Bar Width Determination Patents (Class 235/462.16)
  • Patent number: 11281947
    Abstract: An image processing device configured to generate printing image data used during printing from input image data including a bar code constituted by a bar element and a space element that are a plurality of elements arranged based on a predetermined standard, includes a frequency distribution calculation unit configured to acquire widths of the plurality of elements respectively to calculate a frequency distribution of the widths of the plurality of elements, a standard width determination unit configured to determine a standard width of the plurality of elements of the barcode in the printing image data using the frequency distribution, and a correction unit configured to correct the widths of the plurality of elements of the barcode in the printing image data to the standard width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Takeuchi, Masaya Usui
  • Patent number: 11151346
    Abstract: The techniques described herein relate to methods, apparatus, and computer readable media configured to decode a symbol in a digital image. A digital image of a portion of a symbol is received, which includes a grid of pixels and the symbol includes a grid of modules. A spatial mapping is determined between a contiguous subset of modules in the grid of modules to the grid of pixels. Causal relationships are determined, using the spatial mapping, between each module and the grid of pixels. A set of valid combinations of values of neighboring modules in the contiguous subset of modules are tested against the grid of pixels using the causal relationships. A value of at least one module of the two or more neighboring modules is determined based on the tested set of valid combinations. The symbol is decoded based on the determined value of the at least one module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Bachelder, James A. Negro
  • Patent number: 10997481
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods capable of collecting and analyzing a multi-fields two-dimensional code. A computer-implemented method of analyzing multi-fields two-dimensional code, comprises: receiving decoded multi-fields two dimensional code; identifying a first field and a second field from the decoded multi-fields two dimensional code; and determining whether the first field of the multi-fields two-dimensional code matches one of multiple pieces of pre-stored first information and whether the second field of the multi-fields two-dimensional code has ever been collected before, for providing a result with respect to the decoded multi-fields two dimensional code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Gmedia Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Shen, Kaijun Cao, Hongqiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10842016
    Abstract: A compact and efficient LED array lighting component comprising a circuit board with an array of LED chips mounted on it and electrically interconnected. A plurality of primary lenses is included, each of which is formed directly over each LED chip and/or a sub-group of the LED chips. A heat sink is included with the circuit board mounted to the heat sink so that heat from the LED chips spreads into the heat sink. In some embodiments the circuit board can be thermally conductive and electrically insulating. Method of forming an LED component are also disclosed utilizing chip-on-board mounting techniques for mounting the LED chips on the circuit board, and molding of the primary lenses directly over the LED chips individually or in sub-groups of LED chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Chandan Bhat, Theodore Douglas Lowes, Julio Garceran, Bernd Keller
  • Patent number: 10699089
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for decoding barcodes. A scan signal is acquired along a scan through a barcode. A first character unit grid for a unit width pattern within the barcode along the scan is determined. At least one set of sampling coefficients relating the unit width pattern to a portion of the scan signal is determined based on the first character unit grid. The element width pattern for the unit width pattern is determined based on the at least one set of sampling coefficients and the portion of the scan signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Bachelder, James A. Negro, Shekhar Sastry, Yael Steinsaltz
  • Patent number: 10599902
    Abstract: The techniques described herein relate to methods, apparatus, and computer readable media configured to decode a symbol in a digital image. A digital image of a portion of a symbol is received, which includes a grid of pixels and the symbol includes a grid of modules. A spatial mapping is determined between a contiguous subset of modules in the grid of modules to the grid of pixels. Causal relationships are determined, using the spatial mapping, between each module and the grid of pixels. A set of valid combinations of values of neighboring modules in the contiguous subset of modules are tested against the grid of pixels using the causal relationships. A value of at least one module of the two or more neighboring modules is determined based on the tested set of valid combinations. The symbol is decoded based on the determined value of the at least one module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Bachelder, James A. Negro
  • Patent number: 10509933
    Abstract: In a method, whether there is a first bar having a width and located at at least one of both ends of a first black and white pattern is determined. The width of the bar is greater than a maximum width of a second bar. The maximum width of the second bar appears in a second black and white pattern assuming that the black and white pattern is part of the first barcode. The first black and white pattern is determined as readout data of the second barcode when it is determined that there is the first bar having the width greater than the maximum width of the second bar and located at at least one of both ends of the first black and white pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Masahiro Hara
  • Patent number: 10466111
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to monitoring temperature or movement of merchandise during and after transport of the merchandise. Some of these embodiments include systems for monitoring the temperature of merchandise items comprising: a temperature sensor disposed at or near one or more merchandise items; a control circuit operatively coupled to the temperature sensor, the control circuit configured to: read temperature measurements from the temperature sensor at predetermined time intervals; generate and encode a barcode with data representing a first temperature measurement; and update and encode the barcode with data representing the first temperature measurement and one or more subsequent temperature measurements; and an interface operatively coupled to the control circuit and configured to display the updated barcode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholaus A. Jones, Matthew A. Jones, Robert J. Taylor, Aaron J. Vasgaard
  • Patent number: 10295147
    Abstract: A light emitting device or array comprising a submount having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of edges, with input and output terminals disposed on the top surface. A plurality of attach pads and traces are also disposed on the top surface and electrically connected between the input and output terminals. A plurality of LEDs are also included, each of which is mounted to one of the attach pads. The attach pads cover more of the top surface than the LEDs and spread heat from the LEDs to the top surface of the submount. A plurality of lenses are also included each of which is molded over a respective one of the attach pads and covers the LED mounted to the particular attach pad. The arrays are shaped and arranged so that they can be easily attached to similar arrays in a tiling fashion, with the desired number of arrays included to meet the desired lighting requirements. Methods for fabricating the arrays from a single submount or submounts panel are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Cheng-Hsin Yuan, Bernd Keller
  • Patent number: 10237533
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a process that includes obtaining three-dimensional image content having first and second images. The first and second images include first and second numbers of pixels. The first and second images are arranged according to a shared coordinate system to portray different perspectives of a common scene. A first portion of pixels are removed from the first image based on a filtering of the first image, resulting in a first remaining number of pixels. A second portion of pixels are removed from the second image based on positions of the first portion of pixels in the shared coordinate system, resulting in a second remaining number of pixels. The first remaining portion of pixels is combined with the second remaining portion of pixels to form a transport frame for delivery to a media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Pierre Costa, Ahmad Ansari
  • Patent number: 10171278
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for frequency offset estimation are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes determining a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) frequency offset estimate from DMRS symbols in a received signal, and determining a cyclic prefix (CP) frequency offset estimate from cyclic prefix values in the received signal. The method also includes combining the DMRS and CP frequency offset estimates to determine a final frequency offset estimate. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a DMRS frequency offset estimator that determines a DMRS frequency offset estimate based on DMRS symbols received in an uplink transmission, and a cyclic prefix (CP) frequency offset estimator that determines a CP frequency offset estimate based on cyclic prefix values in the uplink transmission. The apparatus also includes an offset combiner that combines the DMRS frequency offset estimate with the CP frequency offset estimate to generate a final frequency offset estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: CAVIUM, LLC
    Inventors: Hyun Soo Cheon, Hong Jik Kim, Tejas M. Bhatt
  • Patent number: 10133974
    Abstract: Technology for generating, reading, and using machine-readable codes is disclosed. There is a method, performed by an image capture device, for reading and using the codes. The method includes obtaining an image, identifying an area in the image having a machine-readable code. The method also includes, within the image area, finding a predefined start marker defining a start point and a predefined stop marker defining a stop point, an axis being defined there between. A plurality of axis points can be defined along the axis. For each axis point, a first distance within the image area to a mark is determined. The distance can be measured from the axis point in a first direction which is orthogonal to the axis. The first distances can be converted to a binary code using Gray code such that each first distance encodes at least one bit of data in the code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Spotify AB
    Inventors: Keenan Cassidy, Damian Ferrai, Ludvig Strigeus, Mattias Svala, Nicklas Söderlind, Jimmy Wahlberg
  • Patent number: 10049245
    Abstract: Method of and system for reading bar code symbols using a hand-supportable laser scanning bar code symbol reading system supporting an improved level control over the length of laser scan lines projected onto scanned objects, at any instant in time, in a manner dependent the detected location, distance or range of the scanned object in the scanning field of the system during system operation. The length characteristics of the laser scan line are controlled by setting the laser scan sweep angle as a function of detected or estimated distance or range of the object from the system. In the illustrative embodiment, the laser scan sweep angle is controlled by supplying a drive current to the scanning mechanism, as a function of detected or estimated distance or range of the object from the scanning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhipeng Teng, Haixi Wang
  • Patent number: 9846792
    Abstract: A printer and a control method of a printer can print barcodes appropriately according to a given print medium by means of a simple, easy operation. The printer stores a constant preset correction value relationally corresponding to each type of print medium. The printer also stores an added correction value that is optionally input for each specific type of print medium. The preset constant correction value and the added correction value are used to adjust the printed state of the barcode, e.g. to adjust bar widths within the barcode. The print control unit prints barcodes as adjusted using the preset constant correction value stored in the printer storage unit and further adjusted using the added correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoharu Kifuku, Koji Yamada
  • Patent number: 9793247
    Abstract: An LED component according to the present invention comprising an array of LED chips mounted on a submount with the LED chips capable of emitting light in response to an electrical signal. The array can comprise LED chips emitting at two colors of light wherein the LED component emits light comprising the combination of the two colors of light. A single lens is included over the array of LED chips. The LED chip array can emit light of greater than 800 lumens with a drive current of less than 150 milli-Amps. The LED chip component can also operate at temperatures less than 3000 degrees K. In one embodiment, the LED array is in a substantially circular pattern on the submount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: CREE, INC., KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV
    Inventors: Thomas Yuan, Bernd Keller, Eric Tarsa, James Ibbetson, Frederick Morgan, Kevin Dowling, Ihor Lys
  • Patent number: 9786811
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to LED components, and systems using such components, having a light emission profile that may be controlled independently of the lens shape by varying the position and/or orientation of LED chips with respect to one or both of an overlying lens and the surface of the component. For example, the optical centers of the LED emitting surface and the lens, which are normally aligned, may be offset from each other to generate a controlled and predictable emission profile. The LED chips may be positioned to provide a peak emission shifted from a perpendicular centerline of the lens base. The use of offset emitters allows for LED components with shifted or tilted emission patterns, without causing output at high angles of the components. This is beneficial as it allows a lighting system to have tilted emission from the LED component and primary optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Fabian Rol, Eric Tarsa, Bernd Keller, Theodore D. Lowes, David T. Emerson
  • Patent number: 9651574
    Abstract: A MEMS-sensor structure comprising first means and second means coupled for double differential detection and positioned symmetrically to provide quantities for the double differential detection in a phase shift. If the sensor deforms, due to a specifically symmetric positioning of the first and second means, the effect of the displacement is at least partly eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: MURATA ELECTRONICS OY
    Inventors: Ville-Pekka Rytkönen, Leif Roschier, Anssi Blomqvist
  • Patent number: 9484329
    Abstract: Solid state lighting components are disclosed having multiple discrete light sources whose light combines to provide the desired emission characteristics. One embodiment of an LED component according to the present invention comprises a rectangular submount. A first group of blue shifted yellow (BSY) LED chips, a second group of BSY LED chips and a group of red LED chips are mounted on the submount. A plurality of contacts is arranged along one of the edges of the submount and accessible from one side of the component for applying electrical signals to the groups of LED chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Antony P. van de Ven, Gerald Negley, Thomas Yuan, Bernd Keller, Theodore Lowes
  • Patent number: 9425172
    Abstract: Lamps, luminaries or solid state lighting components are disclosed having multiple discrete light sources whose light combines to provide the desired emission characteristics. The discrete light sources are arranged in an array pursuant to certain guidelines to promote mixing of light from light sources emitting different colors of light. One embodiment solid state lighting component comprises a light emitting diode (LED) component having an array of LED chips having a first group of LED chips and one or more additional groups of LED chips. The array is arranged so that no two LED chips from said first group are directly next to one another in the array, that less than fifty percent (50%) of the LED chips in the first group of LEDs is on the perimeter of the array, and at least three LED chips from the one or more additional groups is adjacent each of the LED chips in the first group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Antony P. van de Ven, Gerald Negley
  • Patent number: 9384495
