US5153418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple resolution machine readable symbols
Assignee: Omniplanar Inc
•
Filing: 1990-10-30
•
Granted: 1992-10-06
•
Expires: 2010-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A multiple resolution optically encoded label is readable at two more optical resolutions, and is able to store two or more respective channels of optically encoded information. Low resolution information is encoded in a plurality of large cells arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern. Each of the large cells includes a plurality of smaller cells for storing high resolution information. Method and apparatus are disclosed for encoding both high resolution data, and low resolution data, as well as for finding and reading both high resolution and low resolution data.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric P. Batterman
- 👤 Donald G. Chandler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06046; G06K19/06056; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/1093; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/1408; G06K7/1417; G06K7/1439; G06K7/1443
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
In a system including an optical label reader, said optical label reader conveying message information to a utilization device, said message information comprising a plurality of message information data bits, an optically encoded label comprising: a first plurality of information encoded data cells encoding said plurality of message information data bits, for conveying said message information to said utilization device, the optical property of each of said first plurality of information encoded data cells determined by said data bits of said conveyed message information; and a second plurality of information encoded data cells, at least partially superimposed with said first plurality of information encoded data cells, and encoding information independent of said first plurality of information encoded data cells, wherein each of said second plurality of information encoded data cells is smaller than each of said first plurality of information encoded data cells.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a system including an optical label reader, said optical label reader conveying message information to a utilization device, said message information comprising a plurality of message information data bits, an optically encoded label comprising: a first plurality of information encoded data cells encoding said plurality of message information data bits, for conveying said message information to said utilization device, the optical property of each of said first plurality of information encoded data cells determined by said data bits of said conveyed message information; and a second plurality of information encoded data cells, at least partially superimposed with said first plurality of information encoded data cells, and encoding information independent of said first plurality of information encoded data cells, wherein each of said second plurality of information encoded data cells is smaller than each of said first plurality of information encoded data cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optically encoded label in accordance with claim 1, wherein the position of said second information encoded data cells in relation to said first information encoded data cells represents the data encoded by said second information encoded data cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optically encoded label in accordance with claim 1, wherein the number of said second information encoded data cells within said first information encoded data cells represents the data encoded by said second plurality of information encoded data cells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optically encoded label in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shape of said second information encoded data cells represents the data encoded by said second information encoded data cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optically encoded label in accordance with claim 1, wherein the orientation of said second information encoded data cells represents the data encoded by said second information encoded data cells.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An optically encoded label in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reflective optical property of said second information encoded data cells represents the data encoded by said second information encoded data cells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optically encoded label in accordance with claim 1, wherein the size of said second information encoded data cells represents the data encoded by said second information encoded data cells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
An optically encoded label comprising: a plurality of hexagonal first data cells, wherein each of said first hexagonal data cells is readable at a first optical scanning resolution; and a plurality of hexagonal second data cells, wherein each of said hexagonal second data cells is readable at a second optical scanning resolution, wherein said second optical scanning resolution is greater than said first optical scanning resolution, wherein each of said hexagonal second data cells is smaller than each of said hexagonal first data cells, and each of said hexagonal first data cells contains at least two hexagonal second data cells, each of said second hexagonal data cells placed in one of seven possible positions within each said hexagonal first data cell, said two hexagonal second data cells being of a different optical property than said hexagonal first data cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
An optically encoded label comprising: a plurality of hexagonal first data cells, wherein each of said first hexagonal data cells is readable at a first optical scanning resolution; and a plurality of hexagonal second data cells, wherein each of said hexagonal second data cells is readable at a second optical scanning resolution, wherein said second optical scanning resolution is greater than said first optical scanning resolution, wherein each of said hexagonal second data cells is smaller than each of said hexagonal first data cells, and each of said hexagonal first data cells contains at least two hexagonal second data cells, each of said second hexagonal data cells placed in one of seven possible positions within each said hexagonal first data cell, said two hexagonal second data cells being of a different optical property than said hexagonal first data cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
160 words
An optically encoded label for conveying message information comprising a plurality of message information data bits, said label comprising: a first plurality of first information encoded polygonal cells, wherein each of said first information encoded polygonal cells is readable at a first optical scanning resolution wherein said first plurality of first information encoded polygonal cells encodes said plurality of message information data bits, and each of said first information encoded polygonal cells encodes at least one bit of information; and a second plurality of second information encoded cells at least partially superimposed with said first plurality of first polygonal cells and encoding information independent of said first information encoded polygonal cells, wherein each of said second information encoded cells is readable at a second optical scanning resolution, wherein said second optical scanning resolution is greater than said first optical scanning resolution, wherein each of said second information encoded cells is smaller than each of said first information encoded polygonal cells.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
160 words
An optically encoded label for conveying message information comprising a plurality of message information data bits, said label comprising: a first plurality of first information encoded polygonal cells, wherein each of said first information encoded polygonal cells is readable at a first optical scanning resolution wherein said first plurality of first information encoded polygonal cells encodes said plurality of message information data bits, and each of said first information encoded polygonal cells encodes at least one bit of information; and a second plurality of second information encoded cells at least partially superimposed with said first plurality of first polygonal cells and encoding information independent of said first information encoded polygonal cells, wherein each of said second information encoded cells is readable at a second optical scanning resolution, wherein said second optical scanning resolution is greater than said first optical scanning resolution, wherein each of said second information encoded cells is smaller than each of said first information encoded polygonal cells.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optically encoded label in accordance with claim 9, wherein the position of said second information encoded cells within said first information encoded polygonal cell represents the information encoded by said second information encoded cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optically encoded label in accordance with claim 9, wherein the number of said second information encoded cells within said first information encoded polygonal cell represents the information encoded by each of said plurality of second information encoded cells.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optically encoded label in accordance with claim 9, wherein the shape of said second information encoded cells represents the information encoded by said second information encoded cells.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optically encoded label in accordance with claim 9, wherein the orientation of said second information encoded cells represents the information encoded by said second information encoded cells.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optically encoded label in accordance with claim 9, wherein the reflective optical properties of said second information encoded cells represents the information encoded by said second information encoded cells.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optically encoded label in accordance with claim 9, wherein the size of said second information encoded cells represents the information encoded by said second information encoded cells.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3453419A
Cited
US3544771A
Cited
US3553438A
Cited
US3776454A
Cited
US3971917A
Cited
US3916160A
Cited
US3898434A
Cited
US3959631A
Cited
US4286146A
Cited
US4263504A
Cited
US4476382A
Cited
US4439762A
Cited
US4579370A
Cited
US4488679A
Cited
US4814594A
Cited
US4654718A
Cited
US4641347A
Cited
US4660221A
Cited
US4641346A
Cited
US4634850A
Cited
US4864618A
Cited
US4944023A
Cited
JPS63298589A
Cited
JPS6453286A
Cited
US4924521A
Cited
JPH01195588A
Cited
US4874936A
Cited
US4896029A
Cited
US4998010A
Cited
US4939354A
Cited
US4926035A
Cited
US4972497A
Cited
US4949381A
Cited
US4958064A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-10-06 | 1996-04-06 | 1996-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-06 | 2000-04-06 | 2000-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-06 | 2004-04-06 | 2004-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |