Patent ID: 8397992

Claim:
A method for decoding a bar code symbol, said method comprising: providing a bar code reader having a light emitting diode for use in illumination of said bar code symbol and an image sensor, wherein said providing step further includes the step of providing focusing optics for causing light returning from said bar code symbol to be focused on said image sensor, wherein said providing step further includes the step of providing a memory that includes both a timercount memory space and an image memory space; enabling initiation of scanning and timing mechanisms in response to a trigger actuation; generating, using said bar code reader, a video signal for a succession of slices of said bar code symbol; converting each of said succession of slices into a timercount representation to provide a succession of timercount representations, and storing each timercount representation of said succession timercount representations into successive locations of said timercount memory space; converting each of said succession of timercount representations into a bit representation to form a set of bit representations; storing each of said set of bit representations into said image memory space; circulating data of said timercount memory space if said timercount memory space becomes full; circulating data of said image memory space if said image memory space becomes full; attempting to decode said bar code symbol as a 1D symbol utilizing at least one of said succession of timercount representations; examining said set of bit representations for inclusion of a 2D symbol finder pattern; if said 2D symbol finder pattern is present, transferring said set of bit representations stored in said image memory space to said timercount memory space, wherein said transferring includes overwriting the data of said timercount memory space; and decoding said bar code symbol as a 2D symbol utilizing said set of bit representations.