Patent US4924078A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4924078A
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Identification symbol, system and method
Assignee: VCODE HOLDINGS Inc
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Filing: 1987-11-25
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Granted: 1990-05-08
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Expires: 2007-11-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a symbol 10 that includes a square array 12 of data cells 14 surrounded by a border 30 of orientation and timing data cells. The border 30 can be surrounded by an external data field 18 also including information data cells 20. The orientation and timing for sampling each data cell can be determined from the border 30 or from additional orientation and timing cells in the internal data field 12 or external data field 18. A system 40 and 42 is also included that captures an image of the symbol, determines symbol orientation, decodes the contents of the symbol and outputs the decoded contents to a display or other device. The present invention also includes a device 48 that can produce symbols on a substrate such as a label.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl Sant'Anselmo
- 👤 Robert Sant'Anselmo
- 👤 David C. Hooper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/1439; G06K7/1456; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06037; G06K2019/06215; G06K2019/06262
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
34 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a computer readable data matrix data field providing symbol information for uniquely identifying the symbol; and a computer readable orientation border positioned adjacent said field on at least two sides.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a computer readable data matrix data field providing symbol information for uniquely identifying the symbol; and a computer readable orientation border positioned adjacent said field on at least two sides.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A symbol as recited in claim 1, wherein said border further comprises a timing border for data capture timing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A symbol as recited in claim 1, wherein said orientation border surrounds said field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a square data matrix data field providing symbol information; and an orientation border positioned adjacent said field on at least two sides.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a square data matrix data field providing symbol information; and an orientation border positioned adjacent said field on at least two sides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a matrix data cell data field providing symbol information; and an orientation border positioned adjacent said field on at least two sides, said border comprising a width of a known number of data cells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a matrix data cell data field providing symbol information; and an orientation border positioned adjacent said field on at least two sides, said border comprising a width of a known number of data cells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a data matrix data field providing symbol information; an orientation border positioned adjacent said field on at least two sides; and a timing line of data cells adjacent said border.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a data matrix data field providing symbol information; an orientation border positioned adjacent said field on at least two sides; and a timing line of data cells adjacent said border.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A symbol as recited in claim 6, wherein said timing line is on two sides of said border.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A symbol as recited in claim 7, wherein said timing line is a different distance from the border on each side.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A symbol as recited in claim 6, wherein said timing line is on three sides of said border.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A symbol as recited in claim 9, wherein said timing line is a different distance from the border on each side.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A symbol as recited in claim 6, wherein said timing line surrounds said border.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A symbol as recited in claim 11, wherein said timing line is a different distance from the border on each line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a data field providing symbol information; a computer readable orientation border positioned adjacent said field at least two sides; and a timing cell in said field.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a data field providing symbol information; a computer readable orientation border positioned adjacent said field at least two sides; and a timing cell in said field.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a data matrix data field providing symbol information; an orientation border positioned adjacent said field on at least two sides; and a timing cell outside said border.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a data matrix data field providing symbol information; an orientation border positioned adjacent said field on at least two sides; and a timing cell outside said border.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a data matrix data field providing symbol information; an orientation border positioned adjacent said field on at least two sides; and an orientation cell outside said border.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a data matrix data field providing symbol information; an orientation border positioned adjacent said field on at least two sides; and an orientation cell outside said border.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A symbol as recited in claim 5, wherein said data cells are encoded using a gray scale.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A symbol as recited in claim 5, wherein said data cells are encoded using a color scale.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a substrate; an internal data matrix data field of information data cells representing first information and formed on said substrate; data cells for orientation and timing surrounding said internal data field and formed on said substrate; and an external data field of information data cells representing second information and formed on said substrate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
An identification symbol, comprising: a substrate; an internal data matrix data field of information data cells representing first information and formed on said substrate; data cells for orientation and timing surrounding said internal data field and formed on said substrate; and an external data field of information data cells representing second information and formed on said substrate.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
61 words
An apparatus, comprising: image capture means for obtaining image data representing an image field including a symbol comprising a rectilinear data matrix data field of information data cells and an orientation border surrounding the data field; and decoding means for processing the image data to identify the border, determine orientation and timing information from the border and sample the data cells.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
61 words
An apparatus, comprising: image capture means for obtaining image data representing an image field including a symbol comprising a rectilinear data matrix data field of information data cells and an orientation border surrounding the data field; and decoding means for processing the image data to identify the border, determine orientation and timing information from the border and sample the data cells.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
40 words
An apparatus, comprising: means for producing a symbol image of a symbol comprising a rectilinear data matrix data field of information data cells and an orientation border surrounding the data field; and means for forming the image on a substrate.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
40 words
An apparatus, comprising: means for producing a symbol image of a symbol comprising a rectilinear data matrix data field of information data cells and an orientation border surrounding the data field; and means for forming the image on a substrate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-07 | 1993-11-06 | 1994-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-07 | 1997-11-06 | 1998-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-07 | 2001-11-06 | 2002-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |