Bar code data entry device

• US 6,666,377 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2000
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cutting Edge Codes LLC
• Original Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US09/618,988
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 235/494, 235/462.08, 235/462.09, 235/462.1, 235/456, 235/459, 235/462.01, 235/462.11, 235/462.25, 235/462.07
• US Class Current: 235/462.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06056 the marking comprising a further embedded marking, e.g. a 1D bar code with the black bars containing a smaller sized coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06112 the marking being simulated using a light source, e.g. a barcode shown on a display or a laser beam with time-varying intensity profile
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes

Abstract

Bar codes used for various applications. A bar code can be used for biometrics, or for computer data entry. A special bar code is described that has additional information, but can be read by other readers.

Claims

1. A bar code, comprising:

a first bar code portion, which represents a first format bar code, and would be found as valid when scanned by a first bar code scanning process to provide first information, and a second bar code portion, formed in a second format which is different than said first format, but associated with said first format bar code portion, and said second bar code portion representing additional information beyond the first information provided by said first bar code portion, and wherein said additional information includes the same informaton as said first information, and also includes additional information that is different than said first information.

2. A bar code as In claim 1 wherein said second bar code portion is a two dimensional bar code.

3. A bar code as in claim 1 wherein said second bar code portion includes a bar code which would be is found invalid by said first bar code scanning process which is used to decode said first bar code portion if said first bar code scanning process were used.

4. A bar code as in claim 3 wherein said first bar code is a standard linear bar code which is one of a UPC type code, a Type 39 type code, or a Type 128 type code.

5. A bar code as in claim 1 wherein said second bar code portion includes information which is encoded in two separate directions.

6. A bar code as in claim 1 wherein said second bar code portion includes information that is encoded into a gray scale of the bar code.

7. A bar code as in claim 1 wherein both of said first and second bar code portions represent personal identification information, wherein said first bar code portion represents a first part of personal identification information, and said second part represents the first part and additional information beyond said first information.

8. A bar code as in claim 1, wherein said additional information defines information which is related to said first information.

9. A bar code as in claim 8 wherein said additional information includes supplemental information to the informaton included in said first bar code portion.

10. A bar code, comprising a first part which is interpreted by a first bar code scanning process to obtain first abbreviated information, and a second part which is interpreted by a second bar code scanning process to obtain second information, which has more information than said first information, wherein said additional information includes the same information as said first information, and also includes additional information.

11. A bar code as in claim 10 wherein said first information is in a linear bar code and said second information is in a two dimensional bar code.

12. A bar code as in claim 10 wherein said second bar code portion is one which would be found invalid if scanned by a scanning process which is used to decode said first bar code portion.

13. A bar code as in claim 10 wherein said first bar code is one of a UPC code, a type 39 bar code or a type 128 bar code.

14. A bar code as in claim 10 wherein said second information is encoded in a gray scale of the bar code.

15. A bar code as in claim 10, wherein both of said first and second parts represent personal identification information, wherein said first part represents a first part of personal identification information, and said second part represents the same information that is in said first path, and also additional information of a greater quantity of information than said first part.

16. A bar code as in claim 10 wherein said second information is in a color of the bar code.

17. A bar code comprising:

a first part having first information encoded therein in a first bar code format; and

a second part having second information encoded therein in a second format, different than said first format, said second information having both the first information and also second information therein.

18. A bar code as in claim 17 wherein said second part has a greater quantity of information than said first part.

19. A bar code as in claim 17 wherein said second part has related information to said first part.

20. A bar code as in claim 17 wherein said first bar code format is a linear bar code format.

21. A bar code as in claim 20 wherein said second bar code format is a matrix format.

22. A bar code as in claim 17 wherein said second format is a bar code format which has information encoded by an amount of density of a grey scale of the bar code.