Abstract: An adaptive optics phoropter is aligned with a Badal optometer and an adjustable aperture component to subjectively determine an optimal vision correction as a power profile for an ophthalmic lens or ablating a cornea. The optimal power profile is preferably determined in an iterative process by adjusting the vergence of the Badal optometer and aperture size of the adjustable aperture component for power profiles with presbyopic power zones having different amplitudes, shapes, widths, and/or de-centering. Also included is a method of recursively computing a refractive surface with a regular presbyopic power zone (e.g., according to the optimal power profile) and adding it onto an underlying irregular Zernike-basis-set aberration-corrected surface in a linear fashion for fabricating an ophthalmic lens.

Abstract: An adaptive optics phoropter is aligned with a Badal optometer and an adjustable aperture component to subjectively determine an optimal vision correction as a power profile for an ophthalmic lens or ablating a cornea. The optimal power profile is preferably determined in an iterative process by adjusting the vergence of the Badal optometer and aperture size of the adjustable aperture component for power profiles with presbyopic power zones having different amplitudes, shapes, widths, and/or de-centering. Also included is a method of recursively computing a refractive surface with a regular presbyopic power zone (e.g., according to the optimal power profile) and adding it onto an underlying irregular Zernike-basis-set aberration-corrected surface in a linear fashion for fabricating an ophthalmic lens.

Abstract: An adaptive optics phoropter is aligned with a Badal optometer and an adjustable aperture component to subjectively determine an optimal vision correction as a power profile for an ophthalmic lens or ablating a cornea. The optimal power profile is preferably determined in an iterative process by adjusting the vergence of the Badal optometer and aperture size of the adjustable aperture component for power profiles with presbyopic power zones having different amplitudes, shapes, widths, and/or de-centering. Also included is a method of recursively computing a refractive surface with a regular presbyopic power zone (e.g., according to the optimal power profile) and adding it onto an underlying irregular Zernike-basis-set aberration-corrected surface in a linear fashion for fabricating an ophthalmic lens.

Abstract: An adaptive optics phoropter is aligned with a Badal optometer and an adjustable aperture component to subjectively determine an optimal vision correction as a power profile for an ophthalmic lens or ablating a cornea. The optimal power profile is preferably determined in an iterative process by adjusting the vergence of the Badal optometer and aperture size of the adjustable aperture component for power profiles with presbyopic power zones having different amplitudes, shapes, widths, and/or de-centering. Also included is a method of recursively computing a refractive surface with a regular presbyopic power zone (e.g., according to the optimal power profile) and adding it onto an underlying irregular Zernike-basis-set aberration-corrected surface in a linear fashion for fabricating an ophthalmic lens.

Abstract: Techniques for determining a position for a rotating optical element, or spinner, of a bar code scanner are described. A diffractive element is positioned so as to be struck by a laser beam produced by a laser source and reflected from the spinner when the spinner is in a reference position. The diffractive element diffracts the reflected beam to produce a diffracted line which strikes a reference position photodetector, thereby causing the reference position photodetector to produce a reference position photosignal. The reference position photosignal can be read by a controller to determine when the spinner is in the reference position and used by the controller as a signal to deactivate the laser source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for identifying a product through reading of the product label by a retail terminal. The product/product label is scanned by an imager of a retail terminal. An attribute recognition program such as an optical character recognition (OCR) program is used on the scanned product label which generates text strings from alphanumeric label information and graphics maps/images from graphics/logos. Text strings and/or graphics data are then compared to various text strings and graphics data in a database or look-up table to return information relative to the scanned text string(s)/graphic(s). In one form, kiosks, incorporating an imager and the necessary hardware and software to scan a product label and process the scanned information in accordance with the present principles, may provide printouts of product information, instructions, order forms or the like for the scanned product.

