Reading of contrasting data by means of continuously attempting to decode read signals

Claim 3

The methods as in claim 1, wherein respective two raster fields differ as to orientation by an angle smaller than the angle between two diagonals of the data field.

Claim 4

The method as in claim 1, wherein the characteristics (b) is a fixed number of bars within a frame defined by a fixed number of possible positions for the bars, and characteristics (c) requires plural such fixed number of bars in a period of time corresponding to particularly succeeding frames.

Claim 5

The method as in claim 1, wherein the characteristics (b) is defined by a particular frame length for bars defining a character and characteristics (c) is defined by plural frames in immediate sequence.

Claim 6

The method as In claim 1, wherein the characteristics (c) is defined by particular combination of bars and spaces between the bars, at beginning or on end of the data field.

Claim 7

The method as in claim 1, wherein the characteristics (d) is defined by particular combinations of bars and spaces between the bars at beginning and end of the data field, different from the combination of bars and lines as between the particular combinations.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for detecting and reading information characters in printed form and having contrasting bars extending parallel to each other and along a data field and having means for scanning a particular area by a line scan raster, wherein the lines of the raster field extend in a particular direction on the area, and including means for developing a scanning information signal representing the contrast along the scanning line in any instant, further having means for changing the direction, so that the lines of sequential raster fields extend in different directions; and signal means connected to receive the signal and processing the signal to obtain a train of data bits; the improvement comprising: a clock generator included in the signal means and producing a clock pulse for each contrast edge encountered, and another clock pulse a predetermined period thereafter equivalent to the width of a data bar, said clock pulses defining the bit rate in said train. first means connected for processing the data bits of the train and searching for particular characteristics in the bit pattern of sequential groups of bits pertaining to one scanning line of any of the raster fields, each of the groups having predetermined length; second means connected to the first means for decoding the groups of bits in accordance with a particular code conversion rule, and on basis of a plurality of particular patterns; and third means connected to the second means for assembling the converted codes of plural sequential successful decodings as a group of characters in a data field.

Claim 9

In an apparatus for detecting and reading information characters in printed form and having contrasting bars extending parallel to each other and along a data field and having means for scanning a particular area by a line scan raster, wherein the lines of the raster field extend in a particular direction on the area, and including means for developing a scanning information signal representing the contrast along the scanning line in any instant, further having means for changing the direction, so that the lines of sequential raster fields extend in different directions; and signal means connected to receive the signal and processing the signal to obtain a train of data bits; the improvement comprising: a clock generator included in the signal means and producing a clock pulse for each contrast edge encountered, and another clock pulse a predetermined period thereafter equivalent to the width of a data bar, said clock pulses defining the bit rate in said train. first means connected for processing the data bits of the train and searching for particular characteristics in the bit pattern of sequential groups of bits pertaining to one scanning line of any of the raster fields, each of the groups having predetermined length; second means connected to the first means for decoding the groups of bits in accordance with a particular code conversion rule, and on basis of a plurality of particular patterns; and third means connected to the second means for assembling the converted codes of plural sequential successful decodings as a group of characters in a data field.

Claim 10

In an apparatus for detecting and reading information characters in printed form and assembled in a data field, each character having contrasting bars extending parallel to each other and along the data field, the apparatus having means for scanning a particular area in which a data field may appear, by a line scan raster, wherein the lines of the raster field extend in a particular direction in the area, and including means for developing a scanning information signal representing the contrast along the scanning line in any instant, further having means for changing the direction of scanning, so that the lines of sequential raster fields extend in different directions, and means connected to receive the signal and processing the signal to obtain a train of data bits; the improvement comprising: first means for sequentially assembling n sequential bits of the train, where n is a positive integer, including means (a) for holding such bits and means (b) for shifting the bits of the train as produced through the means (a), so as to have n bits available at any instant in the means (a), for holding and following each shifting step; second means connected to the first means and continuously attempting to decode n bits as assembled in the means (a) for holding the first means, and after each shifting step to provide representation of one of a plurality of characters, apparently represented by the bit pattern, then held in the means (a) for holding and when successfully decoded; third means operating in response to a first successful decoding of a group of n bits in the first means and in further response to the subsequent passage of consecutive groups of n-bits each through the means (a) and to each successful additional decoding of such additional group by the second means and during the same scanning line, when respectively previously assembled and successfully decoded n bits have been shifted out of the first means, and signalling each sAid additional decodings; and fourth means connected to the second means for assembling sequentially decoded characters, including means for erasing any assembled characters upon failure of the third means to signal success of any of said additional decoding at an instant n new bits of another group have been shifted into the means (a) after the first decoding and having been attempted to be decoded, the second means subsequently continuing to attempt to decode n bits to search for another first succesful decoding; and means connected to the third means to be responsive to m -successful decodings of n x m sequential bits by the second means, wherein m is a positive integer, said assembled characters being erased by the fourth means upon failure of m-successful decodings.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for detecting and reading information characters in printed form and assembled in a data field, each character having contrasting bars extending parallel to each other and along the data field, the apparatus having means for scanning a particular area in which a data field may appear, by a line scan raster, wherein the lines of the raster field extend in a particular direction in the area, and including means for developing a scanning information signal representing the contrast along the scanning line in any instant, further having means for changing the direction of scanning, so that the lines of sequential raster fields extend in different directions, and means connected to receive the signal and processing the signal to obtain a train of data bits; the improvement comprising: first means for sequentially assembling n sequential bits of the train, where n is a positive integer, including means (a) for holding such bits and means (b) for shifting the bits of the train as produced through the means (a), so as to have n bits available at any instant in the means (a), for holding and following each shifting step; second means connected to the first means and continuously attempting to decode n bits as assembled in the means (a) for holding the first means, and after each shifting step to provide representation of one of a plurality of characters, apparently represented by the bit pattern, then held in the means (a) for holding and when successfully decoded; third means operating in response to a first successful decoding of a group of n bits in the first means and in further response to the subsequent passage of consecutive groups of n-bits each through the means (a) and to each successful additional decoding of such additional group by the second means and during the same scanning line, when respectively previously assembled and successfully decoded n bits have been shifted out of the first means, and signalling each sAid additional decodings; and fourth means connected to the second means for assembling sequentially decoded characters, including means for erasing any assembled characters upon failure of the third means to signal success of any of said additional decoding at an instant n new bits of another group have been shifted into the means (a) after the first decoding and having been attempted to be decoded, the second means subsequently continuing to attempt to decode n bits to search for another first succesful decoding; and means connected to the third means to be responsive to m -successful decodings of n x m sequential bits by the second means, wherein m is a positive integer, said assembled characters being erased by the fourth means upon failure of m-successful decodings.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for detecting and reading information characters presented in printed form and assembled in a data field the characters having contrasting bars extending parallel to each other and along the data field, the apparatus having means for scanning a particular area, in which a data field may appear, by a line scan raster, wherein the line of the raster field extend in a particular direction in the area, and including means for developing a scanning information signal representing the contrast along the scanning line in any instant, further having means for changing the direction, so that the line of sequential raster fields extend in different directions, and means connected to receive the signal and processing the signal to obtain a train of data bits, the improvement comprising: first means for receiving the bits of the train and including register means for holding n-bits at a time, each bit entering the register means being shifted through the register means and discharged therefrom after having been placed into n-different sequential positions in the register means; second means connected to the register means for attempting to decode and decoding the n-bits held therein in any instance and after each shifting by one bit position and providing a representation of successful decoding as distinguished from unsuccessful decoding of such n bits; third means connected to the second means for being responsive to a first successful decoding by the second means and further responsive to the passage of plural consecutive groups of n-bits each and excluding but following the said successfully decoded n bits, for providing for a control for a decoding attempt by the second means, respectively each instance after n-sequential bits have passed through the register means following the first successful decoding and for m-times during the same scanning line wherein m is an integer larger than 1; fourth means for assembling representtion of each said successful decodings; and means for erasing the content of the fourth means, following when said third means fail to provide said m-controls said first successful decoding and immediately an after unsuccessful decoding by the second means that occurred after less than m + 1 successful decoding attempts, and operating the third means to continue the search for another first, successful decoding attempt following the erasing.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for detecting and reading information characters presented in printed form and assembled in a data field the characters having contrasting bars extending parallel to each other and along the data field, the apparatus having means for scanning a particular area, in which a data field may appear, by a line scan raster, wherein the line of the raster field extend in a particular direction in the area, and including means for developing a scanning information signal representing the contrast along the scanning line in any instant, further having means for changing the direction, so that the line of sequential raster fields extend in different directions, and means connected to receive the signal and processing the signal to obtain a train of data bits, the improvement comprising: first means for receiving the bits of the train and including register means for holding n-bits at a time, each bit entering the register means being shifted through the register means and discharged therefrom after having been placed into n-different sequential positions in the register means; second means connected to the register means for attempting to decode and decoding the n-bits held therein in any instance and after each shifting by one bit position and providing a representation of successful decoding as distinguished from unsuccessful decoding of such n bits; third means connected to the second means for being responsive to a first successful decoding by the second means and further responsive to the passage of plural consecutive groups of n-bits each and excluding but following the said successfully decoded n bits, for providing for a control for a decoding attempt by the second means, respectively each instance after n-sequential bits have passed through the register means following the first successful decoding and for m-times during the same scanning line wherein m is an integer larger than 1; fourth means for assembling representtion of each said successful decodings; and means for erasing the content of the fourth means, following when said third means fail to provide said m-controls said first successful decoding and immediately an after unsuccessful decoding by the second means that occurred after less than m + 1 successful decoding attempts, and operating the third means to continue the search for another first, successful decoding attempt following the erasing.

Claim 14

In an apparatus as in claim 9, wherein means are provided to be responsive to a particular plurality of bits of a particular combination prior to a first response of the second means.

Claim 17

Apparatus for detecting and reading information characters printed on a data field and having contrasting bars extending parallel to each other and separated by spaces, the bars and the spaces organized in frames of equal length each frame containing a bar-space combination defining a character, comprising: first means for scanning a particular area by a plurality of different line raster scans, the line rasters differing by the direction of their respective lines, the area covered by each of the rasters being larger than the data field; second means connected to derive a signal train as a result of scanning in representation of contrasts encountered during the scan; third means connected to the second means to derive from the signal train signal representations of the leading and trailing edges of the bars; fourth means connected to the third means and continuously assembling a fixed plurality of said representations as they are presented by the third means; fifth means connected to the fourth means for continuously attempting to decode the content of signal representations as assembled in the fourth means; sixth means connected to be responsive to successful decoding of a character by operation of the fifth means and further connected for detecting successful or unsuccessful decoding of several fixed pluralities of said representations as sequentially assembled by and in the fourth means; seventh means connected to assemble sequentially decoded characters, but eliminating the assembly in response to detection of an unsuccessful decoding by operation of the fifth and sixth means; and means connected for temporarily halting the operation of the first means only upon successful assembly of plural decoded characters by the seventh means.

Claim 18

Apparatus for detecting and reading information characters printed on a data field and having contrasting bars extending parallel to each other and separated by spaces, the bars and the spaces organized in frames of equal length each frame containing a bar-space combination defining a character, comprising: first means for scanning a particular area by a plurality of different line raster scans, the line rasters differing by the direction of their respective lines, the area covered by each of the rasters being larger than the data field; second means connected to derive a signal train as a result of scanning in representation of contrasts encountered during the scan; third means connected to the second means to derive from the signal train signal representations of the leading and trailing edges of the bars; fourth means connected to the third means and continuously assembling a fixed plurality of said representations as they are presented by the third means; fifth means connected to the fourth means for continuously attempting to decode the content of signal representations as assembled in the fourth means; sixth means connected to be responsive to successful decoding of a character by operation of the fifth means and further connected for detecting successful or unsuccessful decoding of several fixed pluralities of said representations as sequentially assembled by and in the fourth means; seventh means connected to assemble sequentially decoded characters, but eliminating the assembly in response to detection of an unsuccessful decoding by operation of the fifth and sixth means; and means connected for temporarily halting the operation of the first means only upon successful assembly of plural decoded characters by the seventh means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as in claim 12, and including means separately reponsive to a particular bar pattern at one end of the data field as represented by a particular combination of leading and trailing edges, as being in turn represented in the signal train prior to any characters decoding by operation of the fifth means, for rendering assembly by the seventh means dependent upon accuracy of the particular bar pattern.

Claim 20

Apparatus as in claim 12, and including means separately responsive to a particular bar pattern at one end Of the data field as represented by a particular combination of leading and trailing edges, as being in turn represented in the signal train subsequent to any character decoding by operation of the fifth means; absence of said bar pattern causing said seventh means to eliminated any assembled decoded characters.

Claim 21

Apparatus as in claim 12 and including means separately responsive to signals in the signal train representing particular bar pattern at beginning and end of the data field for rendering the assembly of decoded characters by the seventh means contingent upon detection of said bar patterns respectively ahead of and subsequent to successful decodings by the fifth means.