Methods and systems are provided for optimizing the control of energy supply and demand. An energy control unit includes one or more algorithms for scheduling the control of energy consumption devices on the basis of variables relating to forecast energy supply and demand. Devices for which energy consumption can be scheduled or deferred are activated during periods of cheapest energy usage. Battery storage and alternative energy sources (e.g., photovoltaic cells) are activated to sell energy to the power grid during periods that are determined to correspond to favorable cost conditions.

Optimized energy management system

A device for processing image data relating to bar codes is described. In one embodiment a bar code verification device is provided having an ergonomic form factor characterized by a domed hand held trigger and a viewing window. The verification device may be disposed in a network that includes a host processor system and other bar code reading devices which may include other bar code verification devices. Processing circuitry for processing image signals corresponding to printed bar codes may be partially disposed within the hand held verification device and partially disposed within a host processor system spaced apart from and associated with the hand held verification device. The hand held verification device may be in wireless communication with the host processor system to which it is associated. The bar code verification system may include signal enhancement modules which interpolate constructed pixel values from actual pixel values and which correct for signal degradation resulting from high frequency spatial sampling.

Device and system for processing image data representing bar codes

This invention discloses a power control system comprising a prime mover and a generator driven by the prime mover. A control device is coupled with the generator to ascertain a change in speed of the generator and vary an output power of the generator according to the change. The control device applies a signal to reduce the generator output power and another signal to restore the generator output power. The power control system may include a transmission, a speed converter, and/or an accessory.

Power control system and method

A wireless base unit communicates with one or more wireless load manager units to receive power measurements for one or more loads connected to the wireless load manager. In response to dynamic variables, such as the changing price of electricity, the wireless base unit transmits commands to the wireless load manager to shut off or reduce power consumed by the one or more loads. In one variation, a wireless adapter also receives commands from the wireless base unit and converts the commands into a vendor-specific format used to control other devices such as a photovoltaic (PV) inverter.

Modular energy control system

A plurality of the areas of different light reflectivity of a bar code symbol, or the like, are simultaneously illuminated, using, e.g., a beam of laser light that has an elongated cross-section. The laser light beam is swept over the symbol in a direction transverse to the elongated dimension of the illuminated region so that a two-dimensional area of the symbol is illuminated over time, until the symbol is read. The light that reflects from the illuminated region of the symbol is imaged on a linear sensor array, which is then scanned or read out to produce signals representative of spatial intensity variations of the imaged light along a linear path in the field of view.

Method and apparatus for reading two-dimensional bar code symbols with an elongated laser line

A power generation system is described for supplying electrical power to a load (128) from at least one of a generator (108) and a battery (110). The power generation system includes a power bus (116) coupled to the generator and a bidirectional conversion unit (106) coupled between the power bus and the battery. The bidirectional conversion unit is capable of transitioning between a first direction wherein electrical power flows from the power bus to the battery and a second direction wherein electrical power flows from the battery to the power bus.

Mobile power generation system

Indicia having a requirement for a high degree of precision is printed onto a sheet and is scanned or read automatically shortly thereafter. Electronic control signals result from a comparison of the actually printed indicia with a pre-defined quality standard, and are used selectively to adjust command control signals to the printer to correct indicia printed thereafter. The leading edge of sheets to which the indicia is to be printed is precisely located by a light absorption detection or sensing mechanism which controls a sheet advance motor. The indicia printed, preferably bar code, is read by an optical bar code scanner traversing the printed code. The scanner is controlled by a scanner microprocessor control, and the printer is controlled by a printer microprocessor control which controls a comparison of the scanned code with a set quality standard to result in output signals to control the printer microprocessor control in a feedback loop to increase or to decrease the time of voltage application to printing elements in a thermal printer.

Self-correcting printer-verifier

A system is described for controlling the flow of electrical power between two sources. The system includes a circuit coupled between a first source and a second source and a controller subsystem coupled to the circuit. The circuit is capable of transitioning, in a continuous manner, between a first direction wherein electrical power flows from the first source to the second source and a second direction wherein electrical power flows from the second source to the first source. The control subsystem generates control signals to selectively activate switching elements of the circuit to control the direction and the amount of electrical power flowing through the circuit between the first and second sources.

Bi-directional power supply circuit

The absolute spatial distance of the widths of individual bars and spaces of a bar code are precisely measured by a bar code scanning apparatus having two photodetector circuit elements positioned a fixed and predetermined distance from each other for sensing light reflected from the bars and spaces of the bar code at a fixed differential time. The photodetectors are part of an integral unit and are parallel in independent circuits connected to a digital processing unit and storage memory for clocking the passage of the two photodetectors over the bars and spaces against an absolute time determined from a constant frequency pulse generator or digital clock. The precise measurement is compared with references and a readout is provided. A method for determining the precise width of each individual bar and space includes the determination of an average velocity determined from the velocity of the photodetectors over the leading edge of a bar or a space, and of the velocity over the trailing edge of the bar or space. From the average velocity and the time, an absolute spatial distance is determined.

Apparatus and method for optically measuring bar code dimensions

A bar code reader (10) comprises two photodetectors (44, 48) disposed a fixed distance apart. Independent circuitry (56,58; 66, 68) is connected to each photodetector to provide first and second digital signals when the photodetectors detect an edge in a bar code. As the reader (10) is scanned across the code the signals are timed and are compared in a central processing unit (76) to calculate the scanning velocity, from which the absolute spacing of the bars is determined.

Richard J. Ulinski

Papers

Mobile power generation system

Self-correcting printer-verifier

Bi-directional power supply circuit

Apparatus and method for optically measuring bar code dimensions

Bar code reader and method of measuring bar codes.