Method and apparatus for decoding bar code symbols using independent bar and space analysis
First Claim
1. A method for decoding a character of a bar code symbol, wherein said character comprises one or more spaces and one or more bars, comprising the steps of:
- (a) scanning said symbol to determine the widths of said spaces and the widths of said bars;
(b) determining a space-width threshold in accordance with said widths of said spaces;
(c) determining a bar-width threshold in accordance with said widths of said bars, wherein said space-width threshold is different from said bar-width threshold;
(d) comparing each of said spaces to said space-width threshold;
(e) comparing each of said bars to said bar-width threshold; and
(f) decoding said character in accordance with said comparisons of steps (d) and (e).
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Abstract
A bar code reader decodes a bar code symbol, one character at a time, by analyzing the spaces of each character independently from the bars of each character. The reader determines the widths of each space and each bar. The reader then determines a space-width threshold based on the widths of the spaces and a bar-width threshold based on the widths of the bars. The reader then classifies each space as being either narrow or wide by comparing each space to the space-width threshold. The reader also classifies each bar as being either narrow or wide by comparing each bar to the bar-width threshold. The reader then decodes the character according to the narrow/wide classifications.
88 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for decoding a character of a bar code symbol, wherein said character comprises one or more spaces and one or more bars, comprising the steps of:
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(a) scanning said symbol to determine the widths of said spaces and the widths of said bars; (b) determining a space-width threshold in accordance with said widths of said spaces; (c) determining a bar-width threshold in accordance with said widths of said bars, wherein said space-width threshold is different from said bar-width threshold; (d) comparing each of said spaces to said space-width threshold; (e) comparing each of said bars to said bar-width threshold; and (f) decoding said character in accordance with said comparisons of steps (d) and (e). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for decoding a character of a bar code symbol, wherein said character comprises one or more spaces and one or more bars, comprising:
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(a) means for scanning said symbol to determine the widths of said spaces and the widths of said bars; (b) means for determining a space-width threshold in accordance with said widths of said spaces; (c) means for determining a bar-width threshold in accordance with said widths of said bars, wherein said space-width threshold is different from said bar-width threshold; (d) means for comparing each of said spaces to said space-width threshold; (e) means for comparing each of said bars to said bar-width threshold; and (f) means for decoding said character in accordance with said comparisons of means (d) and (e). - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification