System and method for embedding characters in a bar of a bar code

• US 20050161515A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Barcode Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Barcode Corporation
• Inventors: Lubow, Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,337,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/083 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/18 Constructional details

Abstract

The present invention provides for widening a single bar (18) of a bar code without spoiling the readability of the bar code symbol. Further, the present invention provides for writing at least one sufficiently small letter, icon or other character within a single bar (24, 26) or space (22) of a bar code symbol without spoiling the symbol'"'"'s readability.

Claims

1. A method for generating a bar code symbol, the method comprising:

generating said bar code symbol to be compliant with a recognized bar code symbology, said bar code symbol having at least one bar and at least one space and containing information therein;

determining an acceptable degree of tolerance afforded by said bar code symbology as a function of at least one imperfection in said bar code symbol; and

embedding at least one character in at least one of said bar and said space, wherein said at least one character is of a sufficient size to maintain said bar code symbol within said acceptable degree of tolerance, and said at least one character is not included in said bar code symbology.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one imperfection comprises at least one of print gain, a void, smudging, scaling, lightness and contrast.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one character comprises at least one of a letter, icon, logo and trademark.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said bar code symbology is at least one of a UCC/EAN 128, Codabar, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, UPC-A, UPC-E, JAN-13, ITF, ISSN, ITF and ISBN.

5. A method for generating a bar code symbol, the method comprising:

generating said bar code symbol to be compliant with a recognized bar code symbology, said bar code symbol having at least one bar and at least one space and containing information therein;

determining an averaging technique employed by a bar code reading device;

widening at least one of said bar and said space; and

embedding at least one character in said at least one widened bar and widened space, wherein said at least one widened bar and widened space is widened to a sufficient size as to enable said bar code symbol to be interpreted by said bar code reading device employing said averaging technique.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said at least one character comprises at least one of a letter, icon, logo and trademark.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said bar code symbology is at least one of a UCC/EAN 128, Codabar, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, UPC-A, UPC-E, JAN-13, ITF, ISSN, ITF and ISBN.

8. A system for generating a bar code symbol, the system comprising:

a bar code symbol generating module, wherein said bar code symbol generating module creates said bar code symbol that is compliant with a recognized bar code symbology, said bar code symbol having at least one bar and at least one space and containing information therein;

a tolerance determining module, wherein said tolerance determining module assesses an acceptable degree of tolerance afforded by said bar code symbology as a function of at least one imperfection in said bar code symbol; and

a character embedding module, said character embedding module places at least one character in at least one of said bar and said space, wherein said at least one character is of a sufficient size to maintain said bar code symbol within said acceptable degree of tolerance, and said at least one character is not included in said bar code symbology.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one imperfection comprises at least one of print gain, a void, smudging, scaling, lightness and contrast.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one character comprises at least one of a letter, icon, logo and trademark.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said bar code symbology is at least one of a UCC/EAN 128, Codabar, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, UPC-A, UPC-E, JAN-13, ITF, ISSN, ITF and ISBN.

12. A system for generating a bar code symbol, the system comprising:

a bar code symbol generating module, wherein said bar code symbol generating module creates said bar code symbol to be compliant with a recognized bar code symbology, said bar code symbol having at least one bar and at least one space and containing information therein;

an averaging technique determining module, wherein said averaging technique determining module employs an averaging technique used by a bar code reading device;

a bar widening module, wherein said bar widening module increases the width of at least one of said bar and said space; and

a character embedding module, wherein said character embedding module places at least one character in said at least one widened bar and widened space, and wherein said at least one widened bar and widened space is widened to a sufficient size as to enable said bar code symbol to be interpreted by said bar code reading device employing said averaging technique.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said at least one character comprises at least one of a letter, icon, logo and trademark.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said bar code symbology is at least one of a UCC/EAN 128, Codabar, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, UPC-A, UPC-E, JAN-13, ITF, ISSN, ITF and ISBN.

15. A method for generating a bar code symbol, the method comprising:

generating said bar code symbol to be compliant with a recognized bar code symbology, said barcode symbol having at least one bar and at least one space and containing information therein;

determining an acceptable degree of tolerance afforded by said bar code symbology as a function of at least one imperfection in said bar code symbol; and

embedding at least one character in at least one of said space, wherein said at least one character is of a sufficient size to maintain said bar code symbol within said acceptable degree of tolerance, and said at least one character is not included in said bar code symbology.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one imperfection comprises at least one of print gain, a void, smudging, scaling, lightness and contrast.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one character comprises at least one of a letter, icon, logo and trademark.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said bar code symbology is at least one of a UCC/EAN 128, Codabar, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, UPC-A, UPC-E, JAN-13, ITF, ISSN, ITF and ISBN.