Abstract: An arrangement for, and a method of, minimizing misdecodes of GS1 DataBar Limited (Databar-limited) symbols in a reader for electro-optically reading symbols of different symbologies, such as Universal Product Code (UPC) Version A (UPC-A) symbols, includes a data capture assembly for capturing light from a target symbol, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the captured light; and a controller for processing and decoding the electrical signal, and for determining whether the decoded signal is indicative of a Databar-limited symbol, and for determining whether the decoded signal has characteristics indicative of a different symbology, such as the UPC-A symbol, to indicate whether a misdecode of the Databar-limited symbol has occurred.

Abstract: Providing a private connection for a mobile device in a wireless local area network includes a mobile device operable to associate to a home wireless local area network (WLAN), request a temporary digital extension from the WLAN, receive an assigned temporary digital extension from the WLAN, register with the WLAN using the temporary digital extension, and initiate a call from the temporary digital extension to a target extension. In addition, an in-store server is operable to register the temporary digital extension, recognize the temporary digital extension in the initiated call, establish the call to the target extension, and route the call between the temporary digital extension and the target extension.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a main antenna and a diversity antenna. The diversity antenna includes a first portion configured to enable a transceiver to receive a signal in a first low-band frequency of four frequency bands. A second portion enables the transceiver to receive a signal in first and second high-band frequencies. A third portion is RF coupled to the first portion when the third portion is connected to ground. The third portion tunes the first portion such that the transceiver receives a signal in a second low-band frequency. A switch is connected between the third portion and the ground. When the switch is open, the first portion enables the transceiver to receive the signal in the first low-band frequency. When the switch is closed, the third portion tunes the first portion to enable the transceiver to receive the signal in the second low-band frequency.

Abstract: A touchless interactive display system includes a display with a display area bounding the display. A reflective surface is located along an edge of the display. One optical sensor opposes and faces the reflective surface so that the optical sensor has a primary, non-reflected field of view and a secondary, reflected field of view that is reflected back from the reflective surface. The primary field of view covers a first portion of the display area that is less than the whole display area, and the reflected field of view covers a second portion of the display area, such that the first and second portions of the display area cover the entire display area. The optical sensor and a processor are operable to detect an object placed within at least one of its first and second fields of view without having the object touch the display.

Abstract: A touch-screen display apparatus, the apparatus may include first and second sheets having opposed major surfaces and a size and shape defined by a periphery. The periphery may be defined by opposed ends and opposed edges. The first and second sheets may each have a conductive pattern including a pair of opposed busbars and a plurality of traces electrically coupled to, and extending between, corresponding pairs of opposed busbars. The transparent force sensing (TFS) sheet may have opposed major surfaces and a variable resistance which is related to a force exerted upon one or more of its major surfaces. The TFS sheet may be situated between the first and second sheets. The apparatus may also include one or more separation portions situated between the TFS sheet and the first or second sheet to bias the TFS sheet apart from the first or second sheet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of reading the screen of a mobile computing device. The apparatus is an imaging scanner that includes a NFC device having a NFC antenna. The imaging scanner also includes an illumination system operative to illuminate a target object with illumination light. Under a first condition that no NFC signal from the mobile computing device is received by the NFC device, the illumination system is configured to generate a first illumination light with a first intensity. Under a second condition that the NFC signal from the mobile computing device is received by the NFC device, the illumination system is configured to generate a second illumination light with a second intensity. The second intensity is less than the first intensity.

Abstract: A workstation electro-optically reads targets by image capture, and includes a housing, a generally planar window, an imaging module, and a generally planar fold mirror between the window and the module. The module has an illuminating light assembly for directing illumination light along an illumination path through the window at a target for return therefrom during reading, and an image sensing assembly for detecting return illumination light through the window along an imaging path over an imaging field of view during reading. The fold mirror folds the illumination and the imaging paths. The fold mirror and the window lie in planes that are substantially parallel to each other to prevent reflections of the illumination light off of the fold mirror and the window from entering the imaging field of view as virtual images that degrade target detection by the image sensing assembly.

Abstract: Using counter offsets to allow flight time calculation in an ultrasonic locationing system includes ultrasonic transmitters for emitting ultrasonic bursts, each transmitter having a counter and a synchronization server. A backend controller schedules periodic bursts from each transmitter. A mobile device also has a counter and can receive the ultrasonic bursts, wherein the mobile device can determine a relative counter offset between itself and a transmitter. The mobile device can calculate a corrected reception time of ultrasonic bursts from the transmitters based on the counter value when the burst is detected and the relative counter offset between the mobile device and the transmitter, and report the corrected time to the backend controller for locationing of the mobile device.

Abstract: An imaging lens assembly captures return light from a target, and projects the captured light onto a solid-state imager during electro-optical reading of the target. One plastic lens and one glass lens, together having a relatively low negative optical power, are situated at one side of an aperture stop. Another plastic lens and another glass lens, together having a relatively high positive optical power, are situated at the opposite side of the aperture stop. An aperture extends along an optical axis through the opposite sides. Each plastic lens is configured with opposite aspheric nearly concentric surfaces to widen and flatten the field of view of the imager, and to reduce sensitivity to manufacturing and assembly tolerances. A holder holds the lenses and the aperture stop in spaced relation along the optical axis relative to the imager.

