Patents Assigned to Symbol Technologies
  • Document capture with imaging-based bar code readers
    Patent number: 8657195
    Abstract: A method includes (1) obtaining a captured image of a document physically placed on a background having specifically designed patterns; (2) storing into a memory the captured image that includes an image of the document and an image of the background surrounding the document; and (3) analyzing the captured image to search for a boundary of the document in the captured image, where step of analyzing includes distinguishing the image of the background from the image of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dayou Wang, Joseph Cai, Michelle X. Wang
  • End user-customizable data capture terminal for and method of imaging and processing target data
    Patent number: 8657198
    Abstract: A data capture terminal for, and a method of, processing one or more target data, such as symbols, arranged at spaced-apart locations on a target, employ an electro-optical reader for electro-optically reading the data on the target, and a controller for processing at least one of the data, and for determining whether the at least one data has been successfully processed. An interpretation engine customizes the controller with user-selected logic. The interpretation engine is operative, preferably after the at least one data has been successfully processed, to instruct the controller with logical conditions under which the other data on the target is to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Duanfeng He
  • Compact imaging engine for imaging reader
    Patent number: 8657199
    Abstract: A compact, low-cost, high-performance, imaging engine for an imaging reader for, and a method of, imaging targets, include a single printed circuit board (PCB), an illumination light assembly supported by the PCB for illuminating a target, a single chassis mounted on the PCB, an imaging lens assembly supported by the chassis for capturing return light from the illuminated target, and a solid-state imager supported by the PCB for detecting the captured return light over a field of view, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the captured light. A controller is mounted on or off the imaging engine, and is operatively connected to, and controls the operation of, the imager and the illumination light assembly, for processing the electrical signal into data indicative of the target being imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Barkan, Mark Drzymala
  • Compact hybrid imaging lens assembly in an imaging reader
    Patent number: 8657194
    Abstract: A compact hybrid imaging lens assembly captures return light from a target over a field of view of a linear array of image sensors of a solid-state imager, and projects the captured return light onto the array during electro-optical reading of the target. The assembly includes a plastic lens for optical aberration correction, a glass lens spaced away from the plastic lens along an optical axis, and an aperture stop between the lenses and having an asymmetrical aperture through which the optical axis extends. The glass lens has substantially all the optical power of the imaging lens assembly for thermal stability, and the plastic lens has substantially no optical power. A holder holds the lenses and the aperture stop away from the array. Alignment elements on the plastic lens align the asymmetrical aperture relative to the linear array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rong Liu, David Tsi-Shi
  • Rotating-polarization reflector-backed RFID loop antenna apparatus and method
    Patent number: 8659494
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a rotating-polarization reflector-backed Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) loop antenna apparatus and method. The loop antenna apparatus and method provides high gain (i.e., maximizing read distances at lowest power), directionality (i.e., ability to focus on specific areas), orientation insensitivity (i.e., ability to read RFID tags in any direction or orientation) while occupying minimal volume in overhead configurations. In an exemplary embodiment, the loop antenna apparatus includes a reflector and a loop element with the reflector configured to reflect downward RF energy from the loop element. Antenna polarization is controlled by a feed location on the loop element and antenna pattern is controlled by the reflector. Thus, orientation insensitivity may be achieved without changing the antenna pattern by rotating the feed location and not the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Bellows
  • HIGH PERFORMANCE SCAN ENGINE WITH REAR-FACING IMAGE SENSOR IN HANDHELD ARRANGEMENT FOR, AND METHOD OF, IMAGING TARGETS USING THE SCAN ENGINE
    Publication number: 20140048684
    Abstract: An arrangement for, and a method of, electro-optically reading a target by image capture, employ a scan engine in a handheld housing having a tilted handle. A single tilted printed circuit board (PCB) in the handle has front and rear surfaces that respectively face toward and away from the target during reading. An optical assembly having a pair of fold mirrors is mounted on the rear surface, for receiving return light from the target through an aperture in the PCB along the horizontal, and for directing the return light along a folded path. An imaging lens assembly projects the return light onto a solid-state, two-dimensional, image sensor to enable the return light to be detected over a field of view, and to generate an electrical signal indicative of the detected return light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward D. Barkan, Mark E. Drzymala
  • ARRANGEMENT FOR AND METHOD OF READING SYMBOL TARGETS AND FORM TARGETS BY IMAGE CAPTURE
    Publication number: 20140044356
