Stephen D Ames

US Patent:

6373574, Apr 16, 2002

Filed:

Mar 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/804895

Inventors:

Yeming Gu - Suwanee GA
Michael A. Spencer - Suwanee GA
Jeffrey P. Treptau - Golden Valley MN
Stephen J. Ames - Lawrenceville GA
Daniel B. Seevers - Duluth GA
Rex A. Aleshire - Buford GA
Hong Tang - Suwanee GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G01N 2125

US Classification:

356419, 356326, 356328

Abstract:

A produce data collector and produce recognition system which illuminates a produce item with substantially uniform light to enhance the accuracy of collected produce data and subsequent identification of the produce item as part of a transaction in a transaction establishment. The produce data collector includes a light source for illuminating the produce item with substantially uniform light during the transaction, a light separating element for splitting light collected from the produce item into a plurality of different light portions having different wavelengths, a detector for converting energy in the plurality of light portions into a plurality of electrical signals, and control circuitry which digitizes the plurality of electrical signals to produce a digital spectrum from the produce item which contains information to identify the produce item for the purpose of determining its unit price.

US Patent:

6470495, Oct 22, 2002

Filed:

Sep 6, 1996

Appl. No.:

08/709021

Inventors:

Stephen J. Ames - Lawrenceville GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G06F 944

US Classification:

717173, 709220

Abstract:

Microprocessor-controlled equipment, such as cash register/inventory control systems, sometimes require in-field modification of programs which run on the microprocessors. Under the invention, such modified programs are downloaded to the equipment, via a commercially available paging service, through a satellite link. When owners of the equipment receive the new programs, they update old programs, as appropriate.

US Patent:

54849900, Jan 16, 1996

Filed:

Dec 15, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/168102

Inventors:

Joseph M. Lindacher - Duluth GA
Stephen J. Ames - Lawrenceville GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation Information Solutions Company - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

235467

Abstract:

A multiple depth of field optical scanner which produces a plurality of scan beams having different focal distances. The optical scanner includes a laser beam having a centerline, a mirrored spinner having a plurality of facets with different curvatures, a detector, and a microcontroller. The optical scanner may additionally include a deflector mirror for changing the direction of the laser beam, collecting optics for equalizing the optical coupling of the reflected light across the field of view of the facets, a distance selection circuit for instructing the microcontroller within the scanner to decode bar code information from a predetermined range of focal distances and an amplification circuit for amplifying the electrical signals from the detector enough to produce other electrical signals having substantially equal amplitudes. The microcontroller may also include the feature of reducing laser power when the scan beams focus more than a predetermined distance from the centerline of the laser beam.

US Patent:

62600230, Jul 10, 2001

Filed:

Jun 14, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/333062

Inventors:

Daniel B. Seevers - Duluth GA
Stephen J. Ames - Rochester MN
Jeffrey P. Treptau - Golden Valley MN
Donald A. Collins - Lawrenceville GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G06F 1760
G06F 1500

US Classification:

705 20

Abstract:

A transaction processing system which includes a produce recognition server for identifying produce items. The produce recognition system further includes a checkout system including a transaction processing terminal, a bar code reader which sends item identification information associated with bar-coded items and with the produce items to the transaction processing terminal, a produce data collector coupled to the bar code reader, and a computer coupled between the bar code reader and the produce recognition server for relaying produce data to the produce recognition server and produce identification information to the bar code reader.

US Patent:

6332573, Dec 25, 2001

Filed:

Nov 10, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/189783

Inventors:

Yeming Gu - Suwanee GA
Michael A. Spencer - Suwanee GA
Donald A. Collins - Lawrenceville GA
Jeffrey P. Treptau - Golden Valley MN
Stephen J. Ames - Lawrenceville GA
Daniel B. Seevers - Duluth GA
Rex A. Aleshire - Buford GA
Hong Tang - Suwanee GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546206

Abstract:

A produce data collector and produce recognition system which illuminates a produce item with substantially uniform light to enhance the accuracy of collected produce data and subsequent identification of the produce item as part of a transaction in a transaction establishment. The produce data collector includes a light source for illuminating the produce item with substantially uniform light during the transaction, a light separating element for splitting light collected from the produce item into a plurality of different light portions having different wavelengths, a detector for converting energy in the plurality of light portions into a plurality of electrical signals, and control circuitry which digitizes the plurality of electrical signals to produce a digital spectrum from the produce item which contains information to identify the produce item for the purpose of determining its unit price.

US Patent:

6161758, Dec 19, 2000

Filed:

Feb 23, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/392598

Inventors:

Donald A. Collins - Duluth GA
Rex A. Aleshire - Buford GA
Douglas A. Baehl - Lawrenceville GA
Stephen J. Ames - Lawrenceville GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

23546201

Abstract:

A modular bar code scanner and scale assembly which does not use wire cables to connect a bar code scanner to a scale. The assembly includes a bar code scanner including a first printed circuit board having a connector, and a scale including a second printed circuit board having a connector which directly couples to the connector of the first printed circuit board when the scanner is coupled to the scale.

US Patent:

52568652, Oct 26, 1993

Filed:

Nov 5, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/788053

Inventors:

Charles K. Wike - Sugar Hill GA
Stephen J. Ames - Lawrenceville GA
William M. Belknap - Lawrenceville GA
Rex A. Aleshire - Buford GA
Deborah A. Detwiler - Lawrenceville GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G06K 710

US Classification:

235462

Abstract:

An automatic sensing and programming circuit for optical scanners which produces a diffuse volume of light substantially encompassing the scan volume of the scanner. A method for programming one optical scanner from another uses the circuit to emit a plurality of pulse trains which in combination represent a predetermined function or set of functions, each pulse train representing predetermined hexadecimal digit, and each pulse train including a predetermined number of binary pulses. A method of programming an optical scanner employs a plurality of tags which in combination represent a predetermined function or set of functions, each tag representing a predetermined hexadecimal digit encoded as bar code labels.