An improvement is made to a funnel used in connection with a conveyor belt to increase the scanning speed of barcodes on items moving through the funnel and onto the conveyor belt. The funnel includes a funnel protrusion that provides mechanical support and optical access to a bottom-facing barcode on the container. The increased field of view for the barcode created by the funnel protrusion allows for increased scanning speed. Further, a camera system may be used with the funnel to increase scanning speed. The camera system may include a plurality of cameras and a plurality of mirrors to obtain multiple perspectives of the container and provide different images for faster processing.

For evaluating navigation information based on line-of-sight measurements, a method measures a line-of-sight measurement with an imager. The method further calculates an information metric based on the line-of-sight measurement. The information metric is a function of imager pixel measurement noise and a relative position vector for an imager frame aligned with a focal plane frame for the imager. The method evaluates navigation information using the information metric.

Based on information on a plurality of images taken by a plurality of cameras of a QR-code imaging device, either information that label information has been appropriately acquired or information that the label information has not been appropriately acquired is assigned to each of a plurality of parts boxes placed on a forklift. Then, the information assigned to each parts box is displayed over a corresponding parts box in an image showing the parts boxes. By visually checking the image showing the parts boxes, a worker can easily recognize a parts box of which the label information has not been appropriately acquired.

Device and method of reading a mark printed on containers moving along a conveyor (102), wherein the mark (112) is printed on a lateral portion (114) of the container (110). The device (100) comprises a drive unit for applying torque on a container (110) in a reading area (104) to generate rotation along its vertical axis (118), and a camera (120) for reading the mark (112) while the container (110) is spinning. The drive unit (130) comprises a motor (134) and a spinner (132) disposed at a first zone (106) of the reading area (104) for applying torque on a lateral wall of the container (110). The device (100) comprises a pushing assembly, e.g. an air knife (140) applying high-pressure air flow (142) that drives the container (110) towards the first zone (106) to ensure rotational movement of the container (110). The device allows safe capture of the mark (112) at high line feeding speeds.

In one embodiment, a self-describing fiducial includes a communication element that optically communicates navigation-aiding information. The navigation-aiding information may include a position of the self-describing fiducial with respect to one or more coordinate systems and the communication element communicates the navigation-aiding information to one or more navigating objects in the vicinity of the self-describing fiducial. In another embodiment, the communication element is further configured to communicate supplementary information describing a spatial relationship between the self-describing fiducial and the surrounding environment.

In a method, whether there is a first bar having a width and located at at least one of both ends of a first black and white pattern is determined. The width of the bar is greater than a maximum width of a second bar. The maximum width of the second bar appears in a second black and white pattern assuming that the black and white pattern is part of the first barcode. The first black and white pattern is determined as readout data of the second barcode when it is determined that there is the first bar having the width greater than the maximum width of the second bar and located at at least one of both ends of the first black and white pattern.

In one embodiment, a self-describing fiducial includes a communication element that optically communicates navigation-aiding information. The navigation-aiding information may include a position of the self-describing fiducial with respect to one or more coordinate systems and the communication element communicates the navigation-aiding information to one or more navigating objects in the vicinity of the self-describing fiducial.

A method and apparatus for decoding codes applied to objects for use with a camera and a conveyor system wherein the camera includes an image sensor having a two dimensional field of view (FOV) and the conveyor system moves objects through the FOV such that objects enter the FOV along an entry edge and exit the FOV along an exit edge, the method comprising the steps of providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of obtaining images of the FOV, for each image identifying code candidates in at least portions of the image, ordering at least a subset of the code candidates for decoding in a candidate order wherein the candidate order is determined at least in part as a function of the first direction of travel through the FOV, attempting to decode code candidates in the order specified by the direction of travel and when a new image event occurs, foregoing attempts to decode at least a portion of the identified code candidates.

An automated checkout system for data reading, and related methods of use, the checkout system including a portal scanner and a conveyor for transporting items, the portal scanner housing a data reader with a view volume directed at a steerable mirror. In one example, the steerable mirror moves between various positions to augment the effective view volume of the data reader for capturing data from various surfaces of the item being transported on the conveyor. The portal scanner may include one or more mirrors arranged in an angular configuration to redirect the view volume of the data reader to capture data from the various surfaces of the item.

A method and apparatus for decoding codes applied to objects for use with a camera and a conveyor system wherein the camera includes an image sensor having a two dimensional field of view (FOV) and the conveyor system moves objects through the FOV such that objects enter the FOV along an entry edge and exit the FOV along an exit edge, the method comprising the steps of providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of obtaining images of the FOV, for each image identifying code candidates in at least portions of the image, ordering at least a subset of the code candidates for decoding in a candidate order wherein the candidate order is determined at least in part as a function of the first direction of travel through the FOV, attempting to decode code candidates in the order specified by the direction of travel and when a new image event occurs, foregoing attempts to decode at least a portion of the identified code candidates.