Abstract: A system and related techniques provide a platform for encoding high density geometric symbol sets, for example a triangular barcode-type of encoding which may be used to encode drivers' licenses, biometric IDs, passports, or other transaction or identification media. According to embodiments of the invention in one regard, an inkjet, laser or other printer or output device may imprint a paper, plastic or other media with geometric symbols such as triangles in a defined array, to represent, for instance, name, address, or other identifying information, for instance such as digital facial photographs, iris or retinal scans, fingerprints, signatures, or other information. The geometric symbols may in one regard be arranged in a staggered format, separated in embodiments by a white space that may serve to reduce aliasing effects and other distortions.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention includes a first image reading unit configured to read an image from an object to be read by visible light, a second image reading unit configured to read an image from the object to be read by invisible light, a first detection unit configured to detect a background image from a first read image read by the first image reading unit, a registration unit configured to register feature information indicative of a feature of the background image detected by the first detection unit, and a second detection unit configured to detect an image indicative of code information from a second read image read by the second image reading unit on the basis of the feature information registered in the registration unit.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method, a manual device, a handheld manual device, a handheld writing device, a system, and an apparatus. An embodiment provides an apparatus. The apparatus includes a writing element having a first portion operable to discharge a first marking substance on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element over the surface and a second portion operable to discharge a second marking substance on the surface in response to a controller. The apparatus also includes the controller operable to encode information corresponding to a context of the apparatus by regulating the discharge of the second marking substance.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a method, and a device A device includes a writing element operable to form a mark on a surface corresponding to a movement of the writing element over the surface. The device also includes a controller operable to digitally encode information in the mark.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method, a manual device, a handheld manual device, a handheld writing device, a system, and an apparatus. An embodiment provides a manual device operable in a context. The manual device includes a writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface. The manual device also includes a controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the manual device by regulating the formation of the mark.

Abstract: In an imaging reader for reading a coded symbol located in a range of working distances from the reader, a solid-state imager captures light from the symbol over a field of view, and a controller automatically determines whether an image of the symbol is located entirely within the field of view of the imager, and processes the symbol only when the symbol image is located entirely within the field of view of the imager.

Abstract: A permanent invisible magnetic marking and positioning system of unfinished ferrous rods, bars, workpieces, and the like. A midpoint, center or other point of the workpiece is automatically located and a high-energy pulse is applied for installing an embedded magnetic marker. The magnetizing heads can also be repositioned to various points on a workpiece for imparting digital manufacturing and product identification in a data strobe pulse, that is analogous to a picket fence, where each picket provides a weighted binary representation in a data array comprised of data cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer program product for obtaining the location of, for example, a mobile device. An image of a target in a defined space is obtained, the target encoding data from which its location in the defined space may be determined. The position of a reference point in the image which represents the location of, for example, a mobile device, is determined relative to the target. The location of the mobile device in the defined paces is then determined by combining the location of the target in the defined space with an appropriately scaled version of the relative position of the reference point to the target in the image.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for barcode decoding. The method comprises receiving an input signal corresponding to a reflection of light from a bar code. The input signal is divided into a predetermined number of segments. Each segment includes a plurality of samples. Each of the segments is represented using at least one of the samples therefrom. At least one sample from each segment is analyzed to determine a location the bar code within the input signal.

Abstract: A solid-state imager in a reader for electro-optically reading indicia located in a range of working distances includes an array of image sensors for capturing light from the indicia over a field of view during the reading. The range of working distances in which the indicia are read is varied, either automatically or manually.

Abstract: An application for generating a printable barcode object representing data from within a software application includes converting the data into a symbol string based on a barcode standard and assembling a plurality of block code characters from a font into the printable barcode object. The block code characters representing the symbol string are any two or more Unicode characters selected from the group consisting of 960010, 960410, 960810, 961210, 961610, 961710 and 3210.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for optimizing scanner performance. The method comprises obtaining a digitized representation of a bar code, estimating a set of parameters from the digitized representation, adjusting a scan angle as a function of at least one parameter in the set of parameters.

Abstract: A printing device has a print head which operates according to the inkjet principle and a control device which actuates the print head for producing a two-dimensional barcode. The barcode contains a matrix composed of a plurality of image fields. The barcode contains at least one first image field which is printed with a plurality of image points by the print head and at least one second image field which is substantially unprinted. The control device is configured for converting barcode data which define the position and size of the image fields into actuating signals for the print head. The control device is configured for converting the barcode data into actuating signals for the print head in such a way that at least one first image field is printed with a lower number of image points than corresponds to the barcode data.

Abstract: After binarization is performed, the adjacency relationship of connection fields is analyzed from a labeled input image on the basis of the characteristics of the structure of a barcode, thereby extracting a barcode field. A unit width, which is to be used as the module width of the barcode, is determined in accordance with the widths of the connection fields of black pixels in the extracted barcode field. Based on the arrangement of the magnification of the unit width, the barcode is recognized by collating a prescribed barcode pattern with the input width pattern. In the aforementioned collation, the influence of noises, for example, can be reduced by setting an allowable range for the collation of the widths in each magnification, and the barcode can be recognized in an improved precision even in a low-resolution image photographed using a small image sensor built in a mobile terminal.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for automatic data collection. An automatic data collection system includes an image capture subsystem and a processor subsystem. The automatic data collection system is operable to decode machine-readable symbols in a machine-readable symbol reading mode, and to automatically switch from a machine-readable symbol reading mode to an optical character recognition mode in response to information encoded in a machine-readable symbol. In some embodiments, the automatic data collection system is further operable to perform optical character recognition on human-readable symbols in a human-readable symbol reading mode.

Abstract: A bar code scanner includes a self-mixing laser sensor. A frequency of the signal output by that sensor is used to determine scanner velocity relative to the bar code, and an amplitude of that signal is used to determine color of bar code bands. Using velocity and amplitude data collected at multiple times during a scan of the bar code, the widths of the bands are calculated. An imaging scanner includes a laser velocimeter that generates velocity data. Using that velocity data, relative displacement between image frames is determined.

Abstract: A test chart for printing black bars and white bars of a barcode, each of which has one of multiple different numbers of dots-in-width, is printed on a printing device on which barcodes are printed. In image data on the test chart, the space between neighboring black bars on the test chart is used as a white bar. The widths of black bars and white bars of a barcode are measured based on the image of the printed test chart. Based on this measurement result, the numbers of dots-in-width of black bars and white bars to be set at a printing time are calculated as barcode correction values so that the black bar widths and white bar widths of a printed barcode meet predetermined sizes. This configuration generates barcode configuration information, or barcodes, that satisfy individual user's use condition, quickly and with the minimal use of paper and ink.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first detecting unit and a second detecting unit. The first detecting unit detects a leading end portion of an information image based on a first criterion and a ratio of a width of a certain white image area in the information image to a width of a black image area being detected prior to the certain white image area. The second detecting unit takes one of the black image areas and white image areas as an image area of interest and detects a portion, other than the leading end portion, of the information image based on a second criterion and at least one of ratios of a width of the image area of interest to widths of black and white image areas being detected prior to the image area of interest.

Abstract: Described is a method of locating a predetermined pattern. An image is divided into a predetermined number of areas. A search sequence indicative of an order in which the areas are to be analyzed for the predetermined pattern is determined. The areas in the search sequence are analyzed until either a predetermined time elapses or the predetermined pattern is detected. When the predetermined time has elapsed before the predetermined pattern is detected, a further image is obtained. Then, areas remaining in the sequence are analyzed in the further image beginning with an area to be analyzed immediately after a last analyzed area of the image until either the predetermined time elapses or the predetermined pattern is detected in one of the remaining areas.

Abstract: In one embodiment, barcode widths and barcode space widths are estimated using a first light source separated by a known distance from a second light source. The estimations are determined by scanning the first and second light sources over a barcode while detecting a corresponding first reflected light beam and a second reflected light beam from the scanned barcode; processing the first reflected light beam to determine first barcode edge detections; processing the second reflected light beam to determine second barcode edge detections; estimating a first acceleration for the scanning; estimating a second acceleration for the scanning, wherein the second acceleration is substantially orthogonal to the first acceleration; deriving an overall velocity for the scanning by integrating the first and second accelerations; and comparing the first edge detections to the second edge detections using the overall velocity to derive the barcode widths and spaces.

Abstract: A two-dimensional code has an external shape which can be distinguished from the background by brightness or color, with an interior region, positioned a predetermined spacing away from the perimeter thereof, being divided into a plurality of smaller areas of a predetermined size, and information being represented by the brightness or color of each of the divided regions, wherein the size of each of the areas is greater than approximately twice the size of the spacing. This solves the problem that the outer square shape of two-dimensional code can be recognized but the inner bits cannot be read out with certainty.

