United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

Luis Figarella

Mihael Klancnik

Paul P Ju

John W Sussmeier

A portable non-contact label imager captures an image of two-dimensional information indicia on a label. The captured image data is decoded by a decoder. The label imager forms a part of a data terminal, which includes a keypad, display and signature capture pad. Upon receipt of a start signal from the data terminal's circuitry, the label imager automatically carries out the steps required to capture the label information indicia. The label imager provides aiming indicia to allow the user to properly aim the camera. A position sensing device determines when the target label is within the camera's depth of field. At that time, the label imager determines the shutter speed required for a correct exposure by measuring the light reflected from the label. The label imager then captures the label image, which is decoded by the decoder. Corresponding output data is then provided to the data terminal.

Method and apparatus for a portable non-contact label imager

A system for decoding a bar code symbol receives a signal representative of the symbol and searches the signal in one dimension to locate two adjacent critical points corresponding to an element of the symbol. The system also computes a value representative of the signal energy between the two critical points and determines the width of the element in accordance with the value. A bar code symbol decoding system receives a signal representative of a bar code symbol having a plurality of characters, one of which is a checksum character. The system determines a first choice for each of the characters and a second choice for at least one of the characters from the signal. The system performs checksum analysis in accordance with the first choice for each of the characters. If that checksum analysis is not satisfied, then the system performs checksum analysis using the second choice.

Method and apparatus for decoding bar code symbols using subpixel

A system for detecting a bar code symbol receives a two-dimensional image containing the symbol, where the system has no a priori knowledge of the orientation of the symbol in the image. The system scans the image in one dimension to locate a quiet zone for the symbol and searches the image in one dimension to identify a start/stop character of the symbol. A system for decoding a bar code symbol having a plurality of elements receives a signal representative of the symbol. The system searches the signal along a first search step to characterize the width of one of the elements. The system then selects a second search step by projecting from the first search step onto a reference line, where the reference line is not parallel to either the first or second search steps. The system then searches the signal along the second search step to characterize the width of another of the elements. A system for decoding a bar code symbol having at least three elements receives a signal representative of the symbol. The system characterizes a first set of two or more elements by searching the signal along a first search step. The system also characterizes a second set of two or more elements by searching the signal along a second search step, where the first set and the second set have an element in common and where the first and second search steps are not collinear.

Method and apparatus for decoding bar code symbols along search steps

A system for detecting a bar code symbol receives a two-dimensional image containing the symbol, where the system has no a priori knowledge of the orientation of the symbol in the image. The system scans the image in one dimension to locate a quiet zone for the symbol and searches the image in one dimension to identify a start/stop character of the symbol.

Method and apparatus for detecting and decoding bar code symbols using

A system for decoding a bar code symbol receives a signal representative of the symbol and searches the signal in one dimension to locate two adjacent critical points corresponding to an element of the symbol. The system also computes a value representative of the signal energy between the two critical points and determines the width of the element in accordance with the value.

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Waterbury, CT, United States of America

Luis Figarella