Patent ID: 6490376
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A method of acquiring and processing data defining an image of a symbol having vertical and horizontal directions and having one or more horizontal rows of dark and light regions denoting information encoded in the symbol, the method including the steps of:(a) acquiring raw scan data representing an image of a region including said symbol using a real raster having horizontal and vertical directions in a real raster frame of reference and having real scan lines extending in said horizontal direction; (b) run-length encoding said raw scan data so as to provide run-length encoded data including transition point data denoting the locations of transitions between light and dark on said real scan lines; (c) determining orientations of the directions of the symbol relative to the directions of the real raster and (d) using a transform based upon said orientations, transforming only the transition point data into a virtual scan frame of reference having virtual horizontal and vertical directions aligned with the horizontal and vertical directions of the symbol.