Abstract: A method of sighting a target includes receiving an initial condition of an optical device. The initial condition includes a size of a ranging element and a range associated with the size of the ranging element. The method further includes receiving a ballistic information and receiving an image from an imaging sensor. At least a portion of the image is displayed on a display. The ranging element is overlaid on the displayed portion of the image. A first zoom input is received to set a first zoom value that corresponds to a first distance from the optical device. The method also includes determining a first projectile position based on the first distance and the ballistic information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of and apparatus for managing and redeeming bar-coded coupons that are displayed from a light emitting display surface of an information storage and display device, such as a cell-phone, a smart-phone, or a data communication device. The linear (1D) bar code symbols, associated with bar-coded store coupons, are displayed on the light emitting display surface using in a pulse code modulation (PCM) format, wherein a substantial portion of the pixels on the light emitting display surface are energized and de-energized to emit red-wavelengths of light energy, at a rate which temporally corresponds to the spatial frequency of the bars and spaces of the linear bar code symbol, so that a laser scanning bar code symbol reading device is capable of reading the PCM formatted bar code symbol displayed from the light emitting display surface.

Abstract: A fire suppression system for aircraft storage containers includes a fire suppression unit removably located within each cargo container and a human to machine interface (HMI) located in the aircraft cockpit. Each fire suppression unit includes an identifier so that each unit is identified and correlated with its container. The HMI monitors each fire suppression unit including monitoring internal temperature, presence of chemical fumes, presence of smoke, presence of flammable gases, and presence of fire. Each fire suppression unit is programmed with specific thresholds of temperature, chemical fumes, smoke, and/or flammable gases, whereby when a threshold is reached activation of fire suppression means within the fire suppression unit is accomplished.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recognizing machine-readable information on three-dimensional (3D) objects are described. A robotic manipulator may move at least one physical object through a designated area in space. As the at least one physical object is being moved through the designated area, one or more optical sensors may determine a location of a machine-readable code on the at least one physical object and, based on the determined location, scan the machine-readable code so as to determine information associated with the at least one physical object encoded in the machine-readable code. Based on the information associated with the at least one physical object, a computing device may then determine a respective location in a physical environment of the robotic manipulator at which to place the at least one physical object. The robotic manipulator may then be directed to place the at least one physical object at the respective location.

Abstract: A decodable indicia reading terminal can comprise a housing including a housing window, a multiple pixel image sensor disposed within the housing, an imaging lens configured to focus an image of decodable indicia on the image sensor, an optical bandpass filter disposed in an optical path of light incident on the image sensor, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to convert an analog signal read out of the image sensor into a digital signal representative of the analog signal, and processor configured to output a decoded message data corresponding to the decodable indicia by processing the digital signal.

Abstract: A method includes the following: (1) projecting a light pattern towards a target object; (2) detecting light returned from the target object through an imaging lens arrangement with an imaging sensor to capture at least a first slit-frame-image and a second slit-frame-image; (3) determining an optimized position of the imaging lens arrangement; (4) detecting light returned from the target object with the imaging sensor to capture an image of a barcode when the imaging lens arrangement is maintained at the optimized position; and (5) processing the image of the barcode to decode the barcode. In the method, determining the optimized position includes processing at least the first slit-frame-image and the second slit-frame-image.

Abstract: Obtaining two spectra from the same sample under two different conditions at about the same time for comparison, where at least one of the spectra measures magnitudes of electromagnetic radiation on at least four different ranges or weightings of wavelengths or frequencies. Classifying a sample using these spectra obtained by a user, and using spectra obtained from different samples by different users to identify the sample. Computing correlations between data related to food and ingredient consumption by one or more users over time, and data related to passive personal log data, user entered feedback, user interaction data or personal information related to those users, and detecting: foods or ingredients to which a user may be allergic or intolerant; a possible medical condition of a user; a possible link between food and ingredient consumption and a medical or health condition; or a similarity between at least two such users.

Abstract: A system including an imaging device configured to capture one or more images of a designated area with illumination at a low optical transmission wavelength which makes a latent print or a contaminant within the designated area visible in a visible spectrum in the one or more captured images with clarity to determine an identification from the latent print or contaminant in the one or more images, and a computing system configured to create a three-dimensional image from the one or more images to provide a composite image of the designated area with the latent print or contaminant visible with clarity to determine an identification from latent print or contaminant in the composite image is disclosed. A method and a non-transitory processor readable storage medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: An imaging scanner includes an aiming light source configured to emit visible light through both the shape defining element and the aiming lens arrangement to generate an aiming pattern on a target object. The shape of the aiming pattern changes with the distance between the target object and the imaging scanner. For determining the distance, the shape of the aiming pattern in a pixel data is compared with the expected shape of aiming patterns at multiple distances.

Abstract: To provide a displacement detecting device capable of achieving an improvement in a measurement range without being restricted by an origin mark or an origin signal. A displacement detecting device 1 includes a scale 2, scale marks, a displacement detecting section 9, a displacement calculation section 4, a movement detecting section 10, a movement amount calculation section 5, a comparison/calculation section 6, and an absolute position calculation section 7. The comparison/calculation section 6 differentiates, when the displacement detecting section 9 or scale 2 moves in a track direction Y1, a displacement amount calculated by the displacement calculation section 4, thereby calculating a second-order differential amount in the track direction Y1.

Abstract: A package structure is disclosed. The package structure includes a die; a substrate disposed corresponding to the die, wherein the substrate comprises a first dummy pad and a second dummy pad on a first surface of the substrate; and a first solder ball and a second solder ball on a second surface of the substrate and electrically connect the first dummy pad and the second dummy pad respectively.

Abstract: An LED lighting apparatus connected to a power source via two electric lines, includes first and second LEDs having different emission spectrum or chromaticity, a switching unit to monitor ON time length of power supplied from the two electric lines periodically to switch a control mode of the first and second LEDs between first and second modes as a condition that the ON time is not changed continues for more than a threshold value, a first control unit to determine, in the first mode, a total amount of average current to be supplied to the first LED and to the second LED depending on the ON time length of the electric power, and a second control unit to determine, in the second mode, a ratio of average currents to be supplied to the first LED and to the second LED depending on the ON time length.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a density reference plate, an image reading section, a storage section, and a control section. When density reference data for at least one of a plurality of colors with respect to at least one of a plurality of regions is abnormal data, the control section calculates a change rate. The change rate is a rate of change between preliminary density reference data and density reference data both for one of the colors other than the at least one color with respect to the at least one region. The control section corrects the abnormal data based on the change rate calculated with respect to the at least one region and also on preliminary density reference data for the at least one color with respect to the at least one region.

Abstract: A security element for a security paper, value document or the like, having a carrier which has a reflective areal region which is divided into a multiplicity of reflective pixels. The area of each pixel is smaller than the area of the reflective areal region by at least one order of magnitude. Each pixel has at least one reflective facet which is formed in a surface of the carrier, and the at least one reflective facet reflects light incident along a predetermined direction on the areal region directionally in a reflection direction predefined by the orientation of the facet. The orientations of the facets of different pixels have a substantially random variation over the reflective areal region.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an amplifier in a bar code reader are disclosed, wherein the method may include receiving light at a photodiode within the bar code reader from a bar code being scanned by a scan mirror powered by a scan motor; converting the received light into an initial electrical signal; determining whether the scan motor is undergoing a change in direction; establishing a gain value for the amplifier based on an outcome of the determining step; and amplifying the initial electrical signal into an amplified signal using the established gain value.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure is related to a barcode reader that includes a bright field illumination system, a dark field illumination system, and an additional illumination system that is better able to illuminate an area of the reader's field of view between the far zone (where bright field illumination is optimal) and the close zone (where dark field illumination is optimal). In this “center zone,” the dark field illumination may not be bright enough and the bright field illumination may not be diffuse enough for reading a barcode.

Abstract: In order to perform processing of analyzing card data in an appropriate amount of time depending on the number of tracks actually present on a magnetic stripe with use of a single demodulation circuit, the single demodulation circuit produces, based on magnetic data read by a magnetic head, a single common card running signal obtained by ORing card running signals of tracks present on the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card, a clock signal of each track present on the magnetic stripe, and a data signal of each track present on the magnetic stripe. A card running signal generation circuit generates, based on the common card running signal and the clock signal of each track, an individual card running signal of each track present on the magnetic stripe.

