John A Keys

US Patent:

6394351, May 28, 2002

Filed:

Dec 31, 1997

Appl. No.:

09/001369

Inventors:

John B. Keys - Duluth GA
Denis M. Blanford - Duluth GA
Kenneth J. Fabian - Grayson GA
Barry M. Mergenthaler - Lawrenceville GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546201, 23546208

Abstract:

A timing and mirror position detector for use in a bar code scanner having a rotating optical assembly is rotated by a motor which produces a fixed number of pulses per rotation, at least one of the pulses occurring each time the motor passes through a reference position as it rotates. The pulses are continously monitored and counted. Elapsed time from the time a reference pulse occurs in accurately measured and correlated by a processor with events of interest. When an event of interest, such as a bar code scan, occurs, the timing and pulse count are evaluated and processed to determine the angle of rotation of the motor at the time the scan occurred.

US Patent:

6454169, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Jun 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/878705

Inventors:

William Martin Belknap - Lawrenceville GA
John Baird Keys - Duluth GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

2354624, 23546238, 359216

Abstract:

Techniques for determining a position for a rotating optical element, or spinner, of a bar code scanner are described. A diffractive element is positioned so as to be struck by a laser beam produced by a laser source and reflected from the spinner when the spinner is in a reference position. The diffractive element diffracts the reflected beam to produce a diffracted line which strikes a reference position photodetector, thereby causing the reference position photodetector to produce a reference position photosignal. The reference position photosignal can be read by a controller to determine when the spinner is in the reference position, and the position of a Hall sensor can be read at the same time in order to calibrate the reading of the Hall sensor with the reference position. Thereafter, the reading of the Hall sensor can be used to provide accurate position information for the sensor and the position information can be used to control activation and deactivation of the laser source when the spinner is in appropriate positions to produce a desired scan pattern.

US Patent:

6651889, Nov 25, 2003

Filed:

Aug 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/217720

Inventors:

William Martin Belknap - Lawrenceville GA
John Baird Keys - Duluth GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

2354624, 23546239

Abstract:

Techniques for determining a position for a rotating optical element, or spinner, of a bar code scanner are described. A diffractive element is positioned so as to be struck by a laser beam produced by a laser source and reflected from the spinner when the spinner is in a reference position. The diffractive element diffracts the reflected beam to produce a diffracted line which strikes a reference position photodetector, thereby causing the reference position photodetector to produce a reference position photosignal. The reference position photosignal can be read by a controller to determine when the spinner is in the reference position, and the position of a Hall sensor can be read at the same time in order to calibrate the reading of the Hall sensor with the reference position. Thereafter, the reading of the Hall sensor can be used to provide accurate position information for the sensor and the position information can be used to control activation and deactivation of the laser source when the spinner is in appropriate positions to produce a desired scan pattern.

US Patent:

6695211, Feb 24, 2004

Filed:

Apr 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/120916

Inventors:

John B. Keys - Duluth GA
Denis M. Blanford - Duluth GA
Kenneth J. Fabian - Grayson GA
Barry M. Mergenthaler - Lawrenceville GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G02B 2610

US Classification:

23546225, 23546208

Abstract:

A timing and mirror position detector for use in a bar code scanner having a rotating optical assembly. The optical assembly is rotated by a motor which produces a fixed number of pulses per rotation, at least one of the pulses occurring each time the motor passes through a reference position as it rotates. The pulses are continuously monitored and counted. Elapsed time from the time a reference pulse occurs is accurately measured and correlated by a processor with events of interest. When an event of interest, such as a bar code scan, occurs, the timing and pulse count are evaluated and processed to determine the angle of rotation of the motor at the time the scan occurred.

US Patent:

6796503, Sep 28, 2004

Filed:

Dec 4, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/727426

Inventors:

Kenneth Joseph Fabian - Grayson GA
John B. Keys - Duluth GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546201, 23546238

Abstract:

Systems and techniques for improved accuracy of bar code detection and decoding are described. A bar code scanner employs a rotating spinner to reflect a laser beam used to produce one or more scan patterns emerging from scan windows. The scanner produces a scanner signal in response to light entering the scan windows, and processes the scanner signal to detect and decode bar codes within a scan field of the scanner. The rotational position of the spinner is continuously monitored and adjustments to processing parameters are made and other actions are taken based on the rotational position of the spinner, so as to improve reliability and accuracy of bar code detection and processing.

US Patent:

7931194, Apr 26, 2011

Filed:

Dec 21, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/314603

Inventors:

John B. Keys - Duluth GA, US

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Duluth GA

International Classification:

G06K 5/00

US Classification:

235380, 235382, 235379

Abstract:

Systems and techniques for automated age verification in self service transaction processing. Upon identification of an age restricted product presented for purchase, presentation of a purchaser identification document is requested. Encoded information is read from the document and a purchaser photograph obtained from the document is examined. An image of the purchaser is also captured. The purchaser birth date encoded on the document is evaluated and the captured image of the purchaser is compared with the image of the purchaser photograph. The purchase is authorized if the purchaser birth date indicates that the purchaser meets the age requirements for the purchase and the captured purchaser image matches the photograph.