Patents by Inventor Andrew Longacre, Jr.

Andrew Longacre, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9477867
    Abstract: A method of operating an image reader typically includes: searching a digital image for nominally straight edges; characterizing the nominally straight edges in terms of length and/or direction; determining a predominant orientation of the nominally straight edges; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to the center of the image; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to other remaining edge positions; and transmuting a rectangle bounding those edges into a rectified image. The rectified image is typically an image that is cropped or rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Longacre, Jr., Thomas Hawley, Matthew Pankow
  • Publication number: 20160086007
    Abstract: A method of operating an image reader typically includes: searching a digital image for nominally straight edges; characterizing the nominally straight edges in terms of length and/or direction; determining a predominant orientation of the nominally straight edges; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to the center of the image; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to other remaining edge positions; and transmuting a rectangle bounding those edges into a rectified image. The rectified image is typically an image that is cropped or rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew Longacre, JR., Thomas Hawley, Matthew Pankow
  • Patent number: 9210294
    Abstract: A method of operating an image reader typically includes: searching a digital image for nominally straight edges; characterizing the nominally straight edges in terms of length and/or direction; determining a predominant orientation of the nominally straight edges; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to the center of the image; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to other remaining edge positions; and transmuting a rectangle bounding those edges into a rectified image. The rectified image is typically an image that is cropped or rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Longacre, Jr., Thomas Hawley, Matthew Pankow
  • Patent number: 9195907
    Abstract: The invention is a method for omnidirectional recognition of recognizable characters in a captured two-dimensional image. An optical reader configured in accordance with the invention searches for pixel groupings in a starburst pattern, and subjects located pixel groupings to a preliminary edge crawling process which records the pixel position of the grouping's edge and records the count of edge pixels. If two similar-sized pixel groupings are located that are of sizes sufficient to potentially represent recognizable characters, then the reader launches “alignment rails” at pixel positions substantially parallel to a centerline connecting the center points of the two similarly sized groupings. A reader according to the invention searches for additional recognizable characters within the rail area, and subjects each located pixel grouping within the rail area to a shape-characterizing edge crawling process for developing data that characterizes the shape of a pixel grouping's edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Longacre, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9195868
    Abstract: There is described a device having a two dimensional imager. The device having a two dimensional image sensor can be a hand held device. Imaging optics can be provided for focusing light reflected from a target onto the two dimensional imager. An image including imaging data can be obtained utilizing the hand held device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Ehrhart, Andrew Longacre, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9152835
    Abstract: The invention relates to decoding utilizing image data. The image data can be received from a source. A processor can process the image data for decoding. Processing for decoding can be responsive to determined information. The format of a frame of image data may be recognized. The recognizing may include determining the source of the frame of image data. The recognizing may include determining a parameter associated with the frame of image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Meier, Robert C. Gardiner, Jeffrey D. Harper, John Izzo, Thomas J. Koziol, Andrew Longacre, Jr., John A. Pettinelli
  • Publication number: 20140231500
    Abstract: There is described a device having a two dimensional imager. The device having a two dimensional image sensor can be a hand held device. Imaging optics can be provided for focusing light reflected from a target onto the two dimensional imager. An image including imaging data can be obtained utilizing the hand held device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Hand Held Products, Inc
    Inventors: Michael A. Ehrhart, Andrew Longacre, JR.
