Method and apparatus for decoding bar code symbols along search steps
First Claim
1. A method for decoding a bar code symbol having a plurality of elements, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving a signal representative of said symbol, the signal having been generated by imaging the symbol;
(b) searching said signal along a first search step to characterize the width of an element of said plurality of elements;
(c) selecting a starting point for a second search step by projecting from said first search step onto a reference line, wherein said reference line is not parallel to said first or second search steps;
(d) searching said signal along said second search step to characterize the width of another element of said plurality of elements; and
(e) decoding the symbol based on the element widths.
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Abstract
A system for detecting a bar code symbol receives a two-dimensional image containing the symbol, where the system has no a priori knowledge of the orientation of the symbol in the image. The system scans the image in one dimension to locate a quiet zone for the symbol and searches the image in one dimension to identify a start/stop character of the symbol. A system for decoding a bar code symbol having a plurality of elements receives a signal representative of the symbol. The system searches the signal along a first search step to characterize the width of one of the elements. The system then selects a second search step by projecting from the first search step onto a reference line, where the reference line is not parallel to either the first or second search steps. The system then searches the signal along the second search step to characterize the width of another of the elements. A system for decoding a bar code symbol having at least three elements receives a signal representative of the symbol. The system characterizes a first set of two or more elements by searching the signal along a first search step. The system also characterizes a second set of two or more elements by searching the signal along a second search step, where the first set and the second set have an element in common and where the first and second search steps are not collinear.
109 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for decoding a bar code symbol having a plurality of elements, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a signal representative of said symbol, the signal having been generated by imaging the symbol; (b) searching said signal along a first search step to characterize the width of an element of said plurality of elements; (c) selecting a starting point for a second search step by projecting from said first search step onto a reference line, wherein said reference line is not parallel to said first or second search steps; (d) searching said signal along said second search step to characterize the width of another element of said plurality of elements; and (e) decoding the symbol based on the element widths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for decoding a bar code symbol having a plurality of elements, comprising:
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(a) means for receiving a signal representative of said symbol, the signal having been generated by imaging the symbol; (b) first searching means for searching said signal along a first search step to characterize the width of an element of said plurality of elements; (c) means for selecting a starting point for a second search step by projecting from said first search step onto a reference line, wherein said reference line is not parallel to said first or second search steps; (d) second searching means for searching said signal along said second search step to characterize the width of another element of said plurality of elements; and (e) means for decoding the symbol based on the element widths. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for decoding a bar code symbol having at least three elements, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a signal representative of said symbol, the signal having been generated by imaging the symbol; (b) characterizing a first set of two or more of said elements by searching said signal along a first search step; (c) characterizing a second set of two or more of said elements by searching said signal along a second search step, wherein said first set and said second set have an element in common and wherein said first and second search steps are not collinear; (d) characterizing said common element in accordance with said characterizations of steps (b) and (c); and (e) decoding the symbol based on the characterizations of steps (b), (c), and (d). - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for decoding a bar code symbol having at least three elements, comprising:
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(a) means for receiving a signal representative of said symbol, the signal having been generated by imaging the symbol; (b) first characterizing means for characterizing a first set of two or more of said elements by searching said signal along a first search step; (c) second characterizing means for characterizing a second set of two or more of said elements by searching said signal along a second search step, wherein said first set and said second set have an element in common and wherein said first and second search steps are not collinear; (d) means for characterizing said common element in accordance with said characterizations of said first and second characterizing means; and (e) means for decoding the symbol based on the characterizations of means (b), (c), and (d). - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification