Bar Code Patents (Class 235/462.01)
  • Patent number: 8556266
    Abstract: A flexible card which allows data of the card to be changed with a simple operation is provided, thereby permitting users to sustain interest in the card and a relevant game. The card comprises a first dot pattern in which a coordinate value or a code value is patterned and which is recognizable by predetermined irradiation light at least on one surface thereof and a second dot pattern which is patterned in a predetermined algorithm in a region overlapping with a region where the first dot pattern is provided or a region different from a region where the first dot pattern is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Kenji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8556176
    Abstract: Improved methods 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Van Horn, Daniel James Olson
  • Patent number: 8556179
    Abstract: A 2D bar code reader with improved motion tolerance is presented. The 2D bar code reader includes a lens configuration that enhances chromatic aberration to separate the focal planes on which bar code images from two different color components of a light will be focused. An imager interprets one of the focal planes as the image and the other one as noise to be ignored. In addition, the increased depth of field generated by the chromatic aberration allows for a larger aperture stop setting and quicker shutter speed, thereby improving motion tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Intermec IP Corp.
    Inventors: Alain Gillet, Serge Thuries
  • Patent number: 8556177
    Abstract: A bar coded patient wristband identifies a patient wearing the wristband. The system comprises a bar code reader to read the bar coded wristband. A host computer is connected to the digital link to receive the segment of data from the bar code reader. A database correlates the segment of data to a patient to identify the patient. The patient wristband comprises a plurality of bar code symbols. A computer then retrieves a patient record from the database to identify the patient wearing the wristband. In one embodiment, a patient wristband for identifying a patient accepts a plurality of markings of 2 D bar codes distributed along the strip. In another embodiment, the wristband comprises a plurality of linear bar code lines and spaces distributed along the strip. The lines and spaces form a 1 D bar code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Hussey, William H. Havens
  • Patent number: 8556183
    Abstract: Systems and methods involving transferrable identification tags are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a delivery device, a container, and a tag coupled to the container and configured to store information related to contents of the container. The delivery device is engageable with the tag and at least a portion of the contents of the container are transferrable from the container to the delivery device following its engagement with the tag. The tag is removable from the container in engagement with the delivery device such that the delivery device carries the tag following its removal. In one form, a frangible member is coupled to and extends between the tag and the container, and the tag is removable from the container by the delivery device upon breakage of the frangible member. Other embodiments include unique methods, systems, kits, assemblies, equipment, and/or apparatus which involve transferrable identification tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Gregory D. Bray
  • Patent number: 8550349
    Abstract: A barcode recovery system, including: an image processor configured to determine a binary vector corresponding to a blurry barcode image by: maximizing an objective function that models the system using splines. Optimizing the objective function may be efficiently accomplished by constraining a search on each bit in the barcode image to a nearby range of influence of other bits in the barcode image. Further efficiency may be gained by enumerating the local groups of bits in graycode order and by adding or subtracting values from a precomputed inner product matrix to state variables to compute the complete objective function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Myron D. Flickner, Nimrod Megiddo, Christopher A. Mildebrandt
  • Patent number: 8550357
    Abstract: An indicia reading system includes: a base adapted for placement on a surface for providing holding stability for a hand held indicia reading device; a post extending vertically from the base; a cradle arm extending from the post over the base, the cradle arm having a side; a first attachment device disposed in the cradle arm for removably attaching an indicia reader on the cradle arm; a second attachment device disposed on the indicia reader to removably attach the indicia reader to the first attachment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Phillip Kearney
  • Patent number: 8550353
    Abstract: There is set forth herein an indicia reading terminal having a first illumination and exposure control configuration and a second illumination and exposure control configuration, the first illumination and control configuration having a first associated illumination control and a first associated exposure control, the second illumination and exposure control configuration having a second associated illumination control and a second associated exposure control, wherein with the first illumination control active an average energization level of the illumination subsystem during exposure of one or more frames is higher than with the second illumination control active, and wherein with the first exposure control active an average exposure period of the image sensor array is shorter than with the second exposure control active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Jovanovski, Alexey Chernyakov, Daniel Van Volkinburg
  • Patent number: 8550350
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining optimum color gradation levels used by a color gradation barcode in a system including a rendering device for rendering the barcode and a detector for detecting the barcode. The method includes: (a) obtaining input color gradation data; (b) rendering, by using the rendering device, a test pattern based on the input color gradation data, the test pattern comprising at least one color gradation pattern; (c) detecting, by using the detector, the rendered test pattern to generate detected color gradation data; (d) based on the detected color gradation data and the input color gradation data, determining a plurality of optimum color gradation levels to be used for a color gradation barcode; and (e) storing the plurality of optimum color gradation levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Cattrone, Hiroshi Tomita, Vivek Pathak
  • Patent number: 8544723
    Abstract: The invention provides an automatic analyzer suitable for efficient reagent management. The analyzer allows continued use of existing reagent information storage media because reagent ID information that is no longer needed is overwritten so that it is unrecognizable to any analyzer. The invention relates to a method for automatically analyzing particular properties of an analyte by putting the analyte and a reagent into a vessel and measuring the reacted analyte-reagent mixture. The analyzer of the invention comprises: an information reader/writer for reading or writing regent information to/from storage media attached to reagent vessels; means for managing reagent information read from the storage media; means for processing reagents based on the managed information; and means for overwriting reagent information that has been judged unnecessary based on the managed information so that the unnecessary information is unrecognizable to any analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Teruhiro Yamano, Yoshimitsu Takagi
  • Patent number: 8544746
    Abstract: An XML processing system for use in a barcode printer apparatus includes a computer system operatively coupled to the barcode printer apparatus. The computer system further includes an XML processor configured to receive, parse, and process an XML input data stream and obtain schema identified in the XML data stream from a schema repository. Alternatively, the system includes a SAX processor configured to receive and process the XML input data stream, a ZPL processor configured to receive and process a format template, a variable data integrator configured to develop an association between the XML data contained in the XML input data stream and the format template, a formatting engine configured to format the associated XML data according to a format governed by the format template, and a barcode rendering engine configured to receive the associated and formatted XML data and generate a bit map representative of the bar code label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventor: Bruce N. Alleshouse
  • Patent number: 8544736
    Abstract: The present invention provides an item scanning system in which an appearance of an item is received (e.g., at checkout). The appearance is captured with an image capture device (e.g., still frame camera, video camera, etc.) that can be collocated with a barcode scanner. In being collocated, the image capture device can be positioned proximate (e.g., near, attached to, etc.) the bar code scanner, integrated within a common housing/unit with the barcode scanner, etc. In any event, a search engine will then search a database of items based on the appearance to identify a set of items that potentially match the item. When one of the set of items is selected (e.g., by the checkout clerk), the selection will be received and stored for future investigation/auditing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan H. Connell, II, Arun Hampapur, Sharathchandra U. Pankanti, Andrew W. Senior, Craig Velliquette
  • Patent number: 8544751
    Abstract: A system for ensuring the correct location/side of a surgery is described. The system includes a reader coupled to a validater. A first machine readable marking associated with a medical procedure site on a body of a patient is placed on a planned medical procedure site on the body of the patient. A second machine readable marking associated with a pre-identified reference point. A reader reads the first and second machine readable marking. A validater receives medical procedure plan data associated with the patient and compares the medical procedure plan data with the first and second machine readable markings to verify the validity of the planned medical procedure and the site of the planned medical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventors: Mehrnaz Nicole Jamali, Amir Saied Ghanouni
  • Publication number: 20130248603
    Abstract: The invention relates to a printing object (10) and a printer (11) for printing a printing object (10). The printing object (10) has a printable printing region (1) and an identification region (2), wherein an identification mark is provided in the identification region (2). According to the invention, a barcode identification mark (4, 5) with a plurality of individual bars (6) arranged behind one another is provided as identification mark. In this way, a printing object (10) is provided, by way of which it can be ensured in a simple and reliable way that optimum printing takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Albrecht Schierholz
  • Patent number: 8542930
    Abstract: Systems and methods for use with a mark reader that reduce the trigger-to-decode response time by prioritizing images to be decoded based on the likelihood of a successful decode are provided. A reader attempts to decode a priority image(s) first to avoid attempting to decode images that are less likely than other images to be successfully decoded. Images are rated based on feature attributes, and then prioritized for decoding. Image feature attributes are correlated with parameter groups, and the parameter groups are prioritized for use in subsequent image acquisitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Negro, John F. Keating
