Patents by Inventor Carl Knowles

Carl Knowles 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).

  • Publication number: 20080110993
    Abstract: A hand-supportable coplanar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based code symbol reader includes: a hand-supportable housing having light transmission aperture; a linear image formation and detection module having a linear image detection array; and a planar laser illumination beam (PLIB) producing a coplanar laser illumination and imaging based device having at least one visible laser diode (VLD) for producing a planar light illumination beam (PLIB). The code symbol reader further includes an image grabber for grabbing digital linear images formed and detected by the image formation and detection module, an image data buffer for buffering the digital linear images grabbed by the image grabber, and an image processing computer for processing the buffered digital linear images so as to read code symbols graphically represented in the digital linear images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantine Tsikos, Michael Schnee, Xiaoxun Zhu, Thomas Amundsen, Charles Naylor, Russell Dobbs, Carl Knowles
  • Publication number: 20080041962
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automatically-activated code symbol reading system comprising a bar code symbol reading mechanism contained within a hand-supportable housing having a manually-activatable data transmission switch. During symbol reading operations, the bar code symbol reading mechanism automatically generates a visible laser scanning pattern for repeatedly reading one or more bar code symbols on an object during a bar code symbol reading cycle, and automatically generating a new symbol character data string in response to each bar code symbol read thereby. During system operation, the user visually aligns the visible laser scanning pattern with a particular bar code symbol on an object (e.g. product, bar code menu, etc.) so that the bar code symbol is scanned, detected and decoded in a cyclical manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: Metrologic Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: David Wilz, George Rockstein, Robert Blake, Mark Schmidt, Garrett Russell, Donald Hudrick, Stephen Colavito, Carl Knowles
  • Publication number: 20080029599
    Abstract: A hand-supportable planar linear illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based code symbol reading system comprising: a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture; and a planar laser illumination and imaging module (PLIIM), disposed in the hand-supportable housing. The PLIIM includes (i) a linear image detection array having optics providing a field of view (FOV) on said linear image detection array that projects through the light transmission aperture, and (ii) at least one planar laser illumination module (PLIM) for producing a substantially planar laser illumination beam (PLIB) that extends substantially along the same plane as the FOV of the linear image detection array. This arrangement provides a coplanar illumination and imaging plane that projects through the light transmission aperture, for capturing a series of linear (1-D) digital images of an object intersecting therewith during object illumination and imaging operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantine Tskos, Michael Schnee, Xiaoxun Zhu, Thomas Amundsen, Charles Naylor, Russell Dobbs, Allan Wirth, Andrew Jankevics, Carl Knowles
  • Publication number: 20080019615
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising a plurality of linear imaging arrays and image formation optics that provide field of views corresponding to the plurality of linear image arrays. At least one illumination module produces planar light illumination that substantially overlaps the field of views corresponding to the plurality of linear imaging arrays. Image processing circuitry performs image-based velocity estimation operations, which analyzes pixel data values of a plurality of composite 2-D images each derived from sequential image capture operations of a corresponding one linear imaging array to derive velocity data that represents an estimated velocity of the imaging device with respect to at least one target object disposed in the fields of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Schnee, Xiaoxun Zhu, Carl Knowles
  • Publication number: 20070181685
    Abstract: An automated package dimensioning subsystem comprising a Laser Detecting and Ranging (LADAR-based) scanning apparatus for capturing two-dimensional range data maps of the space above a conveyor structure, along which packages are transported, and an image contour tracing apparatus for extracting package dimension data from the two-dimensional range data maps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoxun Zhu, Ka Au, Gennady Germaine, George Kolis, Timothy Good, Michael Schnee, Robert Blake, Carl Knowles, Sankar Ghosh, Charles Naylor, David Wilz, Constantine Tsikos, Francis Lodge, Stephen Colavito, George Rockstein
  • Publication number: 20070175999
    Abstract: A hand-supportable linear-type planar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based device comprising a linear image formation and detection (IFD) module having a linear array of image detection elements and also image formation optics having a field of view (FOV) focusing a linear image of an object onto the linear array of image detection elements. A pair of planar laser illumination arrays (PLIAs) is arranged on opposite sides of the linear image formation and detection module, and produces a plurality of spatially-incoherent planar laser illumination beam (PLIB) components that are optically combined with respect to other PLIB components so as to produce a composite planar laser illumination beam (PLIB) that is arranged in a coplanar relationship with at least a portion of the FOV. Each PLIA includes a plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM includes a laser diode and beam focusing and diverging optics for producing one spatially-incoherent PLIB component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantine Tsikos, Michael Schnee, Xiaoxun Zhu, Thomas Amundsen, Charles Naylor, Russell Dobbs, Carl Knowles
  • Publication number: 20070029390
    Abstract: A hand-supportable linear-type planar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based device comprising a linear image formation and detection (IFD) module having a linear array of image detection elements and also image formation optics having a field of view (FOV) focusing a linear image of an object onto the linear array of image detection elements. A pair of planar laser illumination arrays (PLIAs) is arranged on opposite sides of the linear image formation and detection module, and produces a plurality of spatially-incoherent planar laser illumination beam (PLIB) components that are optically combined with respect to other PLIB components so as to produce a composite planar laser illumination beam (PLIB) that is arranged in a coplanar relationship with at least a portion of the FOV. Each PLIA includes a plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM includes a laser diode and beam focusing and diverging optics for producing one spatially-incoherent PLIB component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantine Tsikos, Michael Schnee, Xiaoxun Zhu, Thomas Amundsen, Charles Naylor, Russell Dobbs, Carl Knowles
  • Publication number: 20060151604
    Abstract: A fully automated package identification and measuring system, in which an omni-directional holographic scanning tunnel is used to read bar codes on packages entering the tunnel, while a package dimensioning subsystem is used to capture information about the package prior to entry into the tunnel. Mathematical models are created on a real-time basis for the geometry of the package and the position of the laser scanning beam used to read the bar code symbol thereon. The mathematical models are analyzed to determine if collected and queued package identification data is spatially and/or temporally correlated with package measurement data using vector-based ray-tracing methods, homogeneous transformations, and object-oriented decision logic so as to enable simultaneous tracking of multiple packages being transported through the scanning tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Xiaoxun Zhu, Ka Au, Gennady Germaine, Timothy Good, Michael Schnee, Ian Scott, John Groot, David Wilz, George Rockstein, Robert Blake, LeRoy Dickson, Carl Knowles
  • Publication number: 20050236483
    Abstract: A bar code symbol driven system for accessing information resources from information servers connected to communication networks, including the Internet. The system includes a bar code symbol reader (7a) for reading bar code symbols encoded with information representative of information resources stored in information servers connected to the Internet and supporting the TCP/IP standard. A computing platform (6) is provided for supporting an Internet browser. A telecommunication modem is operably connected to the computing platform in order to establish a two way telecommunication link between the Internet browser and an Internet service provider (ISP) connected to the Internet. In response to reading bar code symbols (8), the Internet browser automatically accesses information resources from Internet information servers (2) using the information encoded in bar code symbols read by the bar code symbol reader (7a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: David Wilz, Carl Knowles
  • Publication number: 20050230477
    Abstract: Methods of and systems for illuminating objects using planar laser illumination beams having substantially-planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through the field of view (FOV) of image formation and detection modules employed in such systems. Each planar laser illumination beam is produced from a planar laser illumination beam array (PLIA) comprising an plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM comprises a visible laser diode (VLD, a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith. The individual planar laser illumination beam components produced from each PLIM are optically combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially uniform power density characteristics over the entire spatial extend thereof and thus the working range of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Applicant: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantine Tsikos, Michael Schnee, Xiaoxun Zhu, Thomas Amundsen, Charles Naylor, Russell Dobbs, Carl Knowles
  • Publication number: 20050023353
    Abstract: Methods of and systems for illuminating objects using planar laser illumination beams having substantially-planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through the field of view (FOV) of image formation and detection modules employed in such systems. Each planar laser illumination beam is produced from a planar laser illumination beam array (PLIA) comprising an plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM comprises a visible laser diode (VLD, a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith. The individual planar laser illumination beam components produced from each PLIM are optically combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially uniform power density characteristics over the entire spatial extend thereof and thus the working range of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Constantine Tsikos, Michael Schnee, Xiaoxun Zhu, Thomas Amundsen, Charles Naylor, Russell Dobbs, Allan Wirth, Andrew Jankevics, Carl Knowles
  • Publication number: 20050017074
    Abstract: Methods of and systems for illuminating objects using planar laser illumination beams having substantially-planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through the field of view (FOV) of image formation and detection modules employed in such systems. Each planar laser illumination beam is produced from a planar laser illumination beam array (PLIA) comprising an plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM comprises a visible laser diode (VLD, a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith. The individual planar laser illumination beam components produced from each PLIM are optically combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially uniform power density characteristics over the entire spatial extend thereof and thus the working range of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantine Tsikos, Michael Schnee, Xiaoxun Zhu, Thomas Amundsen, Charles Naylor, Russell Dobbs, Allan Wirth, Andrew Jankevics, Carl Knowles