Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080203164 | Photodiode with improved performance in ambient light - An arrangement for improving performance of a sensor operative for collecting light from a target to generate a data signal in a presence of ambient light, includes a sample and hold circuit for operating the sensor during a sampling time period in which the sensor only collects the ambient light to generate an ambient signal, and during a holding time period in which the sensor collects both the ambient light and the light from the target to generate a composite signal comprised of the ambient signal and the data signal; and a subtracting circuit operative for subtracting the ambient signal from the composite signal to produce the data signal as an output. | 08-28-2008 |
20080204669 | Compact image projection arrangement with correction for laser beam angular misalignment - A lightweight, compact image projection module has a laser package having a common exit port, and a plurality of lasers mounted in the package and operative for emitting a plurality of laser beams of different wavelengths through the common exit port. An optical assembly focuses the laser beams exiting the common exit port, and includes a common focusing lens through which the laser beams pass along respective paths that are in angular misalignment. An optical corrector element in at least one of the paths corrects the misalignment to produce aligned beams. A scanner sweeps the aligned beams in a pattern of scan lines, each scan line having a number of pixels. A controller causes selected pixels to be illuminated, and rendered visible, by the aligned beams to produce the image. | 08-28-2008 |
20080308639 | Scanning devices and methods using surface emitting laser diodes - A bar code scanning device, system and method that utilizes one or more vertical cavity surface emitting laser diodes for producing at least one laser beam, where the vertical cavity surface emitting laser diodes are disposed on a substrate, and wherein the produced laser beam is substantially an essential single spatial mode laser beam. The bar code scanning device, system and method of present invention also comprise a photodiode attached to the substrate and arranged to receive at least a portion of the beam of light reflected off the scanned bar code or symbol. | 12-18-2008 |
20090245299 | CAPACITIVE COMB FEEDBACK FOR HIGH SPEED SCAN MIRROR - An image projection system ( | 10-01-2009 |
20090251670 | OPTICAL FEEDBACK FOR HIGH SPEED SCAN MIRROR - An image projection system ( | 10-08-2009 |
20100019882 | Radio Frequency Identification reader with illuminated field of view - A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for, and method of, reading an RFID tag to obtain data, includes an RFID module supported by a housing and including an antenna for propagating an electromagnetic field over a field of view, as well as an illuminator supported by the housing for visibly illuminating the field of view to enable an operator to see the illuminated field of view and whether the RFID tag is within the illuminated field of view. | 01-28-2010 |
20100116889 | Imaging reader with efficient laser illumination - An imaging reader for, and a method of, electro-optically reading a symbol by image capture employ an illuminating assembly that includes a laser for directing an illuminating laser beam along a path to the symbol to illuminate the symbol during image capture, a diffusing assembly that includes a movable diffuser in the path of the illuminating laser beam to diffuse the illuminating laser beam as diffused illuminating laser light, and a solid-state imager that includes an array of image sensors for capturing the diffused illuminating laser light returned from the symbol in a range of working distances over a field of view. | 05-13-2010 |
20100156597 | Real-Time Automatic RFID Inventory Control System - The present disclosure describes a system for tracking store-items placed in a storage space. The system includes a plurality of wireless RFID readers distributed within the storage space such that at least one store-item, having an RFID tag attached, is within an interrogation range of at least one of the wireless RFID reader. The system further includes a monitoring server operative to communicate wirelessly with the a plurality of wireless RFID readers to obtain information collected by the plurality of wireless RFID readers from the RFID tag attached to the at least one store-item. | 06-24-2010 |
20100156650 | RFID DEVICE AND RELATED METHOD FOR PROVIDING ASSISTANCE FOR LOCATING IT - A method of providing assistance for locating a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device is provided. The RFID device preferably comprises a power source having a power level and a feedback device. The method comprises determining the power level of the power source is below a first predetermined power level, and transmitting a first signal that indicates the power level of the power source is below the first predetermined power level. Thereafter, the method comprises receiving a second signal that instructs the RFID device to activate the feedback device, and operating the feedback device in response to receiving the second signal. | 06-24-2010 |
20100201488 | DISPLAYING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) READ RANGE OF AN RFID READER BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM FIXED RFID BEACON TAGS - The present disclosure describes a system, methods and apparatus for displaying read range of a nomadic Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader based on feedback from fixed RFID beacon tags. For instance, the nomadic RFID reader can transmit an interrogation signal within a space that includes a plurality of fixed RFID beacon tags at known locations, and can receive response signals from a group of the fixed RFID beacon tags. Based on known locations of the group of fixed RFID beacon tags, a read range of the RFID reader can be determined. The read range is defined by the group of the fixed RFID beacon tags. The read range of the nomadic RFID reader can then be displayed on a display along with other information about the fixed RFID beacon tags and/or RFID item tags that are within the read range of the nomadic RFID reader. | 08-12-2010 |
20100201520 | SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING ITEM LOCATION BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM FIXED RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) READERS AND/OR FIXED RFID BEACON TAGS - The present disclosure describes a system, methods and apparatus for determining location of an item within a space. Each particular item is associated with a particular Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) item tag that uniquely identifies the particular item. A plurality of fixed Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers are provided in the space, and each of the fixed RFID readers is fixed at a particular known location within the space. Each of the fixed RFID readers can transmit an interrogation signal. Upon receiving a first interrogation signal from one of the fixed RFID readers, a first RFID item tag transmits a response signal. The first fixed RFID reader receives the response signal transmitted by the first RFID item tag, and can therefore determine that the first RFID item tag is located within a read range of the first fixed RFID reader. | 08-12-2010 |
20100301121 | SPECKLE NOISE REDUCING FOR LASER BASED BARCODE READERS - A method and apparatus for reducing speckle noise in laser based barcode readers. The apparatus includes a semiconductor laser diode for producing a laser beam. The apparatus also includes electronic circuitry operative to alternate the current passing through the semiconductor laser diode between a current above the threshold current and a current below the threshold current. The current passing through the semiconductor laser diode is alternated with a sufficiently high transition rate for reducing the coherence length of the laser beam. | 12-02-2010 |
20110025462 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SAVING POWER IN A DISTRIBUTED RFID SYSTEM - Systems and methods for saving power in a distributed RFID system are provided. One RFID reader includes a RFID radio, a data communication radio, and a controller. The controller is configured to compare a current list of RFID tags responding to a current interrogation signal and a previous list of RFID tags responding to a previous interrogation signal to determine if there has been a change in RFID tags responding to the interrogation signals. The controller is also configured to command the data communication radio to transmit a signal to an external computing device if there has been the change in RFID tags, the signal indicative of the change, or not transmit the signal if there has not been a change. An RFID system includes a central computing device, multiple RFID tags, and multiple RFID readers similar to the above RFID reader. | 02-03-2011 |
20110050421 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING DIRECTION OF MOTION OF A RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) TAG - The present disclosure describes a system, methods and apparatus for determining a direction of motion of an RFID tag. An RFID reader is provided that includes an antenna that is tilted at a tilt angle with respect to a detection path. Response signals from the RFID tag are received at the antenna at different times, and an RSSI sample of each response signal is measured. Based on the RSSI samples, an RSSI/time data point is generated for each of the RSSI samples. Each RSSI/time data point defines a measured RSSI value for a particular RSSI sample versus a time that particular RSSI sample was measured. Based on the plurality of RSSI/time data points, the direction of motion of the RFID tag can be determined. | 03-03-2011 |
20110090467 | Image Projection Arrangement with Divergent Light Beams - A lightweight, compact image projection module has a laser package having a common exit port, and a plurality of lasers mounted in the package and operative for emitting a plurality of laser beams of different wavelengths through the common exit port. An optical assembly focuses the laser beams exiting the common exit port, and includes a common focusing lens through which the laser beams pass along respective paths that are in angular misalignment. An optical corrector element in at least one of the paths corrects the misalignment to produce aligned beams. A scanner sweeps the aligned beams in a pattern of scan lines, each scan line having a number of pixels. A controller causes selected pixels to be illuminated, and rendered visible, by the aligned beams to produce the image. | 04-21-2011 |
20120075101 | RFID Reader With Motion Detection - A technique for operating a Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, reader with motion detection includes detecting a motion in proximity to the RFID reader, and triggering the RFID reader to read any tags in proximity to the RFID reader in response to detecting a motion in proximity to the RFID reader. Detecting a motion can also generate a change in digital signage, or communicate information about read tags to a local area network. Operating this system only when motion is detected saves battery life. | 03-29-2012 |
20120092134 | DETERMINING ITEM LOCATION WITHIN A SPACE BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) READERS AND TAGS - The present disclosure describes a system, methods and apparatus for determining location of an item within a space. Each particular item is associated with a particular Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) item tag that uniquely identifies the particular item. A plurality of fixed Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers are provided in the space, and each of the fixed RFID readers is fixed at a particular known location within the space. Each of the fixed RFID readers can transmit an interrogation signal. Upon receiving a first interrogation signal from one of the fixed RFID readers, a first RFID item tag transmits a response signal. The first fixed RFID reader receives the response signal transmitted by the first RFID item tag, and can therefore determine that the first RFID item tag is located within a read range of the first fixed RFID reader. | 04-19-2012 |
20120161967 | RFID-BASED INVENTORY MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH SELF-ADJUSTING OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS - An inventory monitoring controller maintains information reflecting a current inventory of articles based on radio frequency identification (RFID) tag identifying information received from one or more RFID tag readers in the context of inventory polling operations. In an embodiment, the controller also adjusts an operational parameter (e.g., a missing article detection threshold or a variable polling parameter) based on an analysis of the RFID tag identifying information. For example, a variable polling parameter may be adjusted in response to an occurrence of a triggering event (e.g., an inventory change indicated by the RFID tag identifying information or an occurrence of a temporal event), and a missing article detection threshold may be adjusted based on historical information relating to the detection of (or failure to detect) a particular RFID tag. | 06-28-2012 |
20120169500 | RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD USED TO PERFORM ELECTRONIC ARTICLE SURVEILLANCE - A radio frequency identification (RFID) system used to perform electronic article surveillance comprises a RFID tag and a RFID reader. The RFID tag is affixed to an object, and the RFID reader, having a plurality of antennas, is in radio frequency (RF) communication with the RFID tag. The plurality of antennas are arranged to have a spatial relationship with one another to monitor and communicate with the RFID tag such that a likelihood of a security breach of the RFID tag is determined. Determining the likelihood of the security breach is based, at least in part, on a signal strength of a read of the RFID tag at each antenna relative to the plurality of antennas. | 07-05-2012 |
20130329043 | TRANSMISSIONS OF IMAGES IN A REMOTE RECOGNITION SYSTEM - A method and apparatus for selective transmission of color information to a remote recognition system is provided herein. During operation, a central server may determine that at least one region in an image is ambiguously recognized, or unrecognized. In response, the central server will send a request for the image/video to be provided in color, or alternatively for a portion of the image/video to be provided in color. Because only selective images, or portions of images will be transmitted in color, the above transmission scheme enables reduction of bandwidth, and hence cost, required for transmitting images to the analytics server, without compromising the accuracy of the analytics. | 12-12-2013 |
20140152874 | TRANSMISSION OF IMAGES FOR INVENTORY MONITORING - A method and apparatus for transmitting an image for inventory monitoring is provided herein. During operation, a camera may take a series of images of a particular area to be monitored. Each image will be broken into a plurality of regions and a determination will be made if a region is at least partially blocked. Those regions deemed unblocked will be utilized to generate a composite image. The camera continues acquiring images, using unblocked regions until a complete composite image is formed without obstructions. The composite image will then be transmitted and used for inventory monitoring. | 06-05-2014 |
20140167918 | SELF-OPTIMIZING METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR EFFICIENTLY DEPLOYING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) TAG READERS IN A CONTROLLED AREA CONTAINING RFID-TAGGED ITEMS TO BE MONITORED - Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers are integrated with individual RFID tags to form integrated RFID units that are initially deployed to cover a controlled area with radio frequency (RF) coverage. A controller determines whether the RF coverage optimally covers the controlled area by controlling at least one of the integrated RFID units in the initial deployment to read the RFID tag integrated with at least another of the integrated RFID units. An interface reports when the RF coverage does not optimally cover the controlled area, and responsively guides a redeployment of at least one of initially deployed integrated RFID units to a subsequent deployment in which the RF coverage provided by the integrated RFID units optimally covers the controlled area. | 06-19-2014 |