Abstract: A plurality of three-dimensional (3D) cameras is deployed about a zone through which freight is conveyed to a shipping container. The 3D cameras have sensors with fields of view over which a plurality of point clouds of voxels are captured from the freight. A server combines the point clouds to obtain a composite point cloud of the freight, encloses the composite point cloud with a bounding box having dimensions, and dimensions the freight from the dimensions of the bounding box. An optional scale weighs the freight while it is being dimensioned and moved through the zone.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for processing point-cloud data with a line scanner. One embodiment takes the form of a method that includes: receiving a 3D point cloud that is representative of an object; using one or more line scanners to identify one or more respective outer bounds of the object; and dimensioning the object based on points in the point cloud, wherein each of the points in the point cloud that are used for dimensioning the object is at or inside every identified outer bound.

Abstract: An RFID tag reading system and method accurately and rapidly determine true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area. An RFID reader has an array of antenna elements and a plurality of RF transceivers. A controller controls the transceivers by steering a primary transmit beam over the controlled area to each tag, by steering a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle from each tag, by steering a plurality of secondary receive beams at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving secondary receive signals from each tag, and by processing the secondary receive signals to determine a true bearing for each tag. Bidirectional communication between the reader and a tag is conducted over a single inventory round in which the tag is read a plurality of times by the primary and the secondary receive beams.

Abstract: An RFID tag reading system and method estimate bearings of RFID tags. When the RSSI of a primary and/or secondary RFID receive signal is below a threshold, a primary receive beam is steered in a limited scan to an array of locations distributed around the location at which the RSSI of the primary receive signal is a maximum, and the RSSI of the primary receive signal is recorded at each location. The recorded RSSIs are processed to determine an effective weighted center of distribution of the recorded RSSIs, and the bearing for the tag based on the weighted center of distribution is thus estimated.

Abstract: A plurality of three-dimensional (3D) cameras is deployed about a zone through which freight is conveyed to a shipping container. The 3D cameras have sensors with fields of view over which a plurality of point clouds of voxels are captured from the freight. A server combines the point clouds to obtain a composite point cloud of the freight, encloses the composite point cloud with a bounding box having dimensions, and dimensions the freight from the dimensions of the bounding box. An optional scale weighs the freight while it is being dimensioned and moved through the zone.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reading system and method accurately and rapidly determine, in real-time, true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area. Primary transmit and receive beams are steered over the area, and multiple secondary receive beams are substantially simultaneously steered to a plurality of bearings in the area. The highest signal strength of secondary receive signals from the secondary receive beams determines an approximate tag bearing of each tag. Two secondary receive beams at opposite sides of the approximate tag bearing in elevation are selected to obtain a pair of elevation offset signals, and two secondary receive beams at opposite sides of the approximate tag bearing in azimuth are selected to obtain a pair of azimuth offset signals. The elevation offset signals and the azimuth offset signals are processed to determine a true bearing for each tag in real-time.

Abstract: An RFID tag reading system and method estimate true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area. A plurality of secondary receive beams are rotated in a cycle about a boresight axis of a primary receive beam to generate a plurality of secondary receive signals. A controller processes all the secondary receive signals received in the cycle to estimate a true bearing for each tag in the controlled area.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for processing point-cloud data with a line scanner. One embodiment takes the form of a method that includes: receiving a 3D point cloud that is representative of an object; using one or more line scanners to identify one or more respective outer bounds of the object; and dimensioning the object based on points in the point cloud, wherein each of the points in the point cloud that are used for dimensioning the object is at or inside every identified outer bound.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reading system and method accurately and rapidly determine, in real-time, true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area. Primary transmit and receive beams are steered over the area, and multiple secondary receive beams are substantially simultaneously steered to a plurality of bearings in the area. The highest signal strength of secondary receive signals from the secondary receive beams determines an approximate tag bearing of each tag. Two secondary receive beams at opposite sides of the approximate tag bearing in elevation are selected to obtain a pair of elevation offset signals, and two secondary receive beams at opposite sides of the approximate tag bearing in azimuth are selected to obtain a pair of azimuth offset signals. The elevation offset signals and the azimuth offset signals are processed to determine a true bearing for each tag in real-time.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a server provide context aware multiple-input-multiple-output MIMO antenna systems and methods. Specifically, the systems and methods provide, in a multiple MIMO antenna or node system, techniques of antenna/beam selection, calibration, and periodic refresh, based on environmental and mission context. The systems and methods can define a context vector as built by cooperative use of the nodes on the backhaul to direct antennas for the best user experience as well as mechanisms using the context vector in a 3D employment to point the antennas in a cooperative basis therebetween. The systems and methods utilize sensors in the nodes to provide tailored context sensing versus motion sensing, in conjunction with BER (Bit Error Rate) measurements on test signals to position an antenna beam from a selection of several “independent” antenna subsystems operating within a single node, as well as, that of its optically connected neighbor.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) tag reading system and method accurately determine true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area. An RFID reader has an array of antenna elements and a plurality of RF transceivers. A controller controls the transceivers by steering a primary transmit beam over the controlled area by transmitting a primary transmit signal to each tag, and steering a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle by receiving a primary receive signal from each tag. The controller thereupon steers a plurality of secondary receive offset beams at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving secondary receive offset signals from each tag, and by processing the offset signals to determine a true bearing for each tag.

