EP0067414A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for reading a bar code
Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corp
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Filing: 1982-06-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A bar code (11) having parallel bars carrying information is divided into a plurality of regions so that each region is detected by a field of vision of an image sensor (17) of a bar code reader, The bars in each region is detected by a scanning operation to store data indicative of the width of each bar into a memory (RAM). When scanning of a region is completed, detection of another region follows to store data in the same manner. After all the regions are scanned to obtain their data, these data are combined to produce a combined data. Some superfluous data corresponding to the same bars between two consecutive regions are removed from the combined data. In one embodiment, the superfluous data are removed by using data indicative separation bars provided between the two consecutive regions, while in another embodiment, the superfluous data are removed by using a predetermined value indicative of the actual number of bars of the bar code.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiro Hara
- 👤 Atsutoshi Okamoto
- 👤 Toshiyasu Sakai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:12
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10881; G06K7/01; G06K7/016; G06K7/0166
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of reading a bar code having parallel bars indicative of information, by means of a reader having a sensor for converting an image into an electrical signal; characterized by the combination of the steps of: (a) detecting a portion of said bar code for obtaining first data including information of bars at one end of said bar code; (b) storing said first data; (c) detecting another portion of said bar code for obtaining second data including information of bars at the other end of said bar code; (d) storing said second data; and (e) combining said first and second data to obtain resultant data indicative of the entire information of said bar code.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of reading a bar code having parallel bars indicative of information, by means of a reader having a sensor for converting an image into an electrical signal; characterized by the combination of the steps of: (a) detecting a portion of said bar code for obtaining first data including information of bars at one end of said bar code; (b) storing said first data; (c) detecting another portion of said bar code for obtaining second data including information of bars at the other end of said bar code; (d) storing said second data; and (e) combining said first and second data to obtain resultant data indicative of the entire information of said bar code.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that each of said steps of detecting is performed so that said first data is partially overlapped with said second data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising one or more steps of detecting further portions of said bar code between said first mentioned portion and said another portion, and steps of storing data obtained as the result of said one or more steps of detecting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that each of said steps of detecting comprises a step of detecting the width of each bar for storing data thereof, and in that said step of detecting comprises a step of correcting said data of width of each bar to compensate for variations occurred due to inaccurate printing of said bar code.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said step of detecting the first-mentioned portion comprises a step of detecting start bars indicative of starting portion of said bar code, and in that said step of detecting said another portion comprises a step of detecting end bars indicative of ending portion of said bar code.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said step of combining comprises a step of removing superfluous data corresponding to the same bars of said bar code, said step of removing comprising being effected by either using data indicative of separation bars provided between said first-mentioned portion and said another portion, or by comparing the total number of bars given from the combined data with a predetermined number corresponding to the actual total number of bars of said bar code.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized by further comprising a step of moving said reader and/or said bar code in a direction intersecting said parallel bars when said step of detecting said first-mentioned portion has been completed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for reading a bar code having parallel bars indicative of information by using an optical system (12, 12a, 13, 14, 15, 16) for receiving an image of a portion of said bar code, photosensitive means (17) of electronic scanning type for producing an electrical signal indicative of said image, and a signal processing circuit (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) for producing data in response to said electrical signal from said photosensitive means; characterized by: means (27) for detecting each portion of said bar code for obtaining at least first data including information of bars at one end of said bar code, and second data including information of bars at the other end of said bar code; for storing at least said first and second data; and for combining said first and second data to obtain resultant data indicative of the entire information of said bar code.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for reading a bar code having parallel bars indicative of information by using an optical system (12, 12a, 13, 14, 15, 16) for receiving an image of a portion of said bar code, photosensitive means (17) of electronic scanning type for producing an electrical signal indicative of said image, and a signal processing circuit (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) for producing data in response to said electrical signal from said photosensitive means; characterized by: means (27) for detecting each portion of said bar code for obtaining at least first data including information of bars at one end of said bar code, and second data including information of bars at the other end of said bar code; for storing at least said first and second data; and for combining said first and second data to obtain resultant data indicative of the entire information of said bar code.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that said optical system comprises; (a) a light source (12) for illuminating said portion of said bar code; (b) a condenser lens (15) for condensing light reflected at said bars; and (c) a diaphragm (16) having an elongate slit for partially passing the light from said condenser lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that said photosensitive means comprises an image sensor (17), and in that said signal processing circuit comprises: (a) an analog amplifier (20) responsive to the output signal from said photosensitive means; (b) a waveform shaping circuit (21) responsive to the output signal from said analog amplifier; (c) a comparator (22) responsive to the output signal from said waveform shaping circuit and to a predetermined reference voltage for producing a binary signal; ( d ) an inversion detecting circuit (23) responsive to said binary signal for producing a pulse in the presence of a leading edge or a trailing edge of said binary signal; (e) a clock generator (24) for generating clock pulses; (f) a counter (25) for counting the number of said clock pulses between two consecutive pulses from said inversion detecting circuit; and (g) a latch (26) for temporarily storing the data from said counter indicative of the width of each bar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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