Abstract: A docking station for a portable electronic device comprises a device receiving recess including a device receiving bottom surface and at least one device guiding structure sized to slidingly receive therein a device to be docked in the docking station and to guide the device toward, and maintain the device in, a desired position within the device receiving recess in which an electrical connector of the device mates with an electrical connector of the docking station and a well formed in the bottom surface of the device receiving recess, the well extending downward from the electrical connector of the docking station to a drainage opening formed at a lower-most point of the well in combination with a first lumen extending from the drainage opening to an outlet at an exterior of the docking station.

Abstract: Laser power control arrangements interrupt power to a laser used in electro-optical readers upon detection of an over-power condition not conforming to preestablished standards to meet prevalent safety standards.

Abstract: An image compression system and method is described, which makes use of the symmetry found in faces and heads to perform the compression. The image is divided along the line of symmetry, and pairs of corresponding pixels on the two divided sides are determined. A weighted average and a weighted variance of the pixel values of the pairs is computed, and is used to encode the image. A transform such as the Karhunen-Loeve transform is used to compute the weighted averages and variances.

Abstract: A system is provided for a wireless local area network. The system includes, but is not limited to, at least one cell controller and simplified RF ports which are configured to provide lower level media access control functions. Higher level media access control functions are provided in a cell controller, which may service one or more RF ports that are capable operating with at least two wireless local area subnetworks. Mobile units can also be configured with the higher level media access control functions being performed in a host processor.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for demodulation and decoding of backscattered RFID tag signals, represented by their in-phase and quadrature components at the output of the demodulator in the receiver portion of a reader interrogator. Correlation coefficients for the in-phase and quadrature components of the received signal are calculated over a shifted bit interval. Performing a correlation over a shifted bit interval relative to the real bit interval allows the base-band receiver to involve a two-bit interval in making a decision about each transmitted bit. In contrast, in a conventional decoding algorithm, a single bit interval is involved in the decision-making process. Thus, the current method provides a 3 dB energy gain compared to the conventional method. A single zero-mean reference signal is used to compute correlation coefficients, eliminating constant components of the received signal, and simplifying digital implementation of the base-band receiver.

Abstract: The location of unmodified wireless assets in a wireless communication network may be identified using time differences of arrivals of a communication sequence at different network receivers. Time-stamping devices may include correlator circuits in parallel with signal decoders to time-stamp communication sequences. Cellular wireless networks may be frequency-multiplexed to increase spatial time-stamping density. Tags may be attached to passive assets to provide location identification information to network devices. Locations of assets broadcasting standard 802.11 radio frequency structures may be identified. Noise inherent in correlating a communication sequence may be reduced by using a selected correlation function.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for an apparatus for inputting data. The apparatus comprises a detection circuit for providing a first reference voltage to a first and a second electrode of a first conductive layer of a resistive touch screen and providing a second reference voltage to a first and a second electrode of a second conductive layer of the resistive touch screen. The detection circuit maintains the first and second reference voltages under quiescent conditions and when the first and second conductive layers couple together. The method includes applying substantially equal voltages to the first and second electrodes of the first conductive layer of the resistive touch screen. Substantially equal voltages are applied to the first and second electrodes of the second conductive layer of the resistive touch screen. Approximately zero current is conducted in the first and second conductive layers under quiescent conditions.

Abstract: A bar-code reader includes a housing, a window affixed to the housing and separating an internal environment from an external environment, and an anti-fog coating on the window within an optical path of the bar-code reader. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the anti-fog coating is a hydrophilic layer; in another embodiment, it is a hydrophobic layer. The anti-fog coating may be used internally, externally, or both, and may be applied to any number of components within the optical path.

Abstract: Described is a device which includes a housing, a chimney and a heat dissipation element. The housing includes at least one heat generating electric component mounted within an interior space thereof. The chimney extends from a proximal end surrounding a space adjacent to the at least one component through an opening in the housing to a distal end outside the housing. The heat dissipation element is attached to the distal end of the chimney and separated from the housing so that heat from the at least one component travels through the chimney to the heat dissipation element from which it is dissipated.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting unauthorized use of a wireless local area network is described, wherein the network includes mobile units that communicate with at least one access point. First network traffic data is accumulated at a mobile unit. Second network traffic data is accumulated at an access point. The first and second traffic data is communicated to a computer and is correlated by the computer to identify non-correlated traffic data. An alarm condition is signaled when the non-correlated traffic data exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A multiplexing circuit uses parallel-configured switch/resistor pairs in a voltage divider network in such a way that a single analog-to-digital input can be used to specify the state of more than one switch or other component. One circuit includes a reference voltage node, a ground node, and an output node, wherein a switched voltage divider network is configured such that the voltage at the output node is unique for every given combination of switch states.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for testing radio frequency identification (RFID) readers are described. A network communications capability of a first reader may be tested. A second reader may be instructed to perform testing of a radio frequency (RF) communications capability of the first reader. The second reader may include a reader test module. The reader test module includes a first logic module configured to test a forward link of the first reader, and a second logic module configured to test a backward link of the first reader.

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: Described is a triggering arrangement including a power supply, a lighting arrangement and a switch. The lighting arrangement is coupled to the power supply. The switch is coupled to the lighting arrangement and the power supply. When the switch is in a first position, the lighting arrangement generates light to a photo-sensing portable device. The device is situated a predetermined distance from the arrangement. The device initiates a predetermined action in response to the light.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed 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 hold 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: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for removing dies attached to a support element are described. The support element has a first surface to which the dies are attached and a second surface that opposes the first surface. In a first example, a first vacuum is applied to the second surface outside an area defined on the second surface. At least one force element applies a force to the second surface inside the area, thereby moving a plurality of dies with respect to other dies. In a second example, heat is applied to an adhesive between the first surface and the plurality of dies to at least partially deactivate the adhesive. A second vacuum is applied to the plurality of dies to remove the plurality of dies from the first surface.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for antenna designs for radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are described.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for testing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are described. The tags are tested using a direct connection scheme, where a testing apparatus makes direct contact with a portion of a tag in order to perform a test on the tag. For example, the testing apparatus may read data from the tag to verify operation. Any number of tags may be tested at a time, including one tag at a time, or multiple tags in parallel.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses for RFID readers forming a reader network are described. In an aspect of the present invention, readers communicate according to a “Listen Before Talk” (LBT) protocol to avoid undesirable interference.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for mobile devices and antenna thereof, are described herein. A mobile device include RFID reader functionality, and functionality for communicating with one or more wireless networks. A single antenna of the mobile device accommodates the network communication functionality and the RFID reader functionality. The communications network is any type of communications network, including a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or a cell phone network. An antenna pattern of the antenna may be configurable. For example, a gain of the antenna may be varied, the antenna pattern may be shaped, directed, and/or polarized, the antenna pattern may be steered, and/or the antenna pattern may be ranged.