Abstract: A mobile device accessory for measuring a dimension is described. The accessory includes a housing having a mating feature that is adapted to mate with a corresponding mating feature of a mobile device. A measuring tape includes a detectable pattern thereon. The detectable pattern is related to the dimension. The accessory also includes a detector that generates a signal in response to detecting the pattern. A processor generates dimension data in response to receiving the signal. An interface transmits the dimension data to the mobile device.

Abstract: In an electro-optical reader, an aiming or a scanning laser has a laser chip and a monitor photodiode. Output power of a laser beam emitted by the laser is regulated by a feedback circuit for maintaining substantially constant the laser beam output power during normal operation, a disabling circuit for disabling the feedback circuit, a drive circuit for driving the chip with a drive current when the feedback circuit is disabled, and for concomitantly generating a photodiode output voltage, a current modification circuit for modifying the drive current by a predetermined current with a concomitant change in the photodiode output voltage when the feedback circuit is disabled, and a control circuit for monitoring the change in the photodiode output voltage, for determining whether the change in the photodiode output voltage is sufficient to indicate an over-power condition, and for interrupting power to the chip when the over-power condition is indicated.

Abstract: A programmable controller and software that monitors periods an RF transmitter is active and a output power level during those periods of activity. These two values are multiplied together and accumulated over time to provide a value for the RF emissions for some period. A limit is set for the RF emissions for any period and if the RF emissions exceeds (or is expected to exceed given the current rate) the set limit, the system limits the subsequent emissions to not exceed the set limit. This reduction in emissions rate come at the cost of a small performance reduction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for RFID tags, RFID readers, communications algorithms, and RFID-related applications are described herein. In an aspect of the invention, an RFID tag is capable of storing data, receiving a signal from a reader, determining a response taking into account the tag mode and the data, and transmitting a response to the reader. The data includes a first plurality of bits and a second plurality of bits. The tag mode may be set by a current or a prior command by the reader. Depending on the tag mode, the response may be complete, or the second plurality of bits may be truncated, compressed, or encrypted. In an aspect of the invention, the response includes an implicit indication of whether the response is complete, truncated, encrypted, or compressed. In another aspect of the invention, a command from the reader indicates how many bits should be truncated, compressed, or encrypted.

Abstract: A checkout system includes a workstation having a first workstation window located in a generally horizontal plane and a second workstation window located in a generally upright plane. The workstation includes a data capture arrangement for capturing through at least one of the workstation windows target data of targets associated with the products. The workstation also includes a rear cover having a first opening and a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are located on opposite side-walls of the rear cover and substantially identical in size. The first opening allows light from additional targets entering an accessory reader from an accessory window facing the bagging area, but the second opening is covered by a side cover.

Abstract: Targets to be electro-optically read by image capture are illuminated with illumination light emitted from an illumination light source and directed along an illumination path through a window to the targets, and return light from the targets is captured through the window and projected along an imaging path to an array of light sensors of an imaging system. An optical element is located in both the illumination path and the imaging path, and has a light-reflecting, non-diffusing portion for directing the captured return light incident on the light-reflecting portion along a folded imaging path to the array, and a light-diffusing portion for diffusing the illumination light incident on the light-diffusing portion along a folded illumination path to scatter and blur an image of the illumination light source, to increase an apparent size of the illumination light source, and to reduce a perceived brightness of the illumination light source.

Abstract: A device and method automatically executes a predetermined procedure. The method includes receiving input data by a mobile unit (MU), the input data including a request for output data, the MU including a data capture module. The method includes obtaining external data using the data capture module, the external data being indicative of at least one external condition related to the MU. The method includes selecting one of at least one capture engine of the data capturing module as a function of the external data and the input data, the selected capture engine configured to obtain the output data. The method includes automatically executing a predetermined procedure using the MU as a function of the selected capture engine and the external data, the predetermined procedure including a plurality of steps, one of the steps being obtaining the output data.

