Abstract: Example methods and apparatuses to indicate off-platter weigh conditions are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing trailer utilization are disclosed herein. The method generates a trailer interior map and captures an image of the trailer interior. The map includes first voxels associated with the trailer interior and the image includes a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) image data points. The method generates a 3D map of an object based on a set of 3D points indicative of respective 3D image data points corresponding to respective first voxels and determines whether the object is non-conforming. The method determines at least one of second voxels associated with unusable space proximate to a non-conforming object, third voxels associated with the non-conforming object, and fourth voxels associated with a conforming object. The method determines an occupied portion of the trailer based on the first voxels, third voxels, and fourth voxels and trailer utilization based on the occupied portion of the trailer, the first voxels, and the second voxels.

Abstract: At least some embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of product scanning systems and arrangements used within a retail venue. In an embodiment, the present invention is a data capture system that includes a scanner pod housing a plurality of scanners, each configured to capture product data; a data capture module communicatively coupled to the scanner pod, the first data capture module configured to capture, via a mobile device associated with a customer, customer data; and a server communicatively coupled to at least one of the scanner pod and the first data capture module, the server being configured to, upon the first data capture module capturing the customer data associated with the customer, associate one of the plurality of scanners with at least one of the customer and the customer data associated with the customer, resulting in an associated data capture device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing out-of-range indications are disclosed. An example imaging reader includes an image sensor and an optical assembly. The imaging reader may include a distance determining module configured to determine a distance to a target. The imaging reader may include an indication determining module configured to determine an out-of-range indication when the distance satisfies a first condition. An indicator may be included and configured to present the out-of-range indication. The image sensor may be configured to capture a representation of an image of the target when the distance satisfies a second condition. The imaging reader may include an indicia decoder configured to decode an indicia in the representation to determine an indicia payload and/or a communication interface to convey the indicia payload to a host system.

Abstract: Techniques for weight checking for verification of ticket switching are disclosed herein. An example system includes: a weighing scale; cameras configured to capture images of items passing through a product scanning region and images of barcodes affixed to the items; a processor; and a memory storing instructions that cause the one or more processors to determine a first identification of an item based on the image of the barcode; determine a second identification of the item based on the image of the item; compare the first identification to the second identification to determine whether the two identifications match; based on determining that the two identifications do not match, generate a request for the user to place the item on the weighing scale; determine that the weight of the item does not match a first weight associated with the first identification of the item; and trigger one or more mitigation actions.

Abstract: Imaging devices, systems, and methods for imaging or scanning objects using composite color light are described herein. An example device includes: a plurality of light sources, each configured to emit light in a different wavelength range; an imaging assembly having an imaging sensor operable to receive light from a field of view (FOV), the imaging sensor configured to capture image data during a frame having an exposure duration and a non-exposure duration; and a microprocessor and computer-readable media storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause: a first subset of the plurality of light sources to emit a first light during a first illumination duration that at least partially overlaps with the exposure duration of the frame; and a second subset of the plurality of light sources to emit a second light during a second illumination duration that at least partially overlaps with the non-exposure duration of the frame.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting medically related events at a point of sale are disclosed herein. An example method of detecting droplets associated with a sneeze or cough at a point of sale includes: capturing, by an image sensor associated with a checkout workstation, one or more images; analyzing, by one or more processors, the images captured by the image sensor associated with the checkout workstation, to detect an indication that one or more droplets associated with a sneeze or cough are present upon one or more equipment associated with the checkout workstation; and triggering, by the one or more processors, a disinfection of the checkout workstation responsive to detecting the indication that the one or more droplets associated with the sneeze or cough are present upon the one or more equipment associated with the checkout workstation.

Abstract: At least some embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of product scanning systems and arrangements used within a retail venue. In an embodiment, the present invention is a data capture system that includes a scanner pod housing a plurality of scanners, each configured to capture product data; a data capture module communicatively coupled to the scanner pod, the first data capture module configured to capture, via a mobile device associated with a customer, customer data; and a server communicatively coupled to at least one of the scanner pod and the first data capture module, the server being configured to, upon the first data capture module capturing the customer data associated with the customer, associate one of the plurality of scanners with at least one of the customer and the customer data associated with the customer, resulting in an associated data capture device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing out-of-range indications are disclosed. An example imaging reader includes an image sensor and an optical assembly. The imaging reader may include a distance determining module configured to determine a distance to a target. The imaging reader may include an indication determining module configured to determine an out-of-range indication when the distance satisfies a first condition. An indicator may be included and configured to present the out-of-range indication. The image sensor may be configured to capture a representation of an image of the target when the distance satisfies a second condition. The imaging reader may include an indicia decoder configured to decode an indicia in the representation to determine an indicia payload and/or a communication interface to convey the indicia payload to a host system.

Abstract: An example method of detecting device malfunctions at a subject device includes: obtaining a device event indicator representing an event detected at a device sensor of the subject device; obtaining an external event indicator representing an external event detected by an environmental sensor, the external event occurring external to the subject device; and identifying a device malfunction at the subject device based on the device event indicator and the external event indicator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting medically related events at a point of sale are disclosed herein. An example method of detecting droplets associated with a sneeze or cough at a point of sale includes: capturing, by an image sensor associated with a checkout workstation, one or more images; analyzing, by one or more processors, the images captured by the image sensor associated with the checkout workstation, to detect an indication that one or more droplets associated with a sneeze or cough are present upon one or more equipment associated with the checkout workstation; and triggering, by the one or more processors, a disinfection of the checkout workstation responsive to detecting the indication that the one or more droplets associated with the sneeze or cough are present upon the one or more equipment associated with the checkout workstation.

Abstract: Item weighing apparatuses, such as barcode readers with platters, having platter destabilizing mechanisms are disclosed herein. An example barcode reader includes a housing, a weigh platter assembly, an off-platter detection system, a platter destabilizing mechanism, and a controller. The weigh platter assembly includes a weigh platter having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge and is configured to measure a weight of an object positioned on the weigh platter. The off-platter detection system is configured to detect an off-platter condition. The platter destabilizing mechanism is configured to destabilize the weigh platter in response to the off-platter detection system detecting the off-platter condition. The controller is in communication with the weigh platter assembly, the off-platter detection system, and the platter destabilizing mechanism and is configured to activate the platter destabilizing mechanism when the off-platter detection system detects the off-platter condition.

Abstract: Methods and systems include using three-dimensional imaging apparatuses to capture three-dimensional images and analyze resulting three-dimensional image data to enhance captured two-dimensional images for scanning related processes such as object identification, symbology detection, object recognition model training, and identifying improper scan attempts or other actions performed by an operator. Imaging systems such as bi-optic readers, handheld scanners, and machine vision systems are described using three-dimensional imaging apparatuses and described capturing three-dimensional images and using with captured two-dimensional images.

Abstract: An example method of detecting device malfunctions at a subject device includes: obtaining a device event indicator representing an event detected at a device sensor of the subject device; obtaining an external event indicator representing an external event detected by an environmental sensor, the external event occurring external to the subject device; and identifying a device malfunction at the subject device based on the device event indicator and the external event indicator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating an aiming light of a reader to indicate the field-of-view (FOV) of an imager within the reader includes an optical element. The optical element receives the aiming light from an aiming assembly and redirect the aiming light such that the central axis of the aiming light exiting the optical element is non-coaxial with the central aiming axis of the aiming assembly at the entry of the optical element. The optical element may be configured to project an image on a target that indicates the boundary of the FOV or project an image on the target that indicates the center of the FOV.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting potential shrink events via RFID technology are provided. The systems include a point of sale (POS) system that includes an optical scanner, an RFID transceiver arrangement, a user interface and a controller. The controller is configured to perform example methods disclosed herein. For example, the controller may detect that the optical scanner has decoded a barcode, trigger the RFID transceiver arrangement to write a data string to an RFID tag located within the object scanning area, conduct a detection operation to detect the RFID tag with the data string in the bagging area. Responsive to detecting the RFID tag with the data string, the method involves the user interface performing a first operation. Responsive to not detecting the RFID tag with the data string, the method involves the user interface performing a second operation.

Abstract: Methods and systems include using three-dimensional imaging apparatuses to capture three-dimensional images and analyze resulting three-dimensional image data to enhance captured two-dimensional images for scanning related processes such as object identification, symbology detection, object recognition model training, and identifying improper scan attempts or other actions performed by an operator. Imaging systems such as bi-optic readers, handheld scanners, and machine vision systems are described using three-dimensional imaging apparatuses and described capturing three-dimensional images and using with captured two-dimensional images.

Abstract: Techniques for preventing accidental triggers for off-platter detection systems are disclosed herein. An example system includes a weigh platter having a first surface; a scale configured to measure a weight of an object placed on the first surface; an off-platter detection assembly configured to detect an off-platter condition based on a portion of the object resting on a second surface off the weigh platter and/or some portion of the object extending beyond a perimeter of the weigh platter; a processor in communication with the scale and the off-platter detection assembly; and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to generate an alert responsive to at least: (i) the off-platter detection assembly detecting the off-platter condition and (ii) a measurement by the scale of a stable weight greater than a threshold weight, for a time period greater than a threshold time period.

Abstract: A system includes: a location tracking subsystem in a facility containing support structures supporting items; a plurality of mobile computing devices associated with respective users; and a plurality of autonomous transporters to transport items transferred by users from the support structures, and/or transport items to the support structures for transfer thereto by users. User profiles contain, for each user, a physical activity metric and a physical activity target. The system includes a server to: obtain, from the location tracking subsystem, transporter and mobile device locations; obtain a task defining a task location, and an identifier of an item for transfer to or from a support structure at the task location; select a transporter, according to the task and transporter locations; select a mobile device, according to the task and mobile device locations, the physical activity metrics and targets; and allocate the task to the selected transporter and mobile device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting potential shrink events via RFID technology are provided. The systems include a point of sale (POS) system that includes an optical scanner, an RFID transceiver arrangement, a user interface and a controller. The controller is configured to perform example methods disclosed herein. For example, the controller may detect that the optical scanner has decoded a barcode, trigger the RFID transceiver arrangement to write a data string to an RFID tag located within the object scanning area, conduct a detection operation to detect the RFID tag with the data string in the bagging area. Responsive to detecting the RFID tag with the data string, the method involves the user interface performing a first operation. Responsive to not detecting the RFID tag with the data string, the method involves the user interface performing a second operation.