Patent ID: 6832728
Filing Date: 2004-12-21
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
An apparatus for reading indicia from a remote location, comprising:an infrared light source for providing infrared illumination; a reflective medium disposed remotely from the infrared light source, the reflective medium including indicia operable to reflect the infrared illumination provided by the infrared light source, where portions of the infrared illumination reflected from the indicia comprise a reflected indicia image; a light sensing device disposed remotely from the reflective medium, the light sensing device for receiving the reflected indicia image and for generating an indicia image signal based thereon; an indicia processing system for receiving the indicia image signal and for operating on the indicia image signal to extract indicia information there from; and a cover disposed over the indicia on the reflective medium and between the reflective medium and the light sensing device, the cover being transmissive to the infrared illumination and the reflected indicia image and non-transmissive to visible light, such that the indicia on the reflective medium beneath the cover are substantially undetectable to human eyesight, wherein the cover is separable and removable from the reflective medium.