Printed tag with location and orientation components for an optical reader

• US 20070045428A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul, Walmsley, Simon
• Granted Patent: US 7,290,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06168 the marking being a concentric barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06262 with target- or other orientation-indicating feature
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1421 Circular bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1456 determining the orientation of the optical code with respect to the reader and correcting therefore

Abstract

A printed tag is provided which can be read with an optical scanner. The tag includes a locator component. The locator component includes an endless line and can be used to locate the optical scanner with respect to the tag. An orientation component is located within the bounds of the endless line and can be used to orient the optical scanner with respect to the tag. A data component includes data to be read by the scanner.

Claims

1. A printed tag for reading with an optical scanner, the tag comprising:

a locator component comprising an endless line and configured to represent a location of the optical scanner with respect to the tag;

an orientation component located within bounds of the endless line and configured to represent an orientation of the optical scanner with respect to the tag; and

a data component which is configured to represent data to be read by the scanner.

2. A printed tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the endless line is in the form of a circular ring.

3. A printed tag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the data component comprises one or more data segments which are located concentrically with respect to the circular ring.

4. A printed tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the orientation component has a keyhole-like shape.

5. A printed tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data component comprises one or more data segments which are located outside the endless line.

6. A printed tag as claimed in claim 5, wherein the data component comprises one or more further data segments which are located within the endless line.

7. A printed tag as claimed in claim 6, wherein each data segment comprises a checkerboard-like pattern.

8. A printed tag as claimed in claim 5, wherein each data segment is arcuate.