Ncr Corporation

Ncr International Inc.

Hong Tang

Paul Oliver Detwiler

Barry M Mergenthaler

Donald Alexander Collins, Jr

Yeming Gu

Rex A Aleshire

Denis Michael Blanford

Stephen J Ames

Daniel B Seevers

Michael A Spencer

Jeffrey P Treptau

Kenneth Joseph Fabian

John K Burkey

Charles R Copus

Barry Myron Merganthaler

Michael Allen Spencer

Rex Allen Aleshire

Stephen John Ames

Daniel Byron Seevers

A dual aperture optical scanner which produces horizontal, vertical, and diagonal scan patterns. The optical scanner includes a housing having a substantially vertical surface containing a first aperture and a substantially horizontal surface containing a second aperture. A laser diode produces a laser beam. A spinner produces first, second, and third groups of scanning beams. A plurality of pattern mirrors reflects the first group of scanning beams in a substantially horizontal direction through the first aperture, the second group of scanning beams in a substantially downward diagonal direction through the first aperture, and the third group of scanning beams in a substantially vertical direction through the second aperture.

Optical scanner having enhanced item side coverage

Techniques for removing noise effects in processing a barcode signal. A photosignal produced by scanning a barcode is used to generate a digital first derivative signal. Positive and negative thresholds are generated based on the digital first derivative signal. Processing windows are defined for each region of the first derivative signal which exceeds a threshold. Each processing window is bounded by a window opening point at which the first derivative signal exceeds a threshold, and by a window closing point, which is the last crossing of the threshold by the first derivative signal before the first derivative signal makes a zero crossing. Each region is processed to locate a geometric center of the region. A logic transition is recognized for the geometric center of each region defined by a processing window.

Methods and apparatus for area weighted means processing of barcode signals

A produce data collector which includes a spectrometer which minimizes noise from scattered light and from wavelengths outside the operating range of the spectrometer. The produce data collector includes a light source for illuminating a produce item. The spectrometer obtains spectral information about the produce item in incoming reflected light from the produce item and includes a linear variable filter, a photodetector adjacent the linear variable filter, and an optical slit member above a primary surface of the linear variable filter which has a slit with a width sufficient to minimize scattering of the incoming light by interior surfaces of the linear variable filter. The produce data collector may additionally include a filter, such as an infrared filter.

Produce data collector with enhanced LVF spectrometer

A system for dual thresholding digital barcode processing. A light reflected from a barcode is captured by a photodetector to produce a photocurrent. The photocurrent is converted to a voltage, amplified and filtered to produce a photovoltage. The photovoltage is differentiated to form a first derivative signal and the first derivative signal is converted to a digital first derivative signal and processed to identify logic transitions represented by the barcode. The processing system subjects the photosignal to Gaussian filtering and differentiates the digital first derivative signal to form a second derivative signal. The digital first derivative signal is compared against a positive and a negative threshold and the second derivative signal is examined to detect zero crossings. When a positive peak of the first derivative exceeds the positive threshold and the second derivative undergoes a negative zero crossing within a predetermined time before or after the positive peak exceeds the positive threshold, a negative logic transition is identified. When a negative peak of the first derivative exceeds the negative threshold and the second derivative undergoes a positive zero crossing within a predetermined time before or after the first derivative exceeds the negative threshold, a positive logic transition is identified.

Methods and apparatus for dual thresholding in processing of barcode signals

A dual channel video data recovery system for use in a bar code scanner. A first and a second video signal are generated in parallel in response to light reflected from a bar code. The first and second video signals are received and filtered to limit their frequency ranges and produce filtered first and second video signals. The first and second filtered video signals are limited to different and preferably coverlapping frequency ranges. The first and second video signals have differing thresholds which may be dynamically varied. The first and second filtered video signals are converted to first and second digital data strings. If both strings contain useful data, the string containing the higher-quality data is decoded to recover bar code information. If only one string contains useful data, the string containing useful data is decoded.

Methods and apparatus for dual channel video recovery in bar code scanners

A spinner for a barcode scanner includes mirror facets arranged in a polygon about a rotary axis. A fairing extends radially outwardly from adjacent the facets, and is circumferentially truncated therearound for aerodynamically streamlining the spinner.

