Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

bit pattern
     
         A sequence of {bit}s, in a memory, a communications
        channel or some other device.  The term is used to contrast
        this with some higher level interpretation of the bits such as
        an integer or an {image}.  A {bit string} is similar but
        suggests an arbitrary, as opposed to predetermined, length.
     
        (1998-09-27)