Abstract: The disclosure provides a micro-fluidic chip, and belongs to the field of chip technology. The microfluidic chip provided in the present disclosure includes a plurality of microfluidic units, each microfluidic unit includes an operation region and a transition region located on at least one side of the operation region, the transition regions at adjacent side of two adjacent microfluidic units are disposed opposite to each other. Each microfluidic unit includes: a first substrate; a first electrode layer disposed on the first substrate, the first electrode layer including a plurality of first sub-electrodes located in the operation region and at least one second sub-electrode located in the transition region, and the at least one second sub-electrode configured to drive a droplet to move from one of the plurality of microfluidic units to an adjacent microfluidic unit.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a microfluidic chip, including: a first substrate; wherein the first substrate includes a first base, a first electrode layer on the first base; the first electrode layer includes a plurality of first electrodes at intervals along a first direction, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the first electrode parallel to the first base is a centrosymmetric shape, and the cross-sectional shape includes: a first boundary and a second boundary opposite to each other in the first direction; a shape of the first boundary is a centrosymmetric curve, a distance between two end points of the first boundary in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is less than a length of the first boundary; the second boundary has a same shape and length as the first boundary, and the first and second boundaries are parallel to each other in the first direction.

Abstract: A code reader includes a color imager and a processor operably coupled to the color imager. The processor is configured to: set an RGB imager pixel color gain; capture at least one image with active or ambient illumination using the color imager with a calibration target in view; calculate a mean value of R, G, B pixels for the at least one image; use a color plane as a reference, determining a color gain to set calibration parameters; capture at least one additional image using the calibration parameters; and save the calibration parameters if mean values of the R, G, B, pixels for the at least one additional image are within a predetermined range to be used by the camera for subsequent image capture, and apply to each pixel of the image a corresponding color correction matrix from among a plurality of stored color correction matrices.

Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for pallet management and constructing a pallet stack may include generating a virtual pallet stack using virtual packages having sizes and shapes corresponding with known available actual packages. In response to identifying an actual package to be placed on a pallet, an indication may be provided to a worker where the identified actual package is to be placed on the pallet stack based on the location of a corresponding virtual package on the virtual pallet stack.

Abstract: An image-reading device, such as optical code readers used in retail environments to scan objects, is configured to select from various operational modes. The operational modes are selected based on an application of the image-reading device, such as optical code identification or image recognition. Red, white, and other color light sources are activated in patterns corresponding to an illumination sequence of the selected operational mode, while imagers are activated to capture an image based on an exposure pattern of the selected operational mode. Further, a repeating series of light pulses having different portions of light is provided. Various imagers are configured to capture images over one of the portions. This allows an operator to perceive one continuous light pattern, yet allows various imagers to capture an image under different light conditions used for different applications of the image-reading device.

Abstract: A method of controlling a movable platform includes obtaining depth information of a scene in a first direction based on a first image captured by a first sensor of the movable platform and a third image by a third sensor of the movable platform, respectively; obtaining depth information of a scene in a second direction based on a second image captured by a second sensor of the movable platform and the third image by the third sensor of the movable platform, respectively; and controlling movement of the movable platform in space based on the depth information of the scene in the first direction and the second direction. The first sensor, the second sensor and the third sensor are mounted on the movable platform at substantially a same level. The third sensor has a first and a second overlapping field of view with the first sensor and the second sensor, respectively.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a fixed retail scanner and related method for converting embedded register statistical data from one or more images into pixel data that is combined with image pixel data that is sent to the system processor for a fixed retail scanner. Such statistical data may include histogram data, image statistics, and other related information.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a data reading system operable for obtaining and decoding data from items processed by a customer in a retail transaction, where the data reading system compares an image of the item obtained during the retail transaction to reference image data of the item to verify the identity of the item and ensure that optical code information for the item has not been altered prior to processing. If a discrepancy is identified during the data reading process, the data reading system generates an exception identifying the potential issue for further review.

Abstract: An image-reading device, such as optical code readers used in retail environments to scan objects, is configured to select from various operational modes. The operational modes are selected based on an application of the image-reading device, such as optical code identification or image recognition. Red, white, and other color light sources are activated in patterns corresponding to an illumination sequence of the selected operational mode, while imagers are activated to capture an image based on an exposure pattern of the selected operational mode. Further, a repeating series of light pulses having different portions of light is provided. Various imagers are configured to capture images over one of the portions. This allows an operator to perceive one continuous light pattern, yet allows various imagers to capture an image under different light conditions used for different applications of the image-reading device.

Abstract: An image-reading device, such as optical code readers used in retail environments to scan objects, is configured to select from various operational modes. The operational modes are selected based on an application of the image-reading device, such as optical code identification or image recognition. Red, white, and other color light sources are activated in patterns corresponding to an illumination sequence of the selected operational mode, while imagers are activated to capture an image based on an exposure pattern of the selected operational mode. Further, a repeating series of light pulses having different portions of light is provided. Various imagers are configured to capture images over one of the portions. This allows an operator to perceive one continuous light pattern, yet allows various imagers to capture an image under different light conditions used for different applications of the image-reading device.

Abstract: A microcontroller-based code reader and method of reading a machine-readable indicia may include capturing, by an imager, an image of a machine-readable indicia disposed an object. An image subsample of an image captured by the imager may be read from the imager. The image subsample or partial image data may be stored in an embedded memory of a microcontroller in electrical communication with the imager. The machine-readable indicia may be decoded from the image subsample.

Abstract: A code reader includes a color imager and a processor operably coupled to the color imager. The processor is configured to: set an RGB imager pixel color gain; capture at least one image with active or ambient illumination using the color imager with a calibration target in view; calculate a mean value of R, G, B pixels for the at least one image; use a color plane as a reference, determining a color gain to set calibration parameters; capture at least one additional image using the calibration parameters; and save the calibration parameters if mean values of the R, G, B, pixels for the at least one additional image are within a predetermined range to be used by the camera for subsequent image capture, and apply to each pixel of the image a corresponding color correction matrix from among a plurality of stored color correction matrices.

Abstract: An image-reading device, such as optical code readers used in retail environments to scan objects, is configured to select from various operational modes. The operational modes are selected based on an application of the image-reading device, such as optical code identification or image recognition. Red, white, and other color light sources are activated in patterns corresponding to an illumination sequence of the selected operational mode, while imagers are activated to capture an image based on an exposure pattern of the selected operational mode. Further, a repeating series of light pulses having different portions of light is provided. Various imagers are configured to capture images over one of the portions. This allows an operator to perceive one continuous light pattern, yet allows various imagers to capture an image under different light conditions used for different applications of the image-reading device.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an inventory management system including one or more imagers mounted to shelving or other structures displaying items for sale, where the imagers are designed to capture images of the items and relay information to a database for purposes of tracking the items and managing inventory. The imagers are compact, low power devices incorporating wireless means for communicating with the database and may include solar cell arrays for charging purposes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data reader and method of data reading for an imager with multiple fields of view, including directing a first field of view of the imager along a first path, directing a second field of view of the imager along a second path, and alternately selecting one of the first view or the second view via a view splitting/combining system comprising a rotating mechanism (e.g., a disk), disposed in the view path of the imager, the disk having reflective and transmissive/open portions. The system may include synchronization between rotation of the rotating disk and the imager, one synchronization comprises using a magnet on the rotating disk and a Hall sensor on a printed circuit board beside the rotating disk, the Hall sensor output then being used to synchronize image capture to motor position. Other synchronization methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a self-checkout system including a base and a scan gate extending over at least a portion of the base, the scan gate having a field of view that encompasses 360-degree coverage of the items such that the scan gate is able to obtain and read encoded data on any surface of the item passing through the scan gate. The base may include one or more rails positioned along the periphery to help retain items on the surface of the base once they have been passed through the scan gate.

Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for pallet management and constructing a pallet stack may include generating a virtual pallet stack using virtual packages having sizes and shapes corresponding with known available actual packages. In response to identifying an actual package to be placed on a pallet, an indication may be provided to a worker where the identified actual package is to be placed on the pallet stack based on the location of a corresponding virtual package on the virtual pallet stack.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an inventory management system including one or more imagers mounted to shelving or other structures displaying items for sale, where the imagers are designed to capture images of the items and relay information to a database for purposes of tracking the items and managing inventory. The imagers are compact, low power devices incorporating wireless means for communicating with the database and may include solar cell arrays for charging purposes.

Abstract: A code reader and method thereof may include capturing monochrome images of a scene by a monochrome imager, and capturing color images of the scene by a color imager aligned with the monochrome imager. Stereo 3D images of the scene may be generated from the monochrome and color images.

Abstract: A code reader and method thereof may include capturing monochrome images of a scene by a monochrome imager, and capturing color images of the scene by a color imager aligned with the monochrome imager. Stereo 3D images of the scene may be generated from the monochrome and color images.