    Abstract: Portable mobile devices may have ambient light sensors (ALS) capable of modulating the level of backlight on the display of the portable electronic device in various environmental situations. The ALS is capable of receiving an infrared signal or a visible light signal that may then be read to determine an end and a beginning, and parsed to extract the code. The information sent from the infrared or visible light source to the portable electronic device may be handled by the device in various ways including direct processing and display to present the user of the portable electronic device with a coupon, offer, or other benefit. This may occur in several ways including displaying a coupon or an offer, launching a URL or URI, or launching an application on the portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Warren B. Cope, Manoj Monga, Lyle W. Paczkowski
  • Patent number: 9335006
    Abstract: SSL lamps or luminaires are disclosed that combine blue, yellow (or green) and red photons or emissions to generate light with the desired characteristics. In different embodiments according to the present invention, the blue emission is not provided by an LED chip or package having a blue LED coated with a yellow phosphor, with blue light leaking through the yellow phosphor. Instead, the blue light component can be provided by other types of LED chips in the SSL luminaire such as one having a blue LED covered by a different colored conversion material, with blue light from the blue LED leaking through the different colored conversion material. In one embodiment, the blue component can be provided by an LED chip comprising a blue emitting LED covered by a conversion material that absorbs blue light and re-emits red light, with a portion of the blue light from the LED leaking through the red conversion material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: CREE, INC.
    Inventors: Ronan Le Toquin, Bernd Keller, Tao Tong, Gerald Negley, Antony P. Van De Ven, John Roberts
  • Patent number: 9177032
    Abstract: Decision devices, systems, and methods to provide a product resource are provided herein. The decision devices include an analysis engine. The analysis engine receives an information resource and at least one product parameter. The analysis engine searches the information resource to identify at least one search result and dynamically analyzes the at least one search result to provide the product resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen M DeRoos, Miles K Thorland, Stephen M. Brethauer, Craig M Blackwood, John A Landry
  • Patent number: 9076940
    Abstract: An LED component comprising an array of LED chips mounted on a planar surface of a submount with the LED chips capable of emitting light in response to an electrical signal. The LED chips comprise respective groups emitting at different colors of light, with each of the groups interconnected in a series circuit. A lens is included over the LED chips. Other embodiments can comprise thermal spreading structures included integral to the submount and arranged to dissipate heat from the LED chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Yuan, Bernd Keller, James Ibbetson, Eric Tarsa, Gerald Negley
  • Patent number: 9047525
    Abstract: There is described an imaging apparatus having an imaging assembly that includes an image sensor. The imaging apparatus can capture a frame of image data having image data corresponding to a first set of pixels of the image sensor. The imaging apparatus can capture a frame or image data having image data corresponding to a second set of pixels of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles P. Barber, Carl W. Gerst, George S. Smith, Robert M. Hussey, Robert C. Gardiner, Matthew W. Pankow
  • Patent number: 8824017
    Abstract: A detector and a printer using the same are provided. The printer includes a body and the detector. The body has a base and a shaft located above the base. The detector includes multiple inducted modules, a carriage, an inducing unit, and a light receiving unit. The inducted modules are disposed on the base of the body aligning to an axial direction of the shaft. The carriage is disposed on the shaft. The inducing unit and the light receiving unit are disposed on the carriage. During a printing process, the carriage moves back and forth along the axial direction, and the inducing unit induces the corresponding inducted modules to emit lights. The light receiving unit receives light emitted from one of the inducted modules and penetrated a paper undergoing the printing process for detecting a paper barcode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignees: Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited, Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ting-Shi Tsai
  • Patent number: 8746567
    Abstract: Disclosed is a barcode reader, comprising: a scanner unit which scans a barcode by emitting laser beam and receiving reflection light thereof to obtain image data; a judgment unit which judges a portion of the image data corresponding to each end portion of a swing width of the laser beam as a data unstable range and judges a portion of the image data other than the data unstable range as a data stable range; and a decoding unit which sets a tolerance of error of the image data low against a threshold in the data unstable range, the threshold being used to judge data width of black bars and white spaces of the barcode, to decode the data unstable range, and sets the tolerance of error of the image data high against the threshold in the data stable range to decode the data stable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 8740082
