Abstract: A mobile volume dimensioning device, i.e. a mobile dimensioner, is described that detects excessive measuring time and/or a repetitive range of measuring motion and receives a deactivation event upon detection of this inappropriate behavior so as to prevent the systematic reporting of either the highest or lowest dimensions in an effort to mitigate unfair charging practices in commerce applications involving the shipping of goods.

Abstract: Barcode verifiers automate the verification process by capturing an image of the printed barcode and analyzing the image according to an industry specification. Industry specifications (e.g., ISO/IEC 15416,15415) identify common printing errors and prescribe test methods for detecting and quantifying these errors. Typically, these tests sample a barcode along one or more scan lines. Print errors that are parallel to these scan lines may be missed by the test. The present invention embraces a system and method to detect unprinted lines in barcodes resulting from a printer malfunction and produce a printer malfunction report with information regarding the quantity, position, and magnitude of these print errors.

Abstract: A mobile volume dimensioning device, i.e. a mobile dimensioner, is described that detects excessive measuring time and/or a repetitive range of measuring motion and receives a deactivation event upon detection of this inappropriate behavior so as to prevent the systematic reporting of either the highest or lowest dimensions in an effort to mitigate unfair charging practices in commerce applications involving the shipping of goods.

Abstract: An indicia reading device for decoding decodable indicia includes an illumination subsystem, an aimer subsystem, an imaging subsystem, a memory, and a processor. The illumination subsystem is operative for projecting an illumination pattern. The aimer subsystem is operative for projecting an aiming pattern. The imaging subsystem includes a stereoscopic imager. The memory is in communication with the stereoscopic imager and is capable of storing frames of image data representing light incident on the stereoscopic imager. The processor is in communication with the memory and is operative to decode a decodable indicia represented in at least one of the frames of image data. The stereoscopic imager is configured to capture multiple images at a baseline distance apart to create three-dimensional images with depth information of the decodable indicia.

Abstract: Images of items are evaluated. A first image of the item, having a view of two or more of its surfaces, is captured at a first time. A measurement of at least one dimension of one or more of the surfaces is computed and stored. A second image of the item, having a view of at least one of the two or more surfaces, is captured at a second time, subsequent to the first time. A measurement of the dimension is then computed and compared to the stored first measurement. The computed measurement is evaluated based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system and method for structured-light dimensioning is disclosed. The method includes combining multiple images using different camera settings to provide all of the information necessary dimensioning. What results is an improved ability to sense a light pattern reflected from an object's surfaces, especially when the lighting and/or object color make imaging all surfaces simultaneously difficult.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for positioning an object with respect to a target location, such as for auto-focusing. One implementation includes a positioning device, which includes a reference object having a plurality of dark-shaded bars arranged in parallel with and separated from each other by spaces equal to a width of each of the bars. The positioning device also includes a motor configured to move in a reciprocating manner and a sensor configured to sense at least one of the bars or spaces. The motor is connected to the reference object or the sensor and moves the reference object or sensor with respect to the other. The motor is configured to stop at a target location in two phases of motion.

Abstract: Images of items are evaluated. A first image of the item, having a view of two or more of its surfaces, is captured at a first time. A measurement of at least one dimension of one or more of the surfaces is computed and stored. A second image of the item, having a view of at least one of the two or more surfaces, is captured at a second time, subsequent to the first time. A measurement of the dimension is then computed and compared to the stored first measurement. The computed measurement is evaluated based on the comparison.

Abstract: A mobile computing device is disclosed for displaying backlight and diffuse reflecting information. The mobile computing device is configured to include a processor, a first LCD display unit connected to the processor, and a second diffuse reflecting display unit connected to the processor. The mobile computing device is further provided with a display panel interface, such as a mouse or a gravity detecting device like an accelerometer, configured to detect a property for activating a display type. The processor is configured to send information to be displayed to the first display unit or the second display unit or both depending on the display type property detected.

Abstract: A system and method for error correction for machine-readable symbols having data codewords, and having error correction (EC) codewords derived from the data codewords and redundantly indicating the location and data contents of the data codewords. The symbols use Reed-Solomon (RS) error correction to retrieve damaged codewords. RS error correction normally requires two EC codewords to identify both the location and data contents of a data codeword. The present system and method performs optical contrast analysis on the codewords, identifying those codewords with the lowest contrast levels (that is, the least difference between the reflectance of the black or white cells and the black/white threshold). Codewords with the lowest contrast levels are flagged as optically ambiguous, thereby marking, in the EC equations, the locations of the codewords most like to be in error. As a result, only a single EC codeword is required to retrieve the data for a flagged data codeword.

Abstract: A system and method are described. The system utilizes data entry devices commonly found in some workplaces, such as warehouses, to generate an emergency signal. The emergency signal is used to generate an emergency response. In one embodiment, an emergency sign with a printed emergency symbol may be scanned using a network-connected barcode scanner to generate the emergency signal. In another embodiment, a user may utter an emergency speech input into a network-connected speech recognition device to generate the emergency signal. The system and method may expand and improve safety in a workplace by offering a more convenient way to summon help.

