Abstract: Support rails are provided for pinball machine playfields that provide mechanical support as well as light-emitting elements, such as LEDs, that generate additional light for illuminating the playfield and/or decorative features affixed to the rails. At least a portion of the support rail is preferably made of a transparent or translucent material to facilitate transmission of light from lighting elements below or enclosed by the rail. The support rails can be provided with various grooves, channels, and holes to facilitate mounting of the rails to a playfield or an existing support rail, using nuts and bolts, screws, brackets, and the like. The lighted support rails provide both mechanical stability to the playfield, as well as additional illumination and optional mounting locations for decorative features and/or game mechanisms.

Abstract: A method of determining a physical location for an address. The method includes receiving from a first global positioning system on a vehicle a first set of global positioning data indicative of a vehicle location. The method may also receive from a second global positioning system on a portable electronic device a second set of global positioning data indicative of a portable electronic device location. The method may also receive a set of location metadata associated with a picture. The method determines a residence location from the first set of global positioning data, the second set of global positioning data, or the set of location metadata. The method then associates the physical location to the address.

Abstract: A method of operating a manipulator arm comprising a manipulator interface configured to removably couple with and transmit actuation force to a medical instrument includes mounting a cannula to a cannula mount coupled to the manipulator arm; mounting a medical instrument to the manipulator interface; inserting a shaft of the medical instrument through an entry guide mounted to the cannula; rotating the manipulator interface and the medical instrument relative to the cannula mount; and rotating the entry guide relative to the cannula mount about a longitudinal axis of the cannula.

Abstract: A probe for collecting optically stimulated electron emission to inspect chemical reactions of a surface includes a light source to emit light on the surface, a collector, and a controller. The light source emits light on the surface. The collector is configured to detect photoelectrons emitted from the surface in response to the light from the light source impinging on the surface. The collector is further configured to provide a photocurrent based on the detected photoelectrons. The controller includes at least one processor and is operably coupled to the light source and the collector. The controller is configured to cause the light source to emit light on the surface, receive the photocurrent from the collector, and determine at least one chemical reaction of the surface based on the received photocurrent.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of barcode readers, and more particularly, to barcode readers designed to operate in an environment with densely packed barcodes. In an embodiment, the present invention is a barcode reader that includes an imaging assembly operable to capture image frames; an aiming light assembly operable to emit an aiming light; and a controller configured to: decode a barcode within a decode frame image captured by the imaging assembly; upon decoding the barcode within the decode frame image, cause a capture of a picklist frame image; and report the barcode to an external host upon at least some overlap between a location of the barcode within the decode frame image and the location of the at least a portion of the aiming light pattern in the picklist frame image.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of barcode readers, and more particularly, to barcode readers designed to operate in an environment with densely packed barcodes. In an embodiment, the present invention is a barcode reader that includes an imaging assembly operable to capture image frames; an aiming light assembly operable to emit an aiming light; and a controller configured to: decode a barcode within a decode frame image captured by the imaging assembly; upon decoding the barcode within the decode frame image, cause a capture of a picklist frame image; and report the barcode to an external host upon at least some overlap between a location of the barcode within the decode frame image and the location of the at least a portion of the aiming light pattern in the picklist frame image.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of barcode readers, and more particularly, to barcode readers having multiple linear image sensors. In an embodiment, a barcode reader includes a first optical assembly including a first linear imaging sensor, a second optical assembly including a second linear imaging sensor, and a controller connected configured to: simultaneously cause both of the first linear imaging sensor and the second linear imaging sensor to respectively capture light from a first FOV and a second FOV for a predetermined amount of time, and simultaneously capture a first output signal from the first linear imaging sensor and a second output signal from the second linear imaging sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of barcode readers, and more particularly, to barcode readers having multiple linear image sensors. In an embodiment, a barcode reader includes a first optical assembly including a first linear imaging sensor, a second optical assembly including a second linear imaging sensor, and a controller connected configured to: simultaneously cause both of the first linear imaging sensor and the second linear imaging sensor to respectively capture light from a first FOV and a second FOV for a predetermined amount of time, and simultaneously capture a first output signal from the first linear imaging sensor and a second output signal from the second linear imaging sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of barcode readers, and more particularly, to barcode readers having multiple linear image sensors. In an embodiment, a barcode reader includes a first optical assembly including a first linear imaging sensor, a second optical assembly including a second linear imaging sensor, and a controller connected configured to: simultaneously cause both of the first linear imaging sensor and the second linear imaging sensor to respectively capture light from a first FOV and a second FOV for a predetermined amount of time, and simultaneously capture a first output signal from the first linear imaging sensor and a second output signal from the second linear imaging sensor.

Abstract: A method includes the following (1) detecting light returned from a target with an imaging sensor during a first frame exposure time period to capture a first image when a first illumination light is projected towards the target; (2) processing the first image to determine the light intensity of a second illumination light; (3) detecting light returned from the target with the imaging sensor during a second frame exposure time period to capture a second image when the second illumination light is projected towards the target; and (4) decoding a barcode in the second image. The light intensity of the first illumination light changes with time at least during part of the first frame exposure time period.

Abstract: A method of decoding a barcode includes determining number of barcode candidates in the image captured and processing the image captured in accordance with the number of barcode candidates found. If the number of barcode candidates is one, the image captured is processed to decode the only one barcode candidate in the image captured. If the number of barcode candidates is larger than one, the image captured is processed to find a barcode candidate that overlays with an aiming location between a first location and a second location on a scan line and to decode the barcode candidate that is found that overlays with the aiming location.

Abstract: A method of decoding a barcode includes determining number of barcode candidates in the image captured and processing the image captured in accordance with the number of barcode candidates found. If the number of barcode candidates is one, the image captured is processed to decode the only one barcode candidate in the image captured. If the number of barcode candidates is larger than one, the image captured is processed to find a barcode candidate that overlays with an aiming location between a first location and a second location on a scan line and to decode the barcode candidate that is found that overlays with the aiming location.

Abstract: A method includes the following (1) detecting light returned from a target with an imaging sensor during a first frame exposure time period to capture a first image when a first illumination light is projected towards the target; (2) processing the first image to determine the light intensity of a second illumination light; (3) detecting light returned from the target with the imaging sensor during a second frame exposure time period to capture a second image when the second illumination light is projected towards the target; and (4) decoding a barcode in the second image. The light intensity of the first illumination light changes with time at least during part of the first frame exposure time period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for imaging targets with an imaging reader. The method includes: (1) capturing return light from a target over a field of view of the solid-state imager and generating image data corresponding to the target; (2) transmitting the image data from the solid-state imager to the host when the gate circuit is set to the transmitting mode; and (3) preventing the image data from transmitting to the host when the gate circuit is set to the blocking mode.