US3723710A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and device for reading and decoding a high density self-clocking bar code
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1971-06-28
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A high density self-clocking multiple bar code is scanned to determine the displacement of adjacent leading edges of the bars and of the adjacent trailing edges of the bars. The detected leading and trailing edge displacements are compared with a standard identifiable displacement included in all of the valid codes and are categorized with respect thereto and the sequential categories thus derived define the encoded data.
Inventors
- 👤 W Crouse
- 👤 J Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/01; G06K7/016; G06K7/0166; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06018; G06K19/06028; H; H04; H04L; H04L25/00; H04L25/38; H04L25/40; H04L25/49
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for decoding a high density self-clocking multiple bar coded representation which includes a plurality of bars separated by areas of detectably different characteristics and in which the bars and spaces have one or more different widths comprising the steps of: measuring the separation between adjacent leading edges of the bars comprising the coded data; measuring the separation between adjacent trailing edges of the bars comprising the coded data; measuring the extent of a reference distance included in each of the codes in the code set; and categorizing the separations with respect to the measured reference distance whereby the categorizations define the bar coded representations in terms of the bar edge separations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for decoding a high density self-clocking multiple bar coded representation which includes a plurality of bars separated by areas of detectably different characteristics and in which the bars and spaces have one or more different widths comprising the steps of: measuring the separation between adjacent leading edges of the bars comprising the coded data; measuring the separation between adjacent trailing edges of the bars comprising the coded data; measuring the extent of a reference distance included in each of the codes in the code set; and categorizing the separations with respect to the measured reference distance whereby the categorizations define the bar coded representations in terms of the bar edge separations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method set forth in claim 1 in which the said reference distance is measured by examining the measured separations between adjacent leading edges and between adjacent trailing edges and selecting the one which meets a predetermined requirement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method set forth in claim 2 in which the one selected is the shortest separation measured.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method set forth in claim 1 in which the said reference distance extends from an edge of one of the bars to an edge of another bar and encompasses a substantial extent of the representation and is measured by summing at least two predetermined separations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method set forth in claim 1 in which the said reference distance extends from the leading edge of the first bar to the leading edge of the last bar and is measured by summing all the separations between adjacent leading edges.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for decoding a high density self-clocking mutliple bar coded representation which includes a plurality of bars separated by areas of detectably different characteristics and in which the bars and spaces have one or more different widths comprising the steps of: measuring in sequence the separation between adjacent leading edges of the bars comprising the coded data; measuring in sequence the separation between adjacent trailing edges of the bars comprising the coded data; measuring the extent of a reference distance included in each of the codes in the code set; and categorizing the separations, in the sequence measured, with respect to the measured reference distance whereby the sequential categorizations define the bar coded representations in terms of the bar edge separations.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for decoding a high density self-clocking mutliple bar coded representation which includes a plurality of bars separated by areas of detectably different characteristics and in which the bars and spaces have one or more different widths comprising the steps of: measuring in sequence the separation between adjacent leading edges of the bars comprising the coded data; measuring in sequence the separation between adjacent trailing edges of the bars comprising the coded data; measuring the extent of a reference distance included in each of the codes in the code set; and categorizing the separations, in the sequence measured, with respect to the measured reference distance whereby the sequential categorizations define the bar coded representations in terms of the bar edge separations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method set forth in claim 6 in which the said reference distance is measured by examining the measured separations between adjacent leading edges and between adjacent trailing edges and selecting the one which meets a predetermined requirement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method set forth in claim 7 in which the one selected is the shortest separation measured.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method set forth in claim 6 in which the said reference distance extends from an edge of one of the bars to an edge of another bar and encompasses a substantial extent of the representation and is measured by summing at least two predetermined separations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method set forth in claim 6 in which the said reference distance extends from the leading edge of the first bar to the leading edge of the last bar and is measured by summing all the separations between adjacent leading edges.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
184 words
A device for scanning and decoding a high density self-clocking mutliple bar coded representation which includes a plurality of bars separated by areas of detectably different characteristics and in which the bars and spaces have one or more different widths comprising: first means for scanning the representation and generating electrical signals which are an analog of the representation; second means responsive to said first means for generating and storing a plurality of unique signals indicative of the time required to scan the representation between adjacent leading edges of the bars and between adjacent trailing edges of the bars; third means responsive to said second means for generating a reference signal based on a unique characteristic of the analog signal included in each representation of the allowable set of representations; and fourth means responsive to said second and third means for comparing the stored signals with the generated reference for categorizing the stored signals with respect to said generated signal in a sequence corresponding to the scanning sequence whereby the sequential categorizations define the bar coded representation scanned in terms of the bar edge separations.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
