Abstract: A method and apparatus for omnidirectional reading of data fields is provided. Such data fields contain at least one data track containing contrasting printed indicia and a PIC pattern. The PIC pattern indicates the position and orientation of the data tracks. The data field appears at an image window which is scanned by an opto-electronic scanner operating in a point raster scan and individual raster point signals are generated which correspond to the light/dark values of the original image. The signals are stored as a corresponding image arranged in row and column form. A search raster then probes the stored image in a sequence of rows, but the rows of the search raster scan the stored image at a predetermined search angle relative to the rows of the stored image itself upon each pass of the search raster. The video signal produced by each pass of the search raster is examined for the presence or absence of the PIC pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for identifying objects, such as articles sold in a store, appearing in a random position and orientation and at random times on an image window. On a surface facing the image window, each object has an identification in the form of a field which comprises on at least one data track contrasting indicia with at least one contrasting line pattern identifying the position and the orientation of the data track. The track also includes a plurality of parallel lines with variable spacing and/or line widths. The image window is scanned line-by-line to generate a binary video signal which corresponds to the scanned contrast sequence.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for identifying objects (e.g. consumer products in a supermarket) appearing in random positions and orientations and for random times on an image window and having an identification on the surface facing the image window in the form of a data field having contrasting indicia in at least one data track. The data field is first scanned with a scanning raster until a product identification code is recognized denoting the position and orientation of the data track. The data track is then read with a closely-spaced reading raster and converted to a videosignal. The amplitude of the videosignal is coded into binary digits at discrete time points and the digits are stored in a memory matrix organized into columns and rows in such a manner that an image of the data track is stored in the memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for identifying objects appearing on an image window and bearing on a surface facing the window an identification in the form of a data field which includes at least one data track bearing contrasting symbols and a plurality of contrasting line patterns which identify the position and orientation of the data track. The window is optoelectronically scanned in a parallel line raster to generate a video signal which corresponds to the scanned contrast sequence appearing at the window. The contrasting line patterns are initially identified in a stationary detection raster and the angular inclination of the raster lines relative to the contrasting line pattern is determined.