Abstract: A trickle-charged RFID device includes a main antenna receiving wireless interrogator signals from one or more RFID readers, a power harvester connected with the main antenna to obtain power from the wireless interrogator signals, and an intermediate storage device connected to the power harvester to collect trickle flows of unused power harvested from wireless interrogator signals received by the RFID device that lack an inquiry for the device. The RFID device further includes a primary storage device, into which the intermediate storage device discharges its collection of trickle flows of unused power when the collection reaches a predetermined threshold level, which recharges power lost from the main storage device. The intermediate storage device can include one or more capacitors including super-capacitors, and the main storage device can include a rechargeable battery, such that the effective life of the main storage device is extended from the collected trickle flows.

Abstract: An autofocus lens system includes no conventional moving parts and has excellent speed and low power consumption. The system includes a small electronically-controlled focusing-module lens. The focusing-module lens includes two adjustable polymeric surfaces (e.g., two adjustable-surface lenses in a back-to-back configuration). The curvature of the surfaces can be adjusted to change focus. The performance of the autofocus lens system is extended by adding a conventional first and second lens, or lens group, on either side of the focusing-module lens. What results is an autofocus lens system with excellent near field and far field performance.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for positioning an object with respect to a target location, such as for auto-focusing. One implementation includes a positioning device, which includes a reference object having a plurality of dark-shaded bars arranged in parallel with and separated from each other by spaces equal to a width of each of the bars. The positioning device also includes a motor configured to move in a reciprocating manner and a sensor configured to sense at least one of the bars or spaces. The motor is connected to the reference object or the sensor and moves the reference object or sensor with respect to the other. The motor is configured to stop at a target location in two phases of motion.

Abstract: Barcode verifiers automate the verification process by capturing an image of the printed barcode and analyzing the image according to an industry specification. Industry specifications (e.g., ISO/IEC 15416,15415) identify common printing errors and prescribe test methods for detecting and quantifying these errors. Typically, these tests sample a barcode along one or more scan lines. Print errors that are parallel to these scan lines may be missed by the test. The present invention embraces a system and method to detect unprinted lines in barcodes resulting from a printer malfunction and produce a printer malfunction report with information regarding the quantity, position, and magnitude of these print errors.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for positioning an object with respect to a target location, such as for auto-focusing. One implementation includes a positioning device, which includes a reference object having a plurality of dark-shaded bars arranged in parallel with and separated from each other by spaces equal to a width of each of the bars. The positioning device also includes a motor configured to move in a reciprocating manner and a sensor configured to sense at least one of the bars or spaces. The motor is connected to the reference object or the sensor and moves the reference object or sensor with respect to the other. The motor is configured to stop at a target location in two phases of motion.

Abstract: An autofocus lens system includes no conventional moving parts and has excellent speed and low power consumption. The system includes a small electronically-controlled focusing-module lens. The focusing-module lens includes two adjustable polymeric surfaces (e.g., two adjustable-surface lenses in a back-to-back configuration). The curvature of the surfaces can be adjusted to change focus. The performance of the autofocus lens system is extended by adding a conventional first and second lens, or lens group, on either side of the focusing-module lens. What results is an autofocus lens system with excellent near field and far field performance.

Abstract: Printing symbols on media is described. Sequential parts of a symbol are marked onto each of multiple corresponding sequential segments of the medium. A characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts is evaluated. A speed is monitored with which the medium is moved upon the marking of each of the sequential symbol parts onto each of the corresponding sequential segments of the medium. An image, captured in relation to the evaluation, is adjusted based on the monitored speed. Adjusting the captured image may include setting a rate at which the evaluation of the characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts is performed based on the monitored speed or alternatively, predicting a distortion in the evaluated characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts corresponding to the monitored speed, and applying a change to the captured image corresponding to, and ameliorating the predicted distortion.

Abstract: A system and method are described. The system utilizes data entry devices commonly found in some workplaces, such as warehouses, to generate an emergency signal. The emergency signal is used to generate an emergency response. In one embodiment, an emergency sign with a printed emergency symbol may be scanned using a network-connected barcode scanner to generate the emergency signal. In another embodiment, a user may utter an emergency speech input into a network-connected speech recognition device to generate the emergency signal. The system and method may expand and improve safety in a workplace by offering a more convenient way to summon help.

Abstract: A mobile dimensioning device, i.e. a mobile dimensioner, is described that uses a dynamic accuracy while still being compatible with the NIST standard. Even if the accuracy division is dynamic and not predetermined, a mobile dimensioning device of the present invention reports the actual dimensioning prior to measurement capture and can therefore be certified and used in commercial transactions.