US6902113B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Selection of colors for color bar codes
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 2003-08-07
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Granted: 2005-06-07
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Expires: 2023-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A method for color bar codes includes selecting N bar code colors for a color bar code system to be generally distinct from each other given the range of colors that a camera reader is expected to produce given at least one environmental condition in which the camera reader is expected to operate.
Inventors
- 👤 Erez Sali
- 👤 Michael Keselbrener
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/12; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K2019/06215; G06K2019/06225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A color bar code system comprising: a camera reader to read at least one bar code, said bar code being formed of a subset of N bar code colors; and a color selector to select said N bar code colors to be generally distinct from each other given a range of colors that said camera reader is expected to produce given at least one environmental condition in which said camera reader is expected to operate, wherein said color selector comprises: a color chart generator to generate at least one color chart of color patches of a range of colors produceable by a printer capable of printing color bar codes; a color space generator to receive an output of a camera reader upon reading said at least one color chart with at least one illumination and to generate a color space database from said output; and an actual space color selector to select N bar code colors from said color space database to be generally distinct from each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A color bar code system comprising: a camera reader to read at least one bar code, said bar code being formed of a subset of N bar code colors; and a color selector to select said N bar code colors to be generally distinct from each other given a range of colors that said camera reader is expected to produce given at least one environmental condition in which said camera reader is expected to operate, wherein said color selector comprises: a color chart generator to generate at least one color chart of color patches of a range of colors produceable by a printer capable of printing color bar codes; a color space generator to receive an output of a camera reader upon reading said at least one color chart with at least one illumination and to generate a color space database from said output; and an actual space color selector to select N bar code colors from said color space database to be generally distinct from each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A unit according to claim 1 and wherein said actual space color selector comprises an optimizer to attempt to optimize a distance in color space between said N bar code colors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A unit according to claim 2 and wherein said optimizer comprises a simulated annealer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
A color selector for a color bar code system, the selector composing: a color chart generator to generate at least one color chart of color patches of a range of colors produceable by a printer capable of printing color bar codes; a color space generator to receive an output of a camera reader upon reading said at least one color chart with at least one illumination and to generate a color space database from said output; and an actual space color selector to select N bar code colors from said color space database to be generally distinct.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
A color selector for a color bar code system, the selector composing: a color chart generator to generate at least one color chart of color patches of a range of colors produceable by a printer capable of printing color bar codes; a color space generator to receive an output of a camera reader upon reading said at least one color chart with at least one illumination and to generate a color space database from said output; and an actual space color selector to select N bar code colors from said color space database to be generally distinct.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A unit according to claim 4 and wherein said actual space color selector comprises an optimizer to attempt to optimize a distance in color space between said N bar code colors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A unit according to claim 5 and wherein said optimizer comprises a simulated annealer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
119 words
A method comprising: selecting N bar code colors for a color bar code system to be generally distinct from each other given a range of colors that a camera reader is expected to produce given at least one environmental condition in which said camera reader is expected to operate. said selecting comprising: generating at least one color chart of color patches of a range of colors produceable by a printer capable of printing color bar codes; generating a color space database from an output of a camera reader upon reading said at least one color chart with at least one illumination; and selecting N bar code colors from said color space database to be generally distinct from each other.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
119 words
A method comprising: selecting N bar code colors for a color bar code system to be generally distinct from each other given a range of colors that a camera reader is expected to produce given at least one environmental condition in which said camera reader is expected to operate. said selecting comprising: generating at least one color chart of color patches of a range of colors produceable by a printer capable of printing color bar codes; generating a color space database from an output of a camera reader upon reading said at least one color chart with at least one illumination; and selecting N bar code colors from said color space database to be generally distinct from each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 7 and wherein said second selecting comprises attempting to optimize a distance in color space between said N bar code colors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 8 and wherein said attempting comprises performing simulated annealing on said color space database.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-06-06 | 2008-12-06 | 2009-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-06-06 | 2012-12-06 | 2013-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-06-06 | 2016-12-06 | 2017-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |