Abstract: A method of conducting a business transaction involving information recorded in an encoded indicium using an optical reader having a 2D image sensor that is configured to operate in a partial frame capture mode. In a partial frame operating mode, the reader clocks out and captures at least one partial frame of image data having image data corresponding to less than all of the pixels of an image sensor pixel array. In one embodiment, the reader operating in a partial frame operating mode captures image data corresponding to a linear pattern of pixels of the image sensor, reads the image data, attempts to decode for a decodable 1D symbol which may be represented in the image data, and captures a full frame of image data if the image data reading reveals a 2D symbol is likely to be present in a full field of view of the 2D image sensor.

Abstract: The present invention is an imaging module including a frame supporting various optical components and a circuit board, which, in one embodiment, carries essentially an entirety of illumination and aiming LED's of the module. The frame may include resilient fingers which enable the frame to receive certain optical components in a snap-fit arrangement. Further, the module may be arranged so that the outer walls of the module provide a containment for preventing structural damage to sensitive internal components of the module.

Abstract: The invention is an optical reader having a 2D image sensor that is configured to operate in a partial frame capture mode. In a partial frame operating mode, the reader clocks out and captures at least one partial frame of image data having image data corresponding to less than all of the pixels of an image sensor pixel array. In one embodiment, the reader operating in a partial frame operating mode captures image data corresponding to a linear pattern of pixels of the image sensor, reads the image data, attempts to decode for a decodable 1D symbol which may be represented in the image data, and captures a full frame of image data if the image data reading reveals a 2D symbol is likely to be present in a full field of view of the 2D image sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for processing image data corresponding a scene comprising an imaging device and an image reading instruction indicia. In accordance with the invention, image data corresponding to a scene comprising an image reading instruction indicia is processed in a manner that depends on features of the image reading instruction indicia. If the image reading instruction indicia is of a type whose size, scaling, orientation, and distortion can be determined, scaling, orientation, and distortion characteristics determined from the image reading instruction indicia can be used to improve the image reading process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for processing image data corresponding a scene comprising an imaging device and an image reading instruction indicia. In accordance with the invention, image data corresponding to a scene comprising an image reading instruction indicia is processed in a manner that depends on features of the image reading instruction indicia. If the image reading instruction indicia is of a type whose size, scaling, orientation, and distortion can be determined, scaling, orientation, and distortion characteristics determined from the image reading instruction indicia can be used to improve the image reading process.

Abstract: The invention is an optical reader having a 2D image sensor that is configured to operate in a partial frame capture mode. In a partial frame operating mode, the reader clocks out and captures at least one partial frame of image data having image data corresponding to less than all of the pixels of an image sensor pixel array. In one embodiment, the reader operating in a partial frame operating mode captures image data corresponding to a linear pattern of pixels of the image sensor, reads the image data, attempts to decode for a decodable 1D symbol which may be represented in the image data, and captures a full frame of image data if the image data reading reveals a 2D symbol is likely to be present in a full field of view of the 2D image sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for processing image data corresponding a scene comprising an imaging device and an image reading instruction indicia. In accordance with the invention, image data corresponding to a scene comprising an image reading instruction indicia is processed in a manner that depends on features of the image reading instruction indicia. If the image reading instruction indicia is of a type whose size, scaling, orientation, and distortion can be determined, scaling, orientation, and distortion characteristics determined from the image reading instruction indicia can be used to improve the image reading process.

Abstract: In the present invention, an optical reader is made to commence image capture and decoding when a trigger of the reader is pulled, and to continuously attempt to decode symbols in captured image data until the time the trigger is released. Despite continuously attempting to decode symbols during the entire period in which a trigger is actuated, a reader according to the invention is made so as not to output data messages pertaining to the same symbol more than once during one trigger-actuation period. To this end, a reader operating according to the invention maintains a list of identification strings identifying all symbols which have been successfully decoded since the time the trigger was pulled. When symbols in image data are decoded, identification strings for those symbols are determined and then compared to identification strings previously written to the list.

Abstract: An angle digitizer receives signal representing the sine and cosine of the angle to be digitized. The voltages are fed to orthogonal pairs of input terminals. Between each two input terminals is a set of equivalued resistors to form a resistor ring. At the junction of each pair of resistors is an output terminal. Each pair of output terminals is connected to the input terminals of a signal amplitude comparator which compares the magnitude of the signals at its inputs to give a digital signal in accordance with which is greater. For each comparator the output terminals of the resistor ring are selected such that the signals are in a direct antiphase relationship. An odd set of the comparators is activated first followed by the activation of the even set. Thereafter the binary output values of the comparators are interleaved to form a full digital word which is then tested to see if it is a valid digital word.

Abstract: A tracking antenna system includes coarse (CEA), medium (MEA) and fine (FEA) antenna arrays symmetrically disposed with respect to a boresight (BST) and controllably connectable to signal processing units (SPU) such that the antenna platform (PTF) is moved to point the boresight in the direction of a target while progressively increasing the resolution of the angular difference between the boresight and target. There are provisions for backtracking to decrease the resolution if the angular difference goes out of selected ranges.

Abstract: An angle digitizer receives signal representing the sine and cosine of the angle to be digitized. The voltages are fed to orthogonal pairs of input terminals. Between each two input terminals is a set of equivalued resistors to form a resistor ring. At the junction of each pair of resistors is an output terminal. Each pair of output terminals is connected to the input terminals of a signal amplitude comparator which compares the magnitude of the signals at its inputs to give a digital signal in accordance with which is greater. For each comparator the output terminals of the resistor ring are selected such that the signals are in a direct antiphase relationship.

Abstract: Antenna apparatus for representing a bearing angle includes an antenna array of N antenna elements equispaced around the arc of a circle of at least 90.degree., and preferably greater than 180.degree. in a plane for receiving microwave energy, microwave power dividing and phase transforming matrix having N input ports respectively connected to the antenna elements and a set of output ports connected to a utilization device for indicating the bearing angle of the incoming microwave energy, and a utilization device including means for measuring the phase difference between signals at pairs of the output ports for representing the bearing angle.

Abstract: Apparatus for digitally indicating the bearing angle of a source of microwave energy includes an antenna array of a plurality of antenna elements equispaced about an arc of a circle in a plane. Connected to each of the antenna elements is a different input port of a microwave power dividing and phase transforming hybrid matrix. Some of the output ports of the matrix are connected to input ports of a plurality of digital phase discriminators whose outputs emit a coded combination of binary level signals. The outputs of the phase discriminators are connected to an ambiguity resolving means which transforms the binary level signals to an unambiguous digital word representing the bearing angle.

Abstract: Apparatus for digitally indicating the bearing angle of a source of microwave energy includes an antenna array of a plurality of antenna elements equispaced about an arc of a circle in a plane. Connected to each of the antenna elements is a different input port of a microwave power dividing and phase transforming hybrid matrix. Some of the output ports of the matrix are connected to input ports of a plurality of digital phase discriminators whose outputs emit a coded combination of binary level signals. The outputs of the phase discriminators are connected to an ambiguity resolving means which transform the binary level signals to an unambiguous digital word representing the bearing angle.