Peak classifier for bar code waveforms

Previous bar code decoding algorithms operated on the binarized output of a hardware digitizer which limited the working range of the algorithm. The authors propose a new and more aggressive bar code decoder that operates on the location of the peaks of the bar code waveform. This algorithm can operate in high convolution distortion environments and is based on statistical pattern recognition techniques. However no training data is required and the misdecode rate is controlled by a single adjustable parameter