Three dimensional barcode

Abstract

A barcode symbol having an encoded symbology is provided with color or shades of gray to add additional information at the time of printing. The color or shades of gray provides the current barcode symbology with a third dimension of information. The color or shades of gray can encode information over a specific one-dimensional or two-dimensional symbology. White spaces can be replaced with colors or shades of gray to add coded information to the standard one-dimensional and two-dimensional codes. The number of colors and how they are distributed or arranged can provide the basic backbone of information. A barcode reader that can detect the different color spectrums, can be employed to decode the information. Furthermore, color is not limited to white spaces, but can be implemented into black spaces. Additionally, colored background information can provide additional information to the current symbology.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A barcode structure comprising: 
 a one-dimensional encode symbology comprising a plurality of colored bars separated by a plurality of spaces of varying widths wherein at least one of the spaces has a pattern of one or more colors other than black or white which adds a second dimension to the one-dimensional symbology by encoding additional data within the symbology not included in data encoded by a pattern of the colored bars and the spaces.    
   
   
       22 . The barcode structure of  claim 21 , the one or more colors that fill the at least one space between the colored bars comprises at least a shade of gray which encodes the additional data not included in data encoded by a pattern of the colored bars and the spaces.  
   
   
       23 . The barcode structure of  claim 21 , the bars are colored black.  
   
   
       24 . The barcode structure of  claim 21 , the additional data encoded by the one or more colors comprises at least one of: manufacturers' code, delivery dates, expiration dates, vendor identification, or lot numbers.  
   
   
       25 . A barcode structure comprising: 
 a two-dimensional symbology comprising a two-dimensional pattern of a plurality of boxes on a background, the two-dimensional symbology comprises one or more colors other than black or white that encode data in addition to data that is encoded within the two-dimensional pattern.    
   
   
       26 . The barcode structure of  claim 25 , the one or more colors that encode the additional data fill the plurality of boxes.  
   
   
       27 . The barcode structure of  claim 25 , the two-dimensional pattern comprises at least one of: the individual boxes or one or more grouping of boxes.  
   
   
       28 . The barcode structure of  claim 27 , the two-dimensional pattern comprises a grouping of boxes wherein the boxes are filled with the one or more colors and are grouped together to form a plurality of columns.  
   
   
       29 . The barcode structure of  claim 27 , the two-dimensional pattern comprises a grouping of boxes wherein the boxes are grouped together to form a plurality of columns, each of the columns having a colored background that encodes data in addition to data provided by the two-dimensional pattern.  
   
   
       30 . The barcode structure of  claim 29 , wherein at least two or more adjacent columns have a same background color so that the two or more columns of boxes form a part of the two dimensional pattern on a common background wherein the background color encodes the additional data.  
   
   
       31 . The barcode structure of  claim 25 , the plurality of boxes are filled with at least one of: black or one or more shades of gray that encode the additional data.  
   
   
       32 . A method of forming a barcode structure comprising: 
 encoding information into at least one of a one-dimensional or a two-dimensional pattern of a barcode symbology; and    encoding additional information into the barcode symbology by providing at least one color other than black or white comprised within the barcode symbology wherein the information encoded by the at least one color is different from the information encoded by the pattern of the barcode symbology.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , encoding additional information into the one-dimensional pattern comprises forming the one-dimensional pattern with a plurality of black bars alternated with a plurality of spaces filled with the at least one color and encoding the additional information into the at least one color.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , encoding additional information into the one-dimensional pattern comprises forming the one-dimensional pattern with a plurality of bars separated by a plurality of spaces such that the bars are each filled with either black or the at least one color wherein the at least one color is a shade of gray and encodes the additional information.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32 , encoding additional information into the two-dimensional pattern comprises forming the two-dimensional pattern with a plurality of boxes at least one of which is filled with the at least one color that encodes the additional information.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 32 , encoding additional information into the two-dimensional pattern comprises forming the two-dimensional pattern with a plurality of boxes wherein at least one of the boxes is filled with the at least one color wherein the at least one color is a shade of gray which encodes information in addition to information encoded within the two-dimensional pattern.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 32 , encoding information into the two-dimensional pattern comprises forming the two-dimensional pattern with a plurality of boxes arranged into a plurality of columns wherein the two-dimensional pattern encodes data.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , encoding additional information into the two-dimensional pattern comprises providing a background with the at least one color for each of the plurality of columns wherein the background color encodes information different from the information encoded by the two-dimensional pattern.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , encoding additional information into the two-dimensional pattern comprises further grouping at least two columns with the background of a same color to form a part of the two dimensional pattern wherein the same color encodes information different from the information encoded by the pattern of the barcode symbology.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 32 , the additional information encoded by the color comprises at least one of: manufacturers' code, delivery dates, expiration dates, vendor identification, or lot numbers.