Binary code matrix having data and parity bits

An electronic device, comprising:

• at least one printed circuit board;
• a housing for enclosing the at least one printed circuit board;
• and
• an optically readable matrix imprinted upon the at least one printed circuit board, the matrix having four intersecting sides of approximately equal length defining a perimeter, the matrix including a binary code formed from light and dark areas of substantially equal sizes located within the perimeter, the matrix comprising:
• a first light area, two sides of which are bounded by first and second sides of the four intersecting sides, the first light area containing a first geometrically shaped area, wherein the first geometrically shaped area is dark, and wherein the first geometrically shaped area is located in a predetermined position within the first light area and has a predetermined size relationship with the first light area;
• and
• a first dark area, two sides of which are bounded by third and fourth sides of the four intersecting sides, the first dark area containing a second geometrically shaped area, wherein the second geometrically shaped area is light, and wherein the second geometrically shaped area is located in a predetermined position within the first dark area and has a predetermined size relationship with the first dark area.

An apparatus for optically reading a matrix imprinted on a device, the matrix having four intersecting sides of approximately equal length defining a perimeter, the matrix including a binary code formed from light and dark areas of substantially equal sizes located within the perimeter, the apparatus comprising:

• scanning means for optically scanning the matrix and for locating a first geometrically shaped area and a second geometrically shaped area, wherein the first geometrically shaped area is located in a predetermined location within a first of the light and dark areas and has a predetermined size relationship with the first of the light and dark areas, and wherein the second geometrically shaped area is located in a predetermined position within a second of the light and dark areas and has a predetermined size relationship with the second of the light and dark areas;
• determining means coupled to the scanning means for determining the size of the first geometrically shaped area and a distance between the center of the first geometrically shaped area and the center of the second geometrically shaped area, wherein the determining means further generates an information signal based upon the determinations;
• computing means coupled to the determining means for computing, in response to reception of the information signal generated by the determining means, the size of each of the light and dark areas, the number of the light and dark areas forming the matrix, a beginning location of the light and dark areas forming the binary code, and an end location of the light and dark areas forming the binary code;
• and
• control means coupled to the scanning means, the determining means, and the computing means for controlling the operation thereof, and for decoding information included in the binary code formed by the light and dark areas.

A method for determining the size and the density of an optically readable matrix having four intersecting sides of approximately equal length defining a perimeter, the matrix including a binary code formed from light and dark areas of substantially equal sizes located within the perimeter, wherein each of the light and dark areas are substantially square shaped and have approximately equal lengths and widths, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) optically scanning the matrix to locate a first geometrically shaped area and a second geometrically shaped area, wherein the first geometrically shaped area is located in a predetermined location within a first of the light and dark areas and has a predetermined size relationship with the first of the light and dark areas, and wherein the second geometrically shaped area is located in a predetermined position within a second of the light and dark areas and has a predetermined size relationship with the second of the light and dark areas;
• (b) determining the size of the first geometrically shaped area;
• (c) determining the distance between the center of the first geometrically shaped area and the center of the second geometrically shaped area;
• (d) calculating the size of each of the light and dark areas in response to step (b);
• (e) calculating the length of each of the four intersecting sides in response to steps (b) and (c);
• and
• (f) determining the number of the light and dark areas in response to steps (d) and (e).