Patent US6267293B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6267293B1
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Bar code scanning system and method
Assignee: Sick Auto Ident Inc
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Filing: 1999-02-22
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Granted: 2001-07-31
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Expires: 2019-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A bar code scanning system and method for scanning a bar code containing a key including successively scanning the bar code and providing, for each scan, a plurality of data elements forming a scan fragment for at least a portion of the bar code, identifying each fragment containing a portion of a reference key, detecting when there has been a match between a reference key and the identified key fragments, determining if a complete key has been constructed from the key fragments, calculating a displacement between the key fragments which constructed the complete key, and aligning data fragments of the bar code by placing each successive data fragment in alignment with the previous data fragment offset by the amount of the displacement.
Inventors
- 👤 John F. Dwinell
- 👤 Richard Lydon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:12
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A bar code scanning system for scanning a bar code containing a key comprising: a scanning device for successively scanning the bar code and providing, for each scan, a plurality of data elements forming a scan fragment for at least a portion of the bar code; a key detector, including a reference key, responsive to said scanning device, for identifying a fragment containing at least a portion of a key; a fragment matching device, responsive to said key detector, for aligning an identified key fragment with said reference key; a key comparator, responsive to said fragment matching device, for determining when a complete key has been constructed from said key fragments; a displacement calculator, responsive to the construction of said complete key, for calculating a displacement between the key fragments which constructed said complete key; and a data fragment aligner for aligning data fragments of the bar code by placing each successive data fragment in alignment with the previous data fragment offset by the amount of said displacement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A bar code scanning system for scanning a bar code containing a key comprising: a scanning device for successively scanning the bar code and providing, for each scan, a plurality of data elements forming a scan fragment for at least a portion of the bar code; a key detector, including a reference key, responsive to said scanning device, for identifying a fragment containing at least a portion of a key; a fragment matching device, responsive to said key detector, for aligning an identified key fragment with said reference key; a key comparator, responsive to said fragment matching device, for determining when a complete key has been constructed from said key fragments; a displacement calculator, responsive to the construction of said complete key, for calculating a displacement between the key fragments which constructed said complete key; and a data fragment aligner for aligning data fragments of the bar code by placing each successive data fragment in alignment with the previous data fragment offset by the amount of said displacement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 1 in which the bar code includes a plurality of bars and spaces and each said data element in said fragments is representative of one of said bar and said space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 2 in which said scanning device includes a laser scanner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 3 in which said laser scanner includes a laser source for generating a scanning beam, a multi-faceted mirror wheel for sweeping said scanning beam in a predetermined pattern across the object being scanned, and a radiation detector, responsive to said scanning beam reflected from the object being scanned, for generating said plurality of data elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 4 in which said predetermined pattern is an “X”.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 4 including a counter for determining the width of each said data element in each said fragment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 6 in which said counter includes a means for resetting said counter periodically during each said scanning beam sweep.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 7 in which said means for resetting resets said counter at the beginning of each said scanning beam sweep.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 7 in which said counter includes means for incrementing said counter as said scanning beam sweeps across the object being scanned.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 9 in which said counter includes means for storing the value of said counter at each transition between data elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 10 in which said counter includes means for subtracting the stored counter value of the previous transition from the stored counter value of the current transition to generate a data element width for each said data element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 11 in which said counter is a software routine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 1 in which said key detector includes means for storing said reference key where said reference key includes a plurality of data elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 13 in which said key detector includes means for comparing a portion of said data elements of a said fragment to said reference key to determine if corresponding data elements in said fragment and said reference key are compatible.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 14 in which said means for comparing includes means for defining compatible data elements to be data elements equivalent to within a specified tolerance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 15 in which said specified tolerance is ±15%.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 14 in which said means for comparing includes means for discarding said fragments when said portion of said data elements of said fragment are not compatible with said data elements of said reference key.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 17 in which said means for comparing is a software routine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 1 in which said fragment matching device includes means for aligning the data elements of a first key fragment with the data elements of said reference key and determining which data elements are compatible.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 19 in which the data elements of each subsequent key fragment after said first key fragment is aligned with the data elements of the reference key and are aligned and combined with each previous key fragment to form a complete key, as determined by said key comparator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 20 in which said displacement calculator includes offset means for determining the sum value of non-aligned data elements in said constructed key.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 21 in which said offset means is a software routine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
81 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 20 in which said data fragment aligner includes a means for offsetting each said data fragment a value equal to said displacement, relative to each said previous data fragment, to create a stitched bar code, where said means for offsetting continues offsetting subsequent data fragments a value equal to said displacement until all said subsequent data fragments are offset relative to the corresponding previously-scanned data fragment and superimposed upon the corresponding previously-scanned data fragment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 23 in which said means for offsetting is a software routine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 19 in which said means for aligning includes means for defining compatible data elements to be data elements equivalent to within a specified tolerance.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 25 in which said specified tolerance is ±15%.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 26 in which said means for aligning is a software routine.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 1 in which said reference key includes a start indicator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 1 in which said reference key includes a stop indicator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 1 in which said reference key includes both a start indicator and a stop indicator.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
131 words
A computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: scanning a bar code successively; providing, for each scan, a plurality of data elements forming a scan fragment for at least a portion of the bar code; identifying each said fragment containing a portion of a reference key; detecting when there has been a match between a reference key and said identified key fragments; determining if a complete key has been constructed from said key fragments; calculating a displacement between the key fragments which constructed said complete key; and aligning data fragments of the bar code by placing each successive data fragment in alignment with the previous data fragment offset by the amount of said displacement.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
131 words
A computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: scanning a bar code successively; providing, for each scan, a plurality of data elements forming a scan fragment for at least a portion of the bar code; identifying each said fragment containing a portion of a reference key; detecting when there has been a match between a reference key and said identified key fragments; determining if a complete key has been constructed from said key fragments; calculating a displacement between the key fragments which constructed said complete key; and aligning data fragments of the bar code by placing each successive data fragment in alignment with the previous data fragment offset by the amount of said displacement.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer readable medium of claim 31 in which said computer readable medium is a hard disk drive.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer readable medium of claim 31 in which said computer readable medium is a read-only memory.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer readable medium of claim 31 in which said computer readable medium is a random-access memory.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
116 words
A processor and memory configured to perform the steps of: scanning a bar code successively; providing, for each scan, a plurality of data elements forming a scan fragment for at least a portion of the bar code; identifying each said fragment containing a portion of a reference key; detecting when there has been a match between a reference key and said identified key fragments; determining if a complete key has been constructed from said key fragments; calculating a displacement between the key fragments which constructed said complete key; and aligning data fragments of the bar code by placing each successive data fragment in alignment with the previous data fragment offset by the amount of said displacement.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
116 words
A processor and memory configured to perform the steps of: scanning a bar code successively; providing, for each scan, a plurality of data elements forming a scan fragment for at least a portion of the bar code; identifying each said fragment containing a portion of a reference key; detecting when there has been a match between a reference key and said identified key fragments; determining if a complete key has been constructed from said key fragments; calculating a displacement between the key fragments which constructed said complete key; and aligning data fragments of the bar code by placing each successive data fragment in alignment with the previous data fragment offset by the amount of said displacement.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The processor and memory of claim 35 in which said processor and memory are incorporated into a personal computer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The processor and memory of claim 35 in which said processor and memory are incorporated into a programmable logic controller.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The processor and memory of claim 35 in which said processor and memory are incorporated into a single-board computer.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for assembling a bar code containing a reference key from a series of bar code fragments comprising the steps of: scanning a bar code successively; providing, for each scan, a plurality of data elements forming a scan fragment for at least a portion of the bar code; identifying each said fragment containing a portion of a key; detecting when there has been a match between said reference key and said identified key fragments; determining if a complete key has been constructed from said key fragments; calculating a displacement between the key fragments which constructed said complete key; and aligning data fragments of the bar code by placing each successive data fragment in alignment with the previous data fragment offset by the amount of said displacement.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for assembling a bar code containing a reference key from a series of bar code fragments comprising the steps of: scanning a bar code successively; providing, for each scan, a plurality of data elements forming a scan fragment for at least a portion of the bar code; identifying each said fragment containing a portion of a key; detecting when there has been a match between said reference key and said identified key fragments; determining if a complete key has been constructed from said key fragments; calculating a displacement between the key fragments which constructed said complete key; and aligning data fragments of the bar code by placing each successive data fragment in alignment with the previous data fragment offset by the amount of said displacement.
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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) | 2004-07-30 | 2005-01-29 | 2005-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-30 | 2009-01-29 | 2009-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-30 | 2013-01-29 | 2013-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |