Nested binary code symbol

1. A target for association with an object for which at least one of strain and fatigue damage is to be measured, the target incorporating a nested binary code symbol for perimeter-based deformation and strain analysis, the binary code symbol emitting a detectable physical quantity and comprising:

a rectangular boundary binary code symbol including:

a solid, continuous outer perimeter;

first and second data regions along adjacent sides of the perimeter, each data region comprising at least one row of a plurality of data cells, each data cell representing a single bit of binary data;

first and second utility regions along adjacent sides of the perimeter opposite the first and second data regions, each utility region comprising at least one row of a plurality of utility cells of alternating appearance;

first and second finder cells at opposite corners of the rectangle; and

inner and outer quiet regions distinguishing the first and second data regions, the first and second utility regions, and the first and second finder cells from their background; and

a core code symbol that provides encoded data.

2. The target of claim 1 , wherein each data region comprises at least two rows and each utility region comprises at least two rows.

3. The target of claim 1 , further comprising at least one intermediate binary code symbol concentric with and nested between the boundary binary code symbol and the core code symbol, wherein the core code symbol is a binary code symbol of a different type than the at least one intermediate binary code symbol and the boundary binary code symbol.

4. The target of claim 3 , wherein the core code symbol is a binary code symbol of the same type as the at least one intermediate binary code symbol and the boundary binary code symbol.

5. A target for association with an object for which at least one of strain and fatigue damage is to be measured, the target incorporating a nested binary code symbol for perimeter-based deformation and strain analysis, the binary code symbol emitting a detectable physical quantity and comprising:

a rectangular boundary binary code symbol;

a core code symbol that provides encoded data, wherein the core code symbol is nested within and concentric with the boundary binary code symbol; and

at least one intermediate binary code symbol concentric with and nested between the boundary binary code symbol and the core code symbol, wherein the at least one intermediate binary code symbol is a different type of binary code symbol than the boundary binary code symbol; and

wherein:

(a) one of the boundary binary code symbol and the at least one intermediate binary code symbol comprises:

an outer perimeter constructed of line segments;

orienting means for determining the orientation of the binary code symbol, in order to associate strain measurements with physical dimensions, wherein the orienting means is bounded at least in part by the outer perimeter; and

inner and outer quiet regions for distinguishing the orienting means from its background; and

(b) the other of the boundary binary code symbol and the at least one intermediate binary code symbol comprises:

a solid, continuous outer perimeter;

first and second data regions along adjacent sides of the perimeter, each data region comprising at least one row of a plurality of data cells, each data cell representing a single bit of binary data;

first and second utility regions along adjacent sides of the perimeter opposite the first and second data regions, each utility region comprising at least one row of a plurality of utility cells of alternating appearance;

first and second finder cells at opposite corners of the rectangle; and

inner and outer quiet regions distinguishing the first and second data regions, the first and second utility regions, and the first and second finder cells from their background.

6. The target of claim 5 , wherein each data region comprises at least two rows and each utility region comprises at least two rows.

7. A target for association with an object for which at least one of strain and fatigue damage is to be measured, the target incorporating a nested binary code symbol for perimeter-based deformation and strain analysis, the binary code symbol emitting a detectable physical quantity and comprising:

a rectangular boundary binary code symbol;

a core code symbol that provides encoded data, wherein the core code symbol is nested within and concentric with the boundary binary code symbol; and

at least one intermediate binary code symbol concentric with and nested between the boundary binary code symbol and the core code symbol, wherein the at least one intermediate binary code symbol includes:

a solid, continuous outer perimeter;

first and second data regions along adjacent sides of the perimeter, each data region comprising at least one row of a plurality of data cells, each data cell representing a single bit of binary data;

first and second utility regions along adjacent sides of the perimeter opposite the first and second data regions, each utility region comprising at least one row of a plurality of utility cells of alternating appearance;

first and second finder cells at opposite corners of the rectangle; and

inner and outer quiet regions distinguishing the first and second data regions, the first and second utility regions, and the first and second finder cells from their background.

8. The target of claim 7 , wherein each data region comprises at least two rows and each utility region comprises at least two rows.