1D finder pattern for 2D bar codes

A method for easily finding and orienting a 2-dimensional bar code comprising:

• a) associating a 1-dimensional bar code with the 2-dimensional bar code at a predetermined distance and orientation with respect to a predefined location of the 2-dimensional bar code, said distance including a horizontal component d.sub.1 and a vertical component d.sub.2, each of d.sub.1 and d.sub.2 being >0;
• b) scanning the 1-dimensional bar code in combination with the 2-dimensional bar code and creating a pixel memory map thereof;
• c) searching the pixel memory map along a pattern of scan lines until the 1-dimensional bar code is found;
• and
• d) using the predetermined distance and orientation of the 1-dimensional bar code with respect to the 2-dimensional bar code to fix the location and orientation of the 2-dimensional bar code within the data of the pixel memory map.

A method for automatically decoding a 2-dimensional bar code having a plurality of interpretations comprising:

• a) prior to scanning:
• a1) associating a 1-dimensional bar code with the 2-dimensional bar code at a predetermined distance and orientation with respect to a predefined location of the 2-dimensional bar code, said distance including a horizontal component d.sub.1 and a vertical component d.sub.2, each of d.sub.1 and d.sub.2 being .gtoreq.0;
• and
• a2) including a definition of the interpretation to be accorded the 2-dimensional bar code at a time of decoding within the 1-dimensional bar code;
• and
• b) at a time of scanning:
• b1) scanning the 1-dimensional bar code in combination with the 2-dimensional bar code and creating a pixel memory map thereof;
• b2) searching the pixel memory map along a pattern of scan lines until the 1-dimensional bar code is found;
• b3) decoding the 1-dimensional bar code and obtaining the definition of the interpretation to be accorded the 2-dimensional bar code therefrom;
• b4) using said predetermined distance and orientation of the 1-dimensional bar code with respect to the 2-dimensional bar code to fix the location and orientation of the 2-dimensional bar code within the pixel memory map;
• and
• b5) decoding the 2-dimensional bar code from the pixel memory map according to the definition of the interpretation to be accorded the 2-dimensional bar code from the 1-dimensional bar code.