Patent ID: 6681994
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A method of optically reading information occupying an information area and wherein information content may be represented by varying optical reflectivity along respective orthogonal axes of the information area, said method comprising the steps of:(a) positioning a user-supported optical reader containing a photosensor which reads along row and column pixel axes, so that the optical reader is within a range of distances from the information area, and so that the orthogonal axes of the information area occupy a range of angular relationships to the pixel axes along which the photosensor reads; (b) marking the information area with at least one beam of light; (c) imaging, for said range of distances and said range of angular relationships, the information area onto the photosensor so that the information content of the information area is imaged onto the photosensor without requiring prior angular movement of the user-supported optical reader; and (d) generating a digital representation of the information content imaged from the information area onto the photosensor for any position of the information area relative to the user-supported optical reader within said range of distances and for any angular relationship between said orthogonal axes of the information area and the pixel axes along which the photosensor images.