US 2016/0104020 A1Published application

Barcode decoding

AssigneeCognex Corporation

InventorsIvan A. Bachelder, Savithri Vaidyanathan

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Abstract

Systems and methods for decoding a barcode are disclosed. A scan signal for a first portion of the barcode is acquired. Integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence for the barcode is stored including evidence for a first plurality of possible sub-character barcode feature interpretations for a first plurality of sub-character barcode features. Sub-character barcode feature measurements are extracted for a second plurality of sub-character barcode features from the scan signal. Sub-character barcode feature evidence is determined for the second plurality of sub-character barcode features, including evidence for a second plurality of possible sub-character barcode feature interpretations for the second plurality of sub-character barcode features. Whether a portion of the integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence corresponds to a portion of the sub-character barcode feature evidence is determined. The sub-character barcode feature evidence is integrated into the integrated sub-character barcode. Character values are determined from the integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A barcode reading system for decoding at least a portion of a barcode comprising:

a barcode scanner;
a signal processor connected to the barcode scanner, wherein the signal processor is configured to:
store first integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence for the barcode, the first integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence comprising evidence for a first plurality of possible sub-character barcode feature interpretations for a first plurality of sub-character barcode features of the barcode;
acquire, from the barcode scanner, a first scan signal for at least a first portion of the barcode;
extract, from the first scan signal, sub-character barcode feature measurements for a second plurality of sub-character barcode features;
determine first sub-character barcode feature evidence for the second plurality of sub-character barcode features based on the sub-character barcode feature measurements for the second plurality of sub-character barcode features, the first sub-character barcode feature evidence comprising evidence for a second plurality of possible sub-character barcode feature interpretations for the second plurality of sub-character barcode features;
determine whether a first portion of the first integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence corresponds to a second portion of the first sub-character barcode feature evidence;
integrate the first sub-character barcode feature evidence into the first integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence if the first portion of the first integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence corresponds to the second portion of the integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence;
and
determine one or more character values from the first integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence.

7 more elements

A method performed by a barcode reading system for decoding at least a portion of a barcode comprising:

storing, by the barcode reading system, first integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence for the barcode, the first integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence comprising evidence for a first plurality of possible sub-character barcode feature interpretations for a first plurality of sub-character barcode features of the barcode;
acquiring, by the barcode reading system, from a barcode scanner, a first scan signal for at least a first portion of the barcode;
extracting, by the barcode reading system, from the first scan signal, sub-character barcode feature measurements for a second plurality of sub-character barcode features;
determining, by the barcode reading system, first sub-character barcode feature evidence for the second plurality of sub-character barcode features based on the sub-character barcode feature measurements for the second plurality of sub-character barcode features, the first sub-character barcode feature evidence comprising evidence for a second plurality of possible sub-character barcode feature interpretations for the second plurality of sub-character barcode features;
determining, by the barcode reading system, whether a first portion of the first integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence corresponds to a second portion of the first sub-character barcode feature evidence;
integrating, by the barcode reading system, the first sub-character barcode feature evidence into the first integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence if the first portion of the first integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence corresponds to the second portion of the integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence;
and
determining, by the barcode reading system, one or more character values from the first integrated sub-character barcode feature evidence.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/511,030Filed 9 Oct 2014
Published: 14 Apr 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G06K 7/1439
Methods for optical code recognition: including a method step for retrieval of the optical code
G06K 7/10821
By scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum: further details of bar or optical code scanning devices
G06K 7/1465
The method including quality enhancement steps: using several successive scans of the optical code
G06K 7/1491
The method including quality enhancement steps: the method including a reconstruction step, e.g. stitching two pieces of bar code together to…