Method of reading a plurality of bar codes during a scanning motion
First Claim
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1. A method of reading a plurality of bar codes from two or more items moved substantially simultaneously through a scan volume of a bar code scanner comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining data for the plurality of bar codes from a detector in the bar code scanner as said items move through the scan volume;
b) determining position information associated with the data;
c) distinguishing data associated with each bar code using the position information;
d) assembling the plurality of bar codes from the data and determining the number of bar codes successfully read;
e) storing the position information in a memory;
f) formatting only the bar codes that are unreadable into a format usable by a computer;
g) repeating steps a) through d) during a rescan of the bar codes; and
h) determining that the re-scan has occurred by comparing newly acquired position information with stored position information.
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Abstract
A method of reading a plurality of bar codes during a scanning motion across a bar code scanner which enhances scanner operation. The method includes the steps of obtaining data from a detector in the bar code scanner, determining position information associated with the data, distinguishing data associated with each bar code using the position information, and assembling the bar codes from the data.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of reading a plurality of bar codes from two or more items moved substantially simultaneously through a scan volume of a bar code scanner comprising the steps of:
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a) obtaining data for the plurality of bar codes from a detector in the bar code scanner as said items move through the scan volume; b) determining position information associated with the data; c) distinguishing data associated with each bar code using the position information; d) assembling the plurality of bar codes from the data and determining the number of bar codes successfully read; e) storing the position information in a memory; f) formatting only the bar codes that are unreadable into a format usable by a computer; g) repeating steps a) through d) during a rescan of the bar codes; and h) determining that the re-scan has occurred by comparing newly acquired position information with stored position information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of reading a plurality of bar codes from two or more items moved substantially simultaneously through a scan volume of a bar code scanner comprising the steps of:
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a) obtaining data for the plurality of bar codes from a detector in the bar code scanner as said items move through the scan volume; b) determining position information associated with the data; c) distinguishing data associated with each bar code using the position information; and d) assembling the plurality of bar codes serially from the data and determining the number of bar codes successfully read, wherein step d) further comprises the steps of; d-1) correlating first data for a first bar code on a first item; d-2) constructing the first bar code from the first data; d-3) correlating second data for a second bar code on a second item; d-4) constructing the second bar code from the second data; d-5) starting a timer to time a time period; and d-6) clearing a memory in the bar code scanner if the time period expires. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method of reading a plurality of bar codes during a scanning motion across a bar code scanner comprising the steps of:
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a) obtaining data from a detector in the bar code scanner during the scanning motion; b) determining that pieces of the data are part of the bar codes; c) determining position information associated with each of the pieces of the data; d) assigning object identifiers to the pieces of the data based upon the position information; e) separating the pieces of the data into groups corresponding to the object identifiers; f) constructing the bar codes in parallel, including combining the pieces of data in each group; g) formatting the bar codes into a format usable by a computer; and h) storing the position information in a memory; i) repeating steps a) through e) during a rescan of the bar codes; j) determining that the re-scan has occurred by comparing newly acquired position information with stored position information; and k) formatting only bar codes that were unreadable into the format usable by the computer. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A scanning method comprising the steps of:
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a) obtaining data from a detector in a bar code scanner following simultaneous movement of a plurality of items bearing a plurality of bar codes across the bar code scanner; b) determining position information associated with the data; c) separating the pieces of data into groups corresponding to the bar codes using the position information, wherein step c) comprises the steps of; c-1) assigning a time and a location to each of the pieces of the data; c-2) computing trajectories from the times and the locations of the pieces of the data; c-3) separating the pieces of the data according to the trajectories the pieces are in; and d) constructing the bar codes, including combining the pieces of data in each group. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification