Life Technologies Corporation

Psc Scanning, Inc.

Spectra-Physics Scanning Systems, Inc.

Glen W Davis

Jonathan R Brandt

Wesley Glen Smith

John Dominic Jackson

Gregory Kaduchak

Michael D Ward

Phillip W Shepard

Charles Forrister Atwater

Provided are systems and methods for line volume calibration, and measurement of fluid samples delivered to an interrogation point. In various embodiments, a known fluid volume comprising a sample line fluid and a secondary fluid is delivered to a fluid boundary sensor. The fluid boundary sensor assists in determining the position of the boundaries between the various fluids, and the positions of these boundaries are used to determine the sample line fluid volume.

Line volume calibration systems and methods

A sampling system is provided. The sampling system includes a housing. Mounted to the housing is a Hall effect sensor. A probe configured to contact a sample is inserted into the housing. The probe includes an elongated portion and a restorative spring inserted onto the elongated portion of the probe. The restorative spring provides sufficient restorative force to return the probe to a relaxed position. The Hall effect sensor is configured to sense a field strength generated by the proximity of the restorative spring of the probe in the extended position.

Sampling probes, systems, apparatuses, and methods

Plate loader

In a bar code scanning system, decoding of character information is enhanced through methods for up-front determination of symbology being decoded. In one aspect, symbology type (binary or multi-width) is determined from gathered element width information and utilized in determining appropriate decoding methods to be implemented. In another aspect, various indicators may be systematically utilized in order to rank the probability of label information comprising certain symbologies. Ratings from each indicator are weighted and utilized to assess the symbologies with the highest chance of successful decoding and to rank symbologies in order based on likelihood of successful decoding. Decoding methods for the symbologies with the highest chance of success are implemented first with those of lower chance of success being implemented last, or not at all. In yet another aspect, user entry of information regarding potential symbology(ies) to be read may be utilized in determining appropriate decoding methods to be implemented.

Symbology determination to aid decoding in a bar code scanning system

In a bar code scanning systems, a variety of decoding methods may be systematically implemented to effect decoding of label information from scans of label data. Differently aggressive decoding methods may be selected, either manually or automatically (such as by programming in a variety of manners) to decode label symbologies. In a first aspect, decoding of a digital representation of an input signal may be attempted first with decoding of part or all of the analog signal being undertaken only after a number of attempts at the digital signal prove unsuccessful. In this manner, system resources and decoding time may be saved. In a further aspect, levels of decoding techniques varying in aggressiveness are programmed such that more secure, less aggressive techniques are attempted first with less secure, more aggressive techniques being implemented sequentially and systematically until successful decoding is obtained. Beginning and/or starting aggressiveness may be programmed for specific symbologies or scanning conditions. Alternatively, the system may be programmed to learn the preferred levels of decoding aggressiveness to be attempted in relation to specific symbologies or scanning conditions. In a still further aspect, feedback from decoding may be utilized to adapt subsequent signal processing parameters to enhance decoding efficiency. Information regarding aggressiveness levels required for decoding specific labels may further be utilized as a basis for reporting the quality of labels being scanned.

Decoding system and methods in a bar code scanning system

In a bar code scanning system, character reconstruction and element level processing techniques enable label information to be recreated from defective or corrupted information that would otherwise be undecodable by standard decoding algorithms. Reconstruction methods allow for undecodable characters or elements to be reconstructed from partial information based upon known or expected structural characteristics for the particular label symbologies being decoded. Element edge histograms, edge strength indicators and quality measures are used to enhance label readability and bar code scanner decoding capabilities.

Character reconstruction and element level processing in bar code scanning system

In a bar code scanning system, information at the leading and trailing ends of a label is corrected to adjust for distortion due to mechanical aspects of the scan line mechanism that might otherwise render information unreadable. The speed of the scanning spot can be characterized over the course of the scan line. With knowledge of the rate of change of the scan mechanism speed at the ends of the scan line, as well as position information in relation to change in speed over the scan line, a measure of the associated time distortion with respect to elements encoded in the scan line information may be established. In turn, a compensation curve may be determined to identify the offset that may be applied to the collected data to compensate for the variation in speed. In a further aspect, interpolation techniques may similarly be implemented to compensate for the distortion of elements on rounded surfaces; potential offset amounts could be determined and implemented to adjust for character/element width distortion. Such offsets could be used either directly on identified character/element widths, or they may be implemented as part of a secondary, more aggressive technique to fit elements/characters into a known pattern during reconstruction.

Compensation for scan line variations in a bar code scanner system

In a bar code scanning system, correlation and stitching techniques, both at the character and element level are utilized to assemble complete label information from partially scanned label segments. Correlation may require the same characters to be identified a fixed number of times in the same position before acceptance. Alternatively, quality and confidence measures may be implemented to determine the number of times a particular character must be decoded before being accepted. In a preferred implementation, a decoded character that is determined to be of poor quality may be required to be decoded as that same character a greater number of times than if it were of good quality. Identified correlation techniques may be combined with identified stitching techniques to enhance decodability and efficiency of assembling complete label information.

Correlation and stitching techniques in a bar code scanning system

A method and apparatus for increasing the speed of scanners reading multiple bar code symbologies by changing the order of priority in which the various symbologies are tested by the decoder. After a particular symbology has been read a given number of times in a row, its priority is increased. A particular symbology will continue to advance in priority the more often it is read until it becomes the highest priority symbology.

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Junction City, OR, United States of America

Glen W Davis