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.
Abstract:
A method of unlocking restricted extended classes of features and functionalities embodied within an optical scanning system having an extended programming mode. The method involves providing an optical scanning system supporting baseline classes of features and functionalities, and having an extended feature class programming mode for programming extended classes of features and functionalities, in addition to the baseline classes of features and functionalities. A license key is assigned to the optical scanning system, for unlocking at least one of the extended classes of features and functionalities, and programming the optical scanning system to operate with at least one of the extended classes of feature and functionalities, in addition to the baseline classes of features and functionalities. A license is procured to unlock and use at least one of the extended classes of feature and functionalities, and obtaining said license key assigned to the optical scanning system. The said optical scanning system is caused to operate in the extended feature class programming. While the optical scanning system is operating in the extended feature class programming, the license key is used to unlock at least one of the extended classes of features and functionalities, and program the optical scanning system to operate with at least one of the extended classes of feature and functionalities, in addition to the baseline classes of features and functionalities.
Abstract:
A hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system including a hand-supportable housing having an imaging window, and an area-type image formation and detection subsystem having image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and upon an object within the FOV, and forming and detecting 2D digital images of the object on an area-type image detection array. The system includes an object presence detection subsystem for automatically detecting an object within the FOV, and generating a first trigger event indicative of automatic object detection within the FOV. The system also includes an object targeting illumination subsystem for generating and projecting a visible targeting illumination beam within the FOV, in response to the generation of the first trigger event signal. A manual trigger switch is integrated with the hand-supportable housing, for generating a second trigger event, indicating that a code symbol on the detected object is aligned with the visible targeting illumination beam and is ready for illumination and imaging. Also, the system includes an LED-based illumination subsystem, responsive to the second triggering event, for generating and projecting a field of illumination through the imaging window and within the FOV so that light transmitted through the imaging window and reflected/scattered off the object and detected by the area-type image detection array within the hand-supportable housing.
Abstract:
An automated tunnel-type scanning system arranged about a conveyor belt structure, including: a tunnel structure arranged about a conveyor belt structure for transporting packages; an omni-directional bar code symbol scanning subsystem; a package detection and dimensioning subsystem; and a data management subsystem. The package detection and dimensioning subsystem captures package measurement information about each detected package prior to the package being scanned by the omni-directional bar code symbol reading subsystem, and producing package measurement data representative of the captured package measurement information. The data management subsystem collects and queues package identification data and package measurement data, and automatically correlates both package measurement data and package identification data corresponding to each package transported through the tunnel structure so as to enable automated tracking and identification of packages being transported therethrough, in either singulated or non-singulated arrangements.
Abstract:
A hand-supportable digital image capture and processing system including a hand-supportable housing having an imaging window. A printed circuit (PC) board is mounted in the hand-supportable housing, and has front and rear surfaces and a light transmission aperture formed centrally therethrough. An image formation and detection subsystem has image formation optics for projecting a field of view (FOV) through the imaging window and upon an object within the FOV, and an area-type image detection array for forming and detecting 2D digital images of the object during object illumination and imaging operations. A first FOV folding mirror is supported above the rear surface of the PC board over the light transmission aperture, and a second FOV folding mirror is supported above the rear surface of the PC board and over the area-type image detection array. These mirrors fold and project the FOV through the light transmission aperture and the imaging window. An automatic targeting illumination subsystem is disposed in the hand-supportable housing, and has a plurality of visible light sources mounted on the rear surface of the PC board for generating a targeting illumination beam, which reflects off at least one beam folding mirror, and then off the first FOV mirror and then projects the targeting illumination beam through the light transmission aperture and the imaging window, into a portion of said FOV extending outside of the hand-supportable housing and onto the object therein.
Abstract:
Methods of and systems for illuminating objects using planar laser illumination beams having substantially-planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through the field of view (FOV) of image formation and detection modules employed in such systems. Each planar laser illumination beam is produced from a planar laser illumination beam array (PLIA) comprising an plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM comprises a visible laser diode (VLD, a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith. The individual planar laser illumination beam components produced from each PLIM are optically combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially uniform power density characteristics over the entire spatial extend thereof and thus the working range of the system. Preferably, each planar laser illumination beam component is focused so that the minimum beam width thereof occurs at a point or plane which is the farthest or maximum object distance at which the system is designed to acquire images, thereby compensating for decreases in the power density of the incident planar laser illumination beam due to the fact that the width of the planar laser illumination beam increases in length for increasing object distances away from the imaging optics. Advanced high-resolution wavefront control methods and devices are disclosed for use with the PLIIM-based systems in order to reduce the power of speckle-noise patterns observed at the image detections thereof. By virtue of the present invention, it is now possible to use both VLDs and high-speed CCD-type image detectors in conveyor, hand-held and hold-under type imaging applications alike, enjoying the advantages and benefits that each such technology has to offer, while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks hitherto associated therewith.
Abstract:
An automated package dimensioning subsystem comprising a Laser Detecting and Ranging (LADAR-based) scanning apparatus for capturing two-dimensional range data maps of the space above a conveyor structure, along which packages are transported, and an image contour tracing apparatus for extracting package dimension data from the two-dimensional range data maps.
Abstract:
A wireless automatically-activated bar code symbol reading system for use in a work environment, the system including a device controller programmed to automatically detect when a wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader is located inside of a predetermined RF communication range based on measuring the strength of a detected reference signal, and thereupon to automatically transmit to a first RF-based transceiver, the symbol character data string produced while the wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader is located inside of the predetermined RF communication range. Also, the device controller is programmed to automatically detect when the wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader is located outside of the predetermined RF communication range based on measuring the strength of the detected reference signal, and thereupon to automatically collect and store in the data packet group buffer, the symbol character data string produced while the wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader is located outside of the predetermined RF communication range.
Abstract:
A digital image capture and processing system supporting automatic communication interface testing/detection and system configuration parameter programming. The digital image capture and processing system includes a housing having a port for receiving a standard connector associated with a flexible communication interface cable, and a multi-interface I/O subsystem disposed in the housing, and having an I/O port. The multi-interface I/O subsystem supports a software-controlled automatic communication interface test/detection process carried out over the flexible communication interface cable physically connecting the I/O ports of the digital image capture and processing subsystem and the designated host system. The digital image capture and processing system also supports automatic programming of multiple system configuration parameters (SCPs), associated with a particular communication interface (CI) detected by the multi-interface I/O subsystem, without reading programming-type bar codes.
Abstract:
The disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for determining if an optical scanner is moving. In one embodiment the method for sensing movement of an optical scanner comprises the steps of providing an oscillating system comprising a flexible member, a magnet coupled to the flexible member, a coil disposed within a magnetically effective distance from the magnet, and sense circuitry coupled to the coil; generating a first electrical signal from the oscillations of the flexible member; amplifying the generated electrical signal; analyzing the first electrical signal to determine if the generated signal is indicative of movement of the optical scanner.