Patent ID: 6354502
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A sensing apparatus for detecting a code comprising a readable component having a changing color tone on the component surface blended to modulate shades of color along a path of travel, a sensing component adjacent the readable component and including a light source for directing light onto said readable component, a detector to detect reflected light from the blended colors of said readable component and provide output signals as a function of received reflected light, and a processor for processing the output signals from the detector for determining the code provided on the readable component, wherein the detector provides an analog signal indicating levels of color tone on the surface and wherein the changing color tone changes in intensity and hue of primary colors such that at any two locations along a length of the code the detector output signal is different and there are no abrupt changes in intensity and hue of the primary colors between the two locations.