US5329105A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for determining the width of elements of bar code symbols
Assignee: United Parcel Service of America Inc
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Filing: 1992-08-10
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Granted: 1994-07-12
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Expires: 2012-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A system for decoding a bar code symbol receives a signal representative of the symbol and searches the signal in one dimension to locate two adjacent critical points corresponding to an element of the symbol. The system also computes a value representative of the signal energy between the two critical points and determines the width of the element in accordance with the value.
Inventors
- 👤 Mihael Klancnik
- 👤 Luis Figarella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/1092; G06K7/1093; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/1439; G06K7/1443; G06K7/1456; G06K7/146; G06K7/1465; G06K7/1469
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for decoding a bar code symbol, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a signal representative of said symbol; (b) searching said signal in one dimension to locate two points corresponding to an element of said symbol; (c) computing a value representative of the signal energy between said two points; (d) determining the width of said element in accordance with said value ; and (e) determining at least one deviation associated with said element.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for decoding a bar code symbol, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a signal representative of said symbol; (b) searching said signal in one dimension to locate two points corresponding to an element of said symbol; (c) computing a value representative of the signal energy between said two points; (d) determining the width of said element in accordance with said value ; and (e) determining at least one deviation associated with said element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said value is representative of an area described by said signal between said two points.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal is a two-dimensional gray-scale pixel image generated by a CCD-array camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said two points correspond to two adjacent valleys in said signal and said element is a space in said symbol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said two points correspond to two adjacent peaks in said signal and said element is a bar in said symbol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said two points are two adjacent critical points.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for decoding a bar code symbol, comprising: (a) means for receiving a signal representative of said symbol; (b) means for searching said signal in one dimension to locate two points corresponding to an element of said symbol; (c) computing means for computing a value representative of the signal energy between said two points; (d) means for determining the width of said element in accordance with said value ; and (e) means for determining at least one deviation associated with said element.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for decoding a bar code symbol, comprising: (a) means for receiving a signal representative of said symbol; (b) means for searching said signal in one dimension to locate two points corresponding to an element of said symbol; (c) computing means for computing a value representative of the signal energy between said two points; (d) means for determining the width of said element in accordance with said value ; and (e) means for determining at least one deviation associated with said element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said value is representative of an area described by said signal between said two points.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said signal is a two-dimensional gray-scale pixel image generated by a CCD-array camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said two points correspond to two adjacent valleys in said signal and said element is a space in said symbol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said two points correspond to two adjacent peaks in said signal and said element is a bar in said symbol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said two points are two adjacent critical points.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for determining the width of an element of a bar code symbol, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a signal representative of the symbol; (b) searching said signal in one dimension to locate a first point within the immediately preceding element; (c) searching said signal in said one dimension to locate a second point within the immediately following element; (d) computing a value representative of the signal energy between said first and second points; and (e) determining the width of the element in accordance with said value.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for determining the width of an element of a bar code symbol, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a signal representative of the symbol; (b) searching said signal in one dimension to locate a first point within the immediately preceding element; (c) searching said signal in said one dimension to locate a second point within the immediately following element; (d) computing a value representative of the signal energy between said first and second points; and (e) determining the width of the element in accordance with said value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said value is representative of an area described by said signal between said first and second points.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said signal is a two-dimensional gray-scale pixel image generated by a CCD-array camera.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of determining at least one deviation associated with the element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said first point corresponds to a critical point within the immediately preceding element and said second point corresponds to a critical point within the immediately following element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said value is representative of an area described by said signal between said first and second points, said signal is a two-dimensional gray-scale pixel image generated by a CCD-array camera, and further comprising the step of determining at least one deviation associated with the element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said value is representative of an area described by said signal between said first and second points, said signal is a two-dimensional gray-scale pixel image generated by a CCD-array camera, and further comprising means for determining at least one deviation associated with the element.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for determining the width of an element of a bar code symbol, comprising: (a) means for receiving a signal representative of the symbol; (b) means for searching said signal in one dimension to locate a first point within the immediately preceding element and for searching said signal in said one dimension to locate a second point within the immediately following element; (c) means for computing a value representative of the signal energy between said first and second points; and (d) means for determining the width of the element in accordance with said value.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for determining the width of an element of a bar code symbol, comprising: (a) means for receiving a signal representative of the symbol; (b) means for searching said signal in one dimension to locate a first point within the immediately preceding element and for searching said signal in said one dimension to locate a second point within the immediately following element; (c) means for computing a value representative of the signal energy between said first and second points; and (d) means for determining the width of the element in accordance with said value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said value is representative of an area described by said signal between said first and second points.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said signal is a two-dimensional gray-scale pixel image generated by a CCD-array camera.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising means for determining at least one deviation associated with the element.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said first point corresponds to a critical point within the immediately preceding element and said second point corresponds to a critical point within the immediately following element.
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