An information bearing device comprising a data bearing pattern, wherein the data bearing pattern comprises a plurality of data defining elements, the data defining elements being spatially distributed to define a set of spatial frequency data, and the set of spatial frequency data comprising a plurality of frequency data elements (F.sub.1, F.sub.2, . . . , F.sub.n); and wherein each frequency data (F.sub.i) has a data frequency magnitude (f.sub.i) and a data frequency angle (.sub.i), the data frequency magnitude being above a first characteristic spatial frequency (f.sub.A) which corresponds to a characteristic frequency of a staple or commonplace image reproduction apparatus, the characteristic frequency representing an image data frequency above which reproduction quality by the staple or commonplace image reproduction apparatus begins to drop substantially.

Technology for generating, reading, and using machine-readable codes is disclosed. There is a method, performed by an image capture device, for reading and using the codes. The method includes obtaining an image, identifying an area in the image having a machine-readable code. The method also includes, within the image area, finding a predefined start marker defining a start point and a predefined stop marker defining a stop point, an axis being defined there between. A plurality of axis points can be defined along the axis. For each axis point, a first distance within the image area to a mark is determined. The distance can be measured from the axis point in a first direction which is orthogonal to the axis. The first distances can be converted to a binary code using Gray code such that each first distance encodes at least one bit of data in the code.

An encoded substrate to be filmed by a camera device for generating an image is provided. The encoded substrate includes a plurality of grids arranged in a form of two-dimensional array, wherein each grid includes a first pattern and a second pattern not overlapped with each other. The first pattern corresponds to a first-dimensional encoded value, and the second pattern corresponds to a second-dimensional encoded value. The image is processed by a processor for scanning the plurality of grids. In a first-dimensional direction, the processor outputs a first coordinate according to at least two first patterns corresponding to at least two consecutive grids among the plurality of grids. In a second-dimensional direction, the processor outputs a second coordinate according to at least two second patterns corresponding to at least two consecutive grids among the plurality of grids.

Technology for generating, reading, and using machine-readable codes is disclosed. There is a method, performed by an image capture device, for reading and using the codes. The method includes obtaining an image, identifying an area in the image having a machine-readable code. The method also includes, within the image area, finding a predefined start marker defining a start point and a predefined stop marker defining a stop point, an axis being defined there between. A plurality of axis points can be defined along the axis. For each axis point, a first distance within the image area to a mark is determined. The distance can be measured from the axis point in a first direction which is orthogonal to the axis. The first distances can be converted to a binary code using Gray code such that each first distance encodes at least one bit of data in the code.

A method of assisting in focusing a three dimensional camera system on an object within a field of view is disclosed. The process involves at the camera system, determining a distance D in a z direction, within the field of view, to a current focal plane; and rendering to a display, an aimer graphic element with the Z direction distance equal to D in a manner that causes the aimer graphic element to move in the Z direction with changes in the focal plane.

An indicia reading terminal has a three-dimensional depth sensor, a two dimensional image sensor, an autofocus lens assembly, and a processor. The three dimensional depth sensor captures a depth image of a field of view and create a depth map from the depth image, the depth map having one or more surface distances. The two dimensional image sensor receives incident light and capture an image therefrom. The autofocusing lens assembly is positioned proximate to the two dimensional image sensor such that the incident light passes through the autofocusing lens before reaching the two dimensional image sensor. The processor is communicatively coupled to the two dimensional image sensor, the three dimensional depth sensor, and the autofocusing lens assembly.

A method for generating two-dimensional barcode, including: obtaining a data block including a first data codeword and an error correction codeword, the first data codeword having first information, the error correction codeword being capable of detecting and correcting an error of the first data codeword; and obtaining a replaced data block in which a part of the data block is replaced with a second data codeword, the second data codeword having second information; and generating a two-dimensional barcode based on the replaced data block. A method for reading a two-dimensional barcode including: reading a two-dimensional barcode; extracting a second data codeword from a predetermined position in a replaced data block; obtaining the second information from the extracted second data codeword; obtaining the first data codeword based on the replaced data block; and obtaining the first information from the obtained first data codeword.

Disclosed are various embodiments involving use of a multi-scale fiducial by an autonomously controlled aerial vehicle. A first image at a first location is captured, and a first fiducial at a first scale of a multi-scale fiducial is recognized within the first image. The autonomously controlled aerial vehicle is piloted relative to the multi-scale fiducial based at least in part on information contained within the first fiducial. A second image at a second location is captured, and a second fiducial at a second scale of the multi-scale fiducial is recognized within the second image. An action is then performed based at least in part on information contained within the second fiducial.

An image capture and processing system supports a multi-tier modular software, and plug-in extendable, architecture. The image capture and processing system can be realized as an image-capturing cell phone, a digital camera, a video camera, mobile computing terminal and portable data terminal (PDT), provided with suitable hardware platform, communication protocols and user interfaces. A third-party customer can write and install a software plug-in into the application layer so as to enhance or modify the behavior of the image capture and processing system without any required knowledge of the hardware platform, communication protocols and/or user interfaces.

An image capture and processing system supports a multi-tier modular software, and plug-in extendable, architecture. The image capture and processing system can be realized as an image-capturing cell phone, a digital camera, a video camera, mobile computing terminal and portable data terminal (PDT), provided with suitable hardware platform, communication protocols and user interfaces. A third-party customer can write and install a software plug-in into the application layer so as to enhance or modify the behavior of the image capture and processing system without any required knowledge of the hardware platform, communication protocols and/or user interfaces.