US5777310A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Problem reduction with low level information integration in bar code decoding
Assignee: Intermec IP Corp
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Filing: 1995-11-06
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Granted: 1998-07-07
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Expires: 2015-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A bar code imaging system capable of accurately and efficiently reading a printed bar code that is partially damaged, distorted, or erased. The bar code imaging system comprises an imaging element adapted to receive light reflected from a bar code symbol and provide a two-dimensional image of the bar code symbol. The two-dimensional image is decoded into data representative of the bar code symbol. More particularly, code words in the bar code pattern are decoded along a path beginning at the start of the bar code and moving toward the end of the bar code. As each code word is decoded, the decoded data is stored in a memory. When an invalid code word is encountered, decoding continues along a path beginning at the end of the bar code and moving toward the beginning of the bar code, and the decoded data is stored in the memory with the previously decoded data. When an invalid code word is encountered, the scan path is moved, and decoding continues along the new scan path beginning at the last valid code word decoded while moving toward the end of the bar code.
Inventors
- 👤 Lingnan Liu
- 👤 Mark Yukio Shimizu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/146; G06K7/1465
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for processing data representing a bar code comprising the steps of: sampling and validating along a first scan line groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; and beginning at a point associated with a last valid one of said groups, sampling and validating along a second scan line remaining ones of said groups of elements comprising said bar code without repeating sampling and validating of said groups of elements already determined to be valid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for processing data representing a bar code comprising the steps of: sampling and validating along a first scan line groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; and beginning at a point associated with a last valid one of said groups, sampling and validating along a second scan line remaining ones of said groups of elements comprising said bar code without repeating sampling and validating of said groups of elements already determined to be valid.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for processing data representing a bar code comprising the steps of: sampling and validating along a first scan line groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; and beginning at a point associated with a last valid one of said groups, sampling and validating along a second scan line remaining ones of said groups of elements comprising said bar code. wherein said point associated with a last valid group is located along an outermost boundary of an element of said last valid group at least a predetermined distance from an intersection of said first scan line and said boundary.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for processing data representing a bar code comprising the steps of: sampling and validating along a first scan line groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; and beginning at a point associated with a last valid one of said groups, sampling and validating along a second scan line remaining ones of said groups of elements comprising said bar code. wherein said point associated with a last valid group is located along an outermost boundary of an element of said last valid group at least a predetermined distance from an intersection of said first scan line and said boundary.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of finding a start point and end point on said bar code, wherein said first scan line passes through said start point and said end point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of finding a start point and a scan direction, wherein said first scan line passes through said start point in the direction of said scan direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: storing validated data sampled along said first scan line; discarding invalid data sampled along said first scan line; and storing validated data sampled along said second scan line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A program storage media readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for processing data representing a bar code, said method steps comprising: sampling and validating along a first scan line groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; and beginning at a point associated with a last valid one of said groups, sampling and validating along a second scan line remaining ones of said groups of elements comprising said bar code without repeating sampling and validating of said croups of elements already determined to be valid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
A program storage media readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for processing data representing a bar code, said method steps comprising: sampling and validating along a first scan line groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; and beginning at a point associated with a last valid one of said groups, sampling and validating along a second scan line remaining ones of said groups of elements comprising said bar code without repeating sampling and validating of said croups of elements already determined to be valid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
A program storage media readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for processing data representing a bar code, said method steps comprising: sampling and validating along a first scan line groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; and beginning at a point associated with a last valid one of said groups, sampling and validating along a second scan line remaining ones of said groups of elements comprising said bar code, wherein said point associated with a last valid group is located along an outermost boundary of an element of said last valid group at least a predetermined distance from an intersection of said first scan line and said boundary.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
127 words
A program storage media readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for processing data representing a bar code, said method steps comprising: sampling and validating along a first scan line groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; and beginning at a point associated with a last valid one of said groups, sampling and validating along a second scan line remaining ones of said groups of elements comprising said bar code, wherein said point associated with a last valid group is located along an outermost boundary of an element of said last valid group at least a predetermined distance from an intersection of said first scan line and said boundary.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The storage media of claim 6 wherein said method steps further comprise finding a start point and end point on said bar code, wherein said first scan line passes through said start point and said end point.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The storage media of claim 6 wherein said method steps further comprise finding a start point and a scan direction, wherein said first scan line passes through said start point in the direction of said scan direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The storage media of claim 6 wherein said method steps further comprise: storing validated data sampled along said first scan line; discarding invalid data sampled along said first scan line; and storing validated data sampled along said second scan line.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
85 words
A device for processing data representing a bar code comprising: means for sampling and validating along a first scan line groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; and means for, beginning at a point associated with a valid last one of said groups, sampling and validating along a second scan line remaining ones of said groups of elements comprising said bar code without repeating sampling and validating of said groups of elements already determined to be valid.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
85 words
A device for processing data representing a bar code comprising: means for sampling and validating along a first scan line groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; and means for, beginning at a point associated with a valid last one of said groups, sampling and validating along a second scan line remaining ones of said groups of elements comprising said bar code without repeating sampling and validating of said groups of elements already determined to be valid.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
109 words
A device for processing data representing a bar code comprising; means for sampling and validating along a first scan line groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate: and means for, beginning at a point associated with a valid last one of said groups, sampling and validating along a second scan line remaining ones of said groups of elements comprising said bar code, wherein said point associated with a last valid group is located along an outermost boundary of an element of said last valid group at least a predetermined distance from an intersection of said first scan line and said boundary.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
109 words
A device for processing data representing a bar code comprising; means for sampling and validating along a first scan line groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate: and means for, beginning at a point associated with a valid last one of said groups, sampling and validating along a second scan line remaining ones of said groups of elements comprising said bar code, wherein said point associated with a last valid group is located along an outermost boundary of an element of said last valid group at least a predetermined distance from an intersection of said first scan line and said boundary.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 11 further comprising means for finding a start point and end point on said bar code, wherein said first scan line passes through said start point and said end point.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 11 further comprising means for finding a start point and a scan direction, wherein said first scan line passes through said start point in the direction of said scan direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 11 further comprising: means for storing validated data sampled along said first scan line; means for discarding invalid data sampled along said first scan line; and means for storing validated data sampled along said second scan line.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for processing data representing a bar code comprising the steps of: finding a start point and end point on said bar code, said start point and end point defining a first scan line; beginning at said start point, sampling and validating along said first scan line in a direction of said end point groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; beginning at said end point, sampling and validating along said first scan line in a direction of said start point said groups of elements comprising said bar code until another of said groups fails to validate; and sampling and validating alone a second scan line said ones of said groups of elements that failed to validate during said sampling and validating along said first scan line without repeating sampling and validating of said groups of elements already determined to be valid.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for processing data representing a bar code comprising the steps of: finding a start point and end point on said bar code, said start point and end point defining a first scan line; beginning at said start point, sampling and validating along said first scan line in a direction of said end point groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; beginning at said end point, sampling and validating along said first scan line in a direction of said start point said groups of elements comprising said bar code until another of said groups fails to validate; and sampling and validating alone a second scan line said ones of said groups of elements that failed to validate during said sampling and validating along said first scan line without repeating sampling and validating of said groups of elements already determined to be valid.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for processing data representing a bar code comprising the steps of: finding a start point and end point on said bar code, said start point and end point defining a first scan line; beginning at said start point, sampling and validating along said first scan line in a direction of said end point groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; beginning at said end point, sampling and validating along said first scan line in a direction of said start point said groups of elements comprising said bar code until another of said groups fails to validate; finding a new start point, wherein said new start point is associated with a first valid group, said first valid group being a last valid group sampled along said first scan line in the direction of said end point; finding a new end point, wherein said new end point is associated with a second valid group, said second valid group being a last valid group sampled along said first scan line in the direction of said start point; and beginning at said new start point, sampling and validating along a second scan line in a direction of said new end point said groups of elements comprising said bar code, said second scan line being defined by said new start point and said new end point.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for processing data representing a bar code comprising the steps of: finding a start point and end point on said bar code, said start point and end point defining a first scan line; beginning at said start point, sampling and validating along said first scan line in a direction of said end point groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; beginning at said end point, sampling and validating along said first scan line in a direction of said start point said groups of elements comprising said bar code until another of said groups fails to validate; finding a new start point, wherein said new start point is associated with a first valid group, said first valid group being a last valid group sampled along said first scan line in the direction of said end point; finding a new end point, wherein said new end point is associated with a second valid group, said second valid group being a last valid group sampled along said first scan line in the direction of said start point; and beginning at said new start point, sampling and validating along a second scan line in a direction of said new end point said groups of elements comprising said bar code, said second scan line being defined by said new start point and said new end point.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for processing data representing a bar code comprising the steps of: finding a start point and end point on said bar code, said start point and end point defining a first scan line; beginning at said start point, sampling and validating along said first scan line in a direction of said end point groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; beginning at said end point, sampling and validating along said first scan line in a direction of said start point said groups of elements comprising said bar code until another of said groups fails to validate; finding a new start point, wherein said new start point is associated with a first valid group, said first valid group being a last valid group sampled along said first scan line in the direction of said end point; finding a new end point, wherein said new end point is associated with a second valid group, said second valid group being a last, valid group sampled along said first scan line in the direction of said start point; and beginning at said new end point, sampling and validating along a second scan line in a direction of said new start point said groups of elements comprising said bar code, said second scan line being defined by said new start point and said new end point.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for processing data representing a bar code comprising the steps of: finding a start point and end point on said bar code, said start point and end point defining a first scan line; beginning at said start point, sampling and validating along said first scan line in a direction of said end point groups of elements comprising said bar code until one of said groups fails to validate; beginning at said end point, sampling and validating along said first scan line in a direction of said start point said groups of elements comprising said bar code until another of said groups fails to validate; finding a new start point, wherein said new start point is associated with a first valid group, said first valid group being a last valid group sampled along said first scan line in the direction of said end point; finding a new end point, wherein said new end point is associated with a second valid group, said second valid group being a last, valid group sampled along said first scan line in the direction of said start point; and beginning at said new end point, sampling and validating along a second scan line in a direction of said new start point said groups of elements comprising said bar code, said second scan line being defined by said new start point and said new end point.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said new start point is located along an outermost boundary of an element of said first valid group at least a first predetermined distance from an intersection of said first scan line and said boundary of said element of said first valid group.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said new end point is located along an outermost boundary of an element of said second valid group at least a second predetermined distance from an intersection of said first scan line and said boundary of said element of said second valid group.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said first predetermined distance is equal to said second predetermined distance.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said first predetermined distance is less than said second predetermined distance.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of capturing a two-dimensional image of said bar code, and wherein said first scan line and said second scan line pass through at least aportion of said two-dimensional image.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
45 words
The program storage media of claim 6, wherein said method steps further comprise the step of receiving a two-dimensional image of said bar code, and wherein said first scan line and said second scah line pass through at least a portion of said two-dimensional image.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 11 further comprising means for capturing a two-dimensional image of said bar code, and wherein said first scan line and said second scan line pass through at least a portion of said two-dimensional image.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of capturing a two-dimensional image of said bar code, and wherein said first scan line and said second scan line pass through at least a portion of said two-dimensional image.
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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) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |