Abstract: An apparatus and method for video assisted line-of-sight determination of a mobile communication device in a locationing system includes sending signals from a plurality of fixed transmitters within the environment to a nearby mobile communication device for locationing the mobile communication device. An imaging device observes the mobile communication device or a user carrying the mobile communication device within the environment, and recognizes when the mobile communication device is not in a line-of-sight condition with at least one nearby transmitter, wherein a signal from the at least one nearby transmitter is obstructed. A locationing system parameter is modified for that obstructed signal such that the mobile communication device can be locationed using the modified locationing signal parameter.

Abstract: A method includes the following: (1) projecting a light pattern towards a target object; (2) detecting light returned from the target object through an imaging lens arrangement with an imaging sensor to capture a first image with changes in the position of the focus plane of the imaging lens arrangement; (3) processing the first image to determine an optimized position of the focus plane of the imaging lens arrangement; (4) detecting light returned from the target object with the imaging sensor to capture a second image when the position of the focus plane of the imaging lens arrangement is maintained at the optimized position; and (5) decoding a barcode in the second image.

Abstract: A method includes the following: (1) projecting a light pattern towards a target object; (2) detecting light returned from the target object through an imaging lens arrangement with an imaging sensor to capture at least a first slit-frame-image and a second slit-frame-image; (3) determining an optimized position of the imaging lens arrangement; (4) detecting light returned from the target object with the imaging sensor to capture an image of a barcode when the imaging lens arrangement is maintained at the optimized position; and (5) processing the image of the barcode to decode the barcode. In the method, determining the optimized position includes processing at least the first slit-frame-image and the second slit-frame-image.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting from at least one of the imaging sensors to a controller a short frame data that is collected by the at least one of the imaging sensors when the illumination source is activated to provide the illumination light toward the target object with a first illumination level. The method further includes transmitting subsequently from the at least one of the imaging sensors to the controller a regular frame data that is collected by the at least one of the imaging sensors when the illumination source is activated to provide the illumination light toward the target object with a second illumination level that is determined based upon the short frame data. The size of the regular frame data being at least 50 times larger than the size of the short frame data.

Abstract: A bi-optical, dual window, point-of-transaction workstation images indicia associated with multi-sided products over a full coverage scan zone by splitting each field of view of only two imagers into three subfields that pass through each window and fill the scan zone and minimize dead areas therein. Twisting of the subfields relative to the windows is minimized so that the subfields fit fully with minimal clipping through each window. Splitting of each field of view is remotely performed well away from each imager. The imagers have lens assemblies of substantially the same optical power and are spaced from their respective windows by substantially the same distance.

Abstract: A method of decoding a Direct Part Marking (DPM) indicia. The method includes: (1) generating a polarized illumination light; (2) illuminating the DPM indicia with the polarized illumination; (3) detecting light scattered from the DPM indicia through a linear polarizer with an imaging sensor while the DPM indicia is illuminated by the polarized illumination to capture an image of the DPM indicia though an imaging lens while preventing at least 80% of onetime scattered light caused by the target object from entering the imaging lens; and (4) processing the image of the DPM indicia to decode the DPM indicia.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing and a display device. The housing includes at least one recess. The display device includes a plurality of layers that externally couple to the housing. One of the layers includes at least one tab extending perpendicular to a surface of the display device. The tab is coupled to at least a portion of a perimeter of the recess.

Abstract: A glove electronic device includes a plurality of peripherals, each of which is affixed to an adhesive cover and attachable to a location in at least one of finger portions, a wrist portion and a hand portion of the glove electronic device. Configuration of the plurality of peripherals on the glove electronic device is adaptable during use of the glove electronic device. The device also includes a transceiver for sending information captured by one or more of the plurality of peripherals and for transmitting information to one or more of the plurality of peripherals. The device further includes a processor configured to operate one or more of the plurality of peripherals responsive to a movement associated with the glove electronic device or body signals being sensed from sensors attached or worn on the body.

Abstract: A computer includes a communication unit for obtaining usage data and/or run-time data associated with the computer, at least one component communicatively coupled to the computer, and/or a vehicle on which the computer is mounted and from which the computer is configured to receive power. The computer further includes a processor configured to: extrapolate out of the usage data and run-time data patterns associated with activities implemented by the computer and/or the at least one component and power states of the vehicle and create and store a profile of patterns; receive an indication that the vehicle has been toggled to one of an ON power state and an OFF power state; identify a pattern associated with the power state of the vehicle; and adapt a power state of the computer and/or the at least one component responsive to the indication and the pattern.

Abstract: A mobile device having a camera is adapted to serve as an electro-optical reader for electro-optically reading targets. The device is received and held in a housing having a rear wall. A top extension extends away from the rear wall at a top region of the device. A fold mirror is mounted on the top extension and is spaced away from a camera lens of the device. The fold mirror is inclined relative the rear wall and is operative for receiving at least a portion of a field of view imaged by the camera from each target along a first direction, and for folding and redirecting the field of view along a second direction generally perpendicular to the rear wall through the camera lens to the camera. A handle having a trigger assembly may be connected to the housing.

