Abstract: The subject invention relates to systems and methods for employing a housing as part of a hand held scanner as to increase utility and add ruggedness. The housing comprises an upper top housing and lower bottom housing, with the top housing comprising a set of accessory rails adapted to accept accessories associated with the hand held scanner, and the lower housing including an adjustable mass element for balancing a weight of the scanner. Also, top housing can be adapted to accept various key pad configurations via a transitional mounting frame, and the bottom housing can hold a stylus. A bar code scanner system employing such housing can incorporate displays located on various sides of the housing and/or key pads to facilitate a reading from the scanner at slanted angles.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for detection using an ultrasonic wave. The system may include a first arrangement and a second arrangement. The first arrangement may include a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter transmits an ultrasonic wave along a surface on which items are to be stored and the receiver receives the wave after it has passed over the surface. The second arrangement receives from the first arrangement data corresponding to properties of the received wave. The second arrangement compares the properties of the received wave to properties of the transmitted wave to generate current condition value. The second arrangement determines based on the current condition value and calibration data a current condition state corresponding to a degree of the surface currently occupied by the items. The calibration data includes at least one calibration value and a corresponding calibration condition state.

Abstract: A method of inventory management is described. Upon activation of a button on a wireless device, the wireless device having a light source and a transceiver with a unique media address corresponding to a unique product, the device broadcasts a first signal including an order command and the unique media address by the transceiver via a wireless medium. A central controller then receives the first signal, identifies the unique media address included in the first signal, and using a database, identifies the unique product associated with the unique media address.

Abstract: A Mobile Station (MS) is able to vertically roam in either direction between two different networks, i.e., WWAN and WLAN. The MS is equipped with a dual mode Radio for WWAN and WLAN transmissions. The WLAN Radio is linked to a WLAN Enterprise Gateway Controller (EGC) via a first air link and the WWAN Radio is linked to a WWAN Base Transceiver Station (BTS) via a second air link. An outgoing VoIP call from the WLAN Radio to a remote party on the WWAN will transition or seamlessly switch over to a WWAN connection when the MS detects packet error rates, frequent scale back or consistent signal degradation.

Abstract: A portable indicium scanner that includes circuitry for enabling an aiming pattern through an activation device. The aiming pattern targets selected indicia and signals the operator indicating whether a proper selection has been made, thereby allowing an imaging system to capture and decode the targeted indicia. The activation device includes a switch, two-stage trigger, an accelerometer, or photosensor that is located within the scanner.

Abstract: System and methods are provided that facilitate integrated and seamless utilization of location data generated by multiple disparate positioning technologies adequate for outdoor or indoor positioning. Location data from multiple sources is selectively processed based on rules that account for availability, accuracy, cost, reliability of location data. Rules can be operator specific or can be automatically generated based on historic location data or cost-benefit analysis. Processing of selected data includes formatting data according to a specific standard or protocol, or augmenting the data with metadata. Standardized data is conveyed through a communication link for utilization in various applications such as vendor applications for navigation or web-based services, as well as custom and development applications.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for providing power to devices that are part of RFID systems are described. Energy is harvested at portable/mobile devices, stored and conditioned to provide on-going power as needed for various circuits/components. The energy may be generated in a variety of ways, including using a vibratory energy harvesting device, a magnetic energy harvesting device, and an optical energy harvesting devices.

Abstract: A wearable mobile computer communicates with a headset worn by an operator using a communication channel established between the computer and a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag located in the headset. The headset may be configured for receive only (voice travels only from the computer to the headset) or configured for two-way voice communication. For two-way communication backscatter from the RFID tag is used to carry voice signals.

Abstract: An exemplary barcode reader includes an imaging system that includes a light monitoring pixel array for converting light reflected from a target into electrical signals, and an optical system having one or more focusing lenses positioned with respect to the pixel array to transmit an image of a target object toward said pixel array. An illumination system comprising a light source for illuminating a the target within a field of view defined by the optical system. A filter is disposed adjacent the focusing lens and passing illumination with a wavelength less than about 700 nanometers to the pixel array and impedes the passage of light having a wavelength greater than this value.

