet, and the two laser scanning systems are integrated into one combined range laser scanner. The combined range laser scanner incorporates therein logic circuitry which enables either laser illumination system as required for the particular scanning application. Depending upon which laser illumination system is selected, the laser spot speed (e.g. amplitude of the drive signal for the scanning motor) is controlled to limit the frequency of received light signals to that of standard signal processing and decoding circuits.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a PCMCIA Type II memory card holder assembly for a spread spectrum radio communication card that provides radio frequency interference shielding, electrostatic discharge resistance and heat dissipation. The card holder assembly consists of a multilayer circuit board and a card holder. The multilayer circuit board has a ground plane disposed between a plurality of analog circuit layers and a plurality of digital circuit layers. The ground plane is connected by through vias to ground traces on the surfaces of the circuit board. The card holder consists of a card holder frame in which the memory card is slidably and rotatably mounted so that the ground traces continuously contact the frame, and two outer cover plates which are adhered to the opposing surfaces of the card holder frame.

Abstract: Bar code decoding methods and apparatus are disclosed wherein prototype characters are generated using calculated bar code distortion attributes. The vector distance measurements between the scanned bar code characters and the prototype characters are advantageously utilized to provide advanced and improved decoding.

Abstract: A system or network for assembling, filing and processing health care data transactions and insurance claims made by patients pursuant to health care policies issued to the patients by insurance companies or other carriers for service provided to the patients at health care facilities. The network comprises a multitude of participating patients, a multitude of health care facilities, and a plurality of insurance companies or other carriers. Each of the patients has a personal data file including a set of patient related data encoded in a machine readable format, and each of the health care facilities has a telecommunications unit and a file reader to read the data on the personal data files and to transmit the patient related data to the telecommunications unit at the facility. The network further includes a central claims processing unit connected to the telecommunications units of the health care facilities to receive the electronic claim forms from those facilities and to adjudicate those claims.

Abstract: A point-of-sale unit for electro-optically reading bar code symbols includes a housing having a handle and a curved head. The head and the handle have support surfaces for engaging a work surface to support the housing in various orientations. The handle may be removably mounted behind the curved head.