Bar codes and methods
First Claim
1. A product marking for use in encoding identification or associated information on an article of manufacture comprising:
- a) a first scannable code comprising a plurality of alternating light and dark electro-optically scannable marking elements arranged to be scanned sequentially in a first direction by a laser beam and an electro-optical detector of radiation reflected from said elements; and
b) a second scannable code defining auxiliary coded information within at least one of said marking elements of said first code with said second code being arranged to be scanned by a transducer in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction in which said first code is scanned.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improvements in product and production codes and methods for reading same. In one form a bar code is provided wherein one or more of the individual bars of the code are printed or otherwise formed with coded information recorded therein. The bars may be made of printed matter and either divided into code defining segments or voids therein defining readable auxiliary information. In another form, the bars may be printed of magnetic recording material containing magnetic recordings therein of readable auxiliary information. The auxiliary information may be read when the bars are scanned for their coded information or without scanning the bars for the bar code. Reading may be by scanning a path or paths extending normal or oblique to the bars or in a direction parallel to or longitudinally along one or more of the bars to provided substantial additional information, if needed.
87 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A product marking for use in encoding identification or associated information on an article of manufacture comprising:
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a) a first scannable code comprising a plurality of alternating light and dark electro-optically scannable marking elements arranged to be scanned sequentially in a first direction by a laser beam and an electro-optical detector of radiation reflected from said elements; and b) a second scannable code defining auxiliary coded information within at least one of said marking elements of said first code with said second code being arranged to be scanned by a transducer in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction in which said first code is scanned. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for scanning coded product marking information comprising:
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electro-optically scanning in a first scanning direction a first code comprising a series of alternating light and dark marking elements; and scanning a second code contained in at least one of said marking elements, wherein said second code is scanned in a direction generally perpendicular to said first scanning direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification