Abstract: Systems for alternative illumination in global shutter barcode readers are disclosed herein. An example system includes an imaging apparatus configured to capture an image during an image capture period, and an imaging shutter configured to actuate and expose the imaging apparatus to an external environment during the image capture period. The example system also includes an illumination light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit illumination, and an illumination drive circuit configured to cause the illumination LED to emit the illumination (i) during the image capture period and (ii) when the imaging apparatus is shielded from exposure to the external environment by the imaging shutter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing trainable optical character recognition (OCR) performance are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving, at an application executing on a user computing device communicatively coupled to a machine vision camera, an image captured by the machine vision camera, the image including an indicia encoding a payload and a character string. The example method also includes identifying the indicia and the character string; decoding the indicia to determine the payload; and applying an optical character recognition (OCR) algorithm to the image to interpret the character string and identify an unrecognized character within the character string. The example method also includes comparing the payload to the character string to validate the unrecognized character as corresponding to a known character included within the payload; and responsive to validating the unrecognized character, adding the unrecognized character to a font library referenced by the OCR algorithm.

Abstract: A method of activating an illumination assembly within a symbology reader is provided, the illumination assembly having a first illumination source and a second illumination source, the symbology reader having an imaging sensor configured to operate at a predetermined framerate where each frame includes an exposure period over which the imaging sensor is active to capture image data and a non-exposure period over which the imaging sensor is not active to capture image data, the method comprising: during a first frame, activating the first illumination source during at least a portion of the respective exposure period and activating the second illumination source over at least a portion of the respective non-exposure period; and during a second frame, activating the second illumination source during at least a portion of the respective exposure period and activating the first illumination source over at least a portion of the respective non-exposure period.

Abstract: An example method for charging a barcode reader that can be implemented by a charging cradle includes: detecting that the barcode reader is coupled to a first interface of the charging cradle for the barcode reader; detecting that a spare battery of the barcode reader is coupled to a second interface of the charging cradle; receiving, via a connection between the charging cradle and a port of a host power source, an indication of a magnitude of an input current that the host power source is capable of delivering to the charging cradle over the connection; comparing the magnitude of the input current to a threshold magnitude; responsive to the comparing, determining a charging order in which to charge the barcode reader and the spare battery using the input current from the host power source; and charging the barcode reader and the spare battery in accordance with the charging order.

Abstract: A method of activating an illumination assembly within a symbology reader is provided, the illumination assembly having a first illumination source and a second illumination source, the symbology reader having an imaging sensor configured to operate at a predetermined framerate where each frame includes an exposure period over which the imaging sensor is active to capture image data and a non-exposure period over which the imaging sensor is not active to capture image data, the method comprising: during a first frame, activating the first illumination source during at least a portion of the respective exposure period and activating the second illumination source over at least a portion of the respective non-exposure period; and during a second frame, activating the second illumination source during at least a portion of the respective exposure period and activating the first illumination source over at least a portion of the respective non-exposure period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a bi-directional communication link between a reader and a base station using wireless charging components includes positioning the reader within the base station, and electrically charging a rechargeable power source of the reader by an induced current carried through an induction coil in response to an electromagnetic field generated by an induction coil of the base station. The reader receives a communication parameter that uniquely identifies a short-range communication transceiver of the base station by detecting a modulation in the induced current. In response, a short-range communication transceiver of the reader transmits an RF signal that includes the identification data and a request to establish a bi-directional communication link with short-range communication transceiver of the base station.

Abstract: Signal interference is automatically avoided between product proximity subsystems that emit signals through mutually facing presentation windows of different workstations. A magnetometer in each workstation determines a direction faced by a respective presentation window. A controller in each workstation controls a respective product proximity subsystem to emit and receive a signal with a first signal characteristic when the respective magnetometer determines that the respective presentation window faces a first direction, and controls a respective product proximity subsystem to emit and receive a signal with a different second signal characteristic when the respective magnetometer determines that the respective presentation window faces a different second direction.

Abstract: Signal interference is automatically avoided between product proximity subsystems that emit signals through mutually facing presentation windows of different workstations. A magnetometer in each workstation determines a direction faced by a respective presentation window. A controller in each workstation controls a respective product proximity subsystem to emit and receive a signal with a first signal characteristic when the respective magnetometer determines that the respective presentation window faces a first direction, and controls a respective product proximity subsystem to emit and receive a signal with a different second signal characteristic when the respective magnetometer determines that the respective presentation window faces a different second direction.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a battery in the housing, a first light indicator operative to emit light in a first color with the duration of a first time period after a predetermined triggering event, and a second light indicator operative to emit light in a second color with the duration of a second time period after the predetermined triggering event. The ratio between the first time period and the second time period monotonically depends upon a state of charge on the battery.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a battery in the housing, a first light indicator operative to emit light in a first color with the duration of a first time period after a predetermined triggering event, and a second light indicator operative to emit light in a second color with the duration of a second time period after the predetermined triggering event. The ratio between the first time period and the second time period monotonically depends upon a state of charge on the battery.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing images of a target object having a barcode. The apparatus includes a reflector, an LED emitting mostly invisible light, and a photodetector. The LED is configured to emit a first portion of the invisible light toward the target object directly and to emit a second portion of the invisible light toward the reflector. The reflector is configured to redirect at least some of the second portion of the invisible light toward the target object. The photodetector is configured to detect returned invisible light from the target object to generate an electrical signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing images of a target object having a barcode. The apparatus includes a reflector, an LED emitting mostly invisible light, and a photodetector. The LED is configured to emit a first portion of the invisible light toward the target object directly and to emit a second portion of the invisible light toward the reflector. The reflector is configured to redirect at least some of the second portion of the invisible light toward the target object. The photodetector is configured to detect returned invisible light from the target object to generate an electrical signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring electrical contacts comprising measuring a first voltage across a connection between a device and a base, charging a power source in the device, measuring a second voltage across the connection, determining a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage and initiating a signal alarm if the difference is greater than a predetermined threshold value. The device may be maintained by a management system.

Abstract: A system and method for interfacing a data acquisition device to a host device via a plurality of interfaces are provided. The present invention is enabled by a multi-interface controller which enables the data acquisition device to interface to a plurality of host devices having different interfaces e.g., RS232, USB, keyboard wedge, IBM4683, wand emulation, synapse, undecoded, etc. The interface controller includes a microcomputer for translating received data from the data acquisition device and outputting a host device type signal; and a switching circuit for electrically coupling the microcomputer to the at least one host device based on the host device type signal and transmitting the received data to the host device.

Abstract: Manually depressible keys are incorporated in a battery pack to reduce the overall height of an electrical assembly mounted in a battery-powered, key-operated, device.