Including Count Or Time To Binary Conversion (e.g., Wide=1, Narrow=0) Patents (Class 235/462.19)
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Patent number: 9916581Abstract: A method of reconstructing a packet that includes financial card information from a mobile device uses a card reader. The card reader has a read head, a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card and device electronics that includes a microcontroller with logic resources with code. The card reader has a unique identifier and associated cryptographic key. The same code is used to produce an encrypted and signed signal. The encrypted and signed signal, that includes the card reader identifier, is sent to the mobile device. The mobile device sends an encrypted and signed packet to a back end of a payment system. A cryptographic key is used to decrypt and verify the contents of the packet at the back end. Non-encrypted financial card information is sent to a payment gateway.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2011Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: SQUARE, INC.Inventors: Jack Dorsey, Nathan P. McCauley, Justin Phillip Cummins, Diogo Monica, Oliver Samuel Curran Quigley, James M. McKelvey
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Patent number: 9076157Abstract: A computer-implemented process for a customer to scan items for purchase and proceed to a rapid checkout can be operated within a processor of a portable computerized device. The process includes monitoring a scan of an item to be purchased, the scan comprising an image captured by a camera device of the portable computerized device, commanding deactivation of the camera device after execution of the scan, monitoring an indication by a user of the portable computerized device that an item is to be scanned, and commanding activation of the camera device based upon the monitored activation.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2013Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: WAL-MART STORES, INC.Inventors: Richard Neil Cancro, Douglas James Pedley, Joel Bennett Acker, Jr.
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Patent number: 8668149Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 16, 2009Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.Inventor: Timothy Good
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Publication number: 20110220721Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Inventor: Hiroshi NAKAMURA
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Patent number: 7748629Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading a target object having areas of differing light reflectivity on the target such as a handheld bar code reader having a first illumination pattern, a detector for measuring a distance from the reader to a target object, a system threshold, and a comparator for evaluating the measured distance against the threshold. Should the reader's internal circuitry and/or software determine that the measured distance is greater than the threshold, a second illumination pattern is activated that has power effective illumination for increasing the operable reading distance between the reader and the target object. The second illumination pattern can be generated from a secondary illumination source or through a lens internal to the reader.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2006Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Christopher Brock
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Patent number: 7677457Abstract: Described is a method and system for barcode decoding. The method comprises receiving an input signal corresponding to a reflection of light from a bar code. The input signal is divided into a predetermined number of segments. Each segment includes a plurality of samples. Each of the segments is represented using at least one of the samples therefrom. At least one sample from each segment is analyzed to determine a location the bar code within the input signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2005Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Dariusz Madej
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Patent number: 7422155Abstract: An image printing method and apparatus which can detect the edge of a printing medium on which a barcode is written while reading the barcode using one sensor unit. The apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium on which a barcode is written includes a sensor unit sensing the barcode and generating a sensing signal. A first counting unit counts the sensing signal to generate a first count value when the value of the sensing signal is changed from a high value to a low value. A second counting unit counts the sensing signal of the barcode simultaneously with the first counting unit to generate a second count value which is initialized whenever the value of the sensing signal is changed. A detecting unit detects the edge of the printing medium based on the first and second count values of the first counting unit and the second counting unit. A reading unit reads the barcode based on the second count value of the second counting unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2005Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jin-Tae Chung
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Patent number: 7380721Abstract: A barcode sensor package has an optical emitter circuit and an optical detector circuit which are formed as one or more integrated optical circuits disposed in a housing which has a reading surface and one or more apertures located between the optical emitter and detector circuits. The optical emitter circuit has an emitter die, such as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), for emitting a light beam and a diffraction optical element disposed on the emitter die for focusing the light beam to a bar code. The optical detector circuit has a photodetector die, such as a phototransistor, for detecting reflective light and another diffraction optical element disposed on the photodetector die for guiding light reflected from the bar code to the detector. The diffraction optical elements are fabricated by patterning optical layers, deposited on respective emitter and detector dies, using photolithograph or a direct write process.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Wenwei Zhang
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Patent number: 7299985Abstract: A system and method for encoding scanner signal strength and timing information provided, possibly on multiple signal lines, from a digitizer circuit into a signal that can be transmitted on a single line to a modified decoder. A multiplexing device multiplexes the multiple signals, which can be multi-bit or dual-DBP signals, into a single signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Costanzo di Fazio, James R. Giebel, Gary Schneider, Frederick Schuessler