Abstract: An RFID portal is enhanced to provide communication capability to RFID communication enabled devices. Such devices include cameras, PDAs, voice communicator, keyboards, displays, indicators, storage devices, etc. Devices are made RFID communication enabled by providing them with an RFID interface and an RFID tag “front end”. Such an enhanced device communicates with an enhanced portal via an RFID reader/interrogator associated with the portal. The portal may have connection to other communication channels, such as an Ethernet tie to a network, a landline phone connection, a cellular interface, an 802.11 connection, a Bluetooth channel, etc. Such connections allow an RFID communication enabled device to communicate beyond the enhanced portal to the outside world.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an adapter unit for a personal digital assistant. More specifically, this invention relates to an adapter unit that provides additional functionality, and improved ergonomics and increased ruggedness to the personal digital assistant. The additional functionality includes the ability to automatically change the function of one or more of the application buttons on the personal digital assistant upon the attachment of the adapter unit.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for RFID devices, such as reader antennas, are described. A reader antenna includes a quadrature hybrid coupler, a termination element, and an antenna, such as a patch antenna. The quadrature hybrid coupler has first, second, third, and fourth ports. The first port receives an input radio frequency RF signal. The second port outputs a first RF output signal. The third port outputs a second RF output signal. The second RF output signal is shifted in phase by 90 degrees relative to the first RF output signal. The fourth port is coupled to the termination element. The patch antenna has a first point coupled to the first RF output signal and a second point coupled to the second RF output signal. The patch antenna radiates a circularly polarized RF signal due to the received first and second RF output signals. The circularly polarized RF signal may be used to interrogate tags.

Abstract: An imaging lens assembly focuses light from indicia in a working range of distances along an optical path onto a solid-state imager of an imaging reader. The lens assembly includes a negative spherical aberration component and an aperture stop that together are operative for extending the working range.

Abstract: Due to design constraints and installation variability, RFID interrogator antennas do not always function optimally across the entire channel on which they are intended to operate due to diminished antenna bandwidth. Techniques are described for selecting a sub-band of frequencies within the channel on which a particular RFID interrogator can be operated to enhance operating efficiency. These techniques include a VSWR measurement technique and a read/no read technique are disclosed for identifying a useful sub-band of frequencies. The operation of a reader/interrogator is then limited to an identified sub-band so that an RFID interrogator/tag system can be operated efficiently.

Abstract: Systems, devices and/or methods that facilitate an improved locking system are presented. An improved locking system can employ biometric sensing to facilitate improved mobile device security, more specificity in user access, specificity in levels of access, user accountability, selection of available devices, or combinations thereof, among many others. An improved locking system can employ remote oversight, multiple layers of locking, and inferential determinations to further facilitate a more transparent, effective, and substantial locking system for mobile devices. The improved locking system can be employed in devices, cradles, docking stations, and/or aftermarket products, and the like, among many others.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for automated manufacturing microstrip element antennas is described. The microstrip element antenna comprises a printed circuit layer, a dielectric layer and a ground plane layer. Mass manufacturing process for such microstrip element antennas without any substantial manual assembly process is described. Automation of the manufacturing steps leads to lower production costs, faster production and a higher yield.

Abstract: Systems, devices and/or methods that facilitate optimized proximity based information acquisition devices and/or systems. Employing dynamically adjustable interrogation ranges, interrogation directionality, and/or interrogation modalities can result in more optimized power consumption and higher selectivity among targets. Where power consumption is optimized, smaller batteries can be used and/or longer use times can be realized. Further, higher selectivity by reducing interrogation ranges, selecting directionally restricted interrogations, and filtering by modality can result in acquiring data from unintended targets.

Abstract: Systems, devices and/or methods that facilitate location optimization of mobile devices and/or systems are presented. Location optimization can result in an improved user experience by providing information and/or software tailored to the location of the device and/or system. Location aware devices/systems can include a deterministic or inferential determination of the granular location of the device/system. Location aware devices/systems can also include deterministic or inferential determinations of potential location zone transitions. These determinations and/or inferences can be employed to determine the availability of, and relevance of, device/system updates. Available relevant updates can be downloaded to the device/system at varying levels of granularity and overlap. The downloaded updates can then be installed and made available to the user.

Abstract: A mobile device having a user input component receiving input from a user and a biometric sensor incorporated in the user input component collecting biometric data from the user when the user input component is receiving the input, wherein the input is non-biometric data. In addition, a system and method for receiving input from a user via a user input component of a mobile device and collecting biometric data from the user via a biometric sensor incorporated within the user input component when receiving the input from the user, wherein the input is non-biometric data.

Abstract: In a network comprising a wireless computing device and a wireless switch coupled to a plurality of access points, techniques are provided for determining a particular one of access points that the wireless computing device is to be associated with and associating the wireless computing device therewith. According to one implementation, the wireless switch monitors one or more wireless communication performance metrics, and determines based on the wireless communication performance metrics, whether the wireless computing device is currently associated with the one of the access points that wireless computing device is to be associated with. If not, then the wireless switch transmits an instruction to the wireless computing device to associate with a particular access point that wireless computing device is to be associated with.