Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Fjellstad

Christopher J. Fjellstad 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: 11961062
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatuses to indicate off-platter weigh conditions are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Fjellstad, Edward Barkan, Darran Michael Handshaw, Yuri Astvatsaturov
  • Publication number: 20240028848
    Abstract: A method of auxiliary data capture control includes: storing, at a data capture device, a trigger condition and a baseline value captured by a sensor; controlling the sensor to obtain captured data; determining, based on the captured data and the baseline value, whether the trigger condition is satisfied, wherein the trigger condition includes whether the captured data exceeds the baseline value; and when the trigger condition is satisfied, controlling an auxiliary data capture sensor to obtain auxiliary captured data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Abhilash Gururaja, Christopher J. Fjellstad, David R. Turturro
  • Patent number: 11861583
    Abstract: Methods of detecting scan avoidance events during decode sessions are disclosed herein. An example method includes during a timeout period at one or more processors of the symbology scanner, identifying and decoding a transaction affecting indicia on an object in one or more images to obtain a transaction affecting payload; during the timeout period at the one or more processors, identifying one or more visual features in the one or more images; and in response to identifying a non-transaction affecting indicia associated with the one or more visual features, and failing to identify or decode the transaction affecting indicia, determining a potential scan avoidance attempt and generating a scan avoidance alarm signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Abhilash Gururaja, Christopher J. Fjellstad
  • Patent number: 11847521
    Abstract: A method of auxiliary data capture control includes: storing, at a data capture device, (i) detection criteria corresponding to events having respective event identifiers; and (ii) a registration indicator associated with at least one of the event identifiers; controlling a primary data capture sensor to obtain primary captured data; in response to detecting, based on the primary captured data, that the detection criteria are satisfied for a detected one of the event identifiers, determining whether the registration indicator is associated with the detected event identifier; and when the registration indicator is associated with the detected event identifier, controlling an auxiliary data capture sensor to obtain auxiliary captured data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Barkan, Christopher J. Fjellstad, Robert James Pang, Abhilash Gururaja
  • Patent number: 11775782
    Abstract: A method of auxiliary data capture control includes: storing, at a data capture device, a trigger condition and a baseline value captured by a sensor; controlling the sensor to obtain captured data; determining, based on the captured data and the baseline value, whether the trigger condition is satisfied, wherein the trigger condition includes whether the captured data exceeds the baseline value and whether a variance in the captured data over a configurable time period is below a variance threshold; and when the trigger condition is satisfied, controlling an auxiliary data capture sensor to obtain auxiliary captured data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Abhilash Gururaja, Christopher J. Fjellstad, David R. Turturro
  • Publication number: 20230186270
    Abstract: Techniques for preventing accidental triggers for off-platter detection systems are disclosed herein. An example system includes a weigh platter having a first surface; a scale configured to measure a weight of an object placed on the first surface; an off-platter detection assembly configured to detect an off-platter condition based on a portion of the object resting on a second surface off the weigh platter and/or some portion of the object extending beyond a perimeter of the weigh platter; a processor in communication with the scale and the off-platter detection assembly; and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to generate an alert responsive to at least: (i) the off-platter detection assembly detecting the off-platter condition and (ii) a measurement by the scale of a stable weight greater than a threshold weight, for a time period greater than a threshold time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Edward Barkan, Christopher J. Fjellstad, Darran Michael Handshaw, Yuri Astvatsaturov
  • Patent number: 11619539
    Abstract: Methods of detecting scan avoidance events during decode sessions are disclosed herein. An example method includes during a timeout period at one or more processors of the symbology scanner, identifying and decoding a transaction affecting indicia on an object in one or more images to obtain a transaction affecting payload; during the timeout period at the one or more processors, identifying one or more visual features in the one or more images; and in response to identifying a non-transaction affecting indicia associated with the one or more visual features, and failing to identify or decode the transaction affecting indicia, determining a potential scan avoidance attempt and generating a scan avoidance alarm signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Fjellstad, William Doering
  • Publication number: 20230063752
    Abstract: Methods for human characteristic and object characteristic identification at a point of sale (POS)) are disclosed herein. An example method includes capturing, a series of image frames of a product scanning region for each item passing through the product scanning region at the POS workstation. A first set of image frames of the series of image frames for each item may be captured using a first illumination setting configured for a first background brightness level, and a second set of image frames of the series of image frames for each item may be captured using a second illumination setting that is configured for a second background brightness level. The first set of image frames may be analyzed to identify an individual associated with the item, and the second set of image frames may be analyzed to identify the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew V. Avallone, Christopher J. Fjellstad
  • Patent number: 11562157
    Abstract: A method of auxiliary data capture control includes: storing, at a data capture device, (i) detection criteria corresponding to events having respective event identifiers; and (ii) a registration indicator associated with at least one of the event identifiers; controlling a primary data capture sensor to obtain primary captured data; in response to detecting, based on the primary captured data, that the detection criteria are satisfied for a detected one of the event identifiers, determining whether the registration indicator is associated with the detected event identifier; and when the registration indicator is associated with the detected event identifier, controlling an auxiliary data capture sensor to obtain auxiliary captured data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Barkan, Christopher J. Fjellstad, Robert James Pang, Abhilash Gururaja
  • Patent number: 11487956
    Abstract: Methods of detecting scan avoidance events when items are passed through a field of view (FOV) of a scanner are disclosed herein. An example method, during a decode session, receiving, at one or more processors of the symbology reader, an image of an object; during a timeout period, detecting, at the one or more processors, an indicia in the image of the object, the indicia having a decodable payload; during the timeout period, attempting to decode the indicia to identify the decodable payload, at the one or more processors; and after the timeout period expires, when at least one portion but less than all portions of the indicia is decodable, determining a potential scan avoidance attempt and generating a scan avoidance alarm signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Abhilash Gururaja, Christopher J. Fjellstad
  • Publication number: 20220318777
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatuses to indicate off-platter weigh conditions are disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher J. Fjellstad, Edward Barkan, Darran Michael Handshaw, Yuri Astvatsaturov
  • Patent number: 11328140
    Abstract: Methods for accurate object tracking are disclosed herein. An example the method includes receiving, from a first optical imaging assembly having a first field of view (FOV), a first image captured over the first FOV and based on a decode of an indicia associated with an object of interest, identifying the object of interest within the first image. The method further includes determining a location of the object of interest within the first image and mapping the location of the object of interest within the first image to a predicted location of the object of interest within a second image, the second image being received from a second optical imaging assembly having a second FOV and the second image being captured over the second FOV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Sajan Wilfred, Christopher J. Fjellstad, Vincent J. Daempfle
  • Publication number: 20220075971
    Abstract: A method of auxiliary data capture control includes: storing, at a data capture device, a trigger condition and a baseline value captured by a sensor; controlling the sensor to obtain captured data; determining, based on the captured data and the baseline value, whether the trigger condition is satisfied, wherein the trigger condition includes whether the captured data exceeds the baseline value and whether a variance in the captured data over a configurable time period is below a variance threshold; and when the trigger condition is satisfied, controlling an auxiliary data capture sensor to obtain auxiliary captured data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Abhilash Gururaja, Christopher J. Fjellstad, David R. Turturro
  • Publication number: 20220034706
    Abstract: Methods of detecting scan avoidance events during decode sessions are disclosed herein. An example method includes during a timeout period at one or more processors of the symbology scanner, identifying and decoding a transaction affecting indicia on an object in one or more images to obtain a transaction affecting payload; during the timeout period at the one or more processors, identifying one or more visual features in the one or more images; and in response to identifying a non-transaction affecting indicia associated with the one or more visual features, and failing to identify or decode the transaction affecting indicia, determining a potential scan avoidance attempt and generating a scan avoidance alarm signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher J. Fjellstad, William Doering
  • Patent number: 11210488
    Abstract: Methods for optimizing improper product barcode detection are disclosed herein. An example method, includes analyzing an object-based identification data against an indicia-based identification data to determine if there is a match. Responsive to there not being a match, entering a release condition state, where, instead of automatically sending a failed match signal to a symbology reader, a remote server awaits satisfaction of the release condition, before sending to the symbology reader. In some examples, a release condition is automatically satisfied by identifying a match in a subsequent comparison. In some examples, a user of the remote server is to satisfy the release condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Fjellstad, David R. Turturro
  • Publication number: 20210374375
    Abstract: Methods of detecting scan avoidance events are disclosed herein. An example method includes measuring, by a weighing scale associated with a barcode reader, an unstable weight over a timeframe having a duration that is greater than a threshold duration. The method further includes monitoring for (i) the barcode reader's failure, during the first timeframe, to transition from a first state in which an imager of the barcode reader does not transmit images for decoding to a second state in which the imager captures images over an FOV including a product scanning region and transmits the captured images for decoding; or (ii) the barcode reader's failure to decode a barcode from images captured over the FOV including the product scanning region during the first timeframe; and generating an alert indicating a potential scan avoidance event responsive to both the measured unstable weight over the timeframe and one of (i) or (ii).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Abhilash Gururaja, Christopher J. Fjellstad
  • Patent number: 11188726
    Abstract: Methods of detecting scan avoidance events are disclosed herein. An example method includes measuring, by a weighing scale associated with a barcode reader, an unstable weight over a timeframe having a duration that is greater than a threshold duration. The method further includes monitoring for (i) the barcode reader's failure, during the first timeframe, to transition from a first state in which an imager of the barcode reader does not transmit images for decoding to a second state in which the imager captures images over an FOV including a product scanning region and transmits the captured images for decoding; or (ii) the barcode reader's failure to decode a barcode from images captured over the FOV including the product scanning region during the first timeframe; and generating an alert indicating a potential scan avoidance event responsive to both the measured unstable weight over the timeframe and one of (i) or (ii).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Abhilash Gururaja, Christopher J. Fjellstad
  • Patent number: 11182572
    Abstract: A method of auxiliary data capture control includes: storing, at a data capture device, a trigger condition and a baseline infrared value captured by an infrared sensor; controlling the infrared sensor to obtain captured infrared data; determining, based on the captured infrared data and the baseline infrared value, whether the trigger condition is satisfied, wherein the trigger condition includes whether the captured infrared data exceeds the baseline infrared value and whether a variance in the captured infrared data over a configurable time period is below a variance threshold; and when the trigger condition is satisfied, controlling an auxiliary data capture sensor to obtain auxiliary captured data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Abhilash Gururaja, Christopher J. Fjellstad, David R. Turturro
  • Publication number: 20210334487
    Abstract: Methods for accurate object tracking are disclosed herein. An example the method includes receiving, from a first optical imaging assembly having a first field of view (FOV), a first image captured over the first FOV and based on a decode of an indicia associated with an object of interest, identifying the object of interest within the first image. The method further includes determining a location of the object of interest within the first image and mapping the location of the object of interest within the first image to a predicted location of the object of interest within a second image, the second image being received from a second optical imaging assembly having a second FOV and the second image being captured over the second FOV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Sajan Wilfred, Christopher J. Fjellstad, Vincent J. Daempfle
  • Publication number: 20210334480
    Abstract: Methods of detecting scan avoidance events during decode sessions are disclosed herein. An example method includes decoding, during a timeout period at one or more processors of the symbology scanner, a first indicia in a first image captured during the timeout period to determine a first indicia payload; conveying, during the timeout period at the one or more processors, the first indicia payload to a point-of-sale (POS) system for affecting a transaction; detecting, during the timeout period at the one or more processors, a second indicia in the first image or in a subsequent image captured during the timeout period; and in response to determining that the second indicia is the same as the first indicia and is decodable, determining a potential scan avoidance attempt and generating a scan avoidance alarm signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Abhilash Gururaja, Christopher J. Fjellstad