Bar code decoder with changeable working ranges
First Claim
1. A method of bar code decoding comprising:
- a. scanning a bar code symbol with a bar code scanner;
b. converting the detected bar code symbol to digital data representing the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol;
c. first evaluating the digital data to determine if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are too small, which indicates that the bar code symbol is too far and is beyond the working range of the bar code scanner, by comparing the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol with a threshold value to determine if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are greater than the threshold value;
d. provisionally accepting the detected bars code symbol if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are greater than the threshold value; and
e. secondly evaluating the digital data to determine if the provisionally accepted bar code symbol is a valid bar code symbol, and ultimately accepting the detected bar code symbol as a bar code symbol to be reported if it passes both said first and second evaluating steps.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An arrangement for decoding a bar code symbol in which the data resulting from scanning a bar code symbol with a bar code scanner is evaluated to determine if the scanned bar code symbol is within the working range of the scanner. The data acquired by the bar code scanner is evaluated to determine if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are too small, less than a threshold value, which indicates that the bar code symbol is too far and outside of the working range of the scanner. Moreover, the working range of the bar code scanner can be selectively changed by changing the threshold value, which can be easily implemented by having the bar code scanner scan a menu bar code which instructs the decoder to change the threshold value to a selected new value which may be pre-established for the particular operation. The arrangement preferably includes software to process the data acquired by the bar code scanner, and if the data indicates that the scanning distance to the bar code is too far, a flag is set in the software which prevents a new decode result from being recorded. However, the intermediate decode result is retained in memory to indicate that the bar code symbol is still in the scanner'"'"'s field of view. A second evaluation validation to determine if the detected bar code symbol is valid may also be performed.
109 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of bar code decoding comprising:
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a. scanning a bar code symbol with a bar code scanner; b. converting the detected bar code symbol to digital data representing the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol; c. first evaluating the digital data to determine if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are too small, which indicates that the bar code symbol is too far and is beyond the working range of the bar code scanner, by comparing the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol with a threshold value to determine if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are greater than the threshold value; d. provisionally accepting the detected bars code symbol if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are greater than the threshold value; and e. secondly evaluating the digital data to determine if the provisionally accepted bar code symbol is a valid bar code symbol, and ultimately accepting the detected bar code symbol as a bar code symbol to be reported if it passes both said first and second evaluating steps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 29)
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10. A bar code decoder comprising:
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a. a bar code scanner for scanning a bar code symbol; b. means for converting the detected bar code symbol to digital data representing the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol; c. first means for evaluating the digital data to determine if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are too small, which indicates that the bar code symbol is too far and is beyond the working range of the scanner, by comparing the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol with a threshold value to determine if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are greater than the threshold value, wherein the detected bar code symbol is provisionally accepted and reported if said first evaluating means indicates that the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are greater than said threshold value; and d. second means for evaluating the digital data to determine if the provisionally accepted bar code symbol is a valid bar code symbol, and ultimately accepting the detected bar code symbol as a bar code symbol to be reported if said second evaluating means indicates the provisionally accepted bar code symbol is a valid bar code symbol. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 30)
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16. A method of bar code decoding comprising:
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a. scanning a bar code symbol with a bar code scanner; b. converting the detected bar code symbol to digital data representing the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol; c. evaluating the digital data to determine if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are too small, which indicates that the bar code symbol is too far and is beyond the working range of the bar code scanner by comparing the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol with a threshold value selected prior to said scanning to determine if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are greater than the threshold value; and d. accepting the detected bars code symbol if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are greater than the threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A bar code decoder comprising:
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a. a bar code scanner for scanning a bar code symbol; b. means for converting the detected bar code symbol to digital data representing the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol; c. means for evaluating the digital data to determine if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are too small, which indicates that the bar code symbol is too far and is beyond the working range of the scanner, by comparing the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol with a threshold value selected prior to scanning to determine if the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are greater than the threshold value; and means for accepting and reporting the detected bar code symbol if said evaluating means indicates that the detected widths of the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code symbol are greater than said threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification