A controller samples, after determination of a start of a user's press on a pressable input surface of a pressure sensing member, a value of an output voltage of the pressure sensing member, and determines whether one of a first condition and a second condition is satisfied to accordingly determine whether the user's press on the pressable input surface is terminated. The first condition represents that the sampled value of the output voltage is lower than a predetermined second voltage threshold. The second condition represents that the output voltage has converged to a base voltage. The base voltage is a value of the output voltage of the pressure sensing member with no user's press on the pressable input surface of the pressure sensing member.

Disclosed is a lighting control system for directing a show. The system includes at least: a master device; and a plurality of slave devices that receive lighting control signals from the master device. The light control signals correspond to seats of a plurality of audiences in an auditorium. The plurality of slave devices receive position information indicating specific positions at which the plurality of slave devices emit a light, light-emitting status information including preset information to classify the plurality of slave devices into a plurality of groups, and group identification number information. The plurality of slave devices are grouped in accordance with received information. The master device controls the grouped plurality of slave devices to emit a light per group basis by broadcasting the lighting control signals including group light-emitting pattern information for each of the plurality of groups of the plurality of slave devices.

Methods and apparatus for using an indicator window of a handheld scanner as a trigger are disclosed herein. An example handheld scanner includes: a housing; an image sensor to capture image data through a front-facing opening; an indicia decoder; an indicator window positioned to face generally away from the front-facing opening and toward a user when the handheld scanner is in a handheld position; a light source disposed inside the housing to emit indication light through the window to provide an indication; a light detector disposed inside the housing and positioned to detect a reflection of the indication light received from an object positioned in front of or on the window outside the housing; and a processor configured to control a mode of the handheld scanner and/or a device in communication with the handheld scanner in response to the light detector detecting the reflection of the emitted indication light.

An adapter for a portable barcode reader includes a body having a base for selective placement on an external surface, adapter electrical contacts contained within the body and positioned to be in continuous electrical contact with reader electrical contacts of the portable barcode reader in a fastened state, a wireless charging receiver conductor coupled to the adapter electrical contacts, and a wireless controller configured to control charging of the portable barcode reader. The adapter maintains the portable barcode reader in a stationary position when placed on a surface such that the field of view of the portable barcode reader extends from horizontal to as much as 45 degrees below horizontal. The adapter may further include a near-field communication conductor and a microcontroller to wirelessly communicate indicia data captured by the portable barcode reader to an external receiver.

An imaging engine including a telephoto lens for compact long range barcode readers is disclosed herein. An example imaging engine includes an imaging sensor and a telephoto lens assembly. The example telephoto lens assembly includes a first lens, disposed along an optical axis; a second lens, disposed along the optical axis to correct for pupil aberrations of the image projected after a fourth lens onto the imaging sensor; a third lens, disposed along the optical axis to correct for chromatic aberration of the image projected after the fourth lens onto the imaging sensor; and the fourth lens, disposed along the optical axis to correct for optical field curvature of the image projected after the fourth lens onto the imaging sensor.

This invention provides an aimer assembly for a vision system that is coaxial (on-axis) with the camera optical axis, thus providing an aligned aim point at a wide range of working distances. The aimer includes a projecting light element located aside the camera optical axis. The beam and received light from the imaged (illuminated) scene are selectively reflected or transmitted through a dichoric mirror assembly in a manner that permits the beam to be aligned with the optical axis and projected to the scene while only light from the scene is received by the sensor. The aimer beam and illuminator employ differing light wavelengths. In a further embodiment, an internal illuminator includes a plurality of light sources below the camera optical axis. Some of the light sources are covered by a prismatic structure for close distance, and other light sources are collimated, projecting over a longer distance.

In inventory management barcodes scanners are a very useful tool. Most barcode scanners are tethered via a USB cable, or must be relatively close to a host computer using wire-less communication protocols. This invention is enables a barcode scanner unit to be able to connect to Wi-Fi and send data immediately to any host server in the world. Customizable HTTP POST requests let end customers choose any extra data, such as locations and user identification, to send with each barcode that has been scanned. Switches on the unit can be activated to change the POST requests being sent without having to reprogram the unit. The small footprint of the device allows it to be integrated easily into handheld scanners, existing cabinetry, assembly lines, and appliances.

Barcode readers and methods for directing fields-of-view of imaging sensors of barcode readers are disclosed herein. An example barcode reader includes a housing, an imaging sensor positioned within the housing, and a transflective mirror positioned within the housing and in a path of a field-of-view of the imaging sensor. The transflective mirror reflects at least a first portion of the field-of-view of the imaging sensor in a first direction with the transflective mirror in a reflective state and allows the field-of-view of the imaging sensor to pass through and continue in a second direction, different than the first direction, with the transflective mirror in a transmissive state.

A barcode reader configured to capture interleaved frame types optimized for vision capture and barcode capture are disclosed herein. An example barcode reader is configured to operate in a pre-determined repetitive pattern of capturing a first frame and capturing a second frame over a reading cycle having a fixed duration after a triggering event, wherein the first frame is captured over a first exposure period having a first duration, and the second frame is captured over a second exposure period having a second duration, and wherein the first frame is associated with a first brightness parameter, and the second frame is associated with a second brightness parameter.

A system and method for accurately measuring the volume of full or partially-filled containers via UPC-A standard barcode and weight. After initial connection to the wireless Internet, no input is required by the user. Bottles are placed on a load cell with the barcode label rotated to face an omni-directional barcode reader. The load cell ensures objective and reproducible inventory counts, and the barcode ensures accuracy and speed. The apparatus automatically shuts off after a period of idleness to preserve battery life.