Appeal No. 97-1631 Page 2
Application No. 08/245,267
BACKGROUND
The invention relates to electro-optical scanning.
Variations in scanning speed generally need correction to
ensure that indicia being scanned are read accurately. Bar
codes feature embedded location, timing, or synchronization
codes used for correction. Indicia such as signatures,
however, lack such embedded codes. The invention interposes a
mask with location, timing, or synchronization codes into a
scanning beam so that the codes are read along with the
indicia.
Claim 1, which is representative for our purposes,
follows:
1. A scanner for reading indicia comprising:
(a) scanning means for scanning a light beam over a
predetermined area, said area covering an indicia to be read;
(b) masking means positioned in the beam intermediate the
scanning means and the indicia, and out of the plane of the
indicia, the masking means carrying at least one coded symbol;
and
(c) means for receiving light reflected from the indicia
and for reading the indicia using information from the at
least one coded symbol.
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