    Abstract: An arrangement for, and a method of, electro-optically reading different types of targets by image capture, include an imaging assembly for capturing an image of a target over a field of view, and a controller for automatically distinguishing between the different types of targets, for decoding a symbol if the target being imaged is a symbol target, and for identifying and processing individual fields on a form if the target being imaged is a form target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Duanfeng He
  • ULTRASONIC LOCATIONING SYSTEM USING REGIONAL ADDRESSING WITH ULTRASONIC TONES
    Publication number: 20140043943
    Abstract: An ultrasonic locationing system includes an emitter operable to emit at least two ultrasonic frequency tones sequentially in one ultrasonic burst. These tones, which may contain multiple frequency components, define a unique regional address. A mobile device with a microphone is operable to receive the ultrasonic burst and have a processor determine the sequential tones. A location of the device can be found from a table of predefined tones assigned to known regional addresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Lavery
  • IMAGE CAPTURE BASED ON SCANNING RESOLUTION SETTING IN IMAGING READER
    Publication number: 20140042297
    Abstract: An arrangement for, and a method of, electro-optically reading a target by image capture, employ an aiming assembly for projecting an aiming light pattern on the target that is located within a range of working distances relative to a housing, an imaging assembly for capturing an image of the target and of the aiming light pattern over a field of view, and a controller for determining a distance of the target relative to the housing based on a position of the aiming light pattern in the captured image, for determining a scanning resolution based on the determined distance, for comparing the determined scanning resolution with a scanning resolution setting, and for processing the captured image based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dariusz J. Madej, Miroslav Trajkovic, Bruno Vande Vyvre
  • REAL-TIME PLANOGRAM GENERATION AND MAINTENANCE
    Publication number: 20140045515
    Abstract: Generating a planogram of a facility in real-time, includes positioning a wireless mobile device at a plurality of geometric positions within the facility. A location of the mobile device at each position is then established using a location mechanism. Each geometric position is then associated with that location of the mobile device. The planogram is then updated with information about the geometric position. The geometric positions are associated with physical objects modeled in the planogram. Non-geometric information can also be obtained at the location of the mobile device, and this non-geometric information can be overlaid onto the planogram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Austin, Russell Calvarese
  • ELECTRONIC ARTICLE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20140035748
    Abstract: Embodiments include methods and apparatus for detecting proximity of an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag. A proximity detection system (e.g., a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader) detects a presence of an object within a first area. In response to detecting the proximity of the object, an EAS tag reader alters characteristics of an EAS tag detection signal that is produced by the EAS tag reader in order to detect an EAS tag within range of the EAS tag reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: ALTAF MULLA
  • ENHANCED USER INTERFACE FOR PRESSURE SENSITIVE TOUCH SCREEN
    Publication number: 20140028606
    Abstract: A device and method provides predictive visual indicators. The method includes displaying a user interface on a pressure sensitive touch screen display device of an electronic device. The user interface includes a plurality of contact areas. The method includes receiving a first touch input data on a first contact area. The first touch input data includes force data. The method also includes determining a second contact area as a function of the first touch input data and the first contact area. The second contact area is indicative of a prediction for a second, subsequent touch input data. The method includes displaying at least one predictive visual indicator that corresponds to the second contact area in response to the prediction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Giannetta
  • MOBILE DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING A TOPOGRAPHICAL AREA DEFINED BY A BARCODE
    Publication number: 20140027503
    Abstract: A mobile device is described. The mobile device includes a camera capturing an image of a barcode. The barcode includes information relating to a location of an object relative to a location of the barcode. A processor is coupled to the camera for decoding the barcode. A processor determines the location of the object in response to decoding the barcode. A display is coupled to the processor for displaying the object in a field of view of the camera. The processor instructs the display to visually accentuate the displayed object based on the determined location of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Benedict John Howard Kennedy, Michael J. Giannetta
  • Focus adjustment with MEMS actuator in imaging scanner
    Patent number: 8632012
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for using in an imaging scanner. The apparatus includes a solid-state imager, an imaging lens assembly comprising a base lens and a MEMS lens, and an electric circuitry operative to transfer the image captured by the solid-state imager to a decoding circuitry. The imaging lens assembly is configured to focus light reflected from the target object onto the array of photosensitive elements in the solid-state imager by passing the light reflected from the target object through the base lens followed by the MEMS lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Shi
  • PISTOL GRIP ADAPTER FOR MOBILE DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140018128
    Abstract: An adapter for a mobile device is described. The adapter includes a handle portion having a trigger switch that is accessible to an index finger of a hand of the user when the handle portion is held in the hand of the user. A cradle portion is positioned above the handle portion for receiving at least a portion of the mobile device such that a plane of a display of the mobile device is substantially aligned with a long axis of the handle portion and the display is viewable by the user when the mobile device is positioned in the cradle portion and the handle portion is held in the hand of the user. A data acquisition device is coupled to the cradle portion. The data acquisition device acquires data from an object upon actuation of the trigger switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Martin, Jaeho Choi, Ian R. Jenkins, Chandra M. Nair, Konstantinos D. Tsiopanos
  • ERGONOMIC ARRANGEMENT FOR MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140014728
    Abstract: A mobile device is described. The mobile device includes a handle portion having a longitudinal axis. A trigger switch is positioned on the handle portion and configured to activate a data capture function of the mobile device when the trigger switch is depressed. A top portion accommodates a display device and a data acquisition device. A planar surface of the display device is oriented at a first angle between one degree and thirty degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle portion. The data acquisition device is disposed on an opposite side of the display device such that a central axis of a field of view of the data acquisition device is oriented at a second angle between ninety degrees and one-hundred and thirty-five degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaeho Choi, Ian R. Jenkins, Richard M. Martin, Chandra M. Nair, Konstantinos D. Tsiopanos
  • HANDS-FREE BODY-MOUNTED PRESENTATION SCANNING
    Publication number: 20140014725
    Abstract: A mobile device is described. The mobile device includes a housing having a pistol grip portion. A data acquisition device is positioned in the housing adjacent to the pistol grip portion. The data acquisition device is adapted to acquire data from an object. The data acquisition device generates an electrical signal that is representative of the data. A control activates the data acquisition device. A processor receives the electrical signal from the data acquisition device. A support is worn on a torso of a user. The support supports the housing by the pistol grip portion such that the data acquisition device is positioned to acquire data from the object when the object is located in front of the torso of the user. The support enables hands-free operation of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Martin, Jaeho Choi, Ian R. Jenkins, Chandra M. Nair, Konstantinos D. Tsiopanos
  • MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE INCLUDING AN ERGONOMIC HANDLE
    Publication number: 20140014726
    Abstract: A mobile device is described. The mobile device includes a handle for gripping the mobile device with fingers of one hand. A display is oriented substantially parallel to a long axis of the handle such that a thumb of the one hand is capable of touching at least a portion of the display when the fingers of the one hand grip the handle of the mobile device. A data acquisition device is positioned so as to capture product information from an object located on an opposite side of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Konstantinos D. Tsiopanos, Jaeho Choi, Ian R. Jenkins, Richard M. Martin, Chandra M. Nair
  • MOBILE COMPUTING UNIT FOR REDUCING USAGE FATIGUE
    Publication number: 20140014727
    Abstract: A mobile unit (MU) is described. The MU includes a handle configured for gripping the MU with fingers of one hand of a user's arm. The MU includes a trigger switch positioned on the handle and configured to activate a data capture function of the MU when the trigger switch is depressed. The MU includes a display device positioned above the handle of the MU such that the display device is viewable to the user when the fingers grip the handle of the MU and the user's arm is maximally extended. The MU includes a data acquisition device located on an opposite side of the display device so as to capture data from an object positioned in a field of view of the data acquisition device when the trigger switch is depressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaeho Choi, Ian R. Jenkins, Richard M. Martin, Chandra M. Nair, Konstantinos D. Tsiopanos
  • Cavity backed cross-slot antenna apparatus and method
    Patent number: 8629812
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus and method includes an orthogonal slot antenna which overcomes the limitations associated with RF choke between the adjacent slots through various feed techniques. A cavity backed cross-slot antenna includes a horizontal slot antenna, a vertical slot antenna sharing a center portion with the horizontal slot antenna, a first feed for the horizontal slot antenna, and a second feed for the vertical slot antenna, the first feed and the second feed provided to the shared center portion. Another cavity backed cross-slot antenna includes a horizontal slot antenna, a vertical slot antenna, the horizontal slot antenna and the vertical slot antenna share a center portion therebetween, a first feed feeding both halves of the horizontal slot antenna, and a second feed feeding both halves of the vertical slot antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rehan K. Jaffri, Richard T. Knadle