Abstract: A first imager has a relatively high resolution and a relatively narrow first field-of-view. Information about objects in an environment is detected or captured, and used to steer the first field-of-view of the first imager. The sensor(s) may take the form of a second imager with a relatively lower resolution and relatively wider second field-of-view. Alternatively, other types of sensors, for instance presence/absence sensors may be employed. The first field-of-view may be directed toward an object that satisfies one or more conditions, for instance matching a particular SKU. The first field-of-view may track a moving object, for instance via a tracking mirror and actuator. This approach may be employed in retail locations, for example in grocery or convenience stores, for instance to reduce various forms of theft or in industrial environments.

Abstract: A first imager has a relatively high resolution and a relatively narrow first field-of-view. Information about objects in an environment is detected or captured, and used to steer the first field-of-view of the first imager. The sensor(s) may take the form of a second imager with a relatively lower resolution and relatively wider second field-of-view. Alternatively, other types of sensors, for instance presence/absence sensors may be employed. The first field-of-view may be directed toward an object that satisfies one or more conditions, for instance matching a particular SKU. The first field-of-view may track a moving object, for instance via a tracking mirror and actuator. This approach may be employed in retail locations, for example in grocery or convenience stores, for instance to reduce various forms of theft or in industrial environments.

Abstract: Inventory on a rack of store shelves is monitored by a camera-equipped system that senses when items have been removed. Image data is desirably sensed at plural spectral bands, to enhance item identification by digital watermark and/or other image recognition techniques. The system can be alert to the presence of nearby shoppers, and change its mode of operation in response, e.g., suppressing flash illumination or suspending image capture. The system may self-calibrate to the geometry of shelving in its field of view, and affine-correct captured imagery based on the camera's viewpoint. A great many other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: A first imager has a relatively high resolution and a relatively narrow first field-of-view. Information about objects in an environment is detected or captured, and used to steer the first field-of-view of the first imager. The sensor(s) may take the form of a second imager with a relatively lower resolution and relatively wider second field-of-view. Alternatively, other types of sensors, for instance presence/absence sensors may be employed. The first field-of-view may be directed toward an object that satisfies one or more conditions, for instance matching a particular SKU. The first field-of-view may track a moving object, for instance via a tracking mirror and actuator. This approach may be employed in retail locations, for example in grocery or convenience stores, for instance to reduce various forms of theft or in industrial environments.

Abstract: Inventory on a rack of store shelves is monitored by a camera-equipped system that senses when items have been removed. Image data is desirably sensed at plural spectral bands, to enhance item identification by digital watermark and/or other image recognition techniques. The system can be alert to the presence of nearby shoppers, and change its mode of operation in response, e.g., suppressing flash illumination or suspending image capture. The system may self-calibrate to the geometry of shelving in its field of view, and affine-correct captured imagery based on the camera's viewpoint. A great many other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: A first imager has a relatively high resolution and a relatively narrow first field-of-view. Information about objects in an environment is detected or captured, and used to steer the first field-of-view of the first imager. The sensor(s) may take the form of a second imager with a relatively lower resolution and relatively wider second field-of-view. Alternatively, other types of sensors, for instance presence/absence sensors may be employed. The first field-of-view may be directed toward an object that satisfies one or more conditions, for instance matching a particular SKU. The first field-of-view may track a moving object, for instance via a tracking mirror and actuator. This approach may be employed in retail locations, for example in grocery or convenience stores, for instance to reduce various forms of theft or in industrial environments.

