In accordance with an embodiment, a marking apparatus comprises an acquiring section configured to acquire first information associated with an object; a setting section configured to set parameters of a laser beam based on the first information; and a marking section configured to irradiate the object with the laser beam based on the parameters set by the setting section to mark second information on the object.

In accordance with an embodiment, a marking apparatus comprises an acquiring section configured to acquire first information associated with an object; a setting section configured to set parameters of a laser beam based on the first information; and a marking section configured to irradiate the object with the laser beam based on the parameters set by the setting section to mark second information on the object.

An online data validator is a digital imaging system integrated onto the front side of a printing unit wherein an exit of the printing unit is set on the same side close to the online data validator for a media exiting therefrom. The online data validator comprises a controller facilitating communication with a printing unit controller and controlling overall operation of the online data validator functions; a camera module including a sensor PCB and an optical lens, wherein the sensor PCB contains a camera sensor for capturing 2D digital images of moving labels; and a light source module including a lightbar, a lightbar PCB, a Fresnel lens and a window for providing uniform and flattened illumination on the media.

An online data validator is a digital imaging system integrated onto the front side of a printing unit wherein an exit of the printing unit is set on the same side close to the online data validator for a media exiting therefrom. The online data validator comprises a controller facilitating communication with a printing unit controller and controlling overall operation of the online data validator functions; a camera module including a sensor PCB and an optical lens, wherein the sensor PCB contains a camera sensor for capturing 2D digital images of moving labels; and a light source module including a lightbar, a lightbar PCB, a Fresnel lens and a window for providing uniform and flattened illumination on the media.

A method, system and device are provided that collect and provide information related to worker productivity. The goods may be or include consumer products, commodities, equipment, food, food products, agricultural supplies and agricultural products. A label may be employed that includes a display screen, a bar code, a quick response code, an RFID chip and/or a radio frequency or photonic communications device to aid tracking of accomplished piecework and worker behavior. The worker may confirm documentation of piecework credit by both displays of piecework counts by the badge and by accessing a database server.

A method, system and device are provided that collect and provide information related to worker productivity. The goods may be or include consumer products, commodities, equipment, food, food products, agricultural supplies and agricultural products. A label may be employed that includes a display screen, a bar code, a quick response code, an RFID chip and/or a radio frequency or photonic communications device to aid tracking of accomplished piecework and worker behavior. The worker may confirm documentation of piecework credit by both displays of piecework counts by the badge and by accessing a database server.

A method of manufacturing a metal product includes forming a first identification code onto a surface of a metal member with a laser beam, the first identification code being readable under a first reading condition, and heating the metal member on which the identification code is formed. The method further includes reading the first identification code with a reading device, and forming a second identification code onto the surface of the metal member subsequent to the heating with a laser beam based on the first identification code which is read with the reading device. The second identification code is readable under a second reading condition different from the first reading condition.

Methods of marking paper products and marked paper products are provided. Some methods include irradiating the paper product to alter the functionalization of the paper.

Methods of marking paper products and marked paper products are provided. Some methods include irradiating the paper product to alter the functionalization of the paper.

A method of generating animal identification codes is described. A first and second number are selected, then each number is compared respectively against previously used first and previously used second numbers in a pool. Such comparing uses a computed distance based on how the numbers will be encoded and marked on an animal, such as a Hamming distance of printed symbologies. If the distance computed for either the first or second number is below a distance threshold, that number is discarded and another number is selected. When both numbers pass the distance test, they are added as a pair into the pool. Pairs from the pool may be encoded and marked on an animal. The encoding of the first number may generate a human-readable mark while a different encoding of the second number generates a machine-readable mark.