Abstract: An imaging engine including a telephoto lens for compact long range barcode readers is disclosed herein. An example imaging engine includes an imaging sensor and a telephoto lens assembly. The example telephoto lens assembly includes a first lens, disposed along an optical axis; a second lens, disposed along the optical axis to correct for pupil aberrations of the image projected after a fourth lens onto the imaging sensor; a third lens, disposed along the optical axis to correct for chromatic aberration of the image projected after the fourth lens onto the imaging sensor; and the fourth lens, disposed along the optical axis to correct for optical field curvature of the image projected after the fourth lens onto the imaging sensor.

Abstract: An optical assembly for an autofocus lens system for imaging an object appearing in an imaging field of view (FOV) is provided. The optical assembly includes a compensator lens assembly disposed along an optical axis, with the compensator lens assembly configured to receive light along the optical axis and to provide tuning of a flange focal length of the optical assembly. A variable focus assembly, including a variable focus optical element, is disposed along the optical axis to receive light from the compensator lens assembly. The variable focus optical element has a tunable focal plane. A fixed focus optical group is disposed along the optical axis to receive light from the variable focus assembly, the fixed focus optical group is configured to focus the light at the flange focal length of the optical assembly.

Abstract: A method of making stable clusters of atoms that are of subcritical size, in which rapid expansion and rapid cooling of a vapor cloud takes place in which the vapor conditions or parameters are controlled so that multiple stable clusters, each with a size less than the critical size and formed from sub-critical nucleation, are condensed.

Abstract: A metrology target may include a first rotationally symmetric working zone with one or more instances of a first pattern and a second rotationally-symmetric working zone with one or more instances of a second pattern, where at least one of the first pattern or the second pattern is a Moiré pattern formed from a first grating structure with a first pitch along a measurement direction on a first sample layer and a second grating structure with a second pitch different than the first pitch along the measurement direction on a second sample layer. Centers of rotational symmetry of the first and second working zones may overlap by design when an overlay error between the first sample layer and the second layer is zero. A difference between the centers of rotational symmetry of the first and second working zones may indicate an overlay error between the first and second sample layers.

Abstract: A scan engine for capturing at least one image of an object appearing in an imaging field of view (FOV) is provided that includes an imaging system, illumination system, aiming system, and a first and second chassis. The imaging system includes a lens holder and at least one lens disposed within the lens holder and both a far imaging system and a near imaging system for capturing images across multiple fields of view at different distances. The illumination system and aiming system are physically positioned to provide illumination of a target in the near and/or far fields of view, and provide an aiming pattern to the near and/or far fields of view.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for locating small indicia in large images are disclosed herein. An example method includes: identifying an aiming pattern zone that includes a detected or presumed location of an aiming light pattern, wherein an offset between the location and a center of image data varies due to a parallax; determining one or more coordinates of the aiming pattern zone; capturing image data representing an image of an environment appearing within a field of view (FOV) of a scanner including the indicia; encoding the one or more coordinates into a tagline of the image; and providing the image with the tagline to an indicia decoder such that the indicia decoder attempts to decode the indicia from the image data starting in a region of the image data selected based upon the one or more coordinates.

Abstract: Devices having a long-range imaging engine formed of two cameras having different resolution are disclosed herein. An example imaging engine includes a front-end, with the cameras, terminated in a communication interface for coupling to an external host processor that performs image processor. The front-end has a near field image sensor and a far field image sensor, and a normalization processor to receive the respective image data from the sensors and normalize that image data prior to sending to the host processor. Normalization includes adjusting an image size, aspect ratio, or pixel count complying with data rate constraints imposed by the communication interface or the host processor.

Abstract: The disclosure is an imaging system having a controller configured to activate and deactivate a light source, an imaging assembly configured to capture imaging data of an environment appearing within a field of view of the imaging assembly, and a focus module configured to set a focus characteristic of the imaging assembly. The focus module may set the focus characteristic based on the image processor executing the focusing sequence in response to the ranging failure.

Abstract: An aiming system for use in a small height scan engine chassis. The aiming system includes a beam source assembly generating an input beam along a central axis and a collimator assembly having a lens group that defines a tilt axis having a tilt angle, ?, relative to the central axis, to deflect the input beam from the central axis onto the tilt axis. The collimator assembly further includes a recess within which a diffractive optical element is sealably mounted to convert the deflected input beam into an aiming pattern at a focal distance of the lens group.

Abstract: Method and systems for driving an aiming assembly of a barcode imager are provided. An example method includes obtaining an operating mode of the barcode imager having an aiming assembly and, in response, determining a duty cycle of an aiming pulse of the aiming assembly. That duty cycle is determined as a percentage of a frame duration of an imager sensor and, further, such that simultaneous constraints are satisfied by the aiming pulse. The constraints include a simultaneous frame duration-independent, peak pulse optical power constraint and a frame duration-dependent heat dissipation constraint.

Abstract: An ion mobility analyser is disclosed having a gas flow directed along the ion travel axis and a set of electrodes to which DC voltages are applied to establish a DC field. The opposing forces of the gas flow and DC field cause ions to be trapped within a separation region in axial regions determined by their ion mobilities. A gas recirculator, having inlet and outlet ends respectively located downstream and upstream of the separation region, supplies at least fifty percent of the gas flow within the separation region, thereby reducing vacuum pumping requirements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for configuring reduced decode ranges for barcode scanners are disclosed. An example method includes determining a closest focus distance of a plurality of focus distances at which a barcode placed at a furthest limit of a reduced decode range can be successfully decoded; determining a furthest focus distance of the plurality of focus distances at which the barcode placed at a closest limit of the reduced decode range can be successfully decoded; determining a subset of the plurality of focus distances that consists of the closest focus distance, the furthest focus distance, and focus distances between the closest focus distance and the farthest focus distance; and configuring the barcode scanner to only use the subset of focus distances during subsequent attempts to decode barcodes.

Abstract: An optical assembly for an autofocus imaging system for capturing at least one image of an object appearing in an imaging field of view (FOV) is provided. The optical assembly includes a front aperture along an optical axis and a front lens group along the optical axis that receives light from the object of interest. The position of the front lens group is adjustable to change a focal distance of the optical assembly. The optical assembly further includes an actuator physically coupled to the front lens group that adjusts the position of the front lens. A rear lens group is disposed along the optical axis to receive the light from the front lens group, and an imaging sensor is disposed at a back focal distance of the rear lens group, to detect the light.

Abstract: An ion mobility analyser is disclosed having a gas flow directed along the ion travel axis and a set of electrodes to which DC voltages are applied to establish a DC field. The opposing forces of the gas flow and DC field cause ions to be trapped within a separation region in axial regions determined by their ion mobilities. A gas recirculator, having inlet and outlet ends respectively located downstream and upstream of the separation region, supplies at least fifty percent of the gas flow within the separation region, thereby reducing vacuum pumping requirements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for scanning swiped barcodes are disclosed. An example method includes in response to detecting an object, capturing first images while focused at a swipe focus distance representing a pre-determined expected swipe distance range within which a scan target is expected to be swiped across a FOV. In response to a barcode decoded based upon the first images, exiting the swipe decode phase. In response to no barcode decoded during a time period representing an expected amount of time during which a scan target is expected to be swiped across the FOV, exiting the swipe decode phase and initiating a re-presentation decode phase including sequentially focusing the imaging scanner at a plurality of pre-determined, re-presentation focus distances, capturing one or more second images at each of the plurality of pre-determined, re-presentation focus distances, and, attempting to decode a barcode in one or more of the second images.

Abstract: A scan engine for capturing at least one image of an object appearing in an imaging field of view (FOV) is provided that includes an imaging system, illumination system, aiming system, and a first and second chassis. The imaging system includes a lens holder and at least one lens disposed within the lens holder and both a far imaging system and a near imaging system for capturing images across multiple fields of view at different distances. The illumination system and aiming system are physically positioned to provide illumination of a target in the near and/or far fields of view, and provide an aiming pattern to the near and/or far fields of view.

Abstract: Devices having a long-range imaging engine formed of two cameras having different resolution are disclosed herein. An example imaging engine includes a front-end, with the cameras, terminated in a communication interface for coupling to an external host processor that performs image processor. The front-end has a near field image sensor and a far field image sensor, and a normalization processor to receive the respective image data from the sensors and normalize that image data prior to sending to the host processor. Normalization includes adjusting an image size, aspect ratio, or pixel count complying with data rate constraints imposed by the communication interface or the host processor.

Abstract: An optical assembly for an autofocus lens system for imaging an object appearing in an imaging field of view (FOV) is provided. The optical assembly includes a compensator lens assembly disposed along an optical axis, with the compensator lens assembly configured to receive light along the optical axis and to provide tuning of a flange focal length of the optical assembly. A variable focus assembly, including a variable focus optical element, is disposed along the optical axis to receive light from the compensator lens assembly. The variable focus optical element has a tunable focal plane. A fixed focus optical group is disposed along the optical axis to receive light from the variable focus assembly, the fixed focus optical group is configured to focus the light at the flange focal length of the optical assembly.

Abstract: A system and methods for providing aiming guidance for an imaging system. The system includes an illumination field source configured to provide illumination along a illumination optical axis to (i) illuminate a target and (ii) indicate a near field of view of the imaging system and a far field aiming source configured to provide a radiation pattern along an aiming optical axis to indicate a far field of view of the imaging system. Near field optics are configured to receive the first illumination from the near field illumination source and to form the first illumination to provide illumination to, and indicate to a user or machine vision system, the near field of view of the imaging system, and far field optics are configured to receive radiation from the aiming source and provide the radiation pattern to the far field to indicate the far field of view of the imaging system.

Abstract: Method and systems for driving an aiming assembly of a barcode imager are provided. An example method includes obtaining an operating mode of the barcode imager having an aiming assembly and, in response, determining a duty cycle of an aiming pulse of the aiming assembly. That duty cycle is determined as a percentage of a frame duration of an imager sensor and, further, such that simultaneous constraints are satisfied by the aiming pulse. The constraints include a simultaneous frame duration-independent, peak pulse optical power constraint and a frame duration-dependent heat dissipation constraint.