Datalogic IP Tech S.r.l.

Paolo Mazzocato

Sandro Codato

Franco Favaro

Romano Volta

Valentina Volta

Luigi Frison

Nicola Centenaro

Marco Lizza

The technology described herein relates to methods and systems for reducing standby power consumed by electronic devices. A control unit is powered by a control unit power source. The control unit power source, in some embodiments, comprises a first photovoltaic driver and a second photovoltaic driver mounted in an anti-parallel configuration. In other embodiments, the control unit power source is a battery (e.g., a rechargeable battery). In addition, the control unit can cause a load power source to switch off upon detection of an absence of a load (e.g., by using the load detector) without the use of a shunt resistor. The control unit also causes the load power source to discharge electricity to the load upon detection of the load.

Power supply having low standby power consumption

A method to charge a battery pack including a plurality of cells connected in parallel, the method including setting a plurality of set cell charging current, a set cell charging current for each cell of the battery pack; charging the battery back with a total current from a single current source; sensing a plurality of cell currents which flows through each cell of the battery pack; comparing a value proportional to each set cell charging current with a value proportional to the cell current for the same cell; and modulating each cell current on the basis of the comparison for the same cell. A battery charging circuit for a battery pack is also provided.

Method to charge a battery pack and battery charging circuit to charge a battery pack

A handle or accessory is attached to mobile computers or similar devices. The handle or accessory includes the use of a wireless trigger employing a low energy technology. This trigger does not need a power source since it is provided with a piezoelectric element connected to a power management circuit. The mechanical energy applied from pressing a button is harvested and transformed in electricity and used to enable the low energy technology to communicate wirelessly with a mobile computer or similar device. Different pairing methods can be implemented in the invention to connect the handle or accessory with the mobile computer or similar device.

Add-on with wireless remote trigger for mobile computers

A system and method for retail inventory checkout in which the customer selects items from the item shelves and as an item is taken from the shelf, the customer employs an input device, such as a portable data terminal, a smart phone provided with a store application or other suitable device that communicates with the store network, to identify the item either by scanning the optical code on the item or by other means, and then once scanned, the item is added to the purchase list and then placed in a shopping cart, basket or other container. Once item selection is completed, the customer proceeds to a point of sale (POS) or pay station and puts the cart onto a weigh scale whereby the total weight of the cart with the items included (measured total weight) is measured by the weigh scale and the net weight of the items in the cart (calculated by subtracting the weight of the cart from the measured total weight) is compared to a theoretic weight of the items as calculated by the store system using the weight information of the items present in the store database. Based on the result of the comparison, the store system either approves the transaction, whereby the customer then pays for the transaction and is permitted to exit with the items, or the transaction is flagged for audit or further assistance/scrutiny.

Shopping cart monitoring system and method for store checkout

A customer terminal of a 'self-scanning shopping' system, which is configured to store at least one shopping session in a non volatile memory, includes a main processor, a product code reader, a location for non volatile storage of an open shopping session indicator and/or an identifier, either direct or indirect, of a shopping session, and a supervisor circuit. In a working operating state, the main processor periodically sends a heartbeat to the supervisor circuit. The supervisor circuit commands a reset of the main processor when, from the lack of receipt of the heartbeat, it detects a non working operating state of the main processor. The main processor, upon reset, checks whether there is an open shopping session based on the contents of said memory location and in the affirmative case restores said shopping session.

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Casier, Italy

Paolo Mazzocato