Abstract: An imaging system for acquiring images of multiple indicia, such as symbols and non-symbols, on a target, such as a label, comprises a solid-state imager having an array of image sensors for capturing light from the indicia on the target over a field of view, and a controller having a stored template that identifies details of the indicia on the target, for controlling the imager to capture the light from the indicia based on the details identified by the template.

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 for generating an electrical signal indicative of the captured image, 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, and for processing the electrical signal into information relating to the target when the target lies in a restricted zone within the range of working distances.

Abstract: A method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) system is provided. The method interrogates RFID tags with an RFID reader and provides at least some of the collected tag data to a mobile device that is unable to communicate with RFID tags using the over-the-air interface. In some situations, the RFID system obtains the current location of the mobile device and determines the location of a target tag relative to the current location of the mobile device. Locating the target tag in this manner involves the interrogation of a reference tag located at the mobile device, along with the target tag, using one RFID reader. The position of the target tag relative to the reference tag is calculated in response to the tag response signals obtained from the target and reference tags. Moreover, location of the target tag can be independently determined relative to the location of a mobile reader, by using a reference tag attached to a fixed reader or to the mobile reader.

Abstract: A selected target from a picklist having a plurality of targets is electro-optically read, by image capture, over a range of working distances, by capturing an image of the picklist in the range over an imaging field of view, by storing coordinates of a trajectory of an aiming light pattern in the imaging field of view over the range, by processing the captured image along the trajectory to find and identify a target, by determining whether the target covers the trajectory, and by determining that the target is the selected target when the target at least partially covers the trajectory.

Abstract: A mobile device captures information from a document. The mobile device selects a template stored in a memory of the mobile device. The selected template describes data content of at least one document. The mobile device then captures an image of a document, determines that the image corresponds to one document described by the selected template by verifying that at least one first region in the image corresponds to a region of the document described by the selected template, identifies at least one region in the image that corresponds with a region in the document described by the selected template, and processes information in the identified region in the image. The mobile device then aggregates application specific information from the processed information and presents the aggregated application specific information to a user program operating on the mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method for detection of multipath and transmit level adaptation thereto in ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment includes providing fixed ultrasonic emitters for transmitting ultrasonic bursts at predetermined times. A communication device measuring at least a direct signal of each ultrasonic burst and detecting multipath of each ultrasonic burst by comparing an amplitude of the direct signal with other signals related to the ultrasonic burst. If multipath is detected a controller increasing a transmit power level of the ultrasonic burst to insure the direct signal reliably remains above the detection threshold. If multipath is not detected reduce a transmit power level to the point detection is just possible. Results from non-multipath conditions are more heavily weighted when determining position as they are typically more accurate.

Abstract: A mobile device captures information from a document. The mobile device selects a template stored in a memory of the mobile device. The selected template describes data content of at least one document. The mobile device then captures an image of a document, determines that the image corresponds to one document described by the selected template by verifying that at least one first region in the image corresponds to a region of the document described by the selected template, identifies at least one region in the image that corresponds with a region in the document described by the selected template, and processes information in the identified region in the image. The mobile device then aggregates application specific information from the processed information and presents the aggregated application specific information to a user program operating on the mobile device.

Abstract: A imaging scanner identifies first and second locations in a first and second captured image of a document, analyzes each character in the identified locations, and produces a first and second string, each including a character and a confidence value. The device determines that a first measurement of the confidence values in each of the first and second string is beyond a range of a first threshold. The device compares the confidence value for each character in the first string with a corresponding confidence value in the second string, selects a character from one of the first or second string with a higher confidence value; and produces a combined string including the selected characters and the confidence value associated with each selected character.

Abstract: A bi-optical, dual window, point-of-transaction workstation images indicia associated with multi-sided products by splitting the field of view of each imager into a plurality of subfields that simultaneously extend through each window over regions of the product. A plurality of energizable illuminators, one for each subfield, illuminates each subfield with illumination light over an adjustable illumination time. The illumination light returned from the indicia in each subfield is captured along respective optical paths from each window to each imager. A plurality of exposure sensors, one for each subfield, and located externally of each imager, senses the returned illumination light in each subfield. A controller energizes each illuminator to illuminate each subfield, deenergizes each illuminator when the returned illumination light sensed by the respective exposure sensors exceeds a threshold, and processes the captured illumination light in at least one of the subfields.

Abstract: Performance of a laser-based moving beam reader for electro-optically reading a target is enhanced in a venue for transmitting an information signal by pulsing ambient light that interferes with operation of the reader. A converter converts the information signal to an analog information signal. A switching power supply is operatively connected to the converter and to a lighting fixture that emits the ambient light. The switching power supply receives the analog information signal from the converter, generates an output analog control signal from the received analog information signal, and controls the light fixture with the output analog control signal to emit the ambient light in a time-varying, non-pulsed, analog manner to mitigate interference with the operation of the reader.