Bar code locator for video scanner/reader system
First Claim
1. In a reader/scanner system for automatically reading bar code data elements displayed on a carrier, the improvement comprising:
- a uniquely configured target locator including a group of locator elements having predetermined and known characteristics disposed on said carrier in association with said bar code data elements, said target group including a set of serially spaced rectangles superimposed on a high contrast background, said rectangles when intersected by a line through the center of said target group defining a sequence of contrasting bars and spaces, said bars and spaces having predetermined widths along said centerline; and
,means responsive to the respective width ratios of said locator elements and spaces for initially detecting the presence of said target locator group and thereafter reading the bar code data elements adjacent to said target locator group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A target locator having a group of uniquely configured, high contrast elements is displayed adjacent one or more target bar codes for increasing the probability of acquiring a target bar code of interest and extending the range at which a target bar code of interest can be acquired and read. The high contrast locator elements are arranged in a pattern which is unlikely to occur in nature, and the width and spacing of the target locator elements are substantially greater than the comparable bar width and spacing of elements within the target bar code of interest. A comparison of grey scale pixel values is used to validate whether a candidate bar code locator actually corresponds with reference target locator data stored in memory. When the card is displayed adjacent a second bar code of interest, the two bar codes of interest can be scanned within the same field of view.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a reader/scanner system for automatically reading bar code data elements displayed on a carrier, the improvement comprising:
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a uniquely configured target locator including a group of locator elements having predetermined and known characteristics disposed on said carrier in association with said bar code data elements, said target group including a set of serially spaced rectangles superimposed on a high contrast background, said rectangles when intersected by a line through the center of said target group defining a sequence of contrasting bars and spaces, said bars and spaces having predetermined widths along said centerline; and
,means responsive to the respective width ratios of said locator elements and spaces for initially detecting the presence of said target locator group and thereafter reading the bar code data elements adjacent to said target locator group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for detecting unauthorized possession of mobile or portable property comprising, in combination:
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video scanner/reader means for reading bar code information; container means adapted for attachment to mobile or portable property, said container means being adapted for securing and displaying a credentials card; a first group of bar code data elements disposed on said container means, said first group of bar code data elements uniquely identifying said property to which the container means is to be attached, said first group of bar code data elements being readable by said video scanner/reader; a credentials card adapted to be secured onto said container means, said credentials card having a second group of bar code data elements displayed on said credentials card, said second group of bar code data elements being displayed in association with said first group of bar code data elements, said second group having credentials information which uniquely identifies an individual who is authorized possession or control of mobile or portable property to which said container means is attached; and
,control means coupled to said video scanner/reader means, said control means including memory means having stored therein a set of data files corresponding with said first group of bar code data elements and said second group of bar code data elements, said control means including means solely responsive to a predetermined correspondence between said credentials data and said property data for generating a signal confirming or denying the existence of said correspondence. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification