Abstract: A system for decoding machine-readable graphical codes is provided. The system includes a graphical code reading device configured to read a graphical code and generate reference encoded source data. The reference encoded source data includes a first reference identifier and a second portion. The system also includes a computing device in electronic communication with the graphical code reading device. The computing device also includes a reference decoder configured to effect conversion of the reference encoded source data into source data. The source data includes first affiliated data in place of the first reference identifier. The first affiliated data may be longer in length than the first reference identifier. The source data also includes the second portion. The computing device also includes a software application configured to use the source data.

Abstract: A method of operating a controller device of an electronic cutting machine. The method includes writing a controller device identifier to memory of the cartridge, writing a cartridge identifier to memory of the controller device, and permitting communication between the controller device and the cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel optical reader device and method for calibrating the device. The device executes a calibration module that locates the actual coordinates for a targeting symbol in a captured image. The coordinates are stored as calibration coordinates in the memory. During normal operation of the reader device, the stored calibration coordinates are used to locate a target, such as a bar code. In order to locate the targeting symbol, the calibration module may overlay a template on clusters that may be the targeting symbol. A reasonable accurate comparison identifies the cluster as the targeting symbol. Alternatively, the calibration module may approach a cluster from four frames of the image and identify the cluster's tangents and perimeter. Geometrical calculations are used to identify the center of an identified targeting symbol.

Abstract: A system for decoding machine-readable graphical codes is provided. The system includes a graphical code reading device configured to read a graphical code and generate reference encoded source data. The reference encoded source data includes a first reference identifier and a second portion. The system also includes a computing device in electronic communication with the graphical code reading device. The computing device also includes a reference decoder configured to effect conversion of the reference encoded source data into source data. The source data includes first affiliated data in place of the first reference identifier. The first affiliated data may be longer in length than the first reference identifier. The source data also includes the second portion. The computing device also includes a software application configured to use the source data.

Abstract: A system for decoding machine-readable graphical codes is provided. The system includes a graphical code reading device configured to read a graphical code and generate reference encoded source data. The reference encoded source data includes a first reference identifier and a second portion. The system also includes a computing device in electronic communication with the graphical code reading device. The computing device also includes a reference decoder configured to effect conversion of the reference encoded source data into source data. The source data includes first affiliated data in place of the first reference identifier. The first affiliated data may be longer in length than the first reference identifier. The source data also includes the second portion. The computing device also includes a software application configured to use the source data.

Abstract: A system for controlling an electronic cutting machine. The system comprises a cartridge having an interfacing connector and memory and a controller device. The controller device comprises a cartridge connector for establishing an electrical connection with the interfacing connector, memory, and a processor executing a controller application. The controller application writes a controller device identifier to the memory of the connected cartridge, writes a cartridge identifier to the memory of the controller device, and permits usage on the controller device of content associated with the cartridge.

Abstract: A method of operating a controller device of an electronic cutting machine. The method includes writing a controller device identifier to memory of the cartridge, writing a cartridge identifier to memory of the controller device, and permitting communication between the controller device and the cartridge.

Abstract: A method of using a controller device for an electronic cutting machine. The method includes associating at least one of cutting operations and printing operations with glyphs, retrieving the glyphs from at least one of memory of a cartridge in communication with the controller device and memory of the controller device, arranging the glyphs in a screen overlay, and rendering the screen overlay on a screen of the controller device.

Abstract: A method of validating a cartridge for use with a controller device. The method includes reading a cartridge identifier from at least one of memory of the cartridge and memory of the controller device, obtaining known content associated with the cartridge based on the cartridge identifier, reading actual content from memory of the cartridge, comparing the known content with the actual content, and permitting communication between the controller device and the cartridge when the known content matches the actual content.

Abstract: A system for decoding machine-readable graphical codes is provided. The system includes a graphical code reading device configured to read a graphical code and generate reference encoded source data. The reference encoded source data includes a first reference identifier and a second portion. The system also includes a computing device in electronic communication with the graphical code reading device. The computing device also includes a reference decoder configured to effect conversion of the reference encoded source data into source data. The source data includes first affiliated data in place of the first reference identifier. The first affiliated data may be longer in length than the first reference identifier. The source data also includes the second portion. The computing device also includes a software application configured to use the source data.