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Patent number: 7273177Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to decoding encoded barcode information from a series of camera-captured images by generating binarized sequences from the series of camera-captured images and decoding the encoded barcode information from the binarized sequences. A series of preprocessed images is generated from the series of camera-captured images by removing non-uniform illumination, reducing noise, and enhancing contrast between bars and spaces of the series of camera-captured images. Barcode-image orientations are estimated for the series of preprocessed images. The series of preprocessed images are projected along their respective barcode-image orientations to generate a series of gray-sequence images that represent barcode information in one dimension. The binarized sequences, each of which contains partial barcode information, are connected into a concatenated sequence according to computed shift information of neighboring binarized sequences.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Jian Wang, Chunhui Zhang
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Patent number: 7137558Abstract: Methods and apparatus described herein form barcode characters by determining a number of pixels associated with forming a first bar and a second bar of a first barcode character. A separation width value associated with the first bar and the second bar is determined based on the number of pixels. A second separation width value is then generated based on the at least one separation width value. A barcode character is then formed based on the second separation width value.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2004Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: R.R. Donnelley & Sons CompanyInventor: Charlie Aigeldinger
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Patent number: 7133791Abstract: N-sample level-crossing estimator methods and devices are provided that extract more information from given time samples than the current two-sample approach and that are more resistant to interference from noises. The two-mean level-crossing time-interval estimation method extracts more information from given time samples than existing methods, advantageously estimates a level-crossing time interval with a limited number of time samples and is quieter than current noisy estimation techniques. The two-mean level crossing time-interval estimation method for N-sample estimation uses all N time samples by calculating the mean value of the first N/2 time samples and subtracting it by the second N/2 time sample to average out the noises in time samples.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventor: Wei Su
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Patent number: 7124945Abstract: The present invention relates to a reading unit and a marking card for optical mark reader. The reading unit comprises a plurality of optical sensing devices (R1, R2, R3, R4 . . . ) corresponding to a plurality of marks (M1, M2, M3, M4 . . . ); and a plurality of counters (CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4 . . . ) for converting output signals to output values corresponding to an amount of light sensed, and for sending the output values to a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU performs an answer checking process by a logical calculation based on the output values from the counters (CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4 . . . ).Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2002Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Easy Test Co., Ltd.Inventor: Taek-Jin Kim
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Patent number: 7077322Abstract: An extractor extracts a part that is apparently a bar-code signal from a signal that is subjected to opto-electric conversion. A narrow-band differential processor forms a waveform of an edge by differentiating by using a module frequency. The module point extractor extracts the module point from the waveform. The maximum likelihood judgment processor 5f performs ternarizing based on a maximum likelihood method by using broader information.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2003Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Frontech LimitedInventors: Hideo Miyazawa, Isao Iwaguchi, Mitsuo Watanabe, Kozo Yamazaki, Masanori Ohkawa
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Patent number: 7021545Abstract: In an optical bar-code reader, an optical scanner optically scans a bar code to obtain optical power of light reflected from white bars and black bars of the bar code, a differentiation unit calculates a differential of the optical power to obtain a differential waveform, a dividing unit divides the differential waveform into a positive waveform and a negative waveform, a bar-code correcting unit calculates correct widths of black bars in the bar code from the positive waveform and the negative waveform to create corrected bar-code data, and a converter converts the corrected bar-code data into character data that is an array of numerals and alphabets.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2004Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Frontech LimitedInventors: Isao Iwaguchi, Hideo Miyazawa, Mitsuo Watanabe, Kozo Yamazaki, Masanori Ohkawa
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Patent number: 6978937Abstract: A method of reading information which makes it possible to suppress the size of hardware and a price thereof and to improve an S/N ratio of a reading signal and reading resolution, wherein even if depth of field for reading is enlarged or a concave/convex portion or a blurred portion is left on the reading face, reading precision can be improved. The method includes steps of acquiring from a medium 1, a signal containing binary digit information having a predetermined information length and a one-dimensional arrangement, extracting information concerning an elemental unit length of the information length of the binary digit information from the acquired signal, and reading a ratio of the binary digit information to the information length based on the extracted elemental unit length information.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2003Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Isao Iwaguchi, Takashi Kaku, Hiroyasu Murata, Kozo Yamazaki, Masanori Ohkawa, Mitsuo Watanabe, Hideo Miyazawa
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Patent number: 6945462Abstract: An optical information reading apparatus applies light to an object to be read such as a bar code symbol, photoelectrically converts by a photodetector element a light image formed by the reflection light, and processes the obtained electric signal to output code data. Among the portions performing the signal processing, at least a data converter (13) for converting a photoelectrically converted electric signal into a digital signal, a digital signal calculation unit (17) for calculating the digital signal and generating code data indicating information of an object to be read, an input accumulation unit (20) for accumulating the code data, and a timing control unit (12) for controlling operation timings of these components are arranged on a single substrate as a multipurpose processing circuit block (10).Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2002Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Optoelectronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sachio Tsukuda, Susumu Nakano