Abstract: An authentication device includes a photodetector, a processor, a memory storing a first predetermined expected value and a first predetermined enablement time, a timer, a control, and an information display. The processor includes a program for measuring one or more attributes of a first enabling target at a first time, comparing at least one measured attribute of the first enabling target with the stored first predetermined expected value, and enabling the authentication device to authenticate when operated by the control for only the first predetermined enablement time when the at least one measured attribute of the first enabling target matches the first predetermined expected value.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system for characterization of an imaging sensor using a moving modulated target with unmodulated position references is generally described herein. A target pattern comprises through-holes in a slide and resolved patches on the slide. The slide and patch have different emission intensities in the sensor' detection band. A modulation is applied to only the emission intensities of the through-holes. The target pattern is moved across the field-of view (FOV) of the imaging sensor to present the target pattern across different frames at different positions. Frames of images of the moving target pattern as seen in the FOV of the imaging sensor are captured to generate modulated image data outputs. The unmodulated position references provided by the resolved patches are measured and used to align the modulated image data outputs, which are processed to generate data products representative of a response of the imaging sensor.

Abstract: An improved system for data card emulation involves a phone that can emulate any one of multiple data cards corresponding to multiple entities. The phone includes a memory for storing bar code information corresponding to data cards of the multiple entities. It provides an interface for identifying an entity and a display for displaying a bar code corresponding to a data card of the entity. The interface may include at least one of a bar code reader or a bar code emulator. The interface may include at least one of a magnetic stripe reader or a magnetic stripe emulator. The interface may be a transceiver such as a pulsed light transceiver.

Abstract: Techniques for performing diagnostics on an electronic display are described in various implementations. In one example implementation, a method may include receiving image data that depicts a test protocol being displayed on an electronic display, the test protocol comprising a two-dimensional barcode. The method may also include processing the image data to determine whether a message encoded in the two-dimensional barcode is corrupted. The method may also include generating a diagnostic result for the electronic display based on the determination.

Abstract: Base items of content may be conveyed by a user computing device. These base items of content may be enhanced with enhancement content, such as sounds, songs, video clips, animations, images, multimedia content, and the like. Characteristics and enhancement objects may be identified in a portion of the base item of content, and enhancement content may be assigned to that portion automatically by a content enhancement service. In one embodiment, enhancement sounds or songs may be provided and conveyed to enhance an audiobook or electronic book.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a vision process using a camera having a multi-focus lens having a lens field of view where the lens can be set at different focus positions the method comprising the steps of positioning at least one of the camera and an item to be imaged so the lens field of view is directed at the item to be imaged, obtaining a plurality of images where each image is obtained with the lens focus at a different position and after each image is obtained, attempting to perform the machine vision process using the image irrespective of whether or not the lens was focused when the image was obtained.

Abstract: In a light beam emission apparatus, the height of an elastic member configured to fill a clearance between a laser element and a laser holder is longer than the distance from a start position of press fitting of the laser element to a surface of the laser holder with which the elastic member comes into contact.

Abstract: A commodity sales data processing device that processes sales data relating to a commodity includes a memorizing part (such as a RAM 3) that memorizes commodity data including unit mass information of a commodity, an imaging part that images a commodity, a quantity specifying part that specifies the number of commodities based on the picture data taken by the imaging part, a measuring part that measures the mass of the commodity, a number calculating part that calculates the number of commodities based on the mass of the commodity measured by the measuring part and the commodity data memorized in the memorizing part, a judging part that judges whether or not the number of commodities specified by the quantity specifying part and the number of commodities calculated by the number calculating part match, and an informing part that informs the result of judgment by the judging part.

Abstract: A selected target from a picklist having a plurality of targets is electro-optically read, by image capture, over a range of working distances, by capturing an image of the picklist in the range over an imaging field of view, by storing coordinates of a trajectory of an aiming light pattern in the imaging field of view over the range, by processing the captured image along the trajectory to find and identify a target, by determining whether the target covers the trajectory, and by determining that the target is the selected target when the target at least partially covers the trajectory.

Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus (and method) includes a section determination unit which detects a non-equidistant section having different intervals between a plurality of sample points set for a range from a minimum signal level to a maximum signal level of a video signal to be inputted, correction level holding unit which holds a signal level of a video signal after correction for each sample point as a correction level, and an interpolation computation unit which obtains a signal level of the video signal after correction corresponding to the signal level of the inputted video signal by executing cubic interpolation computation with reference to the correction level held by the correction level holding unit.

Abstract: A method for operating an indicia reader such as a laser scanner is provided. The method affords a simplified technique for monitoring the offset between the drive frequency and the resonant oscillation frequency of the laser scanner. The phase offset between the drive frequency and the sense frequency is monitored to derive the drive frequency's offset from the resonant oscillation frequency.

Abstract: Disclosed is a display device capable of inhibiting a projected picture from occurrence of brightness unevenness while reducing speckle noise. The display device (100) includes a control portion (15) continuously supplying current to a laser beam generation portion (12, 13, 14) nonstop for a period longer than a first period thereby controlling the laser beam generation portion to output the laser beam and controlling the laser beam generation portion to stop the output of the laser beam at least once in a second period scanning one image forming element (1, 2).

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided to facilitate sharing of content between various computing devices. In the context of a method, an image of a first external apparatus is received that includes information presented upon a display of the first external apparatus. The method also includes causing an identification request that includes a representation of the image of the first external apparatus including a representation of the information presented upon the display of the first external apparatus to be provided to a plurality of external apparatuses. The method also receives a response to the identification request from the first external apparatus indicating that the first external apparatus has presented the information upon the display of the first external apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for, and a method of, electro-optically reading a target by image capture, employ a scan engine in a handheld housing having a tilted handle. A single tilted printed circuit board (PCB) in the handle has front and rear surfaces that respectively face toward and away from the target during reading. An optical assembly having a pair of fold mirrors is mounted on the rear surface, for receiving return light from the target through an aperture in the PCB along the horizontal, and for directing the return light along an internal folded optical path. An imaging lens assembly is mounted between the fold mirrors and has an imaging axis that extends generally parallel to the PCB. The imaging lens assembly projects the return light onto a solid-state, two-dimensional, image sensor to enable the return light to be detected over a field of view, and to generate an electrical signal indicative of the detected return light.

Abstract: One embodiment describes a chip arrangement having a chip carrier; a chip which is arranged in or on the chip carrier; a light sensor arrangement; a transparent layer which covers the light sensor arrangement, the light sensor arrangement being set up to determine a light pattern of light received by the light sensor arrangement from outside the chip arrangement through the transparent layer; and a test circuit which is set up to check whether the light pattern matches a reference light pattern and to output a signal on the basis of the result of the check.

Abstract: A method includes generating a machine readable code using each ink color implemented at a printer, printing the machine readable code on a first side of the medium, analyzing the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium at a verification unit and detecting a side mismatch if the verification unit does not verify the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium.

Abstract: An improved document scanning device and a scanning method for checking the transparency and thickness of an identification document. In a preferred embodiment, any one surface of the document is illuminated by the illumination source facing the said surface and the opposite surface of the document is captured by the camera. The amount of light that passes through the illuminated surface of the document is measured and contrasted with the amount of light that passes through the same surface of a reference or original document. The scanning method is also capable of validating an identification document by detecting and authenticating any laser image imprinted on such document.

Abstract: A designer-adaptive visual code (32, 32?, 32?) includes a user-selected set glyphs (36, 36?, 36?, 36??), a user-selected set of allowable glyph orientations relative to a user-selected reference angle, and a user-selected spatial arrangement of the glyphs (36, 36?, 36?, 36??). The user-selected set of glyphs (36, 36?, 36?, 36??) has a size sufficient to recover geometric characteristics of at least one repeating code portion so as to generate an analyzable image when captured via a camera-equipped mobile device (26). The user-selected spatial arrangement of the glyphs (36, 36?, 36?, 36??) includes the at least one repeating code portion (34) to be visible on a surface from at least two different areas of the surface.

