Optical reader having improved autodiscrimination features
First Claim
1. A method for autodiscriminating and decoding a bar code symbol that may be of any of a plurality of different types using an optical reading apparatus of the type having an image data memory and a parameter table which stores a plurality of parameters that specify the operating mode of said reading apparatus, said plurality of different types of bar code symbols including 1D linear bar code symbols, and 2D matrix bar code symbols, said 2D matrix bar code symbols having finder patterns that may be of any of a plurality of different types, comprising the steps of:
- (a) scanning said bar code symbol with said reading apparatus to produce a set of image data therefrom;
(b) storing the set of image data resulting from said scanning step in said image data memory;
(c) sequentially attempting to decode said set of stored image data as a 1D bar code symbol in accordance with a plurality of different 1D decoding programs, and1.) if one of said attempts to decode said symbol as a 1D symbol is successful, outputting decoded data and then discontinuing said attempt;
or2.) if said attempts to decode said symbol as a 1D symbol are not successful, discontinuing said attempts and proceeding to step (d) hereof;
(d) sequentially attempting to decode said symbol as a 2D symbol in accordance with a plurality of different 2D decoding programs, and1.) if one of said attempts to decode said symbol as a 2D symbol is successful, outputting decoded data and then discontinuing said attempt;
or2.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for autodiscriminating and decoding any of a plurality of 1D linear bar code symbols which use different 1D symbologies and of 2D matrix bar code symbols which use different 2D finder patterns and 2D symbologies. A processor stores a plurality of 1D decoding programs, a plurality of 2D decoding programs, and a parameter table that specifies which of said programs are to be enabled. During 1D autodiscrimination, the processor makes no attempt to decode unknown symbols in accordance with 1D decoding programs that are not enabled. During 2D autodiscrimination, the processor makes no attempt to decode unknown 2D symbols in accordance with 2D decoding programs that are not enabled.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A method for autodiscriminating and decoding a bar code symbol that may be of any of a plurality of different types using an optical reading apparatus of the type having an image data memory and a parameter table which stores a plurality of parameters that specify the operating mode of said reading apparatus, said plurality of different types of bar code symbols including 1D linear bar code symbols, and 2D matrix bar code symbols, said 2D matrix bar code symbols having finder patterns that may be of any of a plurality of different types, comprising the steps of:
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(a) scanning said bar code symbol with said reading apparatus to produce a set of image data therefrom; (b) storing the set of image data resulting from said scanning step in said image data memory; (c) sequentially attempting to decode said set of stored image data as a 1D bar code symbol in accordance with a plurality of different 1D decoding programs, and 1.) if one of said attempts to decode said symbol as a 1D symbol is successful, outputting decoded data and then discontinuing said attempt;
or2.) if said attempts to decode said symbol as a 1D symbol are not successful, discontinuing said attempts and proceeding to step (d) hereof; (d) sequentially attempting to decode said symbol as a 2D symbol in accordance with a plurality of different 2D decoding programs, and 1.) if one of said attempts to decode said symbol as a 2D symbol is successful, outputting decoded data and then discontinuing said attempt;
or2. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 6, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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2. ) if said attempts to decode said symbol as a 2D symbol are not successful, or if none of said types of finder patterns is found, discontinuing said attempts;
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(e) wherein step (c) includes the steps of not attempting to decode said symbol in accordance with any one or more 1D decoding programs that are indicated to be disabled by said parameter table; and (f) wherein step (d) includes the steps of not attempting to decode said symbol in accordance with any one or more 2D decoding programs that are - View Dependent Claims (5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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18. In a reading apparatus of the type adapted to scan and decode image data that is optically encoded in one of a plurality of different types of 1D and 2D bar code symbols, in combination:
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processing means responsive to an autodiscrimination program for controllably attempting to decode a bar code symbol of unknown type in accordance with a succession of different types of 1D and 2D decoding programs, each of said types of decoding programs corresponding to a respective one of said different types of bar code symbols, and to a menuing program for permitting a user to selectably enable the desired ones of a plurality of operating parameters that define the operating modes in which said reading apparatus may operate; said operating parameters including at least a plurality of code option parameters each specifying whether or not at least one respective 1D or 2D decoding program is to be included among said succession of different types of decoding programs; whereby a user may selectably enable a combination of code option parameters which increases the data throughput rate of the apparatus by causing the processing means to avoid having to fully execute decoding programs which are not enabled by said operating parameters.
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33. In a reading apparatus of the type adapted to scan and decode image data that is optically encoded in a bar code symbol that uses an unknown one of a plurality of different 1D and 2D bar code symbologies, in combination:
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an image sensor; an image data memory for storing image data scanned from the field of view of said image sensor; processing means including at least one programmable processor for controlling the scanning and decoding activity of said apparatus in accordance with; (a) an autodiscrimination program that includes a plurality of decoding programs for use in successive attempts to decode image data in accordance with a plurality of different 1D and 2D bar code symbologies; (b) a parameter table that stores a plurality of parameters that specify a plurality of different operating modes for said reading apparatus; and (c) a menuing program for modifying said parameter table in accordance with operating mode options selected by a user; said parameter table storing a plurality of code option parameters that include; (a) at least one first code option parameter that specifies at least one 1D decoding program that may be disabled during the execution of said autodiscrimination program; (b) at least one second code option parameter that specifies at least one 2D parameter that may be disabled during the execution of said autodiscrimination program; whereby the data throughput rate of said reading apparatus is increased as a result of the non-enablement of the disabled ones of said code option parameters.
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48. A method for performing 1D/2D autodiscrimination in an optical reading apparatus of the type including an image sensor, an image data memory for storing image data produced by said image sensor, and a decoding memory for storing a plurality of decoding programs for use in decoding respective types of optically encoded symbols including 1D bar code symbols, and including 2D matrix bar code symbols having one of a plurality of 2D finder patterns, including the steps of:
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(a) using said image sensor to acquire a set of image data elements; (b) storing said image data elements in said image data memory; (c) calculating the activities of predetermined ones of said image data elements, and storing the resulting activities as an activity representation of said image data elements; (d) producing two state approximations of said image data elements, and storing said approximations as a binary representation of said image data elements; (e) determining, from said activity representation, whether there exists at least one region of high activity indicative of the presence of a 1D bar code symbol and, if at least one region of high activity exists; 1.) determining, for said at least one region, the direction of highest activity thereof; 2.) attempting to decode image data elements corresponding to at least one of said regions using said binary representation, at least one scan line parallel to the direction of highest activity of said region, and at least one 1D decoding program; and (f) determining, from said binary representation, whether there exists at least one finder pattern indicative of the presence of a 2D bar code symbol and, if at least one finder pattern exists, attempting to decode said at least one 2D bar code symbol in accordance with the respective finder pattern and the respective one of said 2D decoding programs.
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Specification