Analog To Square Wave Converter (e.g., Digitizer, Binarizer, Slicer) Patents (Class 235/462.27)
  • Patent number: 10922595
    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: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Spotify AB
    Inventors: Keenan Cassidy, Damian Ferrai, Ludvig Strigeus, Mattias Svala, Nicklas Söderlind, Jimmy Wahlberg
  • Patent number: 10878212
    Abstract: The present application provides two-dimensional code (2D-code) scanning interaction methods and apparatuses. An exemplary 2D-code scanning interaction method may include scanning a 2D code to obtain a first 2D-code value corresponding to the 2D code. The method may also include obtaining a second 2D-code value corresponding to the first 2D-code value. The first 2D-code value is generated in accordance with the second 2D-code value, and is corresponding to the second 2D-code value. The method may further include calling an application corresponding to the second 2D-code value and opening the second 2D-code value for interaction through the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced New Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yaran Lu
  • Patent number: 10810389
    Abstract: A method of dynamically configuring a data capture device includes: at a data capture controller, responsive to enabling a configuration mode, controlling a data capture assembly of the data capture device to initiate a data capture operation to capture a barcode; at the data capture controller, determining a symbology of the captured barcode based on a master set of symbology definitions; at the data capture controller, updating an active subset of the master set of symbology definitions to include the determined symbology; at the data capture controller, responsive to disabling the configuration mode, decoding subsequently captured barcodes based only on the active subset of symbology definitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Sean Wheatley
  • Patent number: 10529210
    Abstract: A personal safety device is provided. The device is a wearable device. The device includes a voice recording mechanism and an information download mechanism. The device may also include a voice comparison mechanism, an alert mechanism, a photodetector, a camera and/or a scanner. Method of enabling and using the device is also provided. The device may be used as a personal safety device and as a personnel monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: Vijayakumar Rudrappa Dhuler
  • Patent number: 10241757
    Abstract: An instruction to perform a shift and divide operation is executed. The executing includes shifting a value in a specified direction by a selected amount to provide a dividend, the selected amount being user-defined. The dividend is divided by a divisor to obtain a quotient. At least a subset of the quotient is selected as a result. The result is to be used in processing within the computing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Bradbury, Steven R. Carlough, Reid T. Copeland, Silvia Melitta Mueller, Eric M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10235137
    Abstract: An instruction to perform a shift and divide operation is executed. The executing includes shifting a value in a specified direction by a selected amount to provide a dividend, the selected amount being user-defined. The dividend is divided by a divisor to obtain a quotient. At least a subset of the quotient is selected as a result. The result is to be used in processing within the computing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Bradbury, Steven R. Carlough, Reid T. Copeland, Silvia Melitta Mueller, Eric M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10198648
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including: i) rapid localization for machine-readable indicia including, e.g., 1-D and 2-D barcodes; and ii) barcode reading and decoders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Brett A. Bradley, Ajith M. Kamath, Tomas Filler, Vojtech Holub
  • Patent number: 9823975
    Abstract: Determining a summary feature set is disclosed. A plurality of subsegments of a first segment are selected. For each subsegment, a plurality of values by applying a set of functions to each subsegment are computed. From all the values computed for all the subsegments, a first subset of values is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
    Inventors: Kai Li, Ming Benjamin Zhu
  • Patent number: 9723215
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a camera, a user interface system, and a processor communicatively coupled to the camera and the user interface system. The processor is typically configured for running a first application. The first application is typically configured for (i) accessing the camera, (ii) upon the initialization of the first application, initializing the camera, and (iii) maintaining the camera in an initialized state as long as the first application is running. The application may be further configured for focusing the camera and maintaining the camera in a focused state as long as the first application is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Todeschini, Stephen Patrick Deloge, Donald Anderson
  • Patent number: 9286499
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and methods for interfacing a scan engine for scanning optical code symbols and a decoder. The system employs a configurable communication interface configured to generate a relaxed DBP signal that is independent of the scanning distance or the scan rate used in a scanning operation using a DBP signal from the scan engine. A relaxed DBP signal may be generated by scaling a narrowest pulse in a pulse sequence to a fixed minimum pulse width. A relaxed DBP signal having transmission slots of a fixed duration may be generated by calculating a minimum pulse duration that enables transmission of a pulse sequence within the fixed duration. Upon scaling the narrowest pulse in a pulse sequence to the minimum pulse width, either fixed or calculated, the remaining pulses are scaled so as to maintain a relative proportionality of each pulse width in the pulse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Datalogic IP Tech S.r.l.
    Inventors: Federico Canini, Stefano Fracassi, Riccardo Genovese
  • Patent number: 9262665
    Abstract: In a decoding method, photoelectric conversion is performed on light reflected by a code image, a read signal indicating intensity of the reflected light is produced, and the produced read signal is differentiated to produce a derivative signal. The inflection points of intensity of the reflected light in the read signal are detected from the derivative signal and peak levels, each of which is an extreme value of the intensity of the reflected light, the peak level corresponding to a width between the detected inflection points, are detected. A difference between the detected peak levels is then obtained and threshold values for decoding the read signal are set from the obtained difference. This enables the read signal to be decoded even when the code image is spotted with a stain or its printing quality is inferior or even when the read signal is read in its defocus state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Opticon Sensors Europe B.V.
    Inventors: Kazuto Kimura, You Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150136854
    Abstract: An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal can comprise a microprocessor communicatively coupled to a system bus, a memory, a communication interface, and a pluggable imaging assembly identified by a type identifier and configured to acquire an image comprising decodable indicia. The imaging assembly can comprise a two-dimensional image sensor configured to output an analog signal representative of the light reflected by an object located within the field of view of the imaging assembly. The EIR terminal can be configured to output, by processing the analog signal, the raw image data derived from the analog signal and/or a decoded message corresponding to the decodable indicia. The imaging assembly can be communicatively coupled to the system bus via an imaging assembly interface comprising a plurality of wires and a multi-pin connector. The imaging assembly inter face can comprise one or more wires configured to carry the imaging assembly type identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jun Lu, Young Liu, Xi Tao, Feng Chen, Ynjiun Paul Wang
  • Patent number: 8950678
    Abstract: An optical reader for decoding an encoded symbol character of a symbology includes a scan data signal processor having as an input a scan data signal encoding information representative of the encoded symbol character. The scan data signal processor includes a first time delay stage adapted to provide a primary phase waveform from the scan data signal, a second time delay stage adapted to provide an early phase waveform from the scan data signal, and a third time delay stage adapted to provide a delayed phase waveform from the scan data signal. The early phase waveform has a propagation delay less than the primary phase waveform, and the delayed phase waveform has a propagation delay greater than the primary phase waveform. The scan data signal processor further includes a peak window detection stage for generating a peak window timeframe when an amplitude of the primary phase waveform is greater than, less than, or equal to both an amplitude of the early phase waveform and the delayed phase waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gennady Germaine, Tao Xian, Chen Feng, Ynjiun Wang, Xiaoxun Zhu, Stephen Colavito, Robert Blake
  • Publication number: 20140197238
    Abstract: There is set forth herein an indicia reading terminal having data format conversion capabilities. The indicia reading terminal includes an image sensor integrated circuit with an image sensor array comprising a plurality of pixels. The image sensor integrated circuit is configured to output image data in a first data format to a data formatting circuit for conversion to image data in a second data format. The data formatting circuit is configured to provide the image data in the second data format to the at least one data interface of a microprocessor integrated circuit, which is operative to transfer image data received by the at least one data interface into memory of the indicia reading terminal. A CPU of the microprocessor integrated circuit is operative for executing a decoding algorithm for processing image data in the memory for attempting to decode at least one symbol represented in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: METROLOGIC INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Yong Liu, Xiaoxun Zhu, Xi Tao, Ynjiun Paul Wang
  • Publication number: 20130214048
    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: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: David M. Wilz, SR.
