Did You Know...
...that one person who claimed to be the inventor of the television is Russian emigre Vladimir Zworykin? In 1929 David Sarnoff, founder of RCA, asked Zworykin what it would take to develop TV for commercial use. He said: a year and a half and $100,000. In reality, it took 20 years and $50 million! Before his death in 1982 at the age of 92, Zworykin said of his invention: "The technique is wonderful. It is beyond my expectations. But the programs! I would never let my children even come close to this thing."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6095418 | Apparatus for processing symbol-encoded document information Document information is encoded in a graphic symbol applied to the document. The symbol is read to retrieve the document information which is then translated into a humanly discernible form different from that appearing on the document. In one embodiment ... | 08/01/2000 |
| 5811785 | Scanning system with adjustable light output and/or scanning angle Apparatus for reading bar code symbols including a laser light source, an optical component for scanning a reference plane, and a sensor for detecting the light of variable intensity reflected from the target. A processor determines whether the reflected ... | 09/22/1998 |
| 5705800 | Laser scanner system for controlling the optical scanning of bar codes A scanner determines whether a target is a bar code symbol and, if so, whether that symbol is one-dimensional or two-dimensional. For two-dimensional symbols, the scanner aligns a scanning pattern with the symbol and expands the scanning pattern to reach ... | 01/06/1998 |
| 5635697 | Method and apparatus for decoding two-dimensional bar code A method and apparatus for decoding a two-dimensional bar code symbol using a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, charge-modulation device (CMD) camera, or other bar code reading device such as a hand-held reader, light pen or wand, scan mouse, or station... | 06/03/1997 |
| 5612531 | Bar code reader with multiple sensitivity modes using variable thresholding comparisons A multiple sensitivity-mode digitizer circuit for a bar code reader has circuits that perform two thresholding techniques. The bar code reader includes a first derivative circuit for receiving an analog signal from a scan of the bar code symbol and for ge... | 03/18/1997 |
| 5610387 | Portable optical scanning system worn by a user for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity An optical scanning system for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity has an optical scan module including a light emitter for emitting light onto the indicia and a light detector for detecting the reflection of light from the indicia. The scan m... | 03/11/1997 |
| 5608202 | Symbol scanning system and method having adaptive pattern generation A self-adjusting adaptive scanning system includes a scanner, responsive to coordinate control signals, for directing a light beam in a pattern at a bar code symbol, for detecting a reflected portion of the light beam, and for generating feedback signals ... | 03/04/1997 |
| 5608200 | Method of collecting and adjusting bar code data from a laser bar code reader A method is disclosed for processing bar code data obtained from a bar code label including large and small bars. A light source such as a laser beam scans across the symbol on a bar code label. Light reflected from the bar code label is collected as the ... | 03/04/1997 |
| 5578810 | Ring mounted miniature optical scanner A system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, includes a light emitter and optical detector supported by a ring to be worn on a finger of a user. The light emitter generates a scanning light beam which scans the indicia and pr... | 11/26/1996 |
| 5576528 | Color processing for bar code symbol compaction A method and apparatus for increasing the information density of a bar code symbol by generating multiple constituent bar code symbols, wherein each one is formed in a different color selected from a group of various primary colors, and overlaying each di... | 11/19/1996 |
| 5569901 | Symbol scanning system and method having adaptive pattern generation A system for scanning a symbol that has a plurality of modes including a learning mode and an adaptive mode. When the scanner is in a learning mode, a plurality of scans are generated using a plurality of sets of operating parameters. A decoder decodes th... | 10/29/1996 |
| 5565671 | Handheld data entry terminal having dual trigger switches A handheld data entry terminal includes a housing and a scanning head mounted to the housing for pivotal movement between at least first and second reading positions. The scanning head, when actuated, optically scans an encoded symbol and detects light re... | 10/15/1996 |
| 5543610 | Compact bar code scanning arrangement A bar code scanning system including an optical scanner for scanning a target symbol, such as a bar code, and generating a corresponding electrical signal. The scanner housing may be mounted to a single finger ring support, which can be cylindrical in sha... | 08/06/1996 |
| 5543609 | Arrangement for and method of providing shock protection and vibration isolation for a scan module A scan module is mounted in a frame within an electro-optical scanner. External shocks from the scanner to the frame are resisted by a plurality of shock mounts. Internal vibrations generated by the scan module are resisted from being transmitted to the f... | 08/06/1996 |
| 5536925 | Optical scanner with scanning light beam and detector field of view An optical reading system for reading optically encoded information represented by a symbol on a target includes a rotational shaft, a light emitter for producing a beam of light to scan a path through a scan field, and a light detector for detecting ligh... | 07/16/1996 |
| 5532469 | Hand held bar code reader with input and display device and processor A scanning head for reading bar code signals including a laser source producing a beam which is scanned across a symbol to be read by a moving mirror arrangement, and a photodetector responsive to light reflected from the symbol. The signal from the photo... | 07/02/1996 |
| 5530233 | Bar code scanner with quasi-retroreflective light collection Optical scanning of bar code symbols in which light reflected from the scanned symbol is collected with stationary light collection optics and swept across an array of individual light detection elements (e.g., photodetectors). Detection circuitry determi... | 06/25/1996 |
| 5528621 | Packet data communication system A packet data transmission system is used to link a number of remote hand-held data-gathering units such as bar code readers to a central computer which maintains a database management system. Data packets are sent from the remote units by an RF link to i... | 06/18/1996 |
| 5523552 | Method and apparatus to scan randomly oriented two-dimensional bar code symbols Disclosed are methods and apparatus for automatically aligning the field of view of a two dimensional bar code reading device with a randomly oriented two-dimensional bar code symbol wherein the symbol comprises a unique pattern located contiguously on at... | 06/04/1996 |
| 5521367 | Fiber optic barcode reader with piezoelectric element The laser diode of an optical scanning system is located in a separate unit and light therefrom carried to a remote scan head via an optical fiber. This reduces the size and weight of the scan head and reduces the temperature sensitivity of the scan head.... | 05/28/1996 |
| 5519577 | Spread spectrum radio incorporated in a PCMCIA Type II card holder This invention is directed to a PCMCIA Type II memory card holder assembly for a spread spectrum radio communication card that provides radio frequency interference shielding, electrostatic discharge resistance and heat dissipation. The card holder assemb... | 05/21/1996 |
| 5514861 | Computer and/or scanner system mounted on a glove A portable computer and/or scanner system includes a keyboard, another data input device such as an optical scanner, a data processor module and a display. All of these components are arranged on a glove to be worn by a system operator. The system is conf... | 05/07/1996 |
| 5508504 | Wand type optical reader A laser wand for reading optically encoded indicia has a wand shaped housing for housing a light emitter which for emits a focussed laser light beam having a fixed focal point beyond which said light beam diverges. The light beam is directed towards a sur... | 04/16/1996 |
| 5506392 | Photodetector for use in reading optical information symbols A bar code reader capable of working over a wider range of working angle and for a wider range of bar code densities, using improved optics and sensing elements. The optics and sensing elements and/or the associated circuitry are arranged to provide two c... | 04/09/1996 |
| 5506697 | Apparatus for processing human-readable and machine-readable documents An original document of one or more pages containing human-readable printed information is encoded in one or more two-dimensional bar code symbols and transmitted by facsimile to a remote site where a facsimile of the symbols is machine read, decoded and ... | 04/09/1996 |
| 5504315 | Means and method for non-contact bar code label verification A portable, conveniently usable, and inexpensive non-contact bar code verifier permits testing of bar code labels at some arbitrary but constant distance from the verifier. Means are provided for analog analysis of bar code label contrast levels, and for ... | 04/02/1996 |
| 5504322 | High density two dimensional bar code symbology A nonvolatile electro-optical read-only memory includes a substrate on which is printed (or otherwise inscribed) a complex symbol or "label" with a high density two-dimensional symbology, a variable number of component symbols or "codewords" per row, and ... | 04/02/1996 |
| 5504595 | Holographic scanning A holographic grating element is provided which enables tracing different scan lines. The element is divided into a plurality of sectors. A first grating pattern is provided which diffracts a beam in one direction, and a second grating pattern is next to ... | 04/02/1996 |
| 5504319 | Method and system for bar code acquisition A scanning system for orienting bar codes use a first stage made up of a low-resolution scanner and a digital signal processor (DSP), and a second stage made up of a high-resolution scanner and a decoder. The first stage scans the surface of an object to ... | 04/02/1996 |
| 5504318 | Analog waveform decoder using peak locations A method for decoding an analog waveform corresponding to a symbol comprises detecting the extrema locations of the waveform, and creating a feature vector from these extrema locations. The feature vector is compared to stored reference arrays correspondi... | 04/02/1996 |
| 5504316 | Laser scanning system and scanning method for reading 1-D and 2-D barcode symbols Optical scanning of one- and two-dimensional barcode symbols is carried out first in an aim mode wherein the symbol is scanned using a first scan pattern that is relatively small and dense so as to be visible to the user and thereafter using a second, lar... | 04/02/1996 |
| 5495097 | Plurality of scan units with scan stitching A scanning system has a plurality of optical scan units. Each optical scan unit includes means for emitting light toward an item bearing an indicia. Each optical scan unit also includes means for receiving light reflected from the indicia and generating s... | 02/27/1996 |
| 5489158 | Printer system for removable machine readable code A numbering and reading system with record having two-dimensional erasable bar code or a removable label with a two-dimensional bar code is disclosed. The bar code can be PDF417.... | 02/06/1996 |
| 5486944 | Scanner module for symbol scanning system An optical scanner module for directing a light beam to scan an optically encoded symbol includes an optical element mounted for oscillatory motion to scan the light beam in one direction by a flex element capable of torsional flexure. This oscillatory mo... | 01/23/1996 |
| 5481099 | Scanning arrangement for the implementation of omni-directional scanning patterns over indicia A scanner for reading indicia having portions of differing light reflectivity has means for directing a light beam from the scanner towards the indicia and collecting reflected light returning from the indicia. The scanner includes a scanning arrangement ... | 01/02/1996 |
| 5478998 | Tilting wall-mounted optical scanner A wall-mounted, hands-free scanner capable of having its field of view adjusted using a pivot structure with a position-holding mechanism. The spacing of the field of view from the wall can be quickly adjusted to accommodate different size objects and dif... | 12/26/1995 |
| 5479000 | Compact scanning module for reading bar codes In an optical scanning module, for reading indicia with portions of differing light reflectivity, having a light emitter assembly for emitting a light beam towards the indicia, and a detector for receiving light reflected back from the indicia and produci... | 12/26/1995 |
| 5479002 | Bar code scanner with scanning beam and/or field of view adjustable about three mutually orthogonal axes A scan head is adjustably mounted in a ball-and, socket joint on a scan module or housing of an electro-optical system for reading coded indicia. The scan head is movable about three mutually orthogonal axes intersecting within the scan head, thereby stee... | 12/26/1995 |
| 5479441 | Packet data communication system A packet data transmission system is used to link a number of remote hand-held data-gathering units such as bar code readers to a central computer which maintains a database management system. Data packets are sent from the remote units by an RF link to i... | 12/26/1995 |
| 5478997 | Symbol scanning system and method having adaptive pattern generation A symbol scanning system which adaptively changes scanning system parameters including light beam pattern and focus to improve barcode readability. The scanning system including; a scanner, responsive to coordinate control signals, for directing a light b... | 12/26/1995 |
