Flat code carrier for scanning by a reading device in a defined sequence such as a bar code

摘要

The flat code carrier (40) is scanned by a reader device (10) in a predetermined read sequence. The code carrier has a series of code regions (42) separated from each other in the scan direction by intermediate regions (44). Each code region encodes the value of a unit of information. Each code region is characterized by a value of a physical parameter which is essentially constant over the whole code region. For the code regions (42) at least two different values of physical parameters are provided, which can be distinguished on scanning. The value of the physical parameter determines the value of the information unit such that the parameter value in each intermediate region can be differentiated from the values in the code regions. Independent claims also cover a code reading apparatus and an encoding method.