Appeal No. 97-0181
Application No. 08/245,613
BACKGROUND
The appellants’ invention relates to a method for recognizing and decoding bar
codes using a low resolution image scanner. The method determines the gray level value
representative of cell edge crossings subject to an ambiguity as to their order along the
axis. The method then resolves the ambiguity to derive the cell edge position and decode
the bar code. An understanding of the invention can be derived from a reading of
exemplary claim 22, which is reproduced below.
22. A method for detecting the position of a cell represented in a
pixel data image, comprising the steps of:
(a) acquiring a pixel data image including a representation of said
cell;
(b) determining a pixels-per-cell nominal resolution of said pixel data
image;
(c) normalizing the resolution of said pixel data image by one of the
following (i) reducing said nominal resolution to a pixels-per-cell target
resolution having a selected value, and (ii) if said nominal resolution
corresponds to said selected value, stabilizing said nominal resolution at
said target resolution;
(d) determining a gray level value for each of a plurality of successive
pixels along a first axis, including cell coverage pixels intersected by cell
edge crossings, each said cell coverage pixel having a gray level value
representing the position of said cell edge crossing subject to an ambiguity
as to the order along said first axis of complementary pixel portions of said
cell coverage pixel respectively inside and outside the area of said cell in
said pixel data image;
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