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.

Abstract: Ultrasonic locationing of a tag with an emitter transducer operable to emit a single frequency ultrasonic burst. A receiver with at least two microphones is operable to receive the ultrasonic burst. Each microphone receiver contains two narrowband filters to extract frequencies above and below the ultrasonic burst frequency. A processor derives a low frequency waveform indicative of the phase difference between the dual frequency pulses coming from each microphone receiver. A correlator then determines the time difference of arrival (TDOA) between each microphone receiver by correlating the phase difference waveforms. This invention enables the creation of an ultrasonic locationing system requiring microsecond accuracy on TDOA data, as is necessary with microphone spacing of less than one foot, while using a simple single high frequency emitter source.

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: A technique for the detection of an unauthorized wireless communication device includes monitoring of Bluetooth® communications activity by a Bluetooth® capable communication device. Any monitored communication activity is analyzed against parameters that are predefined to detect suspected illegal activity. If illegal activity is suspected by the analysis, an alert is generated for a system administrator. The predefined parameters associate illegal activity with; data that includes credit card numbers and expiration dates, credit card transaction logging information, non-discoverable devices, activity after store hours, exceedingly long activity, etc.

Abstract: An imaging scanner includes an illumination light source and a hybrid illumination lens. The hybrid illumination lens includes a first Fresnel surface facing the illumination light source and a second surface having a microlens array thereon. The first Fresnel surface is configured to direct light received from the illumination light source towards the second surface to generate illumination light towards a target object through the microlens array on the second surface.

Abstract: A method of decoding one or more barcodes on a target object with an imaging scanner is described. The imaging scanner comprises an image sensor and a dynamic linear polarizer. The method includes the following: (1) capturing at least one image of the target object through the dynamic linear polarizer with the imaging sensor while the dynamic linear polarizer is set to a different defined polarization during each of N time periods; and (2) processing at least N images of the target object to decode the one or more barcodes on the target object. At least one image that is captured during each of the N time periods. Here, N is an integer that can be three, four, five, six, or other natural numbers.

Abstract: A reader antenna for a radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) reader operative for scanning RFID item tags that are oriented at different orientations and that are associated with items contained in a controlled area, includes a pair of mutually orthogonal dipoles for radiating electromagnetic waves with mutually orthogonal polarizations, an electrically energizable RF switch for switching between the dipoles, and an RFID antenna tag mounted adjacent the dipoles, and operative for receiving the radiated wave from either dipole, for locally generating electrical power to supply power to the RF switch, and for energizing the RF switch to switch between the dipoles.

Abstract: Indicating a movement of an ultrasonic tag is accomplished by a transducer operable to provide electrical signals caused by the movement. The movement can cause mechanical vibrations, sound vibrations, or pressure in the transducer, to generate the electrical signals. A controller can detect the electrical signal from the transducer generated by the movement, whereupon the controller obtains tag data and modulates the tag data to be supplied to a powered up emitter. The emitter transmits the modulated tag data in a transmission to an ultrasonic tag reader using an ultrasonic carrier sound wave.

Abstract: An aiming light assembly generates an aiming light spot with increased brightness and uniformity over a range of working distances in which targets are electro-optically read by image capture. The assembly includes a light emitting diode (LED) for emitting an aiming light beam, a field stop through which the aiming light beam passes, an aiming lens for optically modifying the aiming light beam passing through the field stop to form the aiming light spot over the range of working distances, and a field lens located in the vicinity of the field stop and operative for imaging the LED downstream of the field stop and in the vicinity of a lens aperture of the aiming lens.

Abstract: An ultrasonic locationing method and system for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment includes a plurality of fixed ultrasonic emitters to transmit an instruction to listen for an enrollment tone to at least one communication device, and to sequentially emit an enrollment tone from each emitter at specific times to be received by those communication devices that implemented the instruction. A controller receives a response from each of those communication devices, the respective response including an identity of the communication device, a time the enrollment tone was received, and an indication of a hardware platform of the communication device. The controller can then assign a locationing mode to each communication device in accordance with its hardware platform. The communication device provides locationing information using its assigned locationing mode and locationing tones from active emitters.

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 method and apparatus for locationing using differential phase measurements of IEEE 802.11 preambles. A first step includes providing a local clock at the same frequency as the IEEE 802.11 preambles. This step includes synchronizing the local clocks at multiple receivers with a reference clock, for example, using Synchronous Ethernet. A next step includes receiving IEEE 802.11 packets from a transmitter by at least three fixed receivers. A next step includes determining a phase offset between the local clock and any nearest cycle of a preamble in the received packets in each of the receivers. A next step includes locating the transmitter using each of the phase offsets.

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: 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 radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for, and method of, reading an RFID tag to obtain data, includes an RFID module supported by a housing and including an antenna for propagating an electromagnetic field over a field of view, as well as an illuminator supported by the housing for visibly illuminating the field of view to enable an operator to see the illuminated field of view and whether the RFID tag is within the illuminated field of view.

Abstract: A host server may optimize configurations of a set of readers under its control. The server assigns a multicast address to each reader in the set. Once connected, the server sends a multicast message to each reader assigned to the multicast address or to each reader within a given address range. Information in the multicast message is used for configuring or managing polling operations of each reader assigned to the multicast address or each reader within the given address range.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus with predictive triggering includes a housing including electronics operable to perform a process that can be activated by a user depressing a trigger with a finger. A trigger is operable to activate the electronics to perform the process. A proximity sensor is operable to detect a user's finger in proximity to the trigger. A processor coupled to the electronics, trigger, and proximity sensor, wherein when the proximity sensor detects a user's finger in proximity to the trigger, before the user's finger actually depresses the trigger, the processor initiates activation of the electronics to perform a portion of the process, and when the user's finger depresses the trigger, the processor directs the electronics to complete the process.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reading system having a phased antenna array accurately locates RFID tags in a controlled area, by steering an interrogating beam over the controlled area to interrogate the tags and generate return modulated RF signals. A primary receiver steers a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle that is fixed during each tag interrogation. A primary demodulator demodulates and reconstructs the received return modulated signals. A secondary receiver, independently of the primary receiver, steers a secondary receive beam at a plurality of secondary steering angles. A secondary correlator/demodulator demodulates the combined return modulated signals, and utilizes the reconstructed signal reconstructed by the primary demodulator at each of the secondary steering angles. Both the primary and the secondary receivers cooperate to accurately locate the same tag.

Abstract: Audible crosstalk can be mitigated in a low-cost three-wire device having audio capability and/or voice applications. In some embodiments, a voltage can be introduced in a microphone power supply that is approximately the same as a measured noise voltage and the resulting voltage appearing at a microphone output can be optimized to mitigate the noise voltage and, thus, the presence of crosstalk. In some embodiments, a microphone within a circuit can be isolated to mitigate crosstalk by introducing current into a circuit that is approximately the same as a measured current, but having a flow in an opposite direction.