Abstract: An antenna structure, especially for use with a radio frequency identification reader, includes an array of bifilar antennas mounted on a ground support. Each bifilar antenna includes a pair of bifilar helical elements wound at least partially about a helix axis. Each bifilar element has a ground terminal and a transceiver terminal. Independent radio frequency connectors are connected to the transceiver terminals of each bifilar antenna, and transmit and receive radio frequency signals of arbitrary amplitude and phase to and from the transceiver terminals of each bifilar antenna to obtain and steer an antenna beam, both in azimuth around a boresight of the antenna structure and in elevation angularly away from the boresight.

Abstract: An antenna structure, especially for use with a radio frequency identification reader, includes an array of bifilar antennas mounted on a ground support. Each bifilar antenna includes a pair of bifilar helical elements wound at least partially about a helix axis. Each bifilar element has a ground terminal and a transceiver terminal. Independent radio frequency connectors are connected to the transceiver terminals of each bifilar antenna, and transmit and receive radio frequency signals of arbitrary amplitude and phase to and from the transceiver terminals of each bifilar antenna to obtain and steer an antenna beam, both in azimuth around a boresight of the antenna structure and in elevation angularly away from the boresight.

Abstract: A smart shopping cart includes a basket having an open top, a plurality of electrically conductive side walls, and an electrically conductive bottom wall. Unidirectional, near-field, side antenna elements are mounted on, and electrically grounded to, the side walls. Each side antenna element radiates an electromagnetic field in an inward direction toward an interior of the basket. A near-field, bottom antenna element is mounted on, and electrically grounded to, the bottom wall, and radiates an electromagnetic field in an upward direction toward the interior of the basket. A cart controller excites all the antenna elements to create a composite, resonant electromagnetic field substantially within the basket with substantially no electromagnetic field leakage exteriorly past the side walls, and detects entry and exit of RFID-tagged items through the open top of the basket into and out of the resonant electromagnetic field.

Abstract: An RFID tag reading system and method estimate true bearings of RFID tags associated with items located in a scan zone directly underneath an overhead array of antenna elements. A controller energizes a plurality of diametrically opposite antenna elements to yield electric fields having polarizations, and switches each antenna element between mutually orthogonal polarizations. A primary transmit beam and a primary receive beam are steered at a primary steering angle over the scan zone, and a plurality of secondary receive beams are steered over the scan zone at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving secondary receive signals from each tag, and by processing the secondary receive signals to estimate a true bearing for each tag.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system and method is provided. The system includes a source coil that is coupled to a power supplying device and a receiver coil that is coupled to a power receiving device. In operation, when the source coil is energized by the power supplying device and the receiver coil is positioned within a predetermined range of distances from the source coil, the receiver coil is inductively coupled to the source coil at a predefined magnetic resonance frequency to wirelessly transfer power from the power supplying device to the power receiving device. The power receiving device measures a voltage level at the receiver coil and sends information pertaining to the voltage level to the power supplying device. The power supplying device adjusts voltage at the source coil based on comparing the voltage level with a predetermined threshold determined for the power receiving device.

Abstract: A portable radio device is adapted to function as a wireless charger. The device includes a power supply source, a power control circuit, a controller, a power amplifier connected to the power control circuit to draw a first supply voltage from the power control circuit, and a source coil. In operation, the controller receives a request for charging at least one other device coupled to a receiver coil. When the receiver coil is positioned within a predetermined range of distances from the source coil, the controller switches a connection of the power control circuit to the source coil and controls the power control circuit to increase the voltage to a second supply voltage provided to energize the source coil and to inductively couple the source coil to the receiver coil at a predetermined magnetic resonance frequency for wirelessly charging the at least one other device.

Abstract: An RFID tag reading system and method estimate bearings of RFID tags. When the RSSI of a primary and/or secondary RFID receive signal is below a threshold, a primary receive beam is steered in a limited scan to an array of locations distributed around the location at which the RSSI of the primary receive signal is a maximum, and the RSSI of the primary receive signal is recorded at each location. The recorded RSSIs are processed to determine an effective weighted center of distribution of the recorded RSSIs, and the bearing for the tag based on the weighted center of distribution is thus estimated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a localized region of a touch screen for a plurality of sensor inputs to identify a camera profile of at least one user equipment. In response to identifying the camera profile initiating a localized visual data exchange by displaying data within a region defined by the camera profile. Data communication is initiated with the user equipment over the alternative communication. In order to maintain a secure communication the invention periodically monitors the localized region of the touch screen for the plurality of sensor inputs identified as the camera profile during the localized visual data exchange while communicating over the alternative communication network.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a server provide context aware multiple-input-multiple-output MIMO antenna systems and methods. Specifically, the systems and methods provide, in a multiple MIMO antenna or node system, techniques of antenna/beam selection, calibration, and periodic refresh, based on environmental and mission context. The systems and methods can define a context vector as built by cooperative use of the nodes on the backhaul to direct antennas for the best user experience as well as mechanisms using the context vector in a 3D employment to point the antennas in a cooperative basis therebetween. The systems and methods utilize sensors in the nodes to provide tailored context sensing versus motion sensing, in conjunction with BER (Bit Error Rate) measurements on test signals to position an antenna beam from a selection of several “independent” antenna subsystems operating within a single node, as well as, that of its optically connected neighbor.