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 in a first direction of travel 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.

A camera device is provided that comprises a camera having an image sensor for recording images of the objects and at least one first deflection element, and wherein the field of view of the camera has at least one first part field of vision with detection of the first deflection element and a second part field of vision with detection of the first deflection element. In this respect, the first deflection element is arranged such that a first perspective of the first part field of vision is a different one than a second perspective of the second part field of vision; the first part field of vision thus provides a different perspective of the object than the first part field of vision so that at least two sides of the object are simultaneously recorded by the image sensor.

System and method for using one or more entropically configured distinct physical features (a “IDENTROPY”) for establishing trust, accountability, and transparency with respect to physical items are disclosed. Such system and method are useful, among other things, for detecting counterfeit physical items.

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.

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.

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.

Disclosed are an optical fiber scanner, an optical fiber scanning device and an optical fiber scanning apparatus. The optical fiber scanner includes a slow-axis driving unit, a connector and N fast-axis driving units. The connector has a slow-axis connecting structure and N fast-axis connecting structures. The slow-axis driving unit is connected to the N fast-axis driving units by means of the connector, N being an integer greater than or equal to 2. One slow-axis driving unit is connected to N fast-axis driving units by means of a connector, that is, one slow-axis driving unit can drive N fast-axis driving units simultaneously. In this way, the N fast-axis driving units can move synchronously in the vibration direction of the slow-axis driving unit, thereby achieving the technical effect of outputting high quality images.

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

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.