Abstract: A first imager has a relatively high resolution and a relatively narrow first field-of-view. Information about objects in an environment is detected or captured, and used to steer the first field-of-view of the first imager. The sensor(s) may take the form of a second imager with a relatively lower resolution and relatively wider second field-of-view. Alternatively, other types of sensors, for instance presence/absence sensors may be employed. The first field-of-view may be directed toward an object that satisfies one or more conditions, for instance matching a particular SKU. The first field-of-view may track a moving object, for instance via a tracking mirror and actuator. This approach may be employed in retail locations, for example in grocery or convenience stores, for instance to reduce various forms of theft or in industrial environments.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing self-checkout systems that utilize a scanning imager or camera which includes a selectively steerable field of view. A tracking subsystem may include a targeting imager or camera that captures data (e.g., 3-dimensional data) that characterizes objects in an environment, for instance a retail environment. Images captured by one or more targeting imagers may be used to determine characteristics of objects. The characteristics may be used to generate an object model, which is a collection of properties about an object in the field of view. The tracking subsystem directs the field of view of the relatively higher resolution scanning imager with a relatively narrow field of view to track one or more objects so that images of the objects may be captured. The images are processed to identify the identification of the objects so that the objects may be added to a transaction list to complete a purchase process.

Abstract: A monochrome imager used in such systems as a scanner can detect watermarks that have been encoded in the color space or chrominance. Such watermarks are called chroma watermarks and are considered more reliable than the traditional classic watermarks, which are encoded based on luminance. The monochrome imager detects the chroma watermark, which has been illuminated with ambient white light from a blue light emitting diode (LED) coated with phosphor.

Abstract: A first imager has a relatively high resolution and a relatively narrow first field-of-view. Information about objects in an environment is detected or captured, and used to steer the first field-of-view of the first imager. The sensor(s) may take the form of a second imager with a relatively lower resolution and relatively wider second field-of-view. Alternatively, other types of sensors, for instance presence/absence sensors may be employed. The first field-of-view may be directed toward an object that satisfies one or more conditions, for instance matching a particular SKU. The first field-of-view may track a moving object, for instance via a tracking mirror and actuator. This approach may be employed in retail locations, for example in grocery or convenience stores, for instance to reduce various forms of theft or in industrial environments.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing self-checkout systems that utilize a scanning imager or camera which includes a selectively steerable field of view. A tracking subsystem may include a targeting imager or camera that captures data (e.g., 3-dimensional data) that characterizes objects in an environment, for instance a retail environment. Images captured by one or more targeting imagers may be used to determine characteristics of objects. The characteristics may be used to generate an object model, which is a collection of properties about an object in the field of view. The tracking subsystem directs the field of view of the relatively higher resolution scanning imager with a relatively narrow field of view to track one or more objects so that images of the objects may be captured. The images are processed to identify the identification of the objects so that the objects may be added to a transaction list to complete a purchase process.

Abstract: A monochrome imager used in such systems as a scanner can detect watermarks that have been encoded in the color space or chrominance. Such watermarks are called chroma watermarks and are considered more reliable than the traditional classic watermarks, which are encoded based on luminance. The monochrome imager detects the chroma watermark, which has been illuminated with ambient white light from a blue light emitting diode (LED) coated with phosphor.

Abstract: Depth camera systems and methods of operation use coded structured light to determine depth values. One example method includes projecting a structured light pattern towards a target region. The structured light pattern includes a plurality of parallel bars that encode a plurality of codes. The method includes, for each of a plurality of rows of pixels that are transverse to the plurality of parallel bars: decoding the plurality of parallel bars represented in the row of pixels to identify a location of each of the plurality of codes in the row of pixels; determining a plurality of disparities respectively between the identified locations of the plurality of codes and a plurality of reference locations respectively associated with the plurality of codes; and determining a depth value for each identified location based at least in part on the determined disparity for such location.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for tracking unpackaged merchandise for purchase in a retail environment. Merchandise is placed into bags having unique watermarks. Selected merchandise is associated with a particular bag after being identified by a merchandise identification device. Watermark scanners are used to identify the bags. The system allows for more efficient and accurate tracking of merchandise, such as produce, in a retail environment, such as a grocery store.