Abstract: A device is described for the hiding and subsequent recovery of visual information. The device comprises two or more tokens (1), each containing a mask (2,3) of coloured pixels (4), are overlaid (5), so that when the pixels are aligned, hidden information, invisible in the individual tokens. The hidden information consists of one or more recognisable alphabetic, numerical or pictorial characters (6). During token overlay and alignment, the information becomes recognisable because it is made up of pixels whose colour is differentiated from the other pixels in the overlay. The information is hidden by adding pixels of certain colours. When the tokens are overlaid and the pixels aligned, the added pixels are effectively subtracted, revealing the hidden information. The tokens may be printed on various media, or may be displayed on an electronic device.

Abstract: A method of decoding a Direct Part Marking (DPM) indicia. The method includes: (1) generating a polarized illumination light; (2) illuminating the DPM indicia with the polarized illumination; (3) detecting light scattered from the DPM indicia through a linear polarizer with an imaging sensor while the DPM indicia is illuminated by the polarized illumination to capture an image of the DPM indicia though an imaging lens while preventing at least 80% of onetime scattered light caused by the target object from entering the imaging lens; and (4) processing the image of the DPM indicia to decode the DPM indicia.

Abstract: A bi-optical, dual window, point-of-transaction workstation images indicia associated with multi-sided products over a full coverage scan zone by splitting each field of view of only two imagers into three subfields that pass through each window and fill the scan zone and minimize dead areas therein. Twisting of the subfields relative to the windows is minimized so that the subfields fit fully with minimal clipping through each window. Splitting of each field of view is remotely performed well away from each imager. The imagers have lens assemblies of substantially the same optical power and are spaced from their respective windows by substantially the same distance.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a commodity information display apparatus comprises an acquisition module and a display control module. The acquisition module acquires a commodity information relating to a commodity recognized through a first method in which a code symbol attached to the commodity is read and commodity information relating to a commodity recognized through a second method in which the commodity is recognized based on an appearance feature of the commodity contained in an image data captured by a camera. The display control module displays the commodity information acquired by the acquisition module on a display in such a manner that a display form of the commodity information of the commodity recognized through the first method is made different from a display form of the commodity information of the commodity recognized through the second method.

Abstract: This invention provides a field of view expander (FOVE) removably attached to a vision system camera having an image sensor defining an image plane. In an embodiment the FOVE includes first and second mirrors that transmit light from a scene in respective first and second partial fields of view along first and second optical axes. Third and fourth mirrors respectively receive reflected light from the first and second mirrors. The third and fourth mirrors reflect the received light onto the image plane in a first strip and a second strip adjacent to the first strip. The first and second optical axes are approximately parallel and a first focused optical path length between the scene and the image plane and a second focused optical path between the image plane and the scene are approximately equal in length. The optical path can be rotated at a right angle in embodiments.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating and resolving multi-mode barcodes comprise: inputting graphical data representing a barcode pattern into memory; translating the graphical data into barcode information according to a standard for translating a particular type of barcode pattern into barcode information; detecting the presence of multiple, distinct data items of different types in the barcode information, wherein each data item specifies an action to be taken by the scanning device; identifying a data item in the barcode information for which the scanning device is capable of taking the action specified by the data item; and performing the action specified by the data item.

Abstract: A retail information network includes one or more POS scanning and checkout systems, each including (i) a bar code symbol reading subsystem, and (ii) a cash register computer subsystem interfaced with the bar code symbol reading subsystem and a network infrastructure, and each having access to product and price data maintained in a product/price database. The bar code symbol reading subsystem includes a local predictive error event (PEE) data store for logging and storing predictive error events (PEEs) detected within the bar code symbol reading system, wherein said PEEs are subsequently sent to POS information servers used to create predictive error alerts (PEAs) and corresponding instructions to maintain and/or repair certain aspects of the bar code symbol reading system.

Abstract: An indicia-reading system is provided that incorporates a hybrid approach to decoding indicia such as barcodes. An indicia-capturing subsystem acquires information about indicia within the indicia-capturing subsystem's field of view. An indicia-decoding module decodes indicia information acquired by the indicia-capturing subsystem. The indicia-decoding module includes a primary, basic signal processor for initially decoding indicia information, and a secondary, advanced signal processor for decoding indicia information that is not decoded by the primary, basic signal processor.