Abstract: A plurality of bar-code candidate areas are calculated from scan data that is acquired by scanning a bar code. Feature data, which represents a specific feature, is calculated for each of the bar-code candidate areas. The bar-code candidate areas are evaluated based on their feature data to thereby determine a bar-code candidate area that has the highest probability of being a bar code. The specific feature includes any one or more of length of a differential waveform, average energy, and number of peaks in the differential waveform.

Abstract: A barcode sensor package has an optical emitter circuit and an optical detector circuit which are formed as one or more integrated optical circuits disposed in a housing which has a reading surface and one or more apertures located between the optical emitter and detector circuits. The optical emitter circuit has an emitter die, such as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), for emitting a light beam and a diffraction optical element disposed on the emitter die for focusing the light beam to a bar code. The optical detector circuit has a photodetector die, such as a phototransistor, for detecting reflective light and another diffraction optical element disposed on the photodetector die for guiding light reflected from the bar code to the detector. The diffraction optical elements are fabricated by patterning optical layers, deposited on respective emitter and detector dies, using photolithograph or a direct write process.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system and method for modifying bars for applying to a non-flat, or irregular surface. A bar code symbol is created for and read from a non-flat or irregular surface by compensating for distortions caused by the non-flat or irregular surface.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for bar code detection. The method comprises generating a digitized bar pattern (DBP) including a series of elements corresponding to elements of a scanned bar code, and identifying a first set of margins around a first portion of the series of elements. When an attempt to decode the first portion is unsuccessful, the first portion is analyzed to determine a second set of margins around a second portion of the series of elements, the second set of margins being within the first set of margins, and the second portion is input to a decoding algorithm.

Abstract: An optically variable device (OVD) is provided that includes a barcode rendered from a three-dimensional barcode. To increase the readability of the barcode rendered in the OVD, the bars of the three-dimensional barcode may have tapered sidewalls and depths that are small compared to their heights and widths. The barcode may be rendered in the OVD such that it is viewable only at certain angles or using certain wavelengths of light. Also provided is a barcode of multiple portions where a portion is rendered in an OVD and another portion is otherwise provided (e.g., printed). Such a barcode may have portions that are readable as independent barcodes and are also readable together as a single, compound barcode. Also provided is a method where a plurality of OVDs with unique images are associated with products, e.g., packaged together, so that receipt of a package of products with non-unique images indicates counterfeiting.

Abstract: A barcode on a material includes at least one line having a length and a width. The line may be formed by markings on the material, and the markings may form a first row and a second row. The first row may be adjacent to the second row. The markings also forming a first column and a second column, with the first column being adjacent to the second column. The markings of the first row are offset from the markings of the second row.

Abstract: Systems process an input signal, derived from a binary optical code, having a series of multiple successive local peaks of the same given polarity. The circuit comprises a peak detector, a node in the peak detector, and a set-reset flip-flop. The peak detector has an input receiving the input signal and produces an output that approximately tracks the input signal while it is sloping in the direction of the given polarity and that approximately holds near those local peaks having successively larger magnitude. A node in the peak detector has a voltage indicative of whether the peak detector is in a tracking or holding state. The set-reset flip-flop has a set input connected to the node, whereby the output of the flip-flop is high when the peak detector is in a tracking state. The circuit is useful for qualifying optical edges in a bar code.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to decoding encoded barcode information from a camera-captured image by generating a binarized sequence from the camera-captured image and decoding the encoded barcode information from the binarized sequence. The camera-captured image is transformed into a preprocessed grayscale image, reducing noise and enhancing contrast between bars and spaces in the preprocessed image. A barcode orientation is identified that is parallel to bars in the preprocessed image. A projected sequence is generated by projecting pixels of the preprocessed image along the barcode orientation. The binarized sequence is generated by applying a threshold to detected peaks and valleys of the projected sequence. A barcode-encoding sequence is generated, from the binarized sequence, in which each barcode bar module and each barcode space module is represented by a single respective bit in the barcode-encoding sequence. The barcode encoded information is extracted from the barcode-encoding sequence.

Abstract: A tag-based user interface scheme for digitizing and processing hardcopy documents utilizes a sticker that includes a printed data code representative of a user identity code and a service code. When the sticker is applied to a hardcopy document and scanned, the sticker is located, the data code is parsed, and a desired service is performed based upon the information stored in the data code.

Abstract: Processing an analog electrical signal containing information representative of reflected light from indicia including regions of different light reflectivity, wherein the analog electrical signal contains edge transitions corresponding to boundaries between adjoining regions of different light reflectivity of the indicia. The edge transitions of at least a part of the analog electrical signal are analyzed to determine a level of blur in that part of the electrical signal. Based on the determined level of blur, one of a plurality of different techniques is selected for processing that part of the electrical signal to produce a digitized electrical signal in which transitions in the digital level of the signal correspond to boundaries between adjoining regions of different light reflectivity of the indicia.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus described herein form barcode characters by determining a number of pixels associated with forming a first bar and a second bar of a first barcode character. A separation width value associated with the first bar and the second bar is determined based on the number of pixels. A second separation width value is then generated based on the at least one separation width value. A barcode character is then formed based on the second separation width value.

Abstract: The influence of speckle noise in degrading performance of a reader for electro-optically reading a multiple element symbol is reduced by constructing wavelets for each element width, correlating each wavelet with a differentiated signal derived from light scattered from the symbol to obtain a correlated signal having peaks, each peak corresponding to a middle of a respective element, and processing the peaks to decode the symbol. Edge detection of the elements, which is susceptible to speckle noise degradation, is not used for decoding.

Abstract: A signal obtained by optically scanning a bar code is subjected to differentiation to obtain differential data. Peak-to-peak distances are calculated from the differential data. When a peak-to-peak ?Tx distance is y times of a basic width, frequency f(x,y) will be, f(x,y)=y/?Tx. A frequency map is prepared from the frequencies calculated. Transition routes in which one frequency each is selected. from each of the peak-to-peak distances, are formed. A transition route for which an error in frequencies is the least is taken as the most suitable transition route. An average of the frequencies included in the transition route is taken as a frequency f0 of the basic width.

Abstract: An extractor extracts a part that is apparently a bar-code signal from a signal that is subjected to opto-electric conversion. A narrow-band differential processor forms a waveform of an edge by differentiating by using a module frequency. The module point extractor extracts the module point from the waveform. The maximum likelihood judgment processor 5f performs ternarizing based on a maximum likelihood method by using broader information.

Abstract: In a bar-code reader, a reading unit reads characters from a bar code, based on parameters. A storing unit stores a plurality of signal-waveform information corresponding to a plurality of character patterns. A selecting unit makes an operator select a correct-reading character from among a plurality of the characters, if there is an occurrence of a wrong reading. A comparing unit compares a pattern corresponding to the correct-reading character selected and a pattern acquired from a plurality of signal-waveform information while changing the parameters one by one. Based on a comparison result, a parameter-setting unit sets in the reading unit, the parameters for which the occurrence of the wrong reading is least.

Abstract: In an optical bar-code reader, an optical scanner optically scans a bar code to obtain optical power of light reflected from white bars and black bars of the bar code, a differentiation unit calculates a differential of the optical power to obtain a differential waveform, a dividing unit divides the differential waveform into a positive waveform and a negative waveform, a bar-code correcting unit calculates correct widths of black bars in the bar code from the positive waveform and the negative waveform to create corrected bar-code data, and a converter converts the corrected bar-code data into character data that is an array of numerals and alphabets.

Abstract: A signal obtained by optically scanning a bar code is subjected to differentiation to obtain differential data. Peak-to-peak distances are calculated from the differential data. When a peak-to-peak ?Tx distance is y times of a basic width, frequency f(x,y) will be, f(x,y)=y/?Tx. A frequency map is prepared from the frequencies calculated. Transition routes in which one frequency each is selected from each of the peak-to-peak distances, are formed. A transition route for which an error in frequencies is the least is taken as the most suitable transition route. An average of the frequencies included in the transition route is taken as a frequency f0 of the basic width.

Abstract: An optical reader, for example a field of view reader or a flying spot scanner for reading a printed indicia such as a bar code symbol includes a light source and a light detector, and at least two channels associated with the detector for carrying signals corresponding to light detected by the detector at different resolution levels, thus simplifying the decoupling of signals allowing a single reader to be used regardless of the resolution level of the indicia to be read. In order to arrive at an improved signal to noise ratio of a bar code symbol being read, a processor produces two signals at respective first and second channels, the signal in the second channel being buffered and merged with a later signal in the first channel allowing time averaging out of the noise portion of the signal and enhancement of the information portion of the signal.

Abstract: A method of reading information which makes it possible to suppress the size of hardware and a price thereof and to improve an S/N ratio of a reading signal and reading resolution, wherein even if depth of field for reading is enlarged or a concave/convex portion or a blurred portion is left on the reading face, reading precision can be improved. The method includes steps of acquiring from a medium 1, a signal containing binary digit information having a predetermined information length and a one-dimensional arrangement, extracting information concerning an elemental unit length of the information length of the binary digit information from the acquired signal, and reading a ratio of the binary digit information to the information length based on the extracted elemental unit length information.

Abstract: In an optical scanner, an optical scanner optically scans a bar code to obtain signal strength of light reflected from black bars and white bars of the bar code, an extracting unit extracts edge data, which includes a plurality of edges and the signal strength of which changes corresponding to a change from a black bar to a white bar and vice versa, an edge-emphasizing unit that emphasizes edge data of an edge that satisfies a predetermined condition, a ternary judgment unit that makes a ternary judgment of each edge based on the edge emphasized to obtain a ternarizing result, and a decoder that decodes bar-code characters from the ternarizing result.

Abstract: A method for use in processing an analog signal from a laser scanning bar code reader containing information representative of reflected light from indicia including regions of different light reflectivity, and including narrow and wide elements of the same reflectivity of the indicia, by locating edge transitions between narrow and wide elements; estimating the edge shift associated with such transitions; and changing the edge position to correct for convolution distortion.

Abstract: A novel tamper-indicating barcode methodology is disclosed that allows for detection of alteration to the barcode. The tamper-indicating methodology makes use of a tamper-indicating means that may be comprised of a particulate indicator, an optical indicator, a deformable substrate, and/or may be an integrated aspect of the barcode itself. This tamper-indicating information provides greater security for the contents of containers sealed with the tamper-indicating barcodes.

Abstract: A device is equipped with the ability to non-persistently display a data on its display in bar code form on demand, to enable another system to acquire the data by reading the bar code.

Abstract: A numeric code has 10 characters in its set, each character having two dark bars in nine modules or a “Two of Nine Code”. All bars or gaps of this code are a minimum of two modules in width. Each numeric digit may have and OCR digit embedded into the barcode digit to make it human and machine readable.

Abstract: A method and system for verifying readings of contrasting elements such as bar code elements includes generating a profile of the contrasting elements; identifying a first zone of values representing a first contrasting element, a second zone of values representing a second contrasting element, and a working zone of values representing transitions between contrasting elements; detecting a change in the bar code profile indicative of an apparent transition between the contrasting elements and confirming the apparent transition as a true transition if it occurs in the working zone and rejecting it if it occurs in the first or second zones.

Abstract: For reading bar and stacked codes, transitions between code elements are determined by crossing points between a sampled video signal, representative of the intensity of light diffused by a code along a scan line thereof, and a low-pass filtered version thereof, or between two low-pass filtered versions thereof. The method is suitable to be implemented through analog or digital hardware, and via software.

Abstract: Techniques for using imaging information computed from examining a scanner signal are described. When one or more objects passes within a field of view of a scanner, scan patterns emerging from one or more scanner windows and reflected from the objects back into the scanner windows produce one or more scanner signals. The scanner signals are processed to obtain beam position and beam length information to improve the accuracy of bar code decoding and to compute imaging information for objects within the field of view of the scanner. The imaging information for the objects is compared with bar code information for the objects. The expected number, size and shapes of objects indicated by the bar code information is compared with the actual number, size and shapes of objects in order to determine if valid scans occurred or if missed, double or otherwise erroneous scans occurred.

Abstract: A method for producing an ink-spread compensated variant of an existing optical code encodation scheme, wherein the existing encodation scheme has printed areas and spaces having a length in at least one dimension being a function of a given unit length for encoding information. In the method, the pattern of printed areas and spaces for a given data input is determined and a given length is added to the length of each space while the length of the printed areas remains unchanged to enlarge the overall length of the resulting code symbol in the at least one dimension.

Abstract: An extractor extracts a part that is apparently a bar-code signal from a signal that is subjected to opto-electric conversion. A narrow-band differential processor forms a waveform of an edge by differentiating by using a module frequency. The module point extractor extracts the module point from the waveform. The maximum likelihood judgment processor 5f performs ternarizing based on a maximum likelihood method by using broader information.