Optical reader having improved scanning-decoding features
First Claim
1. In a reading apparatus of the type adapted to scan and decode image data that is optically encoded in one of a plurality of types of 1D bar code symbols or in one of a plurality of types of 2D bar code symbols, in combination:
- scanning means for scanning said symbol and for generating blocks of scan data indicative of image data encoded in said bar code symbols;
a scan memory for storing at least one block of scan data for a symbol in one address space thereof, while another block of scan data for said symbol is being stored in another address space thereof, each of said address spaces having a capacity sufficient to store at least one block of scan data; and
processing means for;
a) controlling said scanning means;
b) identifying the block of scan data which is currently to be decoded;
c) decoding the block of scan data which is currently to be decoded; and
d) establishing a selectable one of a plurality of scanning-decoding relationships between said scanning and said decoding;
wherein at least one of said plurality of scanning-decoding relationships comprises a tracking relationship.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical reading apparatus for scanning and decoding data encoded in any of a plurality of types of 1D and 2D bar code symbols. A scanner generates successive blocks of scan data for storage in a scan memory. The scan memory stores at least one complete block of scan data in one address space thereof while a more current block of scan data is being stored in another address space thereof. A processor selects and decodes blocks of scan data in accordance with a selectable one of a plurality of scanning-decoding relationships, at least one of which is a tracking relationship.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. In a reading apparatus of the type adapted to scan and decode image data that is optically encoded in one of a plurality of types of 1D bar code symbols or in one of a plurality of types of 2D bar code symbols, in combination:
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scanning means for scanning said symbol and for generating blocks of scan data indicative of image data encoded in said bar code symbols; a scan memory for storing at least one block of scan data for a symbol in one address space thereof, while another block of scan data for said symbol is being stored in another address space thereof, each of said address spaces having a capacity sufficient to store at least one block of scan data; and processing means for; a) controlling said scanning means; b) identifying the block of scan data which is currently to be decoded; c) decoding the block of scan data which is currently to be decoded; and d) establishing a selectable one of a plurality of scanning-decoding relationships between said scanning and said decoding; wherein at least one of said plurality of scanning-decoding relationships comprises a tracking relationship. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In a reading apparatus of the type adapted to scan and decode image data that is encoded in at least one of a plurality of different types of 1D and 2D bar code symbols, in combination:
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scanning means for controllably scanning sets of image data for said symbols; processing means including an autodiscrimination program for controllably attempting to decode said sets of image data in accordance with a succession of different types of decoding programs, said different types of decoding programs corresponding to different respective types of bar code symbols; said processing means also including a menuing program for permitting a user to selectably enable the desired ones of a plurality of operating parameters for said reading apparatus, said operating parameters including; i) a plurality of scanning-decoding parameters defining different respective scanning-decoding modes for said reading apparatus; and ii) a plurality of code parameters defining whether different respective decoding programs are to be included in said succession of different types of decoding programs; whereby a user may select predetermined ones of said scanning-decoding parameters and said code parameters. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. In a reading apparatus for scanning and decoding a plurality of types of optically encoded symbols, in combination:
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a scanner for scanning image data from said symbols; a data memory for storing sets of image data generated by said scanner; a memory control device for receiving image data from said scanner and storing said image data in said data memory; at least one decoding program for use in decoding image data stored in said data memory; a data processor for executing said at least one decoding program in one of a plurality of scanning-decoding modes that correspond to different respective relationships between said scanning and said decoding, said modes including; i) a One Shot mode in which one scan is followed by one attempted decoding; ii) a Repeat Until Done mode in which repeated scans are followed by repeated attempted decodings until decoding is successful; and iii) at least one tracking mode in which a tracking relationship is maintained between said scanning and said decoding; the scanning-decoding mode used by said data processor being dependent on the states of a plurality of stored scanning-decoding parameters. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification