8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of said prototype bar patterns has a set of predetermined bar width feature values associated therewith, and wherein said means for scanning said bar code symbol along said first scan line comprises: i. means for determining a set of bar width information estimates representative of a selected encoded character in said bar code symbol; ii. a first selector for selecting a prototype bar pattern for comparison; iii. means for comparing said set of bar width information estimates to a selected set of predetermined prototype bar width feature values to determine a plurality of individual difference values, wherein each of said individual difference values represents the difference between one of said bar width information estimates and a corresponding predetermined bar width feature value, and wherein said selected set of predetermined bar width feature values corresponds to said prototype bar pattern selected by said first selector; iv. means for calculating a composite distance value corresponding to said prototype bar pattern selected by said first selector in accordance with each of said individual difference values; v. means for generating a plurality of composite distance values corresponding to a plurality differing prototype bar patterns; vi. a second selector for selecting from said plurality of composite distance values the minimum composite distance value; vii. means for determining a candidate character value for said selected encoded character in accordance said prototype bar pattern associated with said selected minimum composite distance value; and viii. means for determining said associated error value for said candidate character value to be said minimum composite distance value.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of said prototype bar patterns has a set of predetermined bar width feature values associated therewith, and wherein said means for scanning said bar code symbol along said first scan line comprises: i. means for determining a set of bar width information estimates representative of a selected encoded character in said bar code symbol; ii. a first selector for selecting a prototype bar pattern for comparison; iii. means for comparing said set of bar width information estimates to a selected set of predetermined prototype bar width feature values to determine a plurality of individual difference values, wherein each of said individual difference values represents the difference between one of said bar width information estimates and a corresponding predetermined bar width feature value, and wherein said selected set of predetermined bar width feature values corresponds to said prototype bar pattern selected by said first selector; iv. means for calculating a composite distance value corresponding to said prototype bar pattern selected by said first selector in accordance with each of said individual difference values; v. means for generating a plurality of composite distance values corresponding to a plurality differing prototype bar patterns; vi. a second selector for selecting from said plurality of composite distance values the minimum composite distance value; vii. means for determining a candidate character value for said selected encoded character in accordance said prototype bar pattern associated with said selected minimum composite distance value; and viii. means for determining said associated error value for said candidate character value to be said minimum composite distance value. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for comparing further comprises means for comparing on a one-to-one basis corresponding elements from said set of bar width information estimates and said selected set of predetermined prototype bar width feature values.