  • Publication number: 20130193213
    Abstract: A system and method for reading a bar code are disclosed which may include transmitting light pulsed at a selected frequency to illuminate the bar code; converting light received at the bar code reader from the bar code into an electrical signal; transmitting the electrical signal through a signal conditioning circuit to filter and amplify the electrical signal, to thereby provide a conditioned electrical signal; sampling the conditioned electrical signal at the selected frequency; removing energy due to light scattering within a housing of the bar code reader from the sampled, conditioned electrical signal; generating one of a logical “1” and a logical “0” output based on a value of the signal generated by the step of removing; and resolving output from the step of generating into data indicative of information on the bar code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicants: Opticon, Inc., Optoelectronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Hirono, Naoya Niizeki, Depei Ji
  • Patent number: 8485444
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reading symbol information enabling improvement of decoding accuracy, not being affected by the condition of a reflection coefficient waveform of a reflected light beam and the kind of symbol information to be read. The method includes: reading a reflected light beam from symbol information irradiated with a light beam; detecting peak values in a reflection coefficient waveform of the reflected light beam; calculating a first peak value according to a peak value at a high reflection coefficient side (white level) among the peak values detected; calculating a second peak value according to a peak value at a low reflection coefficient side (black level) among the peak values detected; and calculating a binarization threshold based on the first peak value and the second peak value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130068840
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for generating a multiple raster-type scanning pattern by modulating a multi-cavity laser diode in such a way that it sequentially generates different laser beams synchronously during different laser scanning cycles, while the output laser beams are directed incident upon a rotating polygonal laser scanning element. The system does not require additional moving parts beyond the rotating polygon scanning element so as to reduce complexity and simplify construction of the laser scanning mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Sean Philip Kearney
  • Publication number: 20130043312
    Abstract: A laser scanning bar code symbol reading system for scanning and reading poor quality and damaged bar code symbols in flexible operating conditions. The system includes a housing having a light transmission window; a dynamically-elongated laser beam production module, including a multi-cavity visible laser diode (VLD), for producing a dynamically-elongated laser beam having (i) a direction of propagation extending along a z reference direction, (ii) a height dimension being indicated by the y reference direction, and (iii) a width dimension being indicated by the x reference direction, where x, y and z directions are orthogonal to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventor: Erik Van Horn
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130001311
    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: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Dariusz MADEJ
  • Publication number: 20120318868
    Abstract: A laser scanning bar code symbol reading system for scanning and reading poor quality or damaged bar code symbols. The system includes a housing having a light transmission window; an extremely-elongated laser beam production module for producing an extremely-elongated laser beam having (i) a direction of propagation extending along a z reference direction, (ii) a height dimension being indicated by the y reference direction, and (iii) a width dimension being indicated by the x reference direction, where x, y and z directions are orthogonal to each other. Each extremely-elongated laser beam is characterized by an elongation ratio (ER) that is defined as Y/X>4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Erik Van Horn, Patrick Anthony Giordano, Thomas Amundsen, Daniel James Olson, Robert Hugh Brady, Stephen Colavito, Kevin Saber, Thomas Haggerty, David M. Wilz, SR.
  • Publication number: 20120138686
    Abstract: A laser scanning device is described. The device includes a laser for projecting a light beam. A mirror is optically coupled to the laser. The mirror reflects the light beam onto a target. A detector generates an analog signal in response to detecting a reflection of the light beam from the target. A processor is capable of modifying a scanning parameter of the laser scanning device. The processor processes the analog signal to generate a digital bar pattern and can embed the scanning parameter in the digital bar pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dariusz Madej, Bruno Vande Vyvre
  • Publication number: 20120118974
    Abstract: An optical reader for decoding an encoded symbol character of a symbology includes a scan data signal processor having as an input a scan data signal encoding information representative of the encoded symbol character. The scan data signal processor includes a first time delay stage adapted to provide a primary phase waveform from the scan data signal, a second time delay stage adapted to provide an early phase waveform from the scan data signal, and a third time delay stage adapted to provide a delayed phase waveform from the scan data signal. The early phase waveform has a propagation delay less than the primary phase waveform, and the delayed phase waveform has a propagation delay greater than the primary phase waveform. The scan data signal processor further includes a peak window detection stage for generating a peak window timeframe when an amplitude of the primary phase waveform is greater than, less than, or equal to both an amplitude of the early phase waveform and the delayed phase waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicants: Hand Held Products, Inc., Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Gennady Germaine, Tao Xian, Chen Feng, Ynjiun Wang, Xiaoxun Zhu, Stephen Colavito, Robert Blake
  • Publication number: 20120104100
    Abstract: Barcode decoding bypassing binarization is provided which relies on deformable templates to makes use of all the gray level information of each pixel in the barcode image. Parameterization of the deformable templates allow for efficiently performing maximum likelihood estimation independently on each barcode digit and enforcing spatial coherence across the barcode digits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ
    Inventors: Orazio Gallo, Roberto Manduchi
  • Patent number: 7775434
    Abstract: A bar-code reading apparatus includes a differential processor which generates a differential signal from an electric signal corresponding to an intensity of light reflected from a bar code, an extreme value detector which detects each extreme value of the differential signal and generates extreme value information including at least an electric signal value of the detected extreme value, a voltage difference calculator which calculates a voltage difference in electric signal between a target extreme value and at least one of extreme values adjacent thereto for each extreme value in the extreme value information, and an extreme value verifying unit which compares the voltage difference with a predetermined threshold value and determines the validity of the extreme value corresponding to the voltage difference for each voltage difference. Information encoded as the bar code is decoded by using extreme value information of the valid extreme value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Mashiko
  • Patent number: 7755809
    Abstract: A laser scanning optical system converts a plurality of beams emitted from the laser diode (LD) into parallel light using a collimator lens, shapes the parallel light using an aperture, and executes exposure of a plurality of lines simultaneously on a photoreceptor drum. To cause a necessary emitting point interval d determined uniquely from the magnification of the optical system to coincide with an emitting point interval of the LD used, the LD is rotated by an angle ? against the main optical axis plane thereof. In this case, a converting device that converts the aspect ratio of a profile of the light beam emitted from the LD is provided. A conversion characteristic of the converting device is adjusted such that the characteristic is matched with a condition within a predetermined region following a characteristic of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Fujita, Kenzo Ohkubo, Takasumi Wada, Yasuhiro Ono, Takayuki Ohno
  • Patent number: 7677457
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dariusz Madej
  • Patent number: 7562817
    Abstract: A scanner or other data reader is equipped with means for determining characteristics of an operator's scanning technique. In a preferred configuration, the scanner is integrated with a weigh scale for obtaining a dynamic weight of an item as the item is moved across the weigh scale. Weight data produced by the scanning/weighing process includes information about the amount of lifting the operator performs on scanned items, the rate of scanning by the operator, and rescanning information. The scanner may be connected to a PC-based training system which uses the scanning technique information to provide feedback to the operator indicating the effectiveness of the operator's scanning technique, and may also provide information to management for analysis. The technique information may be collected by a store controller or other suitable collection device for later analysis and reporting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Datalogic Scanning, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander M. McQueen, Craig D. Cherry, David L. Latimer
  • Patent number: 7527206
    Abstract: A digital-imaging based code symbol reading system comprising an image sensing array with a field of view (FOV), an illumination subsystem with an LED illumination array, an automatic illumination measurement subsystem, an illumination control subsystem, and programmed imager processor supporting an image-processing based illumination metering program. The automatic illumination measurement subsystem automatically measures the illumination level at a particular region of the FOV and determines the illumination duration necessary to achieve a desired spatial intensity in the detected digital image. The illumination metering program automatically analyzes and measures, in real-time, the spatial intensity distribution of the digital image and determines whether or not a corrected illumination duration is required or desired when detecting the next or subsequent digital images, during the current or subsequent object illumination and imaging cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoxun Zhu, Yong Liu, Ka Man Au, Rui Hou, Hongpeng Yu, Xi Tao, Liang Liu, Wenhua Zhang, Anatoly Kotlarsky
  • Patent number: 7503497
    Abstract: A system and method of extracting data from a barcode or similar symbol in relatively large ambient light is disclosed. The system uses a slice signal that follows the upper part of a negative offset signal, or the lower part of a positive offset signal, depending upon the value of the input signal. The system may be implemented in digital or analog hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignees: Optoelectronics Co., Ltd., Opticon, Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro Takahashi, Hiroshi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7494063
    Abstract: An automatic digital imaging-based code symbol reading system supporting a presentation-type mode of system operation, a multi-tier modular software architecture, automatic illumination control and video image capture and processing techniques. By virtue of the present invention, the automatic digital imaging-based code symbol reading system ensures the reliable reading of 1D and/or 2D code symbols graphically represented in digital images captured in demanding point-of-sale and other environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoly Kotlarsky, Ka Man Au, Michael Veksland, Xiaoxun Zhu, Mark Meagher, Timothy Good, Richard Hou, Daniel Hu
  • Patent number: 7490774
    Abstract: A hand-supportable digital imaging-based bar code symbol reading device comprises: an IR-based object presence and range detection subsystem; a area-type image formation and detection subsystem having an image capture modes of operation; a multi-mode led-based illumination subsystem for providing a narrow-band field of illumination; an automatic light exposure measurement and illumination control subsystem; an image capturing and buffering subsystem; a image-processing bar code symbol reading subsystem; an input/output subsystem; and a system control subsystem integrated with each of the above-described subsystems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Metrologic Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoxun Zhu, Yong Liu, Ka Man Au, Rui Hou, Hongpeng Yu, Xi Tao, Liang Liu, Wenhua Zhang, Anatoly Kotlarsky, Sankar Ghosh, Michael Schnee, Pasqual Spatafore, Thomas Amundsen, Sung Byun, Mark Schmidt, Garrett Russell, John Bonanno, C. Harry Knowles
  • Patent number: 7428999
    Abstract: A MEMS-based reader has an extended range of working distances for reading bar code symbols. A digitizer resolves the edges of bar code symbols when located at far-away distances from the reader within the working range. The digitizer includes a differentiator for differentiating the analog signal to generate a first derivative signal, a peak detector for detecting voltage peaks in the first derivative signal, and a comparator for comparing voltage drops after the voltage peaks with a predetermined voltage value, and for determining the presence of each edge when each voltage drop at least equals, and preferably exceeds, the predetermined voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Barkan
  • Publication number: 20080230607
    Abstract: An indicia reader system comprising: an indicia reader for reading symbol indicia and producing a symbol signal representative of the symbol indicia, the indicia reader capable of transferring and receiving data formatted in a plurality of protocols; a controller capable of transferring and receiving data formatted in a plurality of protocols; and, a translation interface for translating data from the controller which is in a first protocol to a second protocol for receipt by the indicia reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventor: David van Etten
  • Patent number: 7407096
    Abstract: A scanner or other data reader is equipped with means for determining characteristics of an operator's scanning technique. In a preferred configuration, the scanner is integrated with a weigh scale for obtaining a dynamic weight of an item as the item is moved across the weigh scale. Weight data produced by the scanning/weighing process includes information about the amount of lifting the operator performs on scanned items, the rate of scanning by the operator, and rescanning information. The scanner may be connected to a PC-based training system which uses the scanning technique information to provide feedback to the operator indicating the effectiveness of the operator's scanning technique, and may also provide information to management for analysis. The technique information may be collected by a store controller or other suitable collection device for later analysis and reporting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Datalogic Scanning, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander M. McQueen, Craig D. Cherry, David L. Latimer
  • Patent number: 7380721
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Wenwei Zhang
  • Patent number: 7299985
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Costanzo di Fazio, James R. Giebel, Gary Schneider, Frederick Schuessler
  • Patent number: 7204423
    Abstract: A low pass filter that approximates a Gaussian transfer function filters the analog bar code signal prior to digitization is used to smooth the bar code signal. The Gaussian filter has a transfer function that compensates for beam distortion close in to the bar code scanner. The smoothed bar code signal is provided to the digitizer to improve the efficiency with which the bar code signal can be digitized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dariusz Madej
  • Patent number: 7093763
    Abstract: A laser scanner for reading a bar code having a plurality of bar code elements. The laser scanner includes a digitizer which receives as an input an analog signal from photodetector circuitry and digitizes the analog signal to produce a digital bar code pattern (DBP) signal representative of the bar code. The DBP signal is input to a decoder which reads and decodes the DBP signal thereby decoding the bar code. The digitizer imposes a short duration correction impulse on the DBP signal whenever successive edges of the same polarity are sensed wherein both of the edges are above a threshold level and further wherein the second edge is of greater magnitude than the first edge. When a correction impulse is received on the DBP signal by the decoder, the decoder corrects the DBP signal by removing the first edge and toggling on the second edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dariusz Madej
  • Patent number: 7083101
    Abstract: A signal obtained by optically scanning a bar code is subjected to differentiation to obtain differential data. Peak-to-peak distances are calculated from the differential data. When a peak-to-peak ?Tx distance is y times of a basic width, frequency f(x,y) will be, f(x,y)=y/?Tx. A frequency map is prepared from the frequencies calculated. Transition routes in which one frequency each is selected. from each of the peak-to-peak distances, are formed. A transition route for which an error in frequencies is the least is taken as the most suitable transition route. An average of the frequencies included in the transition route is taken as a frequency f0 of the basic width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Frontech Limited
    Inventors: Isao Iwaguchi, Hideo Miyazawa, Mitsuo Watanabe, Kozo Yamazaki, Masanori Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 7051937
    Abstract: A system and method to binarize the bar code image in the presence of noise in order to render bar codes more detectable in the presence of noise. The method of this invention includes the steps of applying a gradient detecting filter to the bar code image, obtaining a filtered image, and then, adaptively binarizing the bar code image utilizing the corresponding filtered image to obtain an adaptive threshold. A system that implements the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Albertelli, David L. Ii, Nina Kung
  • Patent number: 6978937
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Isao Iwaguchi, Takashi Kaku, Hiroyasu Murata, Kozo Yamazaki, Masanori Ohkawa, Mitsuo Watanabe, Hideo Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 6874688
    Abstract: Signal processing performance in electro-optical readers is improved by changing filter characteristics and/or digitizer thresholds during successive scans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Barkan
  • Patent number: 6871785
    Abstract: The method for compensating undesired variations in an electrical signal generated by a sensor of an optical code reader comprises the steps of generating an envelope signal starting from the electrical signal generated by the sensor and normalizing the electrical signal with respect to the envelope signal. Preferably, the envelope signal is filtered with a low-pass filter before being normalized so as to eliminate steps and edges which may cause distortions during normalization, and the normalized signal is amplified in a controlled way so as to supply an output signal ranging between two values having preset amplitudes. Normalization is carried out by dividing, point by point, the electrical signal by the envelope signal, in the case of continuous analog processing; alternatively, in presence of discrete-time signals, normalization is carried out by subtracting the envelope signal from the electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Datalogic S.p.A
    Inventors: Marco Piva, Maurizio Bianchi
  • Patent number: 6811087
    Abstract: A barcode scanner comprising a laser driving circuit to drive a laser by a pulse signal generated by an oscillator, a preamplifier to amplify a voltage of a barcode signal from a photodetector corresponding to a reflected light from a barcode scanned by a light output of the laser driven by the pulse signal, a high-pass filter to remove a direct current component contained in an output signal of the preamplifier, a variable gain amplifier which controls an amplification gain of an output signal of the high-pass filter and performs automatic gain control to set an output level almost constant, a synchronous detector to detect a pulse signal contained in an output signal of the variable gain amplifier in synchronization with the output pulse of the oscillator, and a binarization circuit to binarize an output signal of the synchronous detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Norio Nakamura, Nobuyasu Goto, Takaaki Shimizu, Yutaka Ichinohe
  • Patent number: 6769617
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus and method subject image data to predetermined image processing to obtain processed image data and execute both of outputting a print according to the processed image data and outputting the processed image data to an image file. The apparatus and method create information for identifying an original before an image of the original is read to input the image data and storing the original identifying information in a data base in relation to the image file, read out, when a reprint is requested by designating the original identifying information, predetermined processed image data from the image file of the data base based on the original identifying information and output the print according to the predetermined processed image data. As a result, the apparatus and method are capable of easily designating a corresponding image file when a reprint is requested and capable of easily outputting the reprint from the image file without the need of an original film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6715684
    Abstract: A reconstituting section obtains block-address information from each of read out blocks. According to the obtained pattern in the block-address information obtained by the reconstituting section, a reproducing section determines a code-scanning state of manual scanning performed along a scanning direction. When scanning is performed in an off-code state and an overspeed state, and when scanning is terminated in an incomplete state, notification is performed in each of modes differing from each other depending on the scanning state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fukuda, Akira Matsui, Mutsumi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6712272
    Abstract: An invisible symbol reading apparatus includes a heating unit for heating an invisible symbol formed on a sample and containing a material which emits infrared light when heated, a detecting unit for detecting infrared light emitted from the invisible symbol, and an arithmetic operation unit for binarizing a detection signal from the detecting unit. The arithmetic operation unit calculates a differential coefficient of the detection signal, that corresponds to a position on the sample. On the basis of upper and lower threshold values set for the differential coefficient, the arithmetic operation unit determines a maximum value of the differential coefficient in a region exceeding the upper threshold value and a minimum value of the differential coefficient in a region smaller than the lower threshold value. The arithmetic operation unit binarizes the detection signal by using the maximum or minimum value as a leading or trailing edge of a binary function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Taeko I. Urano, Kenji Sano, Hideo Nagai, Tomokazu Domon, Hironori Fukuda
  • Patent number: 6688524
    Abstract: The method for reconstructing a bar code through consecutive scans comprises the following steps: a) carrying out at least one scan of the bar code; b) determining a reconstructed wave form representative of the at least one scan; c) carrying out an actual scan of the bar code; d) determining an actual wave form representative of the actual scan; e) aligning the reconstructed and actual wave forms; and f) combining the aligned wave forms by updating the reconstructed wave form with the actual wave form. The method can directly operate on the photo-sensor signal before carrying out any digitization of it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Datalogic S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Bottazzi, Elena Brunelli, Rinaldo Zocca