Multiple bar code decoding system and method
First Claim
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1. A system for simultaneously decoding a plurality of different coded symbols each comprising a plurality of bars and spaces representing characters, comprising:
- means for generating data representing bars and spaces of one of said symbols;
circuit means coupled to said generating means for applying first predetermined relationships to said data for generating signals representing continuous characters in response to receiving the data representing each consecutive bar and space whenever the relationships are satisfied;
means for storing the data;
a plurality of decoding means coupled to said circuit means for detecting valid and invalid characters in said signals; and
each of said decoding means including means for inserting data bits in the data stored in said storing means locating the start and ending of a valid character in said data.
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Abstract
There are disclosed a system and method for decoding data read from a plurality of different types of bar code labels which includes circuit means for detecting the occurrence of two equal continuous characters in the data generated by an optical scanner in reading a bar code label and a filter for each of the different bar code labels receiving simultaneously the two equal characters for decoding the character data and inserting locating bits in the data delimiting a valid character in the data.
89 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for simultaneously decoding a plurality of different coded symbols each comprising a plurality of bars and spaces representing characters, comprising:
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means for generating data representing bars and spaces of one of said symbols; circuit means coupled to said generating means for applying first predetermined relationships to said data for generating signals representing continuous characters in response to receiving the data representing each consecutive bar and space whenever the relationships are satisfied; means for storing the data; a plurality of decoding means coupled to said circuit means for detecting valid and invalid characters in said signals; and each of said decoding means including means for inserting data bits in the data stored in said storing means locating the start and ending of a valid character in said data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for simultaneously decoding a plurality of different coded symbols each comprising a plurality of bars and spaces representing characters, comprising:
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means for generating coded data representing bars and spaces of one of said symbols; first storage means for storing the coded data generated by said generating means; first logic means coupled to said generating means for detecting the occurrence of two equal characters in the coded data, said logic means generating a first control signal upon detecting the two equal characters; a plurality of filter means each associated with a different coded symbol and coupled to said first logic means for detecting valid and invalid characters in the coded data stored in the first storage means in response to the generation of said control signal; second logic means in each of said filter means coupled to said first storage means for inserting data bits in the coded data stored in said first storage means locating the start and ending of a valid character upon detecting a valid character in said coded data; means in each of said filter means for counting the number of valid characters in said coded data; third logic means in each of said filter means for generating a third control signal when said counting means reaches a predetermined count; a second storage means coupled to said first storage means and said first logic means; and said first logic means being coupled to said second and third logic means for outputting a fourth control signal to said second storage means in response to the generating of said start and ending data bits and said third control signal, said fourth control signal enabling the second storage means to store the coded data stored in said first storage means.
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17. A method for decoding data representing a coded label consisting of a plurality of bars and spaces representing a numerical character in which character data is generated by scanning a bar code label which may represent one of a plurality of different types of bar code labels, comprising the steps of:
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applying a first predetermined relationship to said character data representing a predetermined number of bars and spaces defining a number of numerical characters; generating first control signals indicating the occurrence of said number of numerical characters; transmitting said first control signals simultaneously to a plurality of filter circuits each representing a different type of bar code label; operating each of said filter circuits in response to receiving said first control signals to detect the occurrence of a valid numerical character associated with the type of bar code represented by the filter circuit; and generating second control signals locating the position of the valid numerical character in the character data associated with the type of bar code represented by the filter circuit. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification