Abstract: A barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation and having a housing with a window. A multi-axis radio-frequency identification antenna assembly is positioned within the housing of the barcode reader and includes first, second, and third antennas. The first antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a first direction, the second antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a second direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and the third antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a third direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) reflectors for radio frequency identification (RFID) systems are disclosed. An example RF reflector includes a four-sided housing having an open end, an end, two sides, a top, and an open bottom. The RF reflector is configured to not be electrically coupled to an RFID tag reader. The open end is configured to admit RF signals emitted by the RFID tag reader into the RF reflector, and has a dimension greater than a quarter wavelength of the RF signals. The end, the two sides, and the top include a material that at least partially reflects the RF signals, and the end, the two sides, and the top are electrically connected. Another example RF reflector includes a five-sided housing having two ends, two sides, a top, and an open bottom. One of the ends includes an opening to admit RF signals into the RF reflector.

Abstract: A barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation and having a housing with a window. A multi-axis radio-frequency identification antenna assembly is positioned within the housing of the barcode reader and includes first, second, and third antennas. The first antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a first direction, the second antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a second direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and the third antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a third direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a co-located Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device and ultrasonic device includes an RFID reader loop antenna element oriented parallel to a reflector panel. An ultrasonic emitter is disposed through an aperture in the reflector panel with a horn that extends through the loop element. The horn can serve as a mounting structure for the antenna element. A diameter of the aperture is less than one-quarter wavelength of an operating frequency of the RFID reader loop antenna element. The aperture is located in the reflector panel near a minimum E-field area of the RFID reader loop antenna element.

Abstract: A bioptic barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation and having a lower housing comprising a platter having a generally horizontal window and a tower portion extending generally perpendicular to the lower housing and having a generally vertical window. A multi-axis radio-frequency identification antenna assembly is positioned within the tower portion of the bioptic barcode reader and includes first, second, and third antennas. The first antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a first direction, the second antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a second direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and the third antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a third direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: A bioptic barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation and having a lower housing with a platter having a generally horizontal window and a tower extending generally perpendicular to the lower housing and having a generally vertical window. A radio-frequency identification radio is positioned within the lower housing and is communicatively coupled to a feed patch positioned within the lower housing and proximate, but spaced apart from, the platter such that the feed patch is capacitively coupled to the platter and configured to energize the platter such that the platter is operative as a radio-frequency identification reader antenna.

Abstract: A bioptic barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation and having a lower housing with a platter having a generally horizontal window and a tower extending generally perpendicular to the lower housing and having a generally vertical window. A radio-frequency identification radio is positioned within the lower housing and is communicatively coupled to a feed patch positioned within the lower housing and proximate, but spaced apart from, the platter such that the feed patch is capacitively coupled to the platter and configured to energize the platter such that the platter is operative as a radio-frequency identification reader antenna.

Abstract: A bioptic barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation and having a lower housing comprising a platter having a generally horizontal window and a tower portion extending generally perpendicular to the lower housing and having a generally vertical window. A multi-axis radio-frequency identification antenna assembly is positioned within the tower portion of the bioptic barcode reader and includes first, second, and third antennas. The first antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a first direction, the second antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a second direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and the third antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a third direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: An anti-fraud security tag removal system reads product identifiers on groups of items presented for purchase at a point of sale area. The product identifiers indicate how many of the items include security tags that must be removed. A security tag detacher removes security tags only on items for which the system has detected that the item was present, preventing removal of security tags on items which were not read by the point of sale system. An RF antenna and a security tag detacher are co-located such that the product identifier of the item is highly likely to be read when a sales clerk removes the security tag. The product identifier may be incorporated into the security tag and disabled when the security tag is attached to the item. The product identifier may be shunted by the security tag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating a moving target in a venue and for capturing a sequenced timeline of target directed images is described. Target sensing stations having a wide-angle video camera, such as a 180° video camera, are positioned within the venue. Each sensing station includes a sensing unit, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver unit, that determines a location and/or direction of travel of the target. The sensing station correlates the RFID transceiver information with the wide-angle video camera to specifically filter and process a video stream from the camera, producing target directed image snapshots from the stream that are assembled at a centralized controller into the sequenced timeline images that may be used in monitoring target movement and to establish location chain for prevention of unauthorized movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a co-located Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device and ultrasonic device includes an RFID reader loop antenna element oriented parallel to a reflector panel. An ultrasonic emitter is disposed through an aperture in the reflector panel with a horn that extends through the loop element. The horn can serve as a mounting structure for the antenna element. A diameter of the aperture is less than one-quarter wavelength of an operating frequency of the RFID reader loop antenna element. The aperture is located in the reflector panel near a minimum E-field area of the RFID reader loop antenna element.

Abstract: An anti-fraud security tag removal system reads product identifiers on groups of items presented for purchase at a point of sale area. The product identifiers indicate how many of the items include security tags that must be removed. A security tag detacher removes security tags only on items for which the system has detected that the item was present, preventing removal of security tags on items which were not read by the point of sale system. An RF antenna and a security tag detacher are co-located such that the product identifier of the item is highly likely to be read when a sales clerk removes the security tag. The product identifier may be incorporated into the security tag and disabled when the security tag is attached to the item. The product identifier may be shunted by the security tag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a bulk quantity of RFID tags in a presentation area such as a point-of-sale device. Bulk quantity of RFID tags may be detected according to input to the point-of-sale device including through input from a symbolic barcode scanner, a conveyor belt, a weight scale, and/or via an RF antenna driven at a first power level. After the bulk quantity of RFID tags is detected, the RF antenna is driven at a second, higher power level temporarily to increase bulk RFID tag detection accuracy. “Fringe” tags may be detected by the RF antenna when it is driven at the higher power level that are in the environment but not presented at the point-of-sale device. Fringe tags may be filtered based on RF characterization of the presentation area including driving the RF antenna outside of presentation sessions and/or filtering RFID tags detected across multiple presentation sessions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a co-located Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device and ultrasonic device includes an RFID reader loop antenna element oriented parallel to a reflector panel. An ultrasonic emitter is disposed through an aperture in the reflector panel with a horn that extends through the loop element. The horn can serve as a mounting structure for the antenna element. A diameter of the aperture is less than one-quarter wavelength of an operating frequency of the RFID reader loop antenna element. The aperture is located in the reflector panel near a minimum E-field area of the RFID reader loop antenna element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a bulk quantity of RFID tags in a presentation area such as a point-of-sale device. Bulk quantity of RFID tags may be detected according to input to the point-of-sale device including through input from a symbolic barcode scanner, a conveyor belt, a weight scale, and/or via an RF antenna driven at a first power level. After the bulk quantity of RFID tags is detected, the RF antenna is driven at a second, higher power level temporarily to increase bulk RFID tag detection accuracy. “Fringe” tags may be detected by the RF antenna when it is driven at the higher power level that are in the environment but not presented at the point-of-sale device. Fringe tags may be filtered based on RF characterization of the presentation area including driving the RF antenna outside of presentation sessions and/or filtering RFID tags detected across multiple presentation sessions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for product reader control are described. In various aspects, the product reader control is enhanced with image sensor(s) for steering product reader(s) to determine product attributes associated with scanned products. The product reader control system and methods may capture, with the image sensor(s), one or more images associated with a product. The product may have a product identifier and the product may be located within an onsite venue. Based on the detection of the product identifier in the image(s), a first product reader may be steered in a direction of the product, where the first product reader is located within the onsite venue with the product. The first product reader may scan the product such that the scanning determines at least one attribute associated with the product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating a moving target in a venue and for capturing a sequenced timeline of target directed images is described. Target sensing stations having a wide-angle video camera, such as a 180° video camera, are positioned within the venue. Each sensing station includes a sensing unit, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver unit, that determines a location and/or direction of travel of the target. The sensing station correlates the RFID transceiver information with the wide-angle video camera to specifically filter and process a video stream from the camera, producing target directed image snapshots from the stream that are assembled at a centralized controller into the sequenced timeline images that may be used in monitoring target movement and to establish location chain for prevention of unauthorized movement.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying new radio frequency identification (RFID) tag events within a particular vicinity of an RFID reader are described. In various aspects, a processor causes image sensors to capture a first set and a second set of video images, where the first set depicts a first RFID tag environment and the second set depicts a second RFID tag environment. The first RFID tag environment is static without a person moving within the first RFID tag environment and the second RFID tag environment is active with at least one person moving within the second RFID tag environment. An environment database may be generated and updated with static analytic information and active analytic information based on the first set and second set of video images, respectively. The processor may determine a RFID tag event based upon the static analytic information and the active analytic information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptively optimizing RFID-based POS performance are described. In various aspects, one or more processors and one or more image sensors are configured to aggregate images, where the images are captured by the image sensor(s) and where the image sensor(s) are associated with an RFID reader. A first density value and a second density value may be determined based on the image(s), where each of the first density value and the second density value is associated with a respective a first or second set of individuals, or a first or second set of products, located within a respective first and second POS lane. The second POS lane is positioned adjacent to the first POS lane. The first density value and the second density value are used to update a reader parameter associated with the RFID reader to optimize the RFID reader.

Abstract: A workstation has a metallic housing for supporting an electro-optical reader for reading bar code symbols. A radio frequency (RF) antenna of an RF identification (RFID) reader for reading RFID tags is mounted in a metallic container that is connected to the housing. The RF antenna radiates RF energy at a frequency greater than 900 MHz through RF excitation slots formed between the container and the housing.