Abstract: A customer self-service terminal for use in conducting retail transactions. The terminal includes a camera having multi-mode image capability. When a customer wishes to conduct a transaction, the camera is used to scan product barcodes. The camera is set to capture an image of a barcode for extraction of data contained in the barcode. When all desired products have been scanned, the camera is used to record steps in the tendering of payment. The customer presents a financial identification card such as a credit or debit card and swipes it through a magnetic stripe reader. The customer then places the card in the field of view of the camera which is set to a video graphic mode to capture an image of the card for storage. The customer is then presented with a transaction document for signing. The camera is set to a live video mode to record the act of signing. After the transaction document has been signed, the camera captures an image of the signature.

Abstract: Techniques for determining a position for a rotating optical element, or spinner, of a bar code scanner are described. A diffractive element is positioned so as to be struck by a laser beam produced by a laser source and reflected from the spinner when the spinner is in a reference position. The diffractive element diffracts the reflected beam to produce a diffracted line which strikes a reference position photodetector, thereby causing the reference position photodetector to produce a reference position photosignal. The reference position photosignal can be read by a controller to determine when the spinner is in the reference position and used by the controller as a signal to deactivate the laser source.

Abstract: A barcode is scanned by a scanner having a laser emitting a pulsed laser beam which reflects off the barcode and is detected by a light detector. A receiver operatively joined to the light detector is tuned to the frequency of the pulsed laser beam for increasing signal gain.

Abstract: A bar code scanner includes a window and a rotary spinner mounted therebelow having a plurality of circumferentially adjoining mirrored facets for sweeping light along a scanned arc. A light source projects a scan beam on the spinner, and a plurality of pattern mirrors are optically aligned with the spinner along the scanned arc in a forward path for diverting the scan beam outwardly through the window to a bar code for effecting a scattered beam therefrom. A collection mirror is optically aligned with the spinner along the scanned arc for receiving the scattered beam in a return path from the pattern mirrors and spinner in turn. A detector is optically aligned with the collection mirror for receiving the scattered beam, and a decoder is provided for decoding the scattered beam.

Abstract: An optical scanner for reading two-dimensional bar code labels. A rotating reflector directs a laser beam towards a plurality of pattern mirrors during a first mode of operation to produce a plurality of different scan lines forming a multi-line scan pattern for collecting light from an article having a one-dimensional bar code label, and directs the laser beam towards one of the pattern mirrors during a second mode of operation to produce a single scan line for collecting light from an article having a two-dimensional bar code label. A single tilted mirror assembly, having a motor for rotating a drive shaft and a mirror mounted at an angle to the drive shaft, reflects the plurality of different scan lines towards the article having the one-dimensional bar code label during the first mode of operation, and reflects the one scan line from the scan module towards the article having the two-dimensional bar code label during the second mode of operation.

Abstract: A multiple depth of field optical scanner which produces a plurality of scan beams having different focal distances. The optical scanner includes a laser beam having a centerline, a mirrored spinner having a plurality of facets with different curvatures, a detector, and a microcontroller. The optical scanner may additionally include a deflector mirror for changing the direction of the laser beam, collecting optics for equalizing the optical coupling of the reflected light across the field of view of the facets, a distance selection circuit for instructing the microcontroller within the scanner to decode bar code information from a predetermined range of focal distances and an amplification circuit for amplifying the electrical signals from the detector enough to produce other electrical signals having substantially equal amplitudes. The microcontroller may also include the feature of reducing laser power when the scan beams focus more than a predetermined distance from the centerline of the laser beam.

Abstract: A method for optimizing the reading ability of an omnidirectional optical scanner for various bar code label aspect ratios which can effectively double the angular coverage of an ordinary scan module. For high aspect ratio bar code labels, the method involves increasing the speed ratio between a first scanner motor within a scan module and a second scanner motor within a tilted mirror assembly by decreasing the speed of the second scanner motor by a predetermined amount. For other bar code labels, the method involves decreasing the speed ratio between the first scanner motor and the second scanner motor by increasing the speed of the second scanner motor by the predetermined amount. The method uses programming tags and speed control circuitry to change the speed of the second motor. The method also includes the steps of decreasing the swipe speed of articles having high aspect ratio bar code labels and increasing the swipe speed of other articles.

Abstract: An optical scanning unit which employs a mirrored spinner and a plurality of pattern mirrors that counter rotate to produce an omnidirectional scan pattern having a predetermined depth of field. The pattern mirrors are mounted within a drum which rotates freely within the scanner housing. The optical scanning unit employs a variable drive gear mechanism to counter rotate the spinner and pattern mirrors using a single motor. The optical scanning unit additionally employs a collection filtering system for filtering Fresnel reflections from light reflected from an article having a bar code label to be scanned. A plurality of scanning units may be arranged vertically or horizontally to form a multiple depth-of-field optical scanner.

Abstract: A compact optical scanning system includes a rotating polygon having a plurality of curved mirror portions and a plurality of mirror facets, a collection mirror member having a pair of reflective surfaces and a source of scanning light beams which projects the scanning light beams at one of the reflecting surfaces in the collection mirror. By deflecting the scanning light beams off the curved mirror portions, the mirror facets and the pair of reflective surfaces, a single line scan pattern composed of a plurality of single line scan lines each located at a different focal plane will be generated to scan a bar code label. By changing the orientation of the mirror facets together with changing the radius curvature of the curved mirror portions, an axial invariant bow-tie scan pattern composed of multiple scan lines focused at a different focal plane will be generated.

Abstract: A focus changing apparatus and method for an optical scanner which can easily be adapted to existing optical scanners or can provide the front end for a new scanner. The laser beam focus changing apparatus may be optically located between a laser source and a mirrored spinner and includes a plurality of spherical mirror segments having a predetermined radius. Each is located at its respective radius from a common axis. A rotating device, such as a motor, rotates the spherical mirror segments about their common axis. The spherical mirror segments may be mounted on top of the mirrored spinner. If so, the focus changing apparatus may additionally include a deflector mirror for deflecting the beam towards the spherical mirror segments and a spherical mirror adjacent the deflector mirror is optically located to receive the beam after it is reflected from the spherical mirror segments and to redirect the beam towards the mirrored spinner.

Abstract: An optical scanner which employs a special lens to maximize the percentage of focused laser light that passes through a collimating aperture. The optical scanner also includes a laser diode and a housing containing the laser diode and having a wall with the aperture therethrough for collimating light from the lens. The lens may be a gradient index (grin) lens, a bi-zonal lens, or an axicon lens. Another scanner is disclosed which employs an axicon lens to focus light reflected from an article having a bar code label to a detector for a range of article distances from the scanner.

Abstract: A portable bar code scanner includes a housing member having a supporting surface which includes an aperture extending in a horizontal direction through the housing member. The supporting surface includes a recessed portion which is in communication with the aperture and which supports a portable bar code scanner. A mirror member mounted within the aperture and at an angle to the supporting surface deflects the scanning light beams through the aperture for scanning coded indicia positioned adjacent the aperture. A second embodiment discloses a support member slidably positioned within the aperture from either end of the aperture in which is mounted a mirror member for deflecting the scanning light beams through the support member and the aperture.

Abstract: A portable bar code scanner includes a support member and a housing member rotatably mounted on the support member and having a pair of sloping supporting surfaces oriented at an angle to each other and a floor portion on which is mounted a reflecting mirror. One or both of the sloping supporting surfaces may include a transparent substrate. A source of scanning light beams such as a hand-held scanner is mounted adjacent the other sloping supporting surface for projecting a plurality of scanning light beams in the form of a scan pattern at the reflecting mirror which reflects the scan pattern onto the transparent substrate over which a bar code label is passed enabling the scanning light beams to scan the bar code label. The housing member may be rotated up to one hundred and eighty degrees to position the transparent substrate in a number of scanning positions.