Abstract: Depth camera systems and methods of operation use coded structured light to determine depth values. One example method includes projecting a structured light pattern towards a target region. The structured light pattern includes a plurality of parallel bars that encode a plurality of codes. The method includes, for each of a plurality of rows of pixels that are transverse to the plurality of parallel bars: decoding the plurality of parallel bars represented in the row of pixels to identify a location of each of the plurality of codes in the row of pixels; determining a plurality of disparities respectively between the identified locations of the plurality of codes and a plurality of reference locations respectively associated with the plurality of codes; and determining a depth value for each identified location based at least in part on the determined disparity for such location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optical scanning, in one configuration, including a torsional dither mechanism having a torsion rod formed of integral construction machined from a single metal piece, magnet and mirror mount attached to the free end of the torsion rod, and electromagnetic drive. The drive comprises a magnet mounted to the magnet mount and a drive coil. Torque is generated on the dither arm as oscillating current is applied to the coil, to preferably drive the torsion rod at a high oscillation speed on the order of 5 KHz. Acoustic noise control is provided by using a combination of elastomeric isolation mounts, a thick wall enclosure and lid for the dither, an electrically resonant dither drive, and mechanically resonant drive control using back EMF from a moving magnet to set the frequency of oscillation of the dither drive.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems of and methods for reading optical codes located on multiple sides of an item that is being moved through a read volume. In one method, optical symbols are read using a high speed raster laser beam and non-retrodirective collection optics including the steps of moving an item containing an optical code along an item direction past a window disposed in a surface of a scanner housing or platter; via a first scan mechanism, repeatedly scanning through the window at a first slant and/or tilt angle to the surface in a first direction and along a single line to acquire scanned data over two dimensions of one or more sides of the item; via a second scan mechanism, repeatedly scanning through the window at a second slant and/or tilt angle to the surface in a second direction and along a single line to acquire scanned data over two dimensions of one or more other sides of the item; and processing the scanned data acquired.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of scanning barcodes located on any side of a product and in any orientation that are moving through a scan volume. The disclosure a preferred embodiment is directed to a method of reading optical symbols using a high speed raster laser beam and non-retrodirective collection optics including the steps of generating a pattern of virtual scan lines traversing a two-dimensional imaging region, the pattern of virtual scan lines having less than the entirety of said two-dimensional region; obtaining a stream of raster data over the two-dimensional imaging region; prior to storing any of the raster data, identifying a select portion of the raster data corresponding to the virtual scan lines; storing the select portion of raster data; and decoding the select portion of raster data.

Abstract: An imaging system (FIG. 3) is disclosed that has a wavelength dependent focal shift caused by longitudinal chromatic aberration in a lens assembly (203) that provides extended depth of field imaging due to focal shift (213,214) and increased resolution due to reduced lens system magnification. In use, multiple wavelengths of quasi-monochromatic illumination, from different wavelength LEDs (206,207) or the like, illuminate the target, either sequentially, or in parallel in conjunction with an imager (200) with wavelength selective (colored) filters. Images are captured with different wavelengths of illumination that have different focus positions (208,209), either sequentially or by processing the color planes of a color imager separately. Extended depth of field, plus high resolution are achieved. Additionally, information about the range to the target can be determined by analyzing the degree of focus of the various colored images.

Abstract: A data reader such as for example an imaging reader with a CCD or CMOS imager or the like, having multiple images of a target item illuminated or acquired from different directions in which the image signals are combined into a complete image of the item or selected portions of the item being read such that specular reflection (over-saturated regions of the sensor array) are minimized or eliminated. In one example data reader configuration, multiple illumination sources such as first and second rows of light emitting diodes (LED's) are aimed at the item being scanned from different directions. The illumination sources are alternately pulsed and return signals are collected at one or more sensor arrays. A selected non-saturated return signal from one of the illumination sources, or selected non-saturated portions of return signal from both of the illumination sources are processed to generate a complete non-saturated image of the target.