Symbol Technologies, LLC

Hal Charych

Raj Bridgelall

Mark William Duron

Richard T Knadle

Robert A Doran

Avi Nudelman

Jerome Swartz

Joseph M Katz

Paul Dvorkis

Yajun Li

Simon Bard

Joseph D Giordano

John Barile

Frank Gong

Steven M Chew

Sundeep Kumar

Henry Grosfeld

Stephen M Osterweil

James Geibel

Edward D Barkan

Boris Metlitsky

Askold Strat

Michael O'Haire

Chin-Hung Jwo

Henry Grossfeld

Robert May

Cary Chu

Richard Rizzo

Wayne Ku

Ted Koontz

Fredrick Schuessler

Vadim R Gololobov

Sumita Malik

Boris Metilitsky

Askold Stratienco

A portable/handheld device is provided having a processing module configured to selectively operate a reading mode selected from a far-field mode and a near-field mode, and a directional antenna array coupled to the processing module. The directional antenna array includes a first antenna element configured to radiate electromagnetic (EM) radiation in a far-field, and a second antenna element coupled to the first antenna element. The second antenna element is configured to radiate EM radiation in a near-field. The second antenna element includes an antenna transducer configured to selectively cancel far-field EM radiation from the first antenna element. A method of reading inductively coupled radio frequency identification (RFID) tags is also provided having the steps of scanning at least one frequency band to detect a RFID tag, and selectively radiating one of a near-field electromagnetic (EM) field and a far-field EM field based on the detected RFID tag.

Multi-frequency RFID apparatus and methods of reading RFID tags

A directional antenna array is provided that includes a driven element and a first parasitic element separated from the driven element with the first parasitic element and/or the driven element having a width that is greater than about one-half a percent (0.5%) of an free-space wavelength of the directional antenna array. Alternatively or in conjunction, the directional antenna array includes a balun structure that is configured to couple the driven element to at least one of an electromagnetic energy source and an electromagnetic sink, and the balun structure includes a dipole structure, a first feed point extending from the dipole structure and a second feed point extending from the first parasitic element.

Directional antenna array

Methods and apparatus are provided for locating one among many items equipped with RFID tags. The apparatus comprises a portable system interrogating the RFID tags and receiving responses therefrom that depend at least on their bearing angle. A comparator selects responses from the one item and ignores others. An annunciator indicates the presence of the one item in the interrogator field of view and, desirably but not essentially, its relative proximity. A directional antenna whose beam pattern is limited in azimuth and/or elevation provides bearing angle information. Its field of view becomes progressively smaller as the antenna approaches the one item so that a user can substantially pinpoint its location without needing any of the usual RFID infrastructure. Tag response hit rate and/or signal strength provides range related information to the interrogator. Optionally, the presence of each new tag is announced until all new tags have been identified.

Item finding using RF signalling

Containers for holding goods are provided with a relay conductive structure for relaying RFID tags signals from one side of the container to another. The conductive structure includes a first antenna on the first side of the container, a second antenna on a second side of the container and a transmission line connecting the antennas. When the containers are arranged in a stack, the relay of RFID signals past each row of containers enables the interrogation toward the rear of the stack without disassembling the stack of containers.

Package-integrated RF relay

An RFID relay device for an RFID transponder and methods are provided for relaying an RFID signal. The RFID relay device comprises at least two antenna and a transmission line coupling the at least two antenna. In addition to the two antenna and the transmission line, the RFID relay device comprises an impedance adjusting circuit coupled to the transmission line and configured for coupling to the RFID transponder.

RFID relay device and methods for relaying and RFID signal

Described are RF tracking system and method. The RF system may include a shell for holding a plurality of containers which store a material that interferes with RF communications. The shell includes a bottom container supporting surface and a plurality of leg extensions attached thereto; the shell extends away from the bottom surface. The tracking system also includes at least one RF tag attached to a first one of the leg extensions. The tag has a memory arrangement storing data relating to at least one of an identity of the shell, an identity of the containers held in the shell and a material stored in the containers. Furthermore, the tracking system includes at least one RF scanner communicating with the tag to collect the data and a computing arrangement which includes a database and communicating with the scanner to update the database as a function of the collected data. The tag is situated at a predetermined distance away from the containers held in the shell to overcome an electromagnetic dampening effect of the material.

System and method for tracking data related to containers using RF technology

A system for reading optical codes, and more particularly to code reading systems with sound signal generators, modules a sound detector detects an ambient sound level in a vicinity of the system operator and the volume of the audible indicator is controlled in response to the detected ambient sound level. The sound may be produced by a transducer located in a raised rail adjacent the system operator. Various kinds of audio signals may be produced, for example, to distinguish the system's response from those of nearby optical code reading systems or to identify the kind of optical code symbology being read or its informational content.

Audible indicators for optical code reading systems

A method of reading bar code symbols includes determining one or more parameters based upon the quantity and/or quality of the data which is being acquired, and providing the user with information concerning that parameter. The parameter may, for example, be the rate at which code words in the symbol are being read, and that information may be passed to the user by way of an LED which flashes at a rate which varies with the data acquisition rate. For a given bar code symbol being read, the rate of flashing varies with the position of the bar code reader with respect to the symbol. To improve the data acquisition rate, the user simply moves and/or rotates the bar code reader with respect to the symbol in a direction which causes the rate of flashing to increase. The invention extends to a bar code reader having means for providing an indication to a user of the relative suitability, for optimal reading of a symbol, of the current position of the reader.

Bar code scanner positioning

An interface between a two-dimensional bar code scanner and a host digital decoder is provided through a 15-pin electronic connector, which transfers to the decoder an actuating signal either from a scanner trigger switch or from an external device. In response, the digital decoder provides the scanner with operating power. The scanner generates and relays a bar code signal and a scanning direction signal back to the digital decoder, which uses these signals to identify a bar code being scanned as a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code. If the bar code is determined to be a two-dimensional code, upon detection of laser pattern alignment with the label the digital decoder sends a scanning control signal to the scanner to control a laser pattern generated by the scanner.

Two-dimensional bar code scanner interface

A light emitter emits light through an offset opening in a concave collector to a reflector that reflects the light along a first path to coded indicia to be read in an electro-optical reader. Light reflected from the indicia is reflected by the reflector to the collector which, in turn, directs the reflected light in a second path extending across the first path to a light detector. The reflector is mounted on a resilient spring for oscillating movement.

Compact bar code scanning module with folded beam path and reflector

A scanner module for use in a bar code reader has a scanning mirror which is mounted to a bracket by way of leaf-spring, allowing the mirror to oscillate in one direction. The bracket is hung from a stationary chassis by means of two strips of mylar film, allowing the entire bracket to oscillate in the perpendicular direction, thereby providing two dimensional oscillation of the mirror and raster scanning of a light beam reflected from the mirror. The mylar sheets are protected against mechanical shock by pins which pass through holes in the bracket. The pins are slightly smaller than the holes, allowing sufficient clearance for movement of the bracket during normal operation, but preventing too much stress being placed upon the mylar films if the module is dropped. The pins also provide accurate alignment of the bracket with respect to the chassis.

Compact bar code scanning module with shock protection

A scan module is mounted in a frame within an electro-optical scanner. External shocks from the scanner to the frame are resisted by a plurality of shock mounts. Internal vibrations generated by the scan module are resisted from being transmitted to the frame by a plurality of isolation mounts. Printed circuit boards are mounted on the frame to make a compact, vibration-isolated, shock-protected assembly.

Arrangement for and method of providing shock protection and vibration

An optical reading system for reading optically encoded information represented by a symbol on a target includes a rotational shaft, a light emitter for producing a beam of light to scan a path through a scan field, and a light detector for detecting light reflected from the symbol to read the optically encoded information. A means for oscillating the light emitter and light detector about a longitudinal axis of the rotational shaft is also provided. At least one electrical conductor is connected to each of the light emitter and light detector for providing electrical energy thereto. Each electrical conductor is affixed between distal ends thereof at a point coincident with a point on the longitudinal axis of the rotational shaft.

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E. Setauket, NY, United States of America

Hal Charych