Abstract: A code reader may include a light source configured to illuminate a machine-readable indicia representative of a standard code associated with an item. An image sensor may be configured to receive an image of the machine readable indicia. An illumination source may be configured to illuminate an anti-counterfeiting key that, when illuminated by the illumination source, reflects the illumination from the illumination source to be incident on the image sensor. A processing unit may be in electrical communication with the image sensor, and may be configured to decode the standard code of the machine-readable indicia and check validity of the reflected illumination from the anti-counterfeiting key.

Abstract: A code reader may include a light source configured to illuminate a machine-readable indicia representative of a standard code associated with an item. An image sensor may be configured to receive an image of the machine readable indicia. An illumination source may be configured to illuminate an anti-counterfeiting key that, when illuminated by the illumination source, reflects the illumination from the illumination source to be incident on the image sensor. A processing unit may be in electrical communication with the image sensor, and may be configured to decode the standard code of the machine-readable indicia and check validity of the reflected illumination from the anti-counterfeiting key.

Abstract: An engine for a machine-readable symbol reader includes an image sensor; at least one optical component positioned in an optical path of the image sensor, the image sensor and the at least one optical component having a receiving optical axis and a depth of field; an illumination source; and at least two optical components positioned relative to the illumination source to direct light emitted by the illumination source outward of the engine as a first beam and at least a second beam. The first and the second beams are each parallel to the receiving optical axis of the image sensor and the at least one optical component at least along the depth of field of the image sensor and the at least one optical component. The first and the second beams are opposed to one another across the receiving optical axis of the image sensor and the at least one optical component to provide a visible aiming indication when impinging on an object.

Abstract: An image capture module includes a liquid lens having a first and a second electrode, and a first and a second conductor element in electrical contact with the first and second electrode, respectively, the first and second conductor elements being each intended for connection with a voltage generator for driving the liquid lens. The first conductor element includes an electrically conductive body having a peripheral region for contact with the first electrode of the liquid lens with a light diaphragm aperture in a central region thereof.

Abstract: An engine for a machine-readable symbol reader includes an image sensor; at least one optical component positioned in an optical path of the image sensor, the image sensor and the at least one optical component having a receiving optical axis and a depth of field; an illumination source; and at least two optical components positioned relative to the illumination source to direct light emitted by the illumination source outward of the engine as a first beam and at least a second beam. The first and the second beams are each parallel to the receiving optical axis of the image sensor and the at least one optical component at least along the depth of field of the image sensor and the at least one optical component. The first and the second beams are opposed to one another across the receiving optical axis of the image sensor and the at least one optical component to provide a visible aiming indication when impinging on an object.

Abstract: An image capture module includes a liquid lens having a first and a second electrode, and a first and a second conductor element in electrical contact with the first and second electrode, respectively, the first and second conductor elements being each intended for connection with a voltage generator for driving the liquid lens. The first conductor element includes an electrically conductive body having a peripheral region for contact with the first electrode of the liquid lens with a light diaphragm aperture in a central region thereof.

Abstract: An image capture module includes a liquid lens having a first and a second electrode, and a first and a second conductor element in electrical contact with the first and second electrode, respectively, the first and second conductor elements being each intended for connection with a voltage generator for driving the liquid lens. The first conductor element includes an electrically conductive body having a peripheral region for contact with the first electrode of the liquid lens with a light diaphragm aperture in a central region thereof.

Abstract: An image capture module includes a liquid lens having a first and a second electrode, and a first and a second conductor element in electrical contact with the first and second electrode, respectively, the first and second conductor elements being each intended for connection with a voltage generator for driving the liquid lens. The first conductor element includes an electrically conductive body having a peripheral region for contact with the first electrode of the liquid lens with a light diaphragm aperture in a central region thereof.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the preparation of a plurality of drinks from cartridges that are provided with an optical code on one of its faces identifying the cartridge itself and the corresponding drink, the reading of the optical code is made more certain and reliable thanks to a stretching member that extends the portion of the face of the cartridge containing the optical code, so as to deform it into a predetermined position, facing the reading window.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the preparation of a plurality of drinks from cartridges that are provided with an optical code on one of its faces identifying the cartridge itself and the corresponding drink, the reading of the optical code is made more certain and reliable thanks to a stretching member that extends the portion of the face of the cartridge containing the optical code, so as to deform it into a predetermined position, facing the reading window.

Abstract: The method for compensating undesired variations in an electrical signal generated by a sensor of an optical code reader comprises the steps of generating an envelope signal starting from the electrical signal generated by the sensor and normalizing the electrical signal with respect to the envelope signal. Preferably, the envelope signal is filtered with a low-pass filter before being normalized so as to eliminate steps and edges which may cause distortions during normalization, and the normalized signal is amplified in a controlled way so as to supply an output signal ranging between two values having preset amplitudes. Normalization is carried out by dividing, point by point, the electrical signal by the envelope signal, in the case of continuous analog processing; alternatively, in presence of discrete-time signals, normalization is carried out by subtracting the envelope signal from the electrical signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for reading an optical code has a casing with a reading window. The casing includes an illumination device acting through the reading window on an optical code to be read, a detection device responsive to light scattered from the illuminated optical code into the casing through the reading window, and an objective lens interposed between the reading window and the detection device, in a position to pick up the light scattered from the illuminated optical code and project this light onto the detection device. The detection device has a plurality of light-sensitive elements effective to convert the light to electric signals representing the light image, wherein the illumination device has a first array of light sources active in a first illumination configuration, and at least a second array of light sources active in at least a second illumination configuration different from the first one.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for reading coded information, comprising illumination means, means for picking-up a luminous signal diffused by an illuminated support containing coded information, means for detecting the luminous signal intended to generate an electrical signal that is proportional to said luminous signal (for example, an electrical signal with an amplitude variable, along at least one reading direction, between at least one maximum value Vmax and at least one minimum value Vmin), and means for processing said electrical signal, intended to extract the information content from it. The device further comprises means for varying, preferably point by point, the amplitude pattern of said electrical signal along said at least one reading direction so as to generate an electrical signal having a predetermined amplitude pattern, for example, substantially constant.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reading an optical code. The apparatus having a casing with a reading window; the casing having an illuminator acting through the reading window on an optical code to be read, a detector responsive to light scattered from the illuminated optical code into the casing through the reading window, and an objective lens interposed between the reading window and the detector, in a position to pick up the light scattered from the illuminated optical code and project this light onto the detector. The detector having a plurality of light-sensitive elements effective to convert the light to electric signals representing the light image. The apparatus is characterized in that the illuminator has a first array of light sources active in a first illumination configuration, and at least a second array of light sources active in at least a second illumination configuration different from the first one.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reading an optical code. The apparatus comprises a casing with a reading window; the casing comprises an illumination means acting through the reading window on an optical code to be read, a detection means responsive to light scattered from the illuminated optical code into the casing through the reading window, and an objective lens interposed between the reading window and the detection means, in a position to pick up the light scattered from the illuminated optical code and project this light onto the detection means. The detection means comprises a plurality of light-sensitive elements effective to convert the light to electric signals representing the light image. The apparatus is characterized in that the illumination means comprises a first array of light sources active in a first illumination configuration, and at least a second array of light sources active in at least a second illumination configuration different from the first one.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for reading coded information, comprising illumination means, means for picking-up a luminous signal diffused by an illuminated support containing coded information, means for detecting the luminous signal intended to generate an electrical signal that is proportional to said luminous signal (for example, an electrical signal with an amplitude variable, along at least one reading direction, between at least one maximum value Vmax and at least one minimum value Vmin), and means for processing said electrical signal, intended to extract the information content from it. The device further comprises means for varying, preferably point by point, the amplitude pattern of said electrical signal along said at least one reading direction so as to generate an electrical signal having a predetermined amplitude pattern, for example, substantially constant.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reading an optical code. The apparatus comprises a casing with a reading window; the casing comprises an illumination means acting through the reading window on an optical code to be read, a detection means responsive to light scattered from the illuminated optical code into the casing through the reading window, and an objective lens interposed between the reading window and the detection means, in a position to pick up the light scattered from the illuminated optical code and project this light onto the detection means. The detection means comprises a plurality of light-sensitive elements effective to convert the light to electric signals representing the light image. The apparatus is characterized in that the illumination means comprises a first array of light sources active in a first illumination configuration, and at least a second array of light sources active in at least a second illumination configuration different from the first one.

Abstract: The method for compensating undesired variations in an electrical signal generated by a sensor of an optical code reader comprises the steps of generating an envelope signal starting from the electrical signal generated by the sensor and normalizing the electrical signal with respect to the envelope signal. Preferably, the envelope signal is filtered with a low-pass filter before being normalized so as to eliminate steps and edges which may cause distortions during normalization, and the normalized signal is amplified in a controlled way so as to supply an output signal ranging between two values having preset amplitudes. Normalization is carried out by dividing, point by point, the electrical signal by the envelope signal, in the case of continuous analog processing; alternatively, in presence of discrete-time signals, normalization is carried out by subtracting the envelope signal from the electrical signal.

Abstract: The apparatus includes an outer case (11), a reading window (14) open into the case (ii), an illumination device (16-20) housed within the case (11) and arranged to act on the optical code being read through the window (14), and a detection device (24-28) housed within the case (11) and responsive to light scattered back from the illuminated optical code into the case (11) through the window (14). The detection device includes a light-sensitive element (24) capable of converting light to electric signals representing the light image, and an optical detection path (25-26) from the reading window (14) to the light-sensitive elements (24) having a reflective element (27) therein which effectively splits the optical path into two consecutive path sections (25,26) at an angle from each other, wherein the second path section (26) is deflected from the first path section (25).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reading an optical code. The apparatus having a casing with a reading window; the casing having an illuminator acting through the reading window on an optical code to be read, a detector responsive to light scattered from the illuminated optical code into the casing through the reading window, and an objective lens interposed between the reading window and the detector, in a position to pick up the light scattered from the illuminated optical code and project this light onto the detector. The detector having a plurality of light-sensitive elements effective to convert the light to electric signals representing the light image. The apparatus is characterized in that the illuminator has a first array of light sources active in a first illumination configuration, and at least a second array of light sources active in at least a second illumination configuration different from the first one.