Abstract:
A multi-stage laser beam despeckling device including a first laser beam despeckling module for optically multiplexing an input laser beam into a temporal/spatial coherence-reduced output laser beam; and a second laser beam despeckling module, optically coupled to the first laser beam despeckling module, for receiving the temporal/spatial coherence-reduced as an input laser beam to the second despeckling module and producing a further temporal/spatial coherence-reduced output laser beam.
Abstract:
A tunnel-type digital imaging-based self-checkout system capable of generating and projecting coplanar illumination and imaging planes into a 3D imaging volume within a tunnel structure. The tunnel structure is supported above a package conveyor in a retail POS environment, and employs automatic package identification, profiling and tracking techniques during self-checkout operations.
Abstract:
A digital illumination and imaging system employing one or more planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs) each including: (i) a laser illumination source driven preferably by high frequency modulated (HFM) diode current drive circuitry; (ii) a beam collimating optics disposed beyond the laser source; (ii) an optical beam multiplexer (OMUX) device disposed beyond the collimating optics; and (iv) a planarizing-type illumination lens array disposed beyond the OMUX device, and arranged for generating a plurality of substantially planar coherence-reduced laser illumination beams (PLIBs) that form a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam (PLIB) having substantially reduced spatial/temporal coherence. A digital image detection array for detecting digital images of an object illuminated by the composite substantially planar laser illumination beam. By virtue of the present invention, the power of speckle pattern noise, observed in a digital image of an object detected at the digital image detection array, is substantially reduced when the digital image is formed using the substantially planar laser illumination beam.
Abstract:
A POS-based digital image capturing and processing system for illuminating objects using automatic object detection and spectral-mixing illumination technique. The system comprises an coplanar illumination and imaging station for projecting at least one coplanar illumination and imaging plane into a imaging volume during object illumination and imaging operations. The coplanar illumination and imaging station includes an illumination subsystem for producing a first field of visible illumination from an array of visible VLDs, and producing a second field of invisible illumination from an array of infrared (IR) laser diodes (IR-LDs). wherein the first and second fields of illumination spatially overlap and intermix with each other and are substantially coplanar with the FOV of the linear image sensing array. An automatic object detection subsystem automatically detects an object moving through the imaging volume, while an illumination control subsystem controls the relative power ratio (VIS/IR) of visible illumination and invisible illumination during system operation so as to minimize the amount of visible illumination energy required to capture sufficiently high-contrast images of said objects and successfully process the same.
Abstract:
A digital image capturing and processing system for automatically recognizing objects in a POS environment. The system includes a system housing having an imaging window; illumination and imaging stations for generating and projecting illumination and imaging planes or zones through the imaging window, and into a 3D imaging volume definable relative to the imaging window, for digital imaging an object passing through the 3D imaging volume, and generating digital linear images of the object as the object intersects the illumination and imaging planes or zones during system operation. A digital image processor processes the digital images and automatically recognizes the object, such as produce and fruit, graphically represented by the digital images.
Abstract:
A coplanar laser illumination and imaging subsystem deployable in an image capturing and processing system, and including an image formation and detection (IFD) subsystem having an image sensing array and optics providing a field of view (FOV) on the image sensing array, and forming an image of an object within the FOV and detecting said image on the image sensing array and producing a digital image thereof. The system includes a spectral-mixing based illumination subsystem having an array of VLDs for producing a visible illumination beam, and an array of IR laser diodes (LDs) for producing an invisible illumination beam. The visible and invisible illumination beams spatially overlaps and spatially/temporally intermixes with each other to produce a composite spectrally-mixed illumination beam having a relative power ratio (VIS/IR), and is substantially coplanar with the FOV of said image sensing array. A laser despeckling mechanism is provided for reducing the coherence of the composite spectrally-mixed illumination beam, and/or its components, so that the digital images produced by the IFD subsystem having substantially reduced levels of speckle-pattern noise when the laser despeckling mechanism is operational.
Abstract:
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 electro-chemical 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.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
A coplanar laser illumination and imaging subsystem deployable in an image capturing and processing system, and including an image formation and detection (IFD) subsystem having an image sensing array and optics providing a field of view (FOV) on the image sensing array, and forming an image of an object within the FOV and detecting said image on the image sensing array and producing a digital image thereof. The system includes a spectral-mixing based illumination subsystem having an array of VLDs for producing a visible illumination beam, and an array of infrared (IR) laser diodes (LDs) for producing an invisible illumination beam. The visible and invisible illumination beams spatially overlaps and spatially/temporally intermixes with each other to produce a composite spectrally-mixed illumination beam having a relative power ratio of visible illumination to invisible illumination (VIS/IR), and is substantially coplanar with the FOV of said image sensing array. A laser despeckling mechanism is provided for reducing the coherence of the composite spectrally-mixed illumination beam, and/or its components, so that the digital images produced by the IFD subsystem having substantially reduced levels of speckle-pattern noise when the laser despeckling mechanism is operational.