Optical code and delineator apparatus and method

• US 6,412,695 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Reber LLC
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reber, William L., Galvin, Christopher B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/544,950
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.02, 235/462.07, 235/462.24, 235/462.25
• US Class Current: 235/462.07
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes

Abstract

Data in the form of a machine readable optical code 10, such as a bar code, is combined with a delineator 11, which delineator is visible to the unaided human eye. The data includes at least some identifying information that identifies an information contact point.

Claims

1. A bar code, comprising:

a plurality of bars, each bar having a length and a width;

wherein the widths of the bars varies in order to represent the bar code; and

wherein the lengths of the bars varies in a configuration that conforms to a delineator form factor of a specific item for identifying the item shape such that a viewer can identify the bar code meaning without having a bar code reading device and for conveying information regarding the bar code.

2. A bar code according to claim 1, wherein the bar code includes a substantially solid periphery and is circumscribed by said substantially solid periphery.

3. A bar code according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the bar code is non-visible to an unaided human eye.

4. A bar code according to claim 3, wherein the bar code is formed at least in part using an ink that is not substantially visible in full-spectrum white light.

5. A bar code according to claim 4, further comprising an ink that has an infrared signature.

6. A bar code according to claim 1, wherein the bar code includes a non-solid periphery and is circumscribed by said non-solid periphery.

7. A bar code according to claim 1, further comprising a delineator substantially parallel to a major axis of the bar code.

8. A bar code according to claim 1, further comprising a delineator substantially normal to a major axis of the bar code.

9. A bar code according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate that caries the bar code.

10. A bar code according to claim 1, further comprising a delineator that is visible to the unaided human eye, which delineator is displayed on the display surface.

11. A bar code according to claim 10,

wherein the delineator has a non-rectangular form factor; and

wherein the delineator at least partially includes the barcode.

12. A bar code according to claim 11, wherein the delineator fully includes the barcode.

13. A bar code according to claim 10,

wherein the delineator has a non-rectangular form factor;

and

wherein the bars have lengths that at least partially conforms to a non-rectangular portion of the delineator form factor.

14. A bar code according to claim 13, wherein the barcode has a form factor that substantially conforms to the delineator form factor.

15. A bar code according to claim 10, wherein the delineator has a substantially solid periphery.

16. A bar code according to claim 10, wherein the delineator has a non-solid periphery.

17. A bar code according to claim 10, wherein the delineator is formed entirely of the barcode.

18. A bar code according to claim 10, wherein the delineator includes at least two separate discrete components that are physically separated from one another.

19. A bar code according to claim 10, wherein the barcode is oriented substantially parallel to a major axis of the delineator.

20. A bar code according to claim 10, wherein the barcode is oriented substantially normal to a major axis of the delineator.

21. A bar code according to claim 1, further comprising another machine-readable optical code, which said another machine-readable optical code is not easily viewed and understood by a human, and which said another machine-readable optical code is displayed on the display surface in physical combination with the delineator.

22. A bar code according to claim 21, wherein the another machine-readable optical code is physically combined with the bar code.

23. An article having a bar code on a surface thereof, wherein the bar code comprises:

a plurality of bars, each bar having a length and a width;

wherein the widths of the bars varies in order to represent the bar code; and

wherein the lengths of the bars varies in a configuration that conforms to a delineator form factor of a specific item for identifying the item shape such that a viewer can identify the bar code meaning without having a bar code reading device and for conveying information regarding the bar code.

24. A method of forming a bar code, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a code to be represented by the bar code and an image to be formed by the bar code;

(b) establishing widths of a plurality of bars in order to represent the bar code;

(c) establishing lengths of the plurality of bars in a configuration that conforms to a delineator form factor of a specific item for identifying the item shape such that a viewer can identify the bar code meaning without having a bar code reading device and for conveying information regarding the bar code; and

(d) rendering a plurality of the bars to make up the bar code.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of rendering a delineator with the bar code.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of establishing the delineator in a non-rectangular form factor that at least partially includes the barcode.

27. A method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of establishing the delineator in a form factor that substantially conforms to the bar code.

28. A method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of establishing the delineator in a non-rectangular form factor that fully includes the barcode.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the step of establishing the delineator in a non-rectangular form factor includes the step of providing the non-rectangular form factor with a substantially solid periphery.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein the step of establishing the delineator in a non-rectangular form factor includes the step of providing the non-rectangular form factor with a non-solid periphery.

31. A method according to claim 24, wherein the step of rendering the bar code renders a delineator with the bar code by providing a delineator that is formed entirely by the bar code.