Streamlined scanner spinner

A system for digital barcode processing. A light reflected from a barcode is captured by a photodetector to produce a photocurrent. The photocurrent is converted to a voltage, amplified and filtered to produce a photovoltage. The photovoltage is differentiated to form a first derivative signal and the first derivative signal is converted to a digital first derivative signal and processed to identify logic transitions represented by the barcode. The processing system subjects the photosignal to Gaussian filtering and differentiates the digital first derivative signal to form a second derivative signal. The digital first derivative signal is compared against a positive and a negative threshold and the second derivative signal is examined to detect zero crossings. When a positive peak of the first derivative exceeds the positive threshold and the second derivative undergoes a negative zero crossing within a predetermined time before or after the positive peak exceeds the positive threshold, a negative logic transition is identified. When a negative peak of the first derivative exceeds the negative threshold and the second derivative undergoes a positive zero crossing within a predetermined time before or after the first derivative exceeds the negative threshold, a positive logic transition is identified.

Methods and apparatus for digitizing and processing of analog barcode signals

A produce data collector and produce recognition system which illuminates a produce item with substantially uniform light to enhance the accuracy of collected produce data and subsequent identification of the produce item as part of a transaction in a transaction establishment. The produce data collector includes a light source for illuminating the produce item with substantially uniform light during the transaction, a light separating element for splitting light collected from the produce item into a plurality of different light portions having different wavelengths, a detector for converting energy in the plurality of light portions into a plurality of electrical signals, and control circuitry which digitizes the plurality of electrical signals to produce a digital spectrum from the produce item which contains information to identify the produce item for the purpose of determining its unit price.

Linear variable filter spectrometer

A system for synchronization of the angular position of a rotating optical assembly in a bar code scanner having a rotating optical assembly. The optical assembly is rotated by a motor which produces a fixed number of pulses per rotation, the pulses occurring at equal intervals such that each pulse indicates a degree of angular rotation of the motor. The pulses are continuously monitored and counted. Timing is simultaneously monitored. A synchronization label is placed in the scanner such that light directed through the rotating optical assembly will strike the synchronization label and be reflected back to the rotating optical assembly when the rotating optical assembly is at a particular angular position, thus establishing an initial angular position of the rotating optical assembly. Once the initial angular position is established, timing is continuously monitored and pulses are continuously monitored and counted. When an event of interest, such as bar code scan occurs, the pulse count is evaluated and processed to determine an angular position of the rotating optical assembly with respect to the initial position as established at synchronization.

Methods and apparatus for determining bar code label location information

Produce data collector and produce recognition system

A produce data collector with minimal spectral distortion. The produce data collector includes a light pipe having entrance and exit ends through which a portion of light reflected from a produce item travels, and a spectrometer adjacent the exit end of the light pipe which splits the portion of light into a plurality of wavelengths and which produces signals associated with the wavelengths for identifying the produce item.

A scanner includes a laser for projecting a laser beam at a facet having a blazed diffractive grating thereon. The facet is rotated relative to the laser to traverse the laser beam across the grating to diffract the laser beam into a scan line. The blazed diffractive grating may be readily manufactured using injection molding or photolithograhic manufacturing techniques.

Blazed diffraction scanner

A barcode scanner includes a laser for projecting a laser beam in an outbound path to a focus at a barcode, and effecting back scattered light therefrom in an opposite inbound path. A collection lens is optically aligned with the laser in both the outbound and inbound paths, and has an optical axis laterally offset from the laser and aligned with the focus. A detector is laterally offset from the laser and optically aligned with the lens for receiving the scattered light therefrom.

Tilted offset barcode scanner

An optical scanner includes a housing having first and second obliquely adjoining windows. Disposed in the housing is a laser for projecting a laser beam against a rotatable spinner having a plurality of mirrored facets for sequentially reflecting the laser beam to effect a scan beam. A plurality of pattern mirrors are optically aligned with the spinner for reflecting the scan beam through the first and second windows to effect a plurality of individual scan lines arranged in first and second patterns corresponding with the first and second windows. The pattern mirrors include a triad set of mirrors optically aligned in series between the spinner and the first window for scanning the first scan pattern to a back edge of the first window for scanning at least the back side of a multisided item.

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Suwanee, GA, United States of America

Hong Tang