Abstract: A sensor unit is disclosed which includes a sensor and an information module. The sensor exhibits an optical behavior dependent on at least one variable of a sample. Sensor related information can be emitted by the information module as optical radiation. In embodiments the sensor related information includes calibration data for the sensor. The sensor related information may additionally include identification data for the sensor. In embodiments the information module measures at least one ambient parameter, and emits the measurement value in an optical signal. The measurement value is taken into account when determining at least one variable of a sample by means of the sensor unit. In embodiments the information module may also transmit status information of the sensor unit. Furthermore a method for determining a variable of a sample with a sensor unit and a measurement system is disclosed.

Abstract: Indicia are imaged at a workstation having windows arranged in intersecting planes. The workstation also has solid-state imagers with fields of view that are split into intersecting subfields that look out through the windows, as well as illumination assemblies each having multiple light sources that illuminate each subfield with illumination light over an illumination field that overlaps a respective subfield. Light-modifying elements, such as lenses or baffles that are radially offset from the multiple light sources, condition the illumination light from the multiple light sources to be generally uniform in light intensity over at least one illuminated subfield.

Abstract: An electro-optical code reading terminal for dynamically switching mode of operation from a printed code reading mode to an electronically displayed code reading mode is provided. The electro-optical code reading terminal measures and monitors, using one or more magnetic sensors, a magnetic field experienced at the electro-optical code reading terminal. When the electro-optical code reading terminal device determines that a change in the measured magnetic field exceeds a predetermined threshold within a predetermined time period, the electro-optical code reading terminal device infers presence of an electronically displayed code. The electro-optical code reading terminal device then switches its mode of operation from the printed code reading mode of operation to the electronically displayed code reading mode of operation.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for deflecting and for widening a visible range of a camera (24) is provided, wherein the apparatus (10) has a first mirror element (12) which is tilted with respect to the optical axis of the camera (24) in a longitudinal direction in order to supply light to the camera (24) from a visible range lying laterally with respect to the optical axis. In this connection the first mirror element (12) is additionally tilted in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the apparatus has a second mirror element (14) besides the first mirror element (12) which is tilted in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction with respect to the first mirror element (12).

Abstract: A stream dot technique forming a dot pattern at an arbitrary position on a curved surface body or a medium surface by including the step of linearly and consecutively arranging a plurality of reference dots according to a predetermined rule, providing a first virtual reference line which connects the plurality of reference dots, providing a second virtual reference line which is defined at a predetermined position from the reference dot and/or the first virtual reference line, providing a plurality of virtual reference points at predetermined positions on the second virtual reference line, and placing an information dot whose information is defined by a distance and a direction from the virtual reference point at an end point expressed by a vector with the virtual reference point being a start point.

Abstract: An imaging system for electro-optically reading a symbol located within a range of working distances from the system, utilizes a solid-state imager for capturing return light from the symbol and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the captured return light, and a controller for decoding the electrical signal into data indicative of the symbol A memory stores a known set of values for a plurality of optical characteristics of the symbol, such as size and contrast characteristics of the symbol when the symbol lies in a restricted zone within the range of working distances. The controller is operative, after the symbol has been successfully decoded, for processing the size and contrast characteristics of the decoded symbol, and for determining that the decoded symbol has been successfully read within the restricted zone when each size and contrast characteristic lies within the known set of values stored by the memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for reading a two-dimensional array code. The two-dimensional array code comprises a plurality of equal-height code characters arranged into a two-dimensional array, wherein each of the code characters corresponds to a bit group representing information, and the adjacent code characters in the row direction of the two-dimensional array have equal center distances; and a locating mechanism, for defining size and/or direction of the two-dimensional array arranged by the code characters. The present invention greatly reduces the cost for issuing a two-dimensional code, and significantly increases the user convenience. This two-dimensional array code has high compatibility for user mobile terminals. In addition, the entire system apparently improves its safety and stability, and is suitable for the present network application environment.