  • Patent number: 8540156
    Abstract: A barcoded quality indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one product quality threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, the barcoded quality indicator including a changeable barcode including at least one material having at least one variable visually-sensible characteristic which gradually changes as a function of changes in the at least one product quality affecting parameter and a background having at least one selectable visually-sensible characteristic which is not variable or not variable in the same way as is the barcode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Varcode Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaron Nemet, Ephraim Brand
  • Patent number: 8542952
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method, a manual device, a handheld manual device, a handheld writing device, a system, and an apparatus. An embodiment provides a manual device operable in a context. The manual device includes a writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface. The manual device also includes a controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the manual device by regulating the formation of the mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander J. Cohen, B. Isaac Cohen, Ed Harlow, Eric C. Leuthardt, Royce A. Levien, Mark A. Malamud
  • Patent number: 8540141
    Abstract: A coding for a medical disposable item is proposed comprising at least one information component in encoded form. Associated encoding methods and devices, and associated decoding methods and devices, are also proposed. The coding generally comprises an optical information component comprising one or more fields filled with a gray-scale value up to a certain degree of filling. Each gray-scale value and degree of filling are associated as a value pair determined as part of a code generated to correlate to an information component desired to be applied to and conveyed from a medical disposable item to an associated device that utilizes such items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Petrich, Stefan Kalveram, Markus Serr
  • Patent number: 8534565
    Abstract: A two-dimensional optical identification device for a quick decoding operation in a same gray level and decoding method applied to the same. The two-dimensional optical identification device has at least one two-dimensional optical identification with the same gray level. The two-dimensional optical identification has a first positioning block, a plurality of data blocks, and a second positioning block. The first positioning block has a plurality of first positioning points. The data blocks are placed around the first positioning block. The second positioning block has a plurality of second positioning points and a second direction identification point for providing the direction of the two-dimensional optical identification, and the second positioning block is placed at each boundary of the plurality of data blocks for defining the positions of the plurality of data blocks. The second direction identification point indicates an identification direction of the two-dimensional optical identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Generalplus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Chien Lin, Yu-Hsun Wang
  • Patent number: 8534541
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing, a first display operably coupled to the housing, and a second display comprising an electronic paper display operably coupled to the housing. A processor is operably coupled to the first display and to the second electronic paper display. A wireless receiver is coupled to the processor for receiving data comprising, for example, an electronic ticket having a scannable optical indicia, and the processor and the second electronic paper display are operable to display of the optically scannable indicia on the electronic paper display. The second electronic paper display is operable to display the optically scannable indicia such as a barcode with at least one of a lower reflectance, a higher resolution, and a higher contrast compared to display of the optically scannable indicia on the first display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward C. Bremer
  • Patent number: 8534542
    Abstract: A method of making an ordered element list includes providing a plurality of machine-readable codes, each machine-readable code encoding a corresponding element or a reference to a corresponding element, and wherein each element of the plurality of elements forms a portion of a plurality of different ordered lists, each ordered list enabling a function having one or more operations; using a receiver to receive in order a digital image of each of a plurality of the machine-readable codes; using a processor to extract the elements received or referenced by the received digital images of the machine-readable codes; arranging the extracted elements in the received order to form an ordered list; and using a processor to perform the function enabled by the ordered list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Steven Cok, Thomas Joseph Murray, Thiagarajah Arujunan
  • Patent number: 8534567
    Abstract: Methods for efficiently retrieving information from an image of a symbol are described. Symbols are described that contain detection patterns that facilitate the determination of location, alignment, size and orientation of the symbol in an image. Detection patterns are described that possess geometric shapes susceptible to efficient decoding using probabilistic detection algorithms. Detection patterns are described that are provided in colors, shapes and sizes different from the color, shape and sizes of modules carrying information in the symbol. Methods are described for identifying the location and size of detection patterns in images of the symbol and for locating modules in the symbol to facilitate extraction of information carried by the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Overtouch Remote L.L.C.
    Inventor: Han Kiliccote
  • Patent number: 8534558
    Abstract: In an optical information reader, an entire size is reduced while a space for accommodating an imaging unit, a space for accommodating a cable of an external interface, and a space for accommodating plural boards in which circuits of a signal processing unit are accommodated are secured. An entire size of a housing is determined based on sizes of a main board and an imaging unit to realize an optical information reader having a minimum shape. The main board has the largest area as a board, and a CPU and a memory are mounted thereon. The imaging unit includes a camera module, a lighting LED unit, and a marker. The main board is disposed near an internal wall of a housing. Other functions are functionally divided into sub-boards and disposed around a frame body, and a connection portion to the cable is accommodated in the frame body to achieve miniaturization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Miyoshi, Minoru Taneda, Yusuke Otsubo
  • Patent number: 8528817
    Abstract: A method for data interchange includes summing up data associated with an electronic document to provide summed up data, representing the summed up data as one or more bar codes, and returning the one or more bar codes for display and data capture via a bar code scan from either a video display or a printed version of the one or more bar codes. The electronic document may be of any number of formats. The summing up may include taking data from multiple information fields to create the summed up data. The data may include data tags or a step of adding data tags to the data to assist in data interchange may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Roetesis Wireless LLC
    Inventors: David M. Snyder, Bruce D. Melick, Leslie D. Baych, Paul R. Staman, Nicholas J. Peters, Gregory P. Probst
  • Patent number: 8528808
    Abstract: A quality management system for products including a multiplicity of barcode indicators, each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality determining parameter, the at least one threshold being at least one of a time duration threshold and a combined temperature and time threshold, a barcode indicator reader operative to read the barcode indicators and to provide output indications and an indication interpreter operative to receive the output indications and to provide human sensible, product unit specific, product quality status outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Varcode Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaron Nemet, Ephraim Brand
  • Patent number: 8532624
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for storing and retrieving of multimedia messages onto tags in order to facilitate contextual communications are disclosed. Such tags can be attached or affixed to physical, real-world objects thus allowing multimedia messages associated with the tags to be retrieved with the real-world objects in a time-shifted and space-shifted manner from when and where they were recorded. The present invention uses low-cost (metal, paper or plastic) tags—encoded using barcodes or RFID—as virtual message storage units and commercially-available terminals equipped with appropriate software and sensors, such as mobile telephones, as recording and reading devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventors: Ven Chava, Prasad Ravva
  • Patent number: 8528821
    Abstract: A system and method is provided wherein a device can be reprogrammed utilizing one or more programming symbols. A device subject to reprogramming can be a portable device. In one embodiment a device subject to reprogramming can be a portable symbol reading device capable of reading programming symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Soule, III, Guy H. Berthiaume, Aldo Mario Caballero, Brian V. Conti, Jeffrey Dean Harper, Larry K. Hooks, Adam Edward Meggitt, James T. Sauerwein, Jr., Daniel D. Yeakley
  • Patent number: 8523073
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for automatically providing information to a newly-manufactured computing device. During the manufacture of a new computing device at an assembly line, a camera integrated with the computing device is automatically activated as a barcode scanner. On the camera viewing a barcode that includes device-specific configuration information, the barcode is read by the computing device to read the device-specific configuration information for storage in a non-volatile memory of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Wai Hong Tam, Tammo Spalink
  • Publication number: 20130221102
    Abstract: A barcode reading apparatus and method in which the spectrum of a probe light is first Fourier-transformed into space, directed upon a barcode, and then Fourier-transformed converting the spectrally encoded barcode pattern to a time domain waveform. In one implementation, the Fourier transformation from the spectrum domain into a spatial domain is performed by a dispersive element, while the Fourier transformation from the spectrally encoded barcode pattern to a time domain waveform is performed by group-velocity dispersion (GVD). The temporally encoded barcode pattern is detected by a photodetector, digitized by a digitizer, and analyzed by a digital signal processor. The invention is applicable to a number of fields which involve the reading of one- and two-dimensional barcodes, displacement sensing, surface measurements, measurement of width and gap, flow cytometry, reading of optical media, presense or absence detection, and other related fields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventor: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
  • Patent number: 8517267