    Abstract: Method of and system for reading bar code symbols a laser scanning bar code symbol reading system having the capacity to intelligently control the scan sweep angle of a laser scanning beam in a user-transparent and intuitive manner. In the event that two or more bar code symbol indications are represented in a buffered line of scan data, then the scan sweep angle of the laser scanning beam is automatically reduced so that the resulting laser scanning beam will be shortened and only a single bar code symbol will be scanned, most likely with the center portion of the laser scanning beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Wilz, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8668149
    Abstract: Misreads in decodable indicia by terminals such as bar code scanners (e.g., laser, image sensors) can occur. Solutions can include increasing redundancy or screening out erroneous data. Embodiments of screening error reduction circuits, terminals, and/or methods for processing decodable indicia data are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Good
  • Patent number: 8608074
    Abstract: For recognizing two-width barcodes having N bars and N spaces, a first class (cluster) A of wide bars or spaces contains n elements Array [1] to Array [n], and a second class (cluster) B of narrow bars or spaces contains N?n elements Array [n+1] to Array [N] are created. Looping n times where n=1 to N?1, a mean value ?A to of class A and a mean value ?B of class B are calculated, a between-class difference D=?A??B is calculated, a value of n when D achieves a maximum value is recorded, and if n=M when D achieves the maximum value, then the N bars or spaces are recognized as a two-width barcode; otherwise, the N bars or spaces are determined as not a two-width barcode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yang Yang
  • Publication number: 20130256417
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for recognizing a barcode is disclosed, the recognizing method including steps of selecting and interpolating X-axis data at an arbitrary Y-axis of the barcode, detecting peaks of black and white modules of the barcode and restoring the barcode, and estimating widths of the black and white modules, extracting binary data and decoding the binary data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sangyong Lee
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130153665
    Abstract: For recognizing two-width barcodes having N bars and N spaces, a first class (cluster) A of wide bars or spaces contains n elements Array [1] to Array [n], and a second class (cluster) B of narrow bars or spaces contains N?n elements Array [n+1] to Array [N] are created. Looping n times where n=1 to N?1, a mean value ?A to of class A and a mean value ?B of class B are calculated, a between-class difference D=?A??B is calculated, a value of n when D achieves a maximum value is recorded, and if n=M when D achieves the maximum value, then the N bars or spaces are recognized as a two-width barcode; otherwise, the N bars or spaces are determined as not a two-width barcode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventor: Yang Yang
  • Patent number: 8403221
    Abstract: Provided is a method and an apparatus for reading barcode information; the method and apparatus being able to read barcode information correctly without being influenced by the environmental conditions at the time of reading the barcode information. When a reading method according to a prescribed rule could not read a character, each element width is judged again to be either thin or thick according to structural characteristics of characters to convert again an element width matrix into a bit pattern, and then a character corresponding to the bit pattern as a result of the re-conversion is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8393542
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reading stacked bar code information are provided which make it possible to shorten the processing time for reading the stacked bar code information. A plurality of conversion processes are disclosed for creating line width matrixes through measurement of the line width of bars and spaces of one column of the image data, by using each of a plurality of threshold values. A cluster number according to a line width matrix calculated through one of the plurality of conversion processes is then compared to a theoretical value of a cluster number of each row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8376234
    Abstract: Symbols having symbologies with multi-unit, bar and space element, start and stop patterns on curved surfaces of objects, are electro-optically read by capturing light from a target symbol over a scan line, and by generating an electrical analog signal indicative of the captured light over the scan line. A controller digitizes the electrical analog signal into a digitized signal, decodes the digitized signal between the start and stop patterns into valid characters of the target symbol, identifies leading and trailing waveform portions of the analog signal indicative of the start and stop patterns, matches the identified leading and trailing waveform portions of the analog signal against known analog waveforms of the start and stop patterns of the target symbol, and verifies that a match has occurred when the matching between the leading and trailing waveform portions and the known analog waveforms exceeds a known threshold correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dariusz Madej
  • Patent number: 8374626
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a location information service using a mobile code in a Mobile Station (MS). The method includes scanning, by an input device of the MS, a mobile code; analyzing identifier information of the scanned mobile code; determining whether the identifier information corresponds to other information stored in the MS; if the identifier information corresponds to other information stored in the MS, acquiring location information, to be matched on a first cyber map in the MS, corresponding to the identifier information; matching the acquired location information on the first cyber map and displaying the matched first cyber map on an output device of the MS; and calculating a moving distance and a path using at least one location corresponding to the acquired location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hae-Young Jun, Seok-Hoon Choi, Ji-Hye Lee
  • Patent number: 8356753
    Abstract: A method for multi-type barcode recognition is provided for recognizing a current barcode, so as to determine a barcode type of the current barcode among supported barcode types and the corresponding barcode information. In the method, a record table is loaded in advance for recording the matching frequency that each supported barcode type matches the barcode type of recognized barcodes. According to the matching frequency these supported barcode types are sorted in a recognizing sequence to be utilized to recognize the current barcode according to the recognizing sequence. Every time a current barcode is to be recognized, the supported barcode type utilized to recognize the current barcode is picked up according to the recognizing sequence, so as to determine the barcode type of the current barcode. The supported barcode type that most frequently matches the recognized barcode will be picked up at first, therefore, the barcode recognition efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Getac Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hann-Huei Chiou, Yu-Jen Tu
  • Patent number: 8333326
    Abstract: In a decoding section of a stacked barcode reader, the brightness values of multiple pixels configuring image data are used to calculate multiple line widths of the bars and the spaces of the stacked barcode. Based on the evaluation value of the frequency distribution of multiple line widths, a priority order of T-sequence is determined. According to this priority order, the T-sequence is measured and the code word corresponding to the T-sequence is obtained. With this, the priority order of the T-sequence is determined based on the evaluation value (such as the maximum value, variance, etc.) of the frequency distribution of the line widths of the bars and the spaces that configure the stacked barcode increasing reading performance of the barcode reader on a stacked barcode while reducing the number of errors in all the decoded code words, despite the level of the resolution of the image pickup optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8308064
    Abstract: A barcode evaluation method for receiving an input image, performing an evaluation along a scanning direction upon the input image, and generating a barcode evaluation data includes: deriving at least one first luminance group in the input image according to a luminance threshold; documenting a plurality of characteristic values corresponding to the at least one luminance group, respectively; referring to a plurality of characteristic values of at least one specific first luminance group within the first luminance group to determine a distribution direction, and determining whether the specific first luminance group belongs to a barcode; and utilizing a processing element to generate the barcode evaluation data according to the input image, the distribution direction and the scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Ting-Yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 8247018
    Abstract: The present invention relates to method for quality control of surface coated objects used independently or in conjunction with product authentication; methods for assuring proper product handling; methods for assuring that product contents' match product's label, comprising the use of microparticulate taggants having different detectable physical properties, wherein each combination of properties is used as an encoding bit to create codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Authentiform Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Mercolino
  • Publication number: 20120199656
    Abstract: Disclosed is a barcode reader, comprising: a scanner unit which scans a barcode by emitting laser beam and receiving reflection light thereof to obtain image data; a judgment unit which judges a portion of the image data corresponding to each end portion of a swing width of the laser beam as a data unstable range and judges a portion of the image data other than the data unstable range as a data stable range; and a decoding unit which sets a tolerance of error of the image data low against a threshold in the data unstable range, the threshold being used to judge data width of black bars and white spaces of the barcode, to decode the data unstable range, and sets the tolerance of error of the image data high against the threshold in the data stable range to decode the data stable range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toru KITAGAWA
  • Patent number: 8226007
    Abstract: A method for reading and using partial data from a portable data carrier includes reading data from a portable data carrier, determining if any data is missing, and if any data is missing, restructuring the data for use, such as for running an audio decoder and expander. A method for writing data to a portable data carrier having limited capacity includes receiving a data file and optimizing at least one encoding parameter to fit at least a portion of the data file into the portable data carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: LTT, Ltd
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Berkun
  • Patent number: 8196836
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first detecting unit and a second detecting unit. The first detecting unit detects a leading end portion of an information image based on a first criterion and a ratio of a width of a certain white image area in the information image to a width of a black image area being detected prior to the certain white image area. The second detecting unit takes one of the black image areas and white image areas as an image area of interest and detects a portion, other than the leading end portion, of the information image based on a second criterion and at least one of ratios of a width of the image area of interest to widths of black and white image areas being detected prior to the image area of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryoko Usuba
  • Patent number: 8162223
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for decoding a bar code. Decoding the bar code includes segmenting the bar code into black tokens, white tokens and gray boundary pixels. Decoding the bar code also includes calculating a boundary position of each token with sub-pixel positional accuracy using intensity values of pixels in a boundary region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eunice Poon, Jia Li, Seungsik Kwak, Mikhail Brusnitsyn
  • Publication number: 20120085821
    Abstract: A barcode evaluation method for receiving an input image, performing an evaluation along a scanning direction upon the input image, and generating a barcode evaluation data includes: deriving at least one first luminance group in the input image according to a luminance threshold; documenting a plurality of characteristic values corresponding to the at least one luminance group, respectively; referring to a plurality of characteristic values of at least one specific first luminance group within the first luminance group to determine a distribution direction, and determining whether the specific first luminance group belongs to a barcode; and utilizing a processing element to generate the barcode evaluation data according to the input image, the distribution direction and the scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: Ting-Yuan Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120085823
    Abstract: In a decoding section of a stacked barcode reader, the brightness values of multiple pixels configuring image data are used to calculate multiple line widths of the bars and the spaces of the stacked barcode. Based on the evaluation value of the frequency distribution of multiple line widths, a priority order of T-sequence is determined. According to this priority order, the T-sequence is measured and the code word corresponding to the T-sequence is obtained. With this, the priority order of the T-sequence is determined based on the evaluation value (such as the maximum value, variance, etc.) of the frequency distribution of the line widths of the bars and the spaces that configure the stacked barcode increasing reading performance of the barcode reader on a stacked barcode while reducing the number of errors in all the decoded code words, despite the level of the resolution of the image pickup optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: Hiroshi NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8146816
    Abstract: Techniques for creating a multi-modal one-dimensional (1D) barcode are provided. The techniques include obtaining N one-dimensional (1D) barcode images, wherein N 1D barcode images comprise two or more 1D barcode images, placing the N 1D barcode images with a horizontal displacement of 1/N barcode units, and combining the N 1D barcode images with the displacement to create a multi-modal 1D barcode. Techniques for decoding a multi-modal barcode are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Peter Kuyper-Hammond, Michael Charles Osborne, Tamas Visegrady
  • Patent number: 8146815
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bar code generator which improves a print quality of a bar code and further enhances reading precision thereof, as to both vertical and horizontal bar codes. In this bar code generator, bar width information is set independently for each of the vertical and horizontal bar codes, as a precondition for printing the vertical and horizontal bar codes, selectively. When the bar code is printed (S802), it is determined whether the bar code is vertical or horizontal (S803), and according to the result of the determination, the bar width information of the determined bar code orientation is read out for drawing an image of the bar code (S804, S805, and S806). The result being drawn is transmitted to the printer, and the bar code is printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Inc.
    Inventor: Chiharu Yumoto
  • Publication number: 20110215152
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for decoding a bar code. Decoding the bar code includes segmenting the bar code into black tokens, white tokens and gray boundary pixels. Decoding the bar code also includes calculating a boundary position of each token with sub-pixel positional accuracy using intensity values of pixels in a boundary region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Eunice Poon, Jia Li, Seungsik Kwak, Mikhail Brusnitsyn
  • Patent number: 7946491
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a camera barcode reader includes a processing element configured to process an input image for an attempt to decode the input image using a current barcode reading method, to determine whether the processing of the input image is successful, to switch to one of a different barcode reading method or processing a new frame of the input image using the current barcode reading method in response to the processing of the input image being unsuccessful, to attempt a decode of the input image using the current barcode reading method in response to the processing of the input image being successful, and to perform a switch to the different barcode reading method in response to a failure of the attempt to decode the input image using the first barcode reading method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian Burian, Jari A. Kangas, Markku Vehvilainen