  • Patent number: 8789758
    Abstract: An apparatus having an image sensor is provided. An image sensor of the apparatus can include a two dimensional image sensor. A lens assembly can be provided in combination with an image sensor. In one aspect, an apparatus can attempt to decode a decodable symbol representation. In one aspect an apparatus can output a frame of image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hawley, Michael A. Ehrhart, Andrew Longacre, Jr., Robert M. Hussey, Timothy P. Meier
  • Publication number: 20140125999
    Abstract: A method of operating an image reader typically includes: searching a digital image for nominally straight edges; characterizing the nominally straight edges in terms of length and/or direction; determining a predominant orientation of the nominally straight edges; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to the center of the image; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to other remaining edge positions; and transmuting a rectangle bounding those edges into a rectified image. The rectified image is typically an image that is cropped or rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Andrew Longacre, JR., Thomas Hawley, Matthew Pankow
  • Publication number: 20140103115
    Abstract: The invention relates to decoding utilizing image data. The image data can be received from a source. A processor can process the image data for decoding. Processing for decoding can be responsive to determined information. The format of a frame of image data may be recognized. The recognizing may include determining the source of the frame of image data. The recognizing may include determining a parameter associated with the frame of image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Meier, Robert C. Gardiner, Jeffrey D. Harper, John Izzo, Thomas J. Koziol, Andrew Longacre, JR., John A. Pettinelli
  • Patent number: 8682077
    Abstract: The invention is a method for omnidirectional recognition of recognizable characters in a captured two-dimensional image. An optical reader configured in accordance with the invention searches for pixel groupings in a starburst pattern, and subjects located pixel groupings to a preliminary edge crawling process which records the pixel position of the grouping's edge and records the count of edge pixels. If two similar-sized pixel groupings are located that are of sizes sufficient to potentially represent recognizable characters, then the reader launches “alignment rails” at pixel positions substantially parallel to a centerline connecting the center points of the two similarly sized groupings. A reader according to the invention searches for additional recognizable characters within the rail area, and subjects each located pixel grouping within the rail area to a shape-characterizing edge crawling process for developing data that characterizes the shape of a pixel grouping's edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Longacre, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8630491
    Abstract: A method of operating an image reader includes the steps of: searching a digital image for nominally straight edges; characterizing the nominally straight edges in terms of length and/or direction; determining a predominant orientation of the nominally straight edges; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to the center of the image; establishing a group of edges as a function of their proximity to other remaining edge positions; and, transmuting a rectangle bounding those edges into a rectified image; wherein a rectified image is an image that is cropped or rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventors: Andrew Longacre, Jr., Thomas Hawley, Matthew Pankow
  • Patent number: 8622303
    Abstract: The invention relates to decoding utilizing image data. The image data can be received from a source. A processor can process the image data for decoding. A processing for decoding can be responsive to determined information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P Meier, Robert C. Gardiner, Jeffrey Dean Harper, John Izzo, Thomas J. Koziol, Andrew Longacre, Jr., John A. Pettinelli
  • Patent number: 8602309
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bar code reading device for reading 1D or 2D bar code symbols. The bar code reading device, in one embodiment, can receive a command to disable symbology reading. In another embodiment, a bar code reading device can have a timercount and an image memory. In one embodiment, a bar code reading device can be configured to read bar code symbols of more than one bar code symbology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Longacre, Jr., Robert M. Hussey, Thomas J. Koziol, Michael A. Ehrhart
  • Publication number: 20130313324
    Abstract: An optical reader for reading decodable indicia is provided. In one embodiment, the optical reader can include an image sensor. In one aspect, the optical reader can be configured to read bar codes such as 1D bar codes. Particular methods and apparatus for reading decodable indicia are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas J. KOZIOL, Michael A. EHRHART, Andrew LONGACRE, JR., Robert M. HUSSEY, James A. PARKER
  • Patent number: 8548242
    Abstract: The invention is a method for omnidirectional recognition of recognizable characters in a captured two-dimensional image. An optical reader configured in accordance with the invention searches for pixel groupings in a starburst pattern, and subjects located pixel groupings to a preliminary edge crawling process which records the pixel position of the grouping's edge and records the count of edge pixels. If two similar-sized pixel groupings are located that are of sizes sufficient to potentially represent recognizable characters, then the reader launches “alignment rails” at pixel positions substantially parallel to a centerline connecting the center points of the two similarly sized groupings. A reader according to the invention searches for additional recognizable characters within the rail area, and subjects each located pixel grouping within the rail area to a shape-characterizing edge crawling process for developing data that characterizes the shape of a pixel grouping's edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Longacre, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8528818
    Abstract: There is described a device having a two dimensional imager. The device having a two dimensional image sensor can be a hand held device. Imaging optics can be provided for focusing light reflected from a target onto the two dimensional imager. An image including imaging data can be obtained utilizing the hand held device. The image can include a representation of a signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Ehrhart, Andrew Longacre, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8397992
    Abstract: An optical reader for reading decodable indicia is provided. In one embodiment, the optical reader can include an image sensor. In one aspect, the optical reader can be configured to read bar codes such as 1D bar codes. Particular methods and apparatus for reading decodable indicia are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Longacre, Jr., Robert M. Hussey, John M. Pidhirny
  • Publication number: 20130008964
    Abstract: An apparatus having an image sensor is provided. An image sensor of the apparatus can include a two dimensional image sensor. A lens assembly can be provided in combination with an image sensor. In one aspect, an apparatus can attempt to decode a decodable symbol representation. In one aspect an apparatus can output a frame of image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Hawley, Michael A. Ehrhart, Timothy P. Meier, Andrew Longacre, JR., Robert M. Hussey
  • Patent number: 8348165
    Abstract: There is described a device having a two dimensional imager. The device having a two dimensional image sensor can be a hand held device. Imaging optics can be provided for focusing light reflected from a target onto the two dimensional imager. An image including imaging data can be obtained utilizing the hand held device. The image can include a representation of a signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Ehrhart, Andrew Longacre, Jr.