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Bar code symbology capable of encoding bytes, words, 16-bit characters, etc. and method and apparatus for printing and reading same

  • US 6,186,406 B1
  • Filed: 03/09/1999
  • Issued: 02/13/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of converting data characters to machine-readable symbols, each symbol having a pattern of dark shapes and light spaces between the shapes, the method comprising:

  • determining at least first and second character codes corresponding to data characters, wherein each character code has 8 bits;

    converting the first and second character codes to first, second and third symbol values;

    printing first, second, third symbol characters, wherein the first, second and third symbol characters correspond to the first, second and third symbol values, respectively; and

    printing an additional symbol character, wherein the additional symbol character indicates that the first, second and third symbol characters correspond to at least one character code having 8 bits when the combined first, second and third symbol values compute under a formula to a computed value that is less than a predetermined value, and correspond to at least one string of digits if the computed value is greater than the predetermined value.

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