Parallel propagating embedded binary sequences for characterizing objects in N-dimensional address space

• US 5,937,110 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Petrie, Glen W., Hecht, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Wenpeng
• Application Number:
  US08/772,158
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 382/232, 382/306, 382/243, 235/494, 235/456, 235/487, 235/462, 235/454, 235/470, 235/432, 358/403, 380/51, 283/70
• US Class Current: 382/306
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence

Abstract

Machine readable fragments of a code pattern that is parameterized in N-dimensional space, where N≧2, are affixed to two or three dimensional physical objects, such that the objects are uniquely identified by the addresses of the machine readable address space fragments affixed thereto.

Claims

1. A process for discriminating between physical objects in a machine readable format, said process comprising:

digitally parameterizing a two dimensional code pattern comprising elements in conformance with a machine readable address space having at least two dimensions, said address space being composed of a plurality of different absolute addresses that map on to said code pattern to provide a unique one of said plurality of different absolute addresses for each one of said elements in said code pattern;

affixing respective distinct machine readable fragments of said code pattern to said objects to discriminate said objects from each other.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein

said code pattern is parameterized in conformance with an N-dimensional address space, where N>

2.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein

said code pattern is a self-clocking glyph code pattern wherein said elements are glyphs registered on each one of a lattice of centers.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein

said glyphs are slash-like marks which are tilted to the left and right at about +45°

and -45°

for encoding binary "1'"'"'s" and "0'"'"'s", respectively.

5. A process for identifying and discriminating between physical objects in a machine readable format, said process comprising:

digitally parameterizing a two dimensional code pattern comprising elements in conformance with a machine readable address space having at least two dimensions, said address space being composed of a plurality of different absolute addresses that map on to said code pattern to provide a unique one of said plurality of different absolute addresses for each one of said elements in said code pattern;

affixing respective distinct machine readable fragments of said code pattern to said objects to uniquely identify said objects; and

registering said machine readable fragments with said objects in an organized look-up table.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein

said code pattern is parameterized in conformance with an N-dimensional address space, where N>

2.

7. The process of claim 5 wherein

said code pattern is a self-clocking glyph code pattern wherein said elements are glyphs registered on each one of a lattice of centers.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein

said glyphs are slash-like marks which are tilted to the left and right at about +45°

and -45°

for encoding binary "1'"'"'s" and "0'"'"'s", respectively.

9. The process of claim 5 wherein said look-up table is hierarchically organized.