Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving RFID tag reading. The apparatus includes a substrate element having a predetermined active area, and a plurality of resonant elements each having a resonant frequency, a quality factor, and a response band. The resonant elements are distributed within the predetermined active area of the substrate element for scattering interrogation electromagnetic waves radiated thereupon from the RFID reader. At least one resonant element has a null-direction thereof orientated in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to a line extending from a center of the resonant element to a center of an antenna of the RFID reader.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting data from an ultrasonic tag to an ultrasonic reader. The method comprises generating and transmitting an ultrasonic sound pressure wave, receiving the ultrasonic sound pressure wave at a first ultrasonic repeater, determining that the received ultrasonic sound pressure wave was not processed at the ultrasonic reader, retransmitting the ultrasonic sound pressure wave from the first ultrasonic repeater, and processing the retransmitted ultrasonic sound pressure wave at the ultrasonic reader.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a multi-modal capacitive touchscreen interface. The multi-modal facet pertains to the mutability of the user's input modes and environments. The interface includes a display operable to display information on a device, and a touch sensitive layer disposed on the display, where the touch sensitive layer provided a plurality of capacitive nodes distributed on the display. A touch controller is coupled to the layer and is operable to detect a change of capacitance at a particular node, wherein if the touch controller detects a capacitance level at the particular node that is outside of a defined range, the touch controller automatically adjusts a sensitivity of the touch sensitive layer such that subsequent touches of the interface should fall within the defined range.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for augmenting an optical barcode scanner. The apparatus comprises an accessory module that includes an RFID reader, a body part attachable to the optical barcode scanner, and an interface connector for forming a communication link between the RFID reader and the optical barcode scanner when the interface connector is connected with the expansion port of the optical barcode scanner.

Abstract: A technique for operating a Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, reader with motion detection includes detecting a motion in proximity to the RFID reader, and triggering the RFID reader to read any tags in proximity to the RFID reader in response to detecting a motion in proximity to the RFID reader. Detecting a motion can also generate a change in digital signage, or communicate information about read tags to a local area network. Operating this system only when motion is detected saves battery life.

Abstract: A mobile device includes a housing having a plurality of surfaces. A processor is located within the housing. The processor heats a portion of one or more of the surfaces of the housing. A temperature sensor detects a temperature of the portion of the surface. The rate of energy consumption by the processor is adjusted based on the temperature of the portion of the surface of the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying the read zone of an RFID reader. The apparatus includes a supporting sheet, a reader-position mark on the supporting sheet to indicate a recommended location to position an RFID reader, and a zone-boundary mark on the supporting sheet to indicate a read zone of the RFID reader with a predetermined field strength.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving RFID tag reading. The apparatus includes a substrate element having a predetermined active area, and a plurality of resonant elements each having a resonant frequency, a quality factor, and a response band. The resonant elements are distributed within the predetermined active area of the substrate element for scattering interrogation electromagnetic waves radiated thereupon from the RFID reader. At least one resonant element has a null-direction thereof orientated in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to a line extending from a center of the resonant element to a center of an antenna of the RFID reader.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for augmenting an optical barcode scanner. The apparatus comprises an accessory module that includes an RFID reader, a body part attachable to the optical barcode scanner, and an interface connector for forming a communication link between the RFID reader and the optical barcode scanner when the interface connector is connected with the expansion port of the optical barcode scanner.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and/or methods that facilitate information display with optical data capture are presented. A display surface comprises optically selectable materials and/or contact transparent materials. The disclosed subject matter facilitates displaying information on a surface and collecting optical information about objects interacting with the display surface. The collected optical data, at least in part, is used in determinations related to updating display information. Additional sensors can be incorporated into the system to provide additional information that can be employed in determinations relating to updating display information.

Abstract: A battery includes a housing; a cell arrangement situated within the housing and storing a power; and a shock isolator disposed within the housing. The shock isolator absorbs an energy of a shock event upon the battery to prevent damage to the cell arrangement.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for automated manufacturing microstrip element antennas is described. The microstrip element antenna comprises a printed circuit layer, a dielectric layer and a ground plane layer. Mass manufacturing process for such microstrip element antennas without any substantial manual assembly process is described. Automation of the manufacturing steps leads to lower production costs, faster production and a higher yield.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for automated manufacturing microstrip element antennas is described. The microstrip element antenna comprises a printed circuit layer, a dielectric layer and a ground plane layer. Mass manufacturing process for such microstrip element antennas without any substantial manual assembly process is described. Automation of the manufacturing steps leads to lower production costs, faster production and a higher yield.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for manufacturing light weight microstrip element antennas incorporating a skeleton dielectric spacer instead of a regular solid body dielectric spacer is described. The microstrip element antenna comprises a radiator, a dielectric layer which is in the form of a skeleton rib-caged structure and a ground plane layer. Due to the skeleton rib-caged structure of the dielectric spacer, design flexibility in terms of a non-uniform variation of the effective dielectric constant across various dimensions of the dielectric layer is obtained. Additional advantages of such a dielectric spacer include a wider choice of materials from which the antenna can be made, overall light weight and low production time and machine cost due to lower cooling time of the dielectric. Further, an antenna with a skeleton dielectric spacer further has a better drying characteristics in an event of a water ingress during or post-production.

Abstract: A method for identifying/authenticating a product. The method includes providing a substrate coupled to the product that includes an identification pattern within a region of interest and imaging the region of interest of the substrate to identify identification particles of the identification pattern. For the identified identification particles in the region of interest, calculating a mathematical value representative of a position of the particle relative to at least one other identification particle and converting the mathematical values of the identified identification particles into an identification value representative of the identified identification particles. The identification value is compared with stored identification values in a database to identify/authenticate the product. Alternately, or in addition, the identification value is compared to an identification value decoded from a bar code imprinted on the product.