Abstract: A method for interfacing an object identifier reader to at least one application is disclosed. The method may include receiving object identifier data from the object identifier reader. The object identifier data may include information and formatting characters. The method may then involve identifying the information in the object identifier data. At least one application may then be identified to receive the information. Finally, the information may be sent to the at least one application.

Abstract: A method for interfacing an object identifier reader to at least one application is disclosed. The method may include receiving object identifier data from the object identifier reader. The object identifier data may include information and formatting characters. The method may then involve identifying the information in the object identifier data. At least one application may then be identified to receive the information. Finally, the information may be sent to the at least one application.

Abstract: A method for interfacing an object identifier reader to at least one application is disclosed. The method may include receiving object identifier data from the object identifier reader. The object identifier data may include information and formatting characters. The method may then involve identifying the information in the object identifier data. At least one application may then be identified to receive the information. Finally, the information may be sent to the at least one application.

Abstract: A system for decoding machine-readable graphical codes is provided. The system includes a graphical code reading device configured to read a graphical code and generate reference encoded source data. The reference encoded source data includes a first reference identifier and a second portion. The system also includes a computing device in electronic communication with the graphical code reading device. The computing device also includes a reference decoder configured to effect conversion of the reference encoded source data into source data. The source data includes first affiliated data in place of the first reference identifier. The first affiliated data may be longer in length than the first reference identifier. The source data also includes the second portion. The computing device also includes a software application configured to use the source data.

Abstract: A method for interfacing an object identifier reader to at least one application involves receiving object identifier data from the object identifier reader. The object identifier data may include information and formatting characters. The method may then involve identifying the information in the object identifier data. At least one application may then be identified to receive the information. Finally, the information may be sent to the at least one application.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing data from a graphical code reading device to a software module. The system includes a graphical code reading device that scans a graphical code and provides graphical code data. A computer is in electronic communication with the graphical code reading device and receives the graphical code data from the graphical code reading device. The computer includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor and a communications port in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with the graphical code reading device. An association may include a data type and a software module identifier. A driver is used to receive the graphical code data and obtain the software module identifier through use of the data type to provide the graphical code data to the software module identified by the software module identifier.

Abstract: A graphical code reader is described herein. The graphical code reader includes an infrared light-emitting diode and a red light-emitting diode. The graphical code reader also includes an image sensor. A lens is positioned to focus reflected light on the image sensor. The graphical code reader also includes a processor and memory in electronic communication with the processor. Instructions are stored in the memory. The instructions are executable by the processor to implement a method that involves illuminating the infrared light-emitting diode at an infrared illumination intensity level and illuminating the red light-emitting diode at a red illumination intensity level. The method also involves capturing a digital image for processing. The digital image is an electronic representation of an optical image formed on the image sensor. The method also involves processing the digital image to attempt to decode a graphical code within the digital image.

Abstract: A graphical code reader is disclosed. The graphical code reader includes an image sensor. A first lens is provided for focusing light reflected from a graphical code to form a first image on a first region of the image sensor. A second lens is provided for focusing light reflected from the graphical code to form a second image on a second region of the image sensor. The first lens is separated from the image sensor by a first distance, and the second lens is separated from the image sensor by a second distance. The first distance is greater than the second distance. A decoder is also provided for processing image data to obtain information contained in the graphical code.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel optical reader device and method for calibrating the device. The device executes a calibration module that locates the actual coordinates for a targeting symbol in a captured image. The coordinates are stored as calibration coordinates in the memory. During normal operation of the reader device, the stored calibration coordinates are used to locate a target, such as a bar code. In order to locate the targeting symbol, the calibration module may overlay a template on clusters that may be the targeting symbol. A reasonable accurate comparison identifies the cluster as the targeting symbol. Alternatively, the calibration module may approach a cluster from four frames of the image and identify the cluster's tangents and perimeter. Geometrical calculations are used to identify the center of an identified targeting symbol.

Abstract: A method for increasing the readability of a machine-readable graphical code on a printing surface is provided. The method includes receiving a graphical code image. The graphical code image is an electronic representation of a graphical code. The graphical code image includes a white region and a non-white region adjacent to the white region. The method also includes determining a size increase of the non-white region. The size increase indicates how much the size of the non-white region will increase when the graphical code image is printed on the printing surface. The method also includes creating a size compensated graphical code image by reducing the size of the non-white region by an amount that will substantially compensate for the size increase of the non-white region.