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Patent number: 6761314Abstract: A bar code symbology derived from form a set of patterns of bar and spaces in which each character spans a distance of m module widths and is represented by n bars and p interleaved spaces; and the largest single bar or space is limited to k modules in width, having a predetermined start pattern; a predetermined stop pattern; and providing the exclusion from the set of valid patterns those patterns such that the predetermined start pattern is only at one end of a valid symbol, and the predetermined stop pattern is only at the other end of a valid symbol.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2001Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Frederick Schuessler
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Patent number: 6502750Abstract: A scanning system and method reads information symbols, such as optical mark recognition (“OMR”) symbols. Each OMR symbol typically includes a predetermined number of cells, with each cell containing a bar or a space. An object detector detects the presence of an object having an affixed OMR symbol and generates a trigger signal indicating an object has been detected. The object is typically moving past the scanning system and the trigger signal provides timing information for the system so the objects are scanned at the proper times. In response to the trigger signal, a scanner, such as a laser scanning device, scans and decodes the OMR symbol. The laser scanner includes an optical transmitter that generates a scanning laser beam that scans each OMR symbol when the symbol is within a scan window. An optical detector in the scanner is positioned to receive optical energy reflected from each OMR symbol responsive to the scanning laser beam.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1999Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Microscan Systems, Inc.Inventors: Danny S. Barnes, Matthew E. Allen
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Patent number: 6478224Abstract: Systems (apparatus and methods) for reading bar code data detect light reflected and/or refracted from a target. The detected light is converted into an electrical signal containing width values that are indicative of widths of light areas and dark areas of the target. Systems for pre-screening data read by a bar code reader determine whether sequences of width values are consistent with potential bar code data by comparing the relative widths of subsequences of light areas and dark areas. If the relative widths are consistent with bar code data, the width values of the sequence being pre-screened are output to a decoder, which attempts to read the sequence of width values. If the relative width values are inconsistent with bar code data, the sequence of width values is not output to the decoder, thereby decreasing the amount of processing the decoder would otherwise be required to perform.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2001Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: PSC Scanning, Inc.Inventor: Thomas P. Gettys
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Patent number: 6360948Abstract: A method of reading information out of a two-dimensional code made up of a matrix of cells having a given optical pattern is provided. The two-dimensional code has location symbols used to locate the two-dimensional code and alignment symbols used to locate the cells. The method first calculates a central position of each of the alignment symbols in an image of the two-dimensional code using a predetermined positional relation to the location symbols and selects one of reference patterns which matches up with an optical pattern formed with a pixel lying at the calculated central position of the alignment symbol and surrounding pixels. The method specifies an actual central position of each of the alignment symbols in the image of the two-dimensional code using the matched reference pattern.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1999Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Xuhua Yang, Hisashi Shigekusa
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Patent number: 6357660Abstract: A bar code reading apparatus including a reader for reading a bar code expressing a plurality of characters, and a CPU for decoding the characters according to a result of reading by the reader. A ratio between a character length Cy of an already decoded character E2 and a length Cz of a character E7 to be decoded is calculated. When this ratio is greater than a threshold value, the black bar width B1 and black bar width B2 are corrected according to a reference black bar width X. The CPU decodes the character E7 to be decoded according to the corrected black bar width B1 and black bar width B3.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1999Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Mitsuo Watanabe, Isao Iwaguchi, Hiroaki Kawai
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Patent number: 6328212Abstract: A system for reading data stored on a target in two different viewing planes includes a laser light source for generating a laser light beam and mirrors for focusing the laser beam on the two spaced apart viewing planes. Sensors detect the light reflected from each of the two viewing planes and generates an electrical signal indicative of the detected light. A signal processor, processes and decodes the data associated with the viewing plane on which the beam is in focus.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Boris Metlitasky, Jerome Swartz, Edward Barkan
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Patent number: 6299064Abstract: An apparatus for correcting a bar width comprises a detecting section calculating a reference bar width serving as a reference of bar widths, a first calculation section calculating an average value of a plurality of reference bar widths, a second calculation section calculating an error value between a bar width of a bar to be corrected and the reference bar width calculated by the detecting section, and a correcting section correcting the bar width of the bar to be corrected by using the calculated average value when the calculated error value is not less than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2001Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Mitsuo Watanabe, Motohiko Itoh, Hiroaki Kawai, Isao Iwaguchi
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Publication number: 20010015378Abstract: An apparatus for correcting a bar width comprises a detecting section calculating a reference bar width serving as a reference of bar widths, a first calculation section calculating an average value of a plurality of reference bar widths, a second calculation section calculating an error value between a bar width of a bar to be corrected and the reference bar width calculated by the detecting section, and a correcting section correcting the bar width of the bar to be corrected by using the calculated average value when the calculated error value is not less than a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2001Publication date: August 23, 2001Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Mitsuo Watanabe, Motohiko Itoh, Hiroaki Kawai, Isao Iwaguchi