184 words
A device for scanning and decoding a high density self-clocking mutliple bar coded representation which includes a plurality of bars separated by areas of detectably different characteristics and in which the bars and spaces have one or more different widths comprising: first means for scanning the representation and generating electrical signals which are an analog of the representation; second means responsive to said first means for generating and storing a plurality of unique signals indicative of the time required to scan the representation between adjacent leading edges of the bars and between adjacent trailing edges of the bars; third means responsive to said second means for generating a reference signal based on a unique characteristic of the analog signal included in each representation of the allowable set of representations; and fourth means responsive to said second and third means for comparing the stored signals with the generated reference for categorizing the stored signals with respect to said generated signal in a sequence corresponding to the scanning sequence whereby the sequential categorizations define the bar coded representation scanned in terms of the bar edge separations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as set forth in claim 11 in which said third means includes, means for examining the signals stored in the second means and selecting one of the stored signals which satisfies a predetermined criteria for use as the reference signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as set forth in claim 12 in which the stored signal indicating the shortest scanning time is selected as the reference.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as set forth in claim 11 in which said third means includes circuit means responsive to a plurality of preselected generated signals from said second means for generating a reference signal which corresponds to the time duration of said preselected generated signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as set forth in claim 14 in which the preselected generated signals include only those indicative of the time required to scan the representation between adjacent leading edges of the bars.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
258 words
A device for scanning and decoding a high density self-clocking multiple bar coded representation which includes a plurality of bars separated by areas of detectably different characteristics and in which the bars and spaces have one or more different widths comprising: first means for scanning the representations and generating electrical signals which are an analog of the representation, said signals including alternating first and second electrical characteristics corresponding to the alternatiNg characteristics of the scanned representation; second means responsive to the alternating electrical characteristics of the generated signal for counting transistions from one signal characteristic to the other and vice versa and providing an output indicative of the instantaneous value of the count; third means responsive to the output of the said second means for providing a plurality of sequential timed outputs corresponding to the elapsed time between adjacent transitions in the same direction; counting means responsive to the timed outputs from said third means for accumulating a count corresponding to each of the said timed outputs from said third means; fourth means responsive to said counting means for examining the data supplied to said fourth means via said timed outputs and determining a reference from the data supplied, which reference corresponds to a common characteristic of all the allowable representations in the set of representations; and, means for comparing the reference with each of the counts, corresponding to the timed outputs, contained in the said third means for categorizing the counts with respect to said reference whereby the representation is categorized in terms of bar edge separations.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
258 words
A device for scanning and decoding a high density self-clocking multiple bar coded representation which includes a plurality of bars separated by areas of detectably different characteristics and in which the bars and spaces have one or more different widths comprising: first means for scanning the representations and generating electrical signals which are an analog of the representation, said signals including alternating first and second electrical characteristics corresponding to the alternatiNg characteristics of the scanned representation; second means responsive to the alternating electrical characteristics of the generated signal for counting transistions from one signal characteristic to the other and vice versa and providing an output indicative of the instantaneous value of the count; third means responsive to the output of the said second means for providing a plurality of sequential timed outputs corresponding to the elapsed time between adjacent transitions in the same direction; counting means responsive to the timed outputs from said third means for accumulating a count corresponding to each of the said timed outputs from said third means; fourth means responsive to said counting means for examining the data supplied to said fourth means via said timed outputs and determining a reference from the data supplied, which reference corresponds to a common characteristic of all the allowable representations in the set of representations; and, means for comparing the reference with each of the counts, corresponding to the timed outputs, contained in the said third means for categorizing the counts with respect to said reference whereby the representation is categorized in terms of bar edge separations.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as set forth in claim 16 in which the said fourth means selects the least count for the reference.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as set forth in claim 16 in which the said fourth means selects a reference which extends over a substantial extent of the representations.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device as set forth in claim 16 in which the said fourth means selects a reference which extends from one edge of the first bar to the corresponding edge of the last bar by accumulating a count equal to the counts controlled by timed outputs corresponding to the said elapsed time between all adjacent transitions in the same one direction only.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |