Abstract: There are disclosed various embodiments of records having characters which represent data and incorporate a printability gauge. The characters can be of a type which are human readable or they can be of a type which can be optically scanned by optical scanning equipment. Also disclosed are printing members having one or more printing elements for printing the above-mentioned characters.

Abstract: A novel record with alternate width modulated bars and spaces is decoded by comparing the width of each bar or space with a pair of reference values based on the product and quotient of a constant and the width of another bar or space to establish bit value. When the width value is greater or less than the reference value, the bit value is established. When the width values lie between the reference values, a state of equality is established which is resolved into a bit value by reference to the results of a prior or subsequent comparison. A system embodying the method includes storage means for storing width values, reference registers for establishing successive different sets of product and quotient reference values, and comparators controlled by the stored width and reference values for establishing the greater and less than and equality status conditions.

Abstract: A molded housing is formed by two opposing mating sections and includes a forward head portion projecting from a handle portion. The housing sections confine therebetween a lens barrel and a light source which have corresponding inclined axes converging toward the bottom surface of a generally V-shaped tip member projecting downwardly from the forward end of the housing. The housing sections also confine therebetween a printed circuit board forming part of an electronic amplifier for a photosensing unit supported within the lens barrel. The lens barrel and light source cooperate with the tip member so that tilting of the housing within limits does not effect accurate reading of a code during scanning. The housing is lined with a layer of metal to shield the amplifier from external electrical interference, and the lens barrel casing may be molded as an integral part of the housing sections.

Abstract: A machine-readable record or label includes alternating areas of different reflectivity providing a binary coded data record. The record is made by selecting the widths of the areas such that an increase in the relative widths of any two consecutive areas of different characteristics represents a binary "1" and a decrease in the relative widths of any two consecutive areas represents a binary "0". Thus, each area in the part of the code is used in the establishment of the values of two different binary bits. A method of and a system for reading or interpreting the record or label includes a pair of light reader controlled registers in which are alternately stored the widths of consecutive areas. A comparator coupled to the registers determines whether each newly stored width is greater than or less than the width of the previously stored area.

Abstract: A bar code is constructed from individual characters that are laid out along a first straight line. Each character is formed by a series of bars and spaces that are parallel to the first straight line and that are laid out along a second straight line which is perpendicular to the first straight line and which passes through the center of the character. The resulting bar code is scanned manually by an operator who propels a hand-held scanner across the bar code in a direction parallel to the first straight line. The hand-held scanner contains a linear photodetector array mounted opposite optical elements in such a manner that a line image of a bar code character roughly perpendicular to the first straight line is projected upon the linear array as the stylus passes over a character.