Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090134221 | Tunnel-type digital imaging-based system for use in automated self-checkout and cashier-assisted checkout operations in retail store environments - A tunnel-type digital imaging-based system capable of generating and projecting coplanar and/or coextensive illumination and imaging planes or zones into a 3D imaging volume within a tunnel structure. The system includes a tunnel housing structure which is supported above a package conveyor in a retail environment, and employs automatic package detection, identification, profiling/dimensioning, weighing, tracking and correlating techniques during self-checkout and/or cashier-assisted operations for achieving increased levels of efficiency and productivity. | 05-28-2009 |
20100177070 | Electronic-ink display device employing a power switching mechanism automatically responsive to predefined states of device configuration - A wireless electronic-ink display device supported in packaging, and employing a power switching mechanism which operates to prevent leakage, drainage or discharge of the electro-chemical battery until a change in predetermined state of configuration occurs. The wireless electronic-ink based display device comprises (i) a power source module with an electro-chemical battery, (ii) a power management module for managing the power levels within the wireless electronic-ink display device, and (iii) a power switching module, arranged between the power source module and the power management module, and automatically responsive to a change in at least one predefined state of device configuration, to prevent leakage, drainage or discharge of the electrochemical battery until a change in predetermined state of configuration occurs. In the illustrative embodiment, wherein the power switching module comprises a reed switch arranged in such a manner to cause the power switching module to be configured into an electrically conductive arrangement, and capable of conducting electricity from the power source module to the power management module, when the wireless electronic-ink display device is removed from its packaging. | 07-15-2010 |
20100177076 | Edge-lit electronic-ink display device for use in indoor and outdoor environments - A wireless electronic-ink based display device for use in indoor and outdoor environments characterized by low and/or dynamic ambient lighting conditions. The wireless electronic-ink based display device has an ambient light level sensor for sensing ambient lighting conditions about the wireless electronic-ink based display device, and generating a drive control signal in response to sensed ambient lighting conditions. The wireless electronic-ink based display device also has an edge-lit LED-based illumination module, responsive to the drive control signal generated by the ambient light level sensor, for illuminating the display surface of its addressable electronic-ink display module during low-illumination ambient lighting conditions detected by the ambient light level sensor, under the control of a processor. In the illustrative embodiment, the processor runs a firmware routine which analyzes detected ambient light conditions made by the ambient light level sensor, and automatically generates the drive control signal provided to the edge-lit LED illumination module. | 07-15-2010 |
20100177080 | Electronic-ink signage device employing thermal packaging for outdoor weather applications - A wireless electronic-ink based display device employing thermal packaging for cold outdoor-weather applications, comprising a power source module, a processor, a RF transceiver, and a power management module mounted on the first side of a printed circuit board (PCB) structure, while an addressable electronic-ink based display module is mounted on the second side of the PCB structure, and a thermal-insulation weather-sealed packaging is provided about the addressable electronic-ink based display structure and the PCB structure. To accommodate hot outdoor weather environments, a heat-dissipative thermal radiator is mounted to the first side of the PCB, and in thermal communication with the addressable electronic-ink based display structure and the PCB structure. | 07-15-2010 |
20100177660 | Wireless network devices for use in a wireless communication network - Various wireless network components that offer increased flexibility, ease of use, functionality and performance in many demanding applications in diverse fields of use, namely: a wireless multi-function network device for use on a wireless communication network, that can serve multiple functions and dynamically switch and reconfigure from a network router into a network coordinator in the event that the originally designated network coordinator is permanently or temporally disabled; a wireless mesh-type communication network, including a plurality of wireless network router devices, each capable of performing the functions of a network controller/coordinator; a wireless network router device for use on a wireless communication network, and employing an integrated phased-array antenna structure, supporting the spatial isolation of multi-regions, and utilizing beam steering principles of operation, for illuminating multiple wireless network end-devices over separate regions; a network gateway device that supports a USB-type communication interface and RF-based wireless communication interface; a network protocol translation (NPT) based gateway device for use in a wireless communication network; and wireless network coordinator device for automatically establishing a Personal Area Network (PAN) on a wireless communication network, and having a compact housing with an electrical wall plug integrated therein having electrical prongs for plugging into a standard electrical wall socket. | 07-15-2010 |
20100177707 | Method and apparatus for increasing the SNR at the RF antennas of wireless end-devices on a wireless communication network, while minimizing the RF power transmitted by the wireless coordinator and routers - Method and apparatus for increasing the SNR at the RF antenna of a wireless end-device (e.g. wireless electronic-ink display device or sensor) on a wireless communication network having one or more wireless network routers and a network controller, while minimizing the RF power transmitted by the wireless routers and wireless coordinator to the wireless end-devices. | 07-15-2010 |
20100177749 | Methods of and apparatus for programming and managing diverse network components, including electronic-ink based display devices, in a mesh-type wireless communication network - A wireless communication network for programming and monitoring a plurality of network-managed devices, including electronic-ink based display devices, comprising a network management computer system, a network gateway device, one or more wireless network routers, a plurality of network-managed devices, and a network coordinator. The wireless communication network of the present invention bridges the gap between wireless display networks, wireless sensor networks, and the worlds of passive, active and partially-active RFID and real-time locating systems. The wireless communication network of the present invention allows conventional communication network protocols to operate in more flexible ways in dynamic, diverse, and heterogeneous application environments, in fields including retail, healthcare, transport, logistics, manufacturing, education, etc. At the same time, the wireless communication network of the present invention is preferably based on the IEEE 802.15.4 network layer standard, which offers low-cost wireless network communication between a large number of wireless network end-devices. | 07-15-2010 |
20100177750 | Wireless Diplay sensor communication network - A wireless sensor communication network supporting a plurality of electronic-ink display sensor devices adapted for use in environments where a local source of electrical power is not available at the point of sensing/monitoring, and there is a need to display sensed data at the point of sensing/monitoring, and minimize the level of servicing required to maintain the wireless sensors. The wireless sensor communication network includes a network gateway device, one or more wireless network routers, a plurality of wireless electronic-ink display sensor devices, and a network coordinator. Each wireless electronic-ink display sensor device comprises: an addressable electronic-ink based display module providing a display surface on which to display graphics. Each wireless electronic-ink display sensor device also includes a power source module including an electrochemical battery, and also a sensor module for sensing a parameter or condition associated with the ambient environment in which the wireless electronic-ink display sensor device is located, generating environmental data representative of the sensed parameter or condition, from which environmental data packets are generated by an onboard programmed processor. The programmed processor, a RF transceiver and a RF antenna cooperate to transmit environmental data packets over the second communication medium, for reception by a network management computer network, and wherein the programmed processor and the addressable electronic-ink based display module cooperate to display the environmental data on the display surface. | 07-15-2010 |
20130250806 | WIRELESS NETWORK DEVICE - Various wireless network components offer increased flexibility, ease of use, functionality and performance in many demanding applications in diverse fields of use. In particular, a wireless multi-function network device for use on a wireless communication network can serve multiple functions and dynamically switch and reconfigure from a network router into a network coordinator in the event that the originally designated network coordinator is permanently or temporally disabled. | 09-26-2013 |