Abstract: The system of the invention is a very efficient means for the on-demand production of hydrogen for aid, power, and electricity, operated by a control system with a modular, smart, and high-power efficiency arrangement using nanotechnology. A vast number of selections are provided for the user to obtain power production when needed or furthermore with variable delivery. Respecting cleanliness, environmental, and air pollution reduction constraints, the system is devised for use in the areas of housing, transportation, or more generally, any industry producing electricity or heat particularly by hydrocarbon means, or furthermore any environment requiring power for stationary or mobile operation.

Abstract: An improved optical code reading system and method that enhances the ability of a reader to locate a symbol within a field of view and enhances the error-correcting properties of the encoding scheme commonly used in 2D bar codes. The reader offsets the effects of damaged finder patterns and missing symbol perimeters and, thereafter, detects high-level symbol information such as the code type, symbol size, and the number of rows and columns in the symbol. The reader then identifies those missing portions of a damaged symbol and marks each missing data bit location with a predetermined indicator. A decoding algorithm then interprets the missing bit indicator as an error of known location (e.g., an “erasure”), thereby nearly doubling the error correcting strength of all bar codes employing the Reed-Solomon error correction scheme.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus of controlling power consumption in a CMOS active pixel sensor (APS) transducer array, which has a number of APS's arranged in columns and rows and connected to a power supply, for providing output signals representing an image and wherein the outputs of selected APS's are decimated to reduce the output bandwidth of the transducer. The method comprises the steps of determining the selected APS's having outputs that are decimated and disconnecting the selected APS's from the power supply. The decimated APS's may include some or all of the APS's located in predetermined columns, rows or columns and rows. The apparatus includes transistor switches and couplers for connecting the selected APS's to the power supply. Transistor switches may be used to connect some or all of the APS's in predetermined columns, rows or columns and rows to the power terminal or to the ground terminal of the power supply.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for determining the level of ambient light impinging on a selected number of pixels in an imaging array where each pixel includes a photodiode. The ambient light may be determined by resetting the pixels in the array and by detecting current flow through the photodiodes in a selected number of the pixels as they are being reset. Alternately, the ambient light may be determined by resetting a selected number of the pixels in the array and by detecting current flow through the photodiodes in the selected number of the pixels as they are being reset. The photodiodes are reset by applying a reverse bias voltage across them and the current flow is detected by measuring the current flow through a resistance in parallel to the selected photodiodes. The selected number of pixels may be divided into one or more groups each having at least one pixel, and the pixels in each group may be arranged in specific patterns within the array.

Abstract: An optical imaging device and method which utilizes global feature extraction and local feature extraction to locate, identify and decode optical codes found within a captured image is disclosed. A global feature extraction unit first processes low-resolution image data to locate regions of interest that potentially contain the code(s). If no regions of interest are identified by processing the low-resolution image data, the global feature extraction unit then processes higher-resolution image data to locate the regions of interest. Any regions of interest located by the global feature extraction unit are then transferred to a local feature extraction unit which identifies and decodes a code found within a region of interest. Both the global feature extraction unit and the local feature extraction unit can begin processing data representative of portions of the image being captured before all of the data representative of the complete image is transferred to the respective unit.

Abstract: An improved optical code reading system and method that enhances the ability of a reader to locate a symbol within a field of view and enhances the error-correcting properties of the encoding scheme commonly used in 2D bar codes. The reader offsets the effects of damaged finder patterns and missing symbol perimeters and, thereafter, detects high-level symbol information such as the code type, symbol size, and the number of rows and columns in the symbol. The reader then identifies those missing portions of a damaged symbol and marks each missing data bit location with a predetermined indicator. A decoding algorithm then interprets the missing bit indicator as an error of known location (e.g., an “erasure”), thereby nearly doubling the error correcting strength of all bar codes employing the Reed-Solomon error correction scheme.

Abstract: An imager for capturing and processing images for a variety of applications which may be connected to a transceiver such as a cell phone, a personal digital assistant or an internet appliance for transmitting the images over a limited bandwidth network, is described. The imaging applications include bar code and photograph still images, and permanent video and video phone motion images. The imager may be self-contained providing the image signal to be transmitted by the transceiver, or the imager and the transceiver may be combined into a single integrated unit. The imager comprises a high resolution CMOS image sensor, a processor for controlling the image sensor and for processing image data from the image sensor, and an interface for providing commands to the processor and for viewing displays generated by the processor.

Abstract: The optical scanning head includes at least one trio of light emitting diodes arranged so the LEDs emit light at different angles to create a fan of light. An optical module includes a light shield or "dark room" and a lens/filter assembly which provides control of the depth of focus of the scanner. The optical module is located behind the light source, and the detector, made up of a CCD array is mounted behind the optic module for detecting the light intensity in the reflected beam over a field of view across a bar code symbol. The CCD array generates an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity. A DC source or battery provides DC voltage to the LEDs and CCDs in response to a clocked signal which provides a gradual or sequential illumination of the LEDs and coordinates the activation of the CCDs in order to minimize power consumption during scans.

Abstract: The optical scanning head for scanning one- and two-dimensional bar codes includes at least one combination of light emitting diodes arranged so the LEDs emit light at different angles to create a fan of light. The combination and arrangement of the LEDs depends on whether one- or two-dimensional bar codes are to be read. A cylindrical lens optimizes the light impinging upon the bar code. An optical module includes a light shield or "dark room" and a lens/filter assembly which focusses reflected light on the detector, made up of a CCD module for detecting the light intensity in the reflected beam over a field of view across a bar code symbol. One or more combinations of linear CCD arrays in the CCD module generate an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity. A trigger mechanism allows selection of the number of LEDs or linear CCD arrays to efficiently scan one- or two-dimensional bar codes, where two-dimensional bar codes require more illumination for accurate scanning.

Abstract: The optical scanning head includes at least one trio of light emitting diodes arranged so the LEDs emit light at different angles to create a fan of light. An optical module includes a light shield or "dark room" and a lens/filter assembly which provides control of the depth of focus of the scanner. The optical module is located behind the light source, and the detector, made up of a CCD array is mounted behind the optic module for detecting the light intensity in the reflected beam over a field of view across a bar code symbol. The CCD array generates an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity. A DC source or battery provides DC voltage to the LEDs and CCDs in response to a clocked signal which provides a gradual or sequential illumination of the LEDs and coordinates the activation of the CCDs in order to minimize power consumption during scans.