Abstract: A sensing device is provided with an image sensor for capturing images of coded data disposed on a surface, a framestore for storing frames of the captured image as image data, subsampling means for subsampling the stored image date to generate subsampled image data, and an image processor for processing the subsampled image data to generate interaction data based on the sensed coded data and indicative of interaction of the sensing device with the surface. The image processor is integrated on a monolithic integrated circuit, the monolithic integrated circuit including a first subsampled framestore for storing the subsampled image data based on image data from the framestore.

Abstract: A scanner for scanning items marked with tags is disclosed. The scanner has a laser for producing a beam, a mirror assembly to re-direct the beam, a deflecting arrangement to receive the re-directed beam, the deflecting arrangement including a horizontal deflector, a vertical deflector and a pair of synchronized drivers to drive the deflectors, a steering mirror to steer the deflected beam, a scanning mirror to direct the beam onto the tag to be scanned, and a light collection system to collect light reflected by the tags.

Abstract: A scanning device for scanning an interface surface is disclosed. The scanning device includes a beam generator for emitting a beam, a deflector for deflecting the beam to generate a raster scan pattern over a scanning patch, and a sensor for receiving a reflected beam from the scanning patch and sensing from the reflected beam data encoded by coded tags printed on an interface surface. The data encoded by each tag includes an identity of the interface surface and the position of the respective tag on the interface surface. The scanning device further includes a processor for determining a description of the interface surface from the sensed interface surface identity and at least one region of the interface surface from the determined description and the position of the sensed tag on the interface surface.

Abstract: A portable scanning device for scanning a product item is provided. The product item has visible information relating thereto and a plurality of tags disposed thereon. Each tag encodes data on an identity of the product item and the location of that tag on the product item. The scanning device has a sensor for sensing the data encoded by at least one tag, and a processor for determining, from the sensed data, product identity data indicative of the identity of the product item and location data indicative of a location of said at least one tag on the product item.

Abstract: A shopping system comprises a product item having an interface surface and a reading device for reading coded data disposed on the interface surface. The reading device includes: (a) a radiation source for emitting radiation which exposes a coded data portion on the interface surface; (b) an image sensor for sensing the exposed coded data portion; (c) a force sensor coupled to a nib of the reading device; and (d) a processor for determining product identity data and/or position data. The reading device is adapted to sense the coded data in response to contact between the nib and the interface surface.

Abstract: A reading device for reading an interface surface provided on a product item, the interface surface having disposed thereon coded data. The reading device includes: a harness which is configured to tight fittingly receive at least a portion of a user's hand; a housing coupled to the harness, the housing including a void configured to tight fittingly receive therewithin a finger tip portion of a finger of the user's hand received within the harness, the housing including an aperture in a wall of the housing which is located, in use, adjacent the underside of the finger tip portion of the finger; a sensor provided in the housing for sensing at least some of the coded data through the aperture; and a processor for decoding at least some of the sensed coded data.

Abstract: A scanner for scanning items marked with tags is disclosed. The scanner has a laser for producing a beam, a mirror assembly to re-direct the beam, a deflecting arrangement to receive the re-directed beam, the deflecting arrangement including a horizontal deflector, a vertical deflector and a pair of synchronised drivers to drive the deflectors, a steering mirror to steer the deflected beam, a scanning mirror to direct the beam onto the tag to be scanned, and a light collection system to collect light reflected by the tags.

Abstract: A scanner for scanning items marked with near-infrared tags includes a laser configured to produce a narrowband near-infrared beam matched to a peak wavelength of near-infrared ink used to print the tags. A mirror assembly re-directs the beam. A deflecting arrangement receives the re-directed beam. A steering mirror steers the deflected beam. A scanning mirror directs the beam onto the tag to be scanned and a light collection system collects light reflected by the tags.

Abstract: A scanning device for scanning an interface surface is disclosed. The scanning device includes a beam generator for emitting a beam, a deflector for deflecting the beam to generate a raster scan pattern over a scanning patch, and a sensor for receiving a reflected beam from the scanning patch and sensing from the reflected beam data encoded by coded tags printed on an interface surface. The data encoded by each tag includes an identity of the interface surface and the position of the respective tag on the interface surface. The scanning device further includes a processor for determining a description of the interface surface from the sensed interface surface identity and at least one region of the interface surface from the determined description and the position of the sensed tag on the interface surface.

Abstract: A sensing device is provided with an image sensor for capturing images of coded data disposed on a surface, a framestore for storing frames of the captured image as image data, subsampling means for subsampling the stored image date to generate subsampled image data, and an image processor for processing the subsampled image data to generate interaction data based on the sensed coded data and indicative of interaction of the sensing device with the surface. The image processor is integrated on a monolithic integrated circuit, the monolithic integrated circuit including a first subsampled framestore for storing the subsampled image data based on image data from the framestore.

Abstract: A shopping system comprises a product item having an interface surface and a reading device for reading coded data disposed on the interface surface. The reading device includes: (a) a radiation source for emitting radiation which exposes a coded data portion on the interface surface; (b) an image sensor for sensing the exposed coded data portion; (c) a force sensor coupled to a nib of the reading device; and (d) a processor for determining product identity data and/or position data. The reading device is adapted to sense the coded data in response to contact between the nib and the interface surface.

Abstract: A scanning device is provided which has a beam emitter for emitting a beam, a deflector for deflecting the beam to generate a raster scan pattern over a scanning patch on a product item, a sensor for receiving a reflected beam from the scanning patch and sensing from the reflected beam data encoded by coded tags printed on an interface surface of the product item, and a processor for determining a description of the interface surface and at least one region of interface surface. The data encoded by each tag includes an identity of the product item, an identity of the interface surface and the position of the respective tag on the interface surface. The processor determines the description from the sensed interface surface identity and determined the region from the determined description and at least one of the position of the sensed tag and a position of the scanning patch relative to the interface surface.

Abstract: A reading device for reading an interface surface provided on a product item, the interface surface having disposed thereon coded data. The reading device includes: a harness which is configured to tight fittingly receive at least a portion of a user's hand; a housing coupled to the harness, the housing including a void configured to tight fittingly receive therewithin a finger tip portion of a finger of the user's hand received within the harness, the housing including an aperture in a wall of the housing which is located, in use, adjacent the underside of the finger tip portion of the finger; a sensor provided in the housing for sensing at least some of the coded data through the aperture; and a processor for decoding at least some of the sensed coded data.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a sensing device that reads coded data off of a surface. Interaction data is generated from the read coded data and the interaction data is processed in accordance with the image portion of the image that is extracted from an image sensor.

Abstract: A shopping system comprising a reading device is provided. The reading device is adapted to read an interface surface provided on a product item. The interface surface has coded data disposed thereon which includes, at a plurality of locations on the interface surface, a corresponding plurality of coded data portions. Each coded data portion is indicative of an identity of the product item and the location of the coded data portion. The reading device includes: (a) a radiation source for emitting radiation such that it exposes at least one coded data portion; (b) an image sensor for sensing the exposed coded data portion; and (c) a processor for determining, using the sensed coded data, product identity data and/or position data.

Abstract: A reading device for reading an interface surface provided on a product item, the interface surface having disposed thereon coded data. The reading device includes: a harness which is configured to tight fittingly receive at least a portion of a user's hand; a housing coupled to the harness, the housing including a void configured to tight fittingly receive therewithin a finger tip portion of a finger of the user's hand received within the harness, the housing including an aperture in a wall of the housing which is located, in use, adjacent the underside of the finger tip portion of the finger; a sensor provided in the housing for sensing at least some of the coded data through the aperture; and a processor for decoding at least some of the sensed coded data.

Abstract: A portable scanning device for scanning a product item is provided, The product item has visible information relating thereto and a plurality of tags disposed thereon. Each tag encodes data on an identity of the product item and the location of that tag on the product item. The scanning device has a sensor for sensing the data encoded by at least one tag, and a processor for determining, from the sensed data, product identity data indicative of the identity of the product item and location data indicative of a location of said at least one tag on the product item.

Abstract: A scanner for scanning items marked with near-infrared tags includes a laser configured to produce a narrowband near-infrared beam matched to a peak wavelength of near-infrared ink used to print the tags. A mirror assembly re-directs the beam. A deflecting arrangement receives the re-directed beam. A steering mirror steers the deflected beam. A scanning mirror directs the beam onto the tag to be scanned and a light collection system collects light reflected by the tags.

Abstract: A scanning device is provided which has a beam emitter for emitting a beam, a deflector for deflecting the beam to generate a raster scan pattern over a scanning patch on a product item, a sensor for receiving a reflected beam from the scanning patch and sensing from the reflected beam data encoded by coded tags printed on an interface surface of the product item, and a processor for determining a description of the interface surface and at least one region of interface surface. The data encoded by each tag includes an identity of the product item, an identity of the interface surface and the position of the respective tag on the interface surface. The processor determines the description from the sensed interface surface identity and determined the region from the determined description and at least one of the position of the sensed tag and a position of the scanning patch relative to the interface surface.

Abstract: A laser scanning device for scanning an interface surface of a product item is provided. The interface surface has visible information relating to the product item and a plurality of tags disposed thereon. Each tag contains coded data indicative of an identity of the product item and a plurality of locations on the interface surface. At least some of the tags are coincident with the visible information. The scanning device comprises: (a) a housing; (b) a laser for emitting a scanning beam from the housing; (c) a sensor for sensing the coded data contained a tag exposed by the scanning beam; and (d) a processor for determining, using the sensed coded data, product identity data indicative of the identity of the product item and location data indicative of a location of the exposed tag on the interface surface.