Abstract: Output power of a laser beam emitted by a laser in an electro-optical reader is regulated by storing a killswitch byte in non-volatile memory, and by checking whether the killswitch byte is in a default state or a kill state prior to performing reading. A controller detects a fault condition and responsively changes the killswitch byte to the kill state, in order to permanently deenergize the laser and to maintain the laser permanently deenergized after the killswitch byte has been changed to the kill state.

Abstract: A method and device for non-echo ultrasonic Doppler used for corrected inertial navigation includes providing at least one ultrasonic emitter within an environment, each emitter configured for transmitting an ultrasonic tone of a predefined frequency. An initial location of the mobile device is established within the environment. Dead reckoning procedures are initiated using sensors within the mobile device. The device receives at least one ultrasonic tone from an emitter, and converts the at least one ultrasonic tone into a digital waveform. The device determines at least one peak frequency of the digital waveform, and subtracts the at least one peak frequency from each predefined frequency to determine at least one Doppler shift, which is used for correcting the dead reckoning of the mobile device.

Abstract: A lightpipe, which is mounted on one chassis part of an imaging module of an imaging reader, optically modifies an aiming beam emitted by an aiming laser, which is mounted on another chassis part of the imaging module, to generate and shape an aiming light pattern on a target. In one embodiment, at least one, or both, of the chassis parts are movable relative to each other to spatially adjust the aiming light pattern relative to an imaging field of view. In another embodiment, the aiming laser and the lightpipe are received in respective pockets of the chassis parts with clearance, and are adjustably fixed in place to spatially adjust the aiming light pattern relative to the imaging field of view.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an RFID scanner is provided herein. During operation, an RFID scanner will utilize beamforming techniques to appropriately beamform an interrogation signal. A first beamforming scheme will be used for a first task (e.g., EAS, inventory management, point-of-sale mode scanning of a first area, . . . , etc.) and a second beamforming scheme will be used for a second task.

Abstract: A method and system for ultrasonic locationing using time difference of arrival measurements includes an ultrasonic receiver including three microphones each disposed on a periphery of a housing and a fourth centrally-positioned microphone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for stocking and/or restocking an item. During operation, an RFID reader will determine items to be stocked/restocked. This determination may be made by performing a first scan and determining all items within range. Once determined, the RFID reader will continuously scan items that are within range. When the RIFD reader encounters an additional item that is similar to an item to be stocked/restocked, a notification is provided to a user.

Abstract: A method and device for aliasing ultrasound to produce audio tones includes a microphone circuit to receive an ultrasonic burst from at least one emitter in an environment. An analog-to-digital converter can convert the ultrasonic burst into a digital waveform. A digital signal processor can: provide an ultrasonic sampling frequency, alias the digital waveform with the ultrasonic sampling frequency to provide an audio signal, and detect the audio signal frequency. An amplitude of multiple audio signals can be used to locate the device within the environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading optical indicia. The method includes generating calibration light, and measuring an intensity of the calibration light reflected into a detector system. The method also includes determining an optimum exposure level for the imaging system based on the measured intensity of the calibration light reflected into the detector system, and generating an illumination light with an illumination system. In addition, the method includes capturing an image of the optical indicia with the imaging system subjecting to the optimum exposure level.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag includes a substrate, and an optical code and an RFID assembly on the substrate. The optical code is encoded with code data. The RFID assembly contains tag data. The RFID assembly is operative for reading the optical code to obtain the code data, for associating the tag data with the code data, and for sending the associated tag data and the associated code data by radio frequency away from the RFID tag upon interrogation of the RFID tag by an RF interrogator.

Abstract: A wireless local area network is provided with 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: A wireless local area network is provided with simplified RF ports which are configured to provide lower level media access control functions. Higher level media access control functions and management functions are provided with a system having a cell controller, which may service one or more RF ports. Mobile units can also be configured with the higher level media access control functions being performed in a host processor.

Abstract: A low loss quarter wave Radio Frequency (RF) relay switch apparatus and method provides more efficient transmission of RF energy to downstream antenna switching elements in an antenna switching network. The antenna switching network may include multiple antenna multiplexer modules which are configured to operate in a local use configuration or a pass through configuration. The antenna multiplexer modules are designed for maximum efficiency in the pass through configuration acting virtually lossless when passing through RF energy.