Abstract: A mobile computing device is described. The mobile computing device includes an enclosure. A humidity sensor senses humidity inside the enclosure and generates humidity data. An internal temperature sensor senses a temperature inside the enclosure and generates internal temperature data. An external temperature sensor senses a temperature exterior to the enclosure and generates external temperature data. An environmental control apparatus adjusts at least a temperature inside the enclosure of the mobile electronic device. A processor receives the humidity data, the internal temperature data, and the external temperature data and activates the environmental control apparatus in response to the humidity data, the internal temperature data, and the external temperature data to minimize condensation from forming inside the enclosure due to rapid changes in external ambient temperature.

Abstract: An RFID reader is provided that includes an antenna array comprising multiple antenna elements circumferentially distributed around a longitudinal axis of the antenna array. Each antenna element includes multiple patch elements disposed above one or more underlying substrates, wherein the patch elements of each antenna element are disposed on an outer side of the antenna element. Further, one or more of the antenna elements is an asymmetric antenna element, wherein a first end of the asymmetric antenna element is wider than a second, opposite end of the asymmetric antenna element, wherein a first patch element disposed proximate to the first end of the asymmetric antenna element is larger than a second patch element disposed proximate to the second end of the asymmetric antenna element, and wherein a resonant frequency associated with the first patch element is approximately the same as a resonant frequency associated with the second patch element.

Abstract: A method determines an operating mode for a first communications device to communicatively connect to a second communications device. The method includes transmitting, by a first communications device to a wireless services manager arrangement (WSMA), contact identification data associated with a second communications device. The method includes determining, by the WSMA, association data as a function of the contact identification data and a contact identification database. The method includes determining, by the WSMA, one of a plurality of operating modes for the first communications device as a function of the association data. The method includes communicatively connecting the first communications device with the second communications device utilizing the determined operating mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting electronic components on an antenna structure includes at least one conductive antenna element 102, an insulating layer 106 disposed on the antenna element 102, at least one electronic component 108 disposed on the insulating layer 106, and at least one electrical trace 110 disposed on the insulating layer 106 and connecting to the at least one electronic component 108. The trace follows contours of the antenna structure, such that the trace and component are electrically isolated from the antenna element.

Abstract: A method of decoding a Direct Part Marking (DPM) indicia. The method includes: (1) generating a polarized illumination light; (2) illuminating the DPM indicia with the polarized illumination; (3) detecting light scattered from the DPM indicia through a linear polarizer with an imaging sensor while the DPM indicia is illuminated by the polarized illumination to capture an image of the DPM indicia though an imaging lens while preventing at least 80% of onetime scattered light caused by the target object from entering the imaging lens; and (4) processing the image of the DPM indicia to decode the DPM indicia.

Abstract: A method and system for changing modes for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device includes transmitting ultrasonic pulses using a transmit schedule by fixed ultrasonic emitters. When a fixed access point begins serving a new mobile device, those ultrasonic emitters proximal to the access point are deactivated and associated microphones are activated to receive an acoustic tone from the new mobile device. This acoustic tone is used to establish an initial location of the new mobile device using measurements of the received acoustic tone at each proximal microphone. The transmit schedule is adapted to accommodate the new mobile device at the initial location, and the proximal ultrasonic emitters are returned to transmit mode. In this way, an accurate starting position of the new mobile device is established without greatly interrupting other mobile devices that are currently being located.

Abstract: A system and method for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment using an adaptive transmitter cluster area includes a first step of providing a plurality of fixed ultrasonic transmitters operable to be activated to provide active clusters of transmitters to service mobile devices within a predefined coverage area of the environment. A next step includes transmitting ultrasonic bursts by the transmitters to mobile communication devices to be located within the environment. A next step includes determining a location of mobile devices within the environment using the ultrasonic bursts. A next step includes establishing a density of active clusters within the environment. A next step includes adapting an area of each cluster in response to the active cluster density.

Abstract: An RFID reader configures each of a plurality of antennas operating in the RFID reader to operate in one of a first state and a second state, configures each of the plurality of antennas to operate in a first session and a second session and to operate in opposite states in the first session and the second session, and configures adjacent antennas or adjacent groups of antennas to operate in opposite states in the first session and the second session. During operation, each of the plurality of antennas is configured to read an RFID tag within a range of the antenna when a state of the RFID tag for the session in which the antenna is configured to operate matches the state in which the antenna is configured to operate and to switch the state of the RFID tag to the opposite state for each session.

Abstract: A reader for electro-optically reading a target in the presence of ambient light, includes a scan component for scanning a laser beam across the target, a first filter for passing return laser light from the target and the ambient light to a first photodetector system for generating a first output signal constituted of an information signal and a first ambient light signal, a second filter for passing the ambient light to a second photodetector system for generating a second output signal constituted of a second ambient light signal, and signal processing circuitry for measuring a difference between the first and second ambient light signals, for equalizing the first and second ambient light signals when the difference exceeds a threshold, and for subtracting the second output signal from the first output signal to obtain a receiver output signal substantially constituted only of the information signal.