    Abstract: A display unit comprising a plurality of display modules arranged in a row and having an upper display section and a lower display section. One of the display modules includes an interactive Kiosk, and a second of the display modules includes at least one computer controlled card reading video station. A consumer may pass a coded paint color sample card past a code reader in the video station and is thereafter presented with a display of a color present on the sample card followed by a selectable sequence of video display screens, which may comprise part of a color selection application program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Behr Process Corporation
    Inventors: Damien Reynolds, Erika Woelfel
  • Patent number: 8517271
    Abstract: An optical code symbol reading system including a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture. A manually-actuated trigger switch is integrated within the housing. An optical code symbol reading subsystem is disposed in the housing for optically reading a code symbol in the field external to the light transmission aperture, and generating symbol character data representative of the read code symbol. One or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disposed in the housing, for producing a visible illumination. Also, an optical-waveguide structure is disposed in the housing for coupling visible illumination produced from the one or more LEDs, so as to illuminate the region about the manually-actuated trigger switch, thereby causing the optically-translucent region about the manually-actuated trigger switch to glow and visually indicate where it is located on the hand-supportable housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoly Kotlarsky, Xiaoxun Zhu, Michael Veksland, Ka Man Au, Patrick Giordano, Weizhen Yan, Jie Ren, Taylor Smith, Michael V. Miraglia, C. Harry Knowles, Sudhin Mandal, Shawn De Foney, Christopher Allen, David M. Wilz, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8516527
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the distribution of electronic media for distribution to employees of a subscriber. The system includes a controller having a storage on which an electronic media collection is stored, and a display connected to the controller for displaying selected electronic media collection. The display is provided with a first and a second frame where each frame displays selected electronic media from the electronic media collection. The system provides for a customer to set the electronic media collection. The system may further include a code, presented on the display that may be scanned and present additional information to the viewer. The additional information may be pushed to the scanning device, or the scanning device may be navigated to a website where the information may be presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: The Marlin Company
    Inventors: Frank Kenna, III, Preeti Patel, Richard George Pierce
  • Patent number: 8515162
    Abstract: A QR code processing method includes an edge processing process, a QR code positioning process and a projection modification process. The edge processing process converts an original image into a binarized input image. The QR code positioning process includes a group search process and a tag search process. The group search process includes: deriving a plurality of luminance groups according to luminance values of pixels within an input image; identifying a plurality of finder pattern groups complying with QR code finder pattern among the plurality of luminance groups according to a central point of each luminance group; and deriving position information of each finder pattern group. The tag search process derives position information of the QR code according to the position information of the finder pattern groups. The projection modification process converts the input image into a modified image according to the position information of the QR code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Ting-Yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 8511561
    Abstract: Scanning apparatuses for scanning bar codes applied to documents have a reflector arrangement having either a variable reflection element or a light guide system. The reflection element or light guide system serves to deflect the beam path of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a radiation source or an illumination device in the document plane along a line substantially perpendicular to the feed direction of the document, or to capture it, and to relay it to a detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Karlheinz Mayer, JĂ¼rgen SchĂ¼tzmann, Bernd Wunderer, Thomas Giering
  • Patent number: 8511539
    Abstract: Pay-by-Space and Pay-and-Display are two well-known systems for metered parking for multiple spaces. The present invention allows multi-space meters to separately manage and control electric vehicle charging located in conjunction with parking spaces. Control is implemented by the meters printing indicia on a parking pass or receipt for the parking patron to present to an electric vehicle charging system able to read the indicia. Each such ticket may initiate a predetermined interval of charging, or an interval of charging selected by the patron during a transaction with the meter. The indicia may be either human-readable (e.g., text) or machine-readable (e.g., a barcode), or both, and may be encrypted to resist fraud. Data representative of the indicia may also be made available from an online server and delivered to a parking patron's smartphone or other portable device, whereby the display of the smartphone may present the indicia for reading by the electric vehicle charging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Liberty PlugIns, Inc.
    Inventors: William Gibbens Redmann, Chris Outwater
  • Patent number: 8505822
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a deformable lens element can be provided wherein a deformable lens element can be deformed to change an optical property thereof by the impartation of a force to the deformable lens element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ynjiun P. Wang, Chen Feng, William H. Havens, Jianhua Li
  • Patent number: 8508783
    Abstract: A printer includes a connection port that connects an external storage device to the printer, a command input unit that inputs coded information or text-form information, and a processor that executes a command corresponding to coded information or text-form information inputted in the command input unit by using data stored in the external storage device connected to the connection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichiro Suzuki, Yuji Iida, Junya Kawai
  • Patent number: 8500025
    Abstract: A bar code scanner module is disclosed that may include a chassis housing an optical transmission system therein, the optical transmission system including a laser diode and a motor; a first circuit board coupled to the motor; and a second circuit board disposed within the chassis and in communication with the first circuit board. The module may further include a third circuit board disposed in proximity to the chassis and in communication with at least one of the first circuit board and the second circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Optoelectronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kawamoto Hironori, Toyama Toshiyuki, Masayoshi Yamanouchi
  • Patent number: 8500022
    Abstract: A packaging system uses marked, specially designed packaging to enable confidential purchasing of consumer goods. Products having a first configuration normally labeled for sale are convertible into a second configuration which conceals the identity of the goods, other than perhaps having a confidentiality brand. The confidentiality package is bar-coded for price and purchase scanning but does not identify the type of good(s) being purchased either at the cash register or on the customer's receipt. The confidentially packaged items are primarily sold at a retail location immediately next to a normally marked, identical (except for the outer packaging shell) item, and have a brief description of what the item is directly under it (Tampons for example) located in the shelf strip next to the re-order shelf tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Yours Confidentially, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Kidwell, Henry Wischusen, III
  • Patent number: 8500029
    Abstract: They object of the present invention is an TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEM that integrates a static barcode together with a TIME VARIABLE label referred as TIME VALUE BAR or TVB. The TVB is then linked via a database to product information that vary with time such as useful shelf life, remaining shelf life, price, identity, and expiration of the article. The information is input, stored, linked, output, and managed by a Central Processing Unit (CPU), but it is also partially available to the public via the TVB. In one of the preferred embodiments of the invention the variable bar code system is compatible with the Universal Product Code (UPC) currently in use in most retail shops. In another embodiment the TIME VALUE BAR of the present invention relates a 3D barcode with a VARIABLE TIME label effectively adding a fourth dimension to the barcode thus becoming a 4D barcode system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Abraham Wien
  • Patent number: 8500012
    Abstract: A locker system includes one or more banks of electronic lockers. Each locker has a door lock that releasably retains the door in the closed position. The locker system also includes at least one barcode scanner selectively unlocks the door of at least one of the lockers. A locker manager is coupled to each of the electronic lockers via an electronic network. The locker manager stores a list of unique barcodes that are each associated with a locker rental plan including at least one locker account. Each locker account includes an activation indication, a use indication, a locker type indication, and a duration. The unique barcodes are printed or otherwise included on wristbands, which may be scanned at the barcode scanner to gain access to one or more of the lockers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Smarte Carte Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Louis Amdahl, Kong Meng Vang
  • Patent number: 8496186
    Abstract: A shipping label includes a shipping label and an advertising label, and a tear-off tab is formed in the back liner sheet by a score line. After removing the tear-off tab and forming an exposed adhesive layer portion, the label part where the second barcode is printed is folded to the back side of the label to form a back-folded portion, which is held to the back side of the label by the exposed adhesive layer portion. The liner sheet portion contiguous to the tear-off tab is then removed, and the label is attached to the product. Because the second barcode is hidden on the back, only the first barcodes containing tracking information can be read, while the second barcode can be read as needed by unfolding the back-folded portion to the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 8496173
    Abstract: A camera-based code reader (10) has an image sensor comprising a line-shaped reading area (18) for capturing an image line, an illumination unit (28, 30) for illuminating the reading area (18), an evaluation unit (46) configured to compose an image from successively captured image lines, and a decoding unit (48) for locating and decoding code information in the image. The code reader (10) further comprises an elongated base body (26) with a plurality of individual image sensors (32) mounted thereon, each of the individual image sensors (32) comprising a line-shaped individual reading area (18a-d), and the individual image sensors (32) together forming the image sensor by being oriented and arranged relative to one another so that the individual reading areas (18a-d) overlap to form the line-shaped reading area (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Christoph Anselment, Ralf Ulrich NĂ¼bling
  • Patent number: 8496164
    Abstract: A low-cost display unit that displays travel-related information to a traveler in a public travel-related area is disclosed and may include a communication interface that facilitates receiving of travel-related information, a machine-readable marking reader that determines the presence of a travel document having one or more machine readable markings, scans the one or more machine-readable markings, and decodes the scanned one or more machine-readable markings, wherein the one or more machine-readable markings contain encoded traveled-related information pertaining to the traveler, and a display control unit that receives the decoded one or more machine-readable marking, and displays the travel-related information contained in the decoded one or more machine-readable markings to the traveler on the low-cost display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Arinc Incorporated
    Inventor: Rolf R. Stefani
  • Patent number: 8496180
    Abstract: A system allows a connecting a mobile device with a barcode scanner to a stationary device by scanning a barcode displayed on a display of the stationary device. The system allows connecting only one mobile device to the stationary device at any given time and allows connecting the mobile device to only one stationary device at any given time. Once connected to the stationary device, the mobile device may be used to scan additional printed barcodes and barcodes displayed by the stationary device or elsewhere, sending data corresponding to the scanned barcodes to the stationary device as if the data were entered by an input device of the stationary device. The barcode scanning functionality may also allow other ways of controlling the mobile device, including performing speed dialing, call transfer, or other telephone functionality based on barcode scanning Encryption and other similar techniques may be employed for additional security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: John Bahr, Scott Hallowell, Aaron Bell, Christopher Piekarski
  • Patent number: 8496169
    Abstract: An enhanced security system utilizes a consumer wireless device and independent secure servers to enhance identification and authentication of the electronic ticketing. The consumer may make an eTicket purchase using a network, such as the Internet, in a conventional manner. The server involved in the purchase may send an eTicket confirmation to a consumer wireless device. However, master records of the transaction are sent via a secure link to a vendor server, typically associated with a wireless service provider. At a point just-in-time, the vendor server transmits symbology to the consumer wireless device and transmits additional data related to the symbology to a security server. When the consumer arrives with the eTicket, the consumer also uses the displayed symbology on the consumer wireless device. The symbology is scanned and compared with data transmitted from the vendor server to the security server. If authenticated, the eTicket may be authenticated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Christofferson
  • Patent number: 8490877
    Abstract: A digital-imaging based system for and method of reading graphical indicia, including code symbols, on objects such as, but not limited to, code symbol menus by the user simply pointing his or her finger at the particular code symbol on the code symbol menu to be read, while digital images of the code symbol menu and the pointing finger are automatically captured, buffered and processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Philip Kearney
  • Publication number: 20130182912
    Abstract: A check-in method for airlines allows passengers to use Short Message Service (SMS) to check-in themselves and baggage. A passenger requests to check-in via SMS from practically anywhere and not limited to the airport. After receipt of the request, a confirmation message is sent back to the passenger's registered mobile phone number by SMS. The system will ask the passenger for, and receive from the passenger, the number of bags they intend to check-in for the flight. The passengers can in some embodiments drop the baggage off without any required further action. The system issues an SMS-based cryptographically secure code, such as a bar-code boarding pass to the passenger once the baggage (if any) is successfully transferred and registered to existing baggage management systems through the process above. This code, when scanned, recognized and authenticated provides identification and security clearance for the passenger to board the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventor: bCode Pty Limited
  • Patent number: 8485430
    Abstract: A data decoding system that includes a server-side proxy component and at least two back-end computers, where the server-side proxy component is configured, when it receives a decoding request from a client, to select a back-end computer to forward the decoding request to, based on either a pre-defined rule, load estimates for the at least two computers, estimated network throughputs across network paths to the two computers. In response to receiving this request, the back-end computer that is selected is configured to decode the request, which is an image of decodable indicia, by locating the decodable indicia within the image and decoding it into a decoded message. The decodable indicia was provided by a raw image byte stream, a compressed image byte stream, or a partial compressed image byte stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Huyu Qu, Ynjiun Paul Wang
  • Patent number: 8485438
    Abstract: User credentials are passed to a mobile computing device using scannable images. A scannable image is generated based on a previously created user profile. A user accesses a website from a computer and, in response, the scannable image is locally displayed on the computer. The mobile computing device may be authenticated by capturing the scannable image that is displayed on the computer. In the event that a user profile stored on the mobile computing device matches the previously created user profile that is encoded in the scannable image, the mobile computing device is authenticated. The user may then directly access data and/or interact with the website using the authenticated mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Morgan Francois Stephan Dollard