U.S. patent application number 09/099616 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-25 for system and method for imprinting and reading a sound message on a greeting card.
Invention is credited to SOSCIA, PETER P..
Application Number | 20020048030 09/099616 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26796276 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020048030 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SOSCIA, PETER P. |
April 25, 2002 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPRINTING AND READING A SOUND MESSAGE ON A
GREETING CARD
Abstract
Both a system and method for optically imprinting and reading
sound data onto a piece of printed sheet material such as a
greeting card is provided. The system includes an encoding device
for converting a sound message into a two-dimensional encodement, a
printer for invisibly imprinting the encodement onto the greeting
card, and a reader for optically reading the encodement and
converting it into a sound corresponding to the message. The
encoding device preferably converts the sound message into a
compressed digitized form prior to its ultimate conversion into a
two-dimensional encodement. The reader preferably includes a lens
for focusing an image of the encodement onto the image sensor
array. The sensor array responds to the image by generating a
digital signal representative of the compressed sound that the
reader decompresses and renders into an analog sound signal which
is representative of the original sound image. Both the system and
method are particularly useful in providing an individualized sound
message on customized greeting cards.
Inventors: |
SOSCIA, PETER P.; (GENESEO,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATENT LEGAL STAFF
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
343 STATE STREET
ROCHESTER
NY
14650-2201
US
|
Family ID: |
26796276 |
Appl. No.: |
09/099616 |
Filed: |
June 18, 1998 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09099616 |
Jun 18, 1998 |
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08959036 |
Oct 28, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.9 ;
G9B/7.004; G9B/7.038 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 7/013 20130101;
G11B 7/0033 20130101; G11B 20/00007 20130101; G11B 7/0045 20130101;
G11B 7/005 20130101; G11B 7/13 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.9 |
International
Class: |
B41J 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A system for imprinting and reading sound data from a piece of
printed sheet material, comprising: an encoding device for
converting a sound message into a two-dimensional encodement; a
printer for printing said encodement onto a piece of sheet
material, and a reader including an image sensor array for
optically reading said encodement and converting it into sound
corresponding to said message.
2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheet material
that said encodement is printed on is said piece of printed sheet
material.
3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheet material
that said encodement is printed on is separate from said piece of
printed sheet material.
4. The system as defined in claim 3, wherein said sheet material
that said encodement is printed on is transparent and affixed to
said piece of printed sheet material.
5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said printer invisibly
imprints said encodement onto said sheet material.
6. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein said piece of sheet
material includes an imprinted image, and said printer invisibly
imprints said encodement into said image.
7. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein said piece of sheet
material includes an imprinted design, and said printer invisibly
imprints said encodement into said design.
8. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding device
includes a sound recorder for recording said sound message.
9. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding device
includes a digitizer circuit for converting an analog sound signal
into digital data.
10. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein said encoding device
includes a compressor circuit for compressing digital sound
data.
11. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said piece of printed
sheet material is a greeting card.
12. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said piece of printed
sheet material is a postcard.
13. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said two-dimensional
encodement includes redundant data at different locations within
said encodement for enhanced reading reliability.
14. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said reader includes
a lens for focusing an image of said encodement onto said image
sensor array for allowing said reader to read said encodement at a
distance from said printed sheet material.
15. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein said image sensor
array is one of a two-dimensional array or the combination of a
linear array and a movable optical member for sweeping an image of
said encodement over said linear array for allowing said reader to
optically read said encodement from a stationary position with
respect to said printed sheet material.
16. A system for invisibly imprinting and optically reading sound
data from a piece of printed sheet material, comprising: an
encoding device for converting a sound message into a
two-dimensional encodement representative of a compressed sound
signal; a printer for invisibly printing said encodement onto a
piece of sheet material, and a reader including an image sensor
array for generating a compressed sound signal in response to an
image of said encodement, and a lens for focusing said encodement
image onto said sensor array.
17. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein said piece of
printed sheet material is a greeting card.
18. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein said piece of
printed sheet material is a postcard.
19. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein said printer prints
said encodement onto said piece of printed sheet material.
20. The system as defined in claim 16, wherein said printer prints
said encodement onto a second piece of sheet material that is
second piece of sheet material that is secured to said piece of
printed sheet material.
21. A system for invisibly imprinting and optically reading sound
data from a piece of printed sheet material, comprising: an
encoding device for converting a sound message into a
two-dimensional encodement, including a digitizer circuit for
converting an analog sound signal into digital data, and a
compressor circuit for compressing said digital sound data; a
printer for invisibly printing said encodement onto said piece of
sheet material, and a reader including an image sensor array for
generating a compressed digital sound signal in response to an
image of said encodement, a lens for focusing an image of said
encodement onto said sensor array, a decompression circuit for
converting said digital sound signal into a decompressed analog
sound signal representative of said sound message, and a speaker
for converting said analog sound signal into sound.
22. The system as defined in claim 21, wherein said piece of
printed sheet material is one of a greeting card, a postcard, and a
letter.
23. The system as defined in claim 21, wherein said encodement
includes redundant data in different locations within said
encodement to enhance reliability of said reader.
24. The system as defined in claim 21, wherein said image sensor
array is a CMOS image sensor.
25. A method for imprinting and optically reading sound data from a
piece of printed sheet material, comprising the steps of:
converting a sound message into a two-dimensional compressed
encodement of said message; invisibly imprinting said encodement
onto a piece of sheet material, and optically reading said
encodement and converting said encodement into sound representative
of said sound message.
26. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said encodement is
invisibly imprinted onto said piece of printed sheet material.
27. The method as defined in claim 25, further comprising the step
of recording said sound message prior to converting said message
into a two-dimensional encodement.
28. The method as defined in claim 27, further comprising the step
of augmenting and editing said recorded sound message prior to
converting said message into a two-dimensional encodement.
29. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said piece of
printed sheet material is one of a greeting card and postcard.
30. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said optical reading
step includes the steps of focusing an image of said encodement
onto an image sensor array to generate a compressed digital sound
signal; decompressing said compressed digital sound signal into an
analog sound signal, and converting said analog sound signal into
sound.
31. A method for optically imprinting and reading a sound message
on a greeting card, comprising the steps of recording a sound
message; converting said sound message into a two-dimensional
compressed encodement of said message; invisibly imprinting said
encodement onto said greeting card, and optically reading said
encodement from said greeting card by focusing an image of said
encodement onto an image sensor array to generate a compressed
digital sound signal, decompressing said compressed digital sound
signal into an analog sound signal, and converting said analog
sound signal into sound.
32. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein said message
recordation step is implemented by remotely transmitting said sound
message to a recorder.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 08/959,036 filed Oct. 28, 1997.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to the imprinting and
reading of sound data on a piece of printed sheet material, and is
specifically concerned with the optical reading of an invisibly
printed sound message on a greeting card.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Techniques for incorporating sound messages into greeting
cards are known in the prior art. An example of such a device is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,698. Here, the user records a
message into a telephone answering machine which the vendor of the
card then encodes into a small, battery operated playback device
installed in the card. When the card is opened, a switch may be
depressed to activate playback of the sound message. A similar
recording and playback device for use in a postcard is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No.4,791,741.
[0004] While such prior art techniques certainly enhance the
personalization of a greeting card or postcard, they are
accompanied by a number of drawbacks. First, despite ongoing
progress in the miniaturization of electronic components, such
playback devices are relatively large and bulky relative to the
sheet material that forms the card, and hence interfere with the
aesthetics of the card by providing either an unsightly bulge or
unwanted thickness along at least a portion of the card. To
minimize the aesthetic intrusiveness of such modules, they are
manufactured in as compact and lightweight a form as possible.
However, the resulting small and lightweight structures of such
modules necessarily limits the quality of the sound they produce,
and renders them fragile and susceptible to breakage when conveyed
through the various machinery of the postal service. Thirdly, the
power cells used in such modules are likewise necessarily small and
of limited power capacity, which in turn limits the module to a
relatively short lifetime of operation.
[0005] It is also known to provide sound data on other forms of
written or image bearing sheet material which is optically read by
a hand-held device. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,803 discloses
a system where a sound track is formed from a series of visible
segments is printed over selected portions on the pages of a
publication, such as a book. An optical scanner is provided which,
when slid over the sound tracks, converts the sound track to sound.
Similarly, French patent 2,494,873 discloses the use of a visibly
printed bar code onto sheet music. A hand-held stylus-like decoder
reads the bar code when swiped over it in order to produce sounds
representative of the musical notes on the sheet music.
[0006] However, in both of these inventions, the conspicuous
visibility of the printed sound track or bar code is not only
unsightly, but visually distracting which is particularly
problematical in the sheet music disclosed in the French '873
patent. While invisible inks are known, the necessary scanning
motions that the system operator must execute in order to read the
sound track or bar code necessitates that the printed
representation of the sound data in these inventions be easily seen
for proper alignment between the scanner and track or code.
Finally, because of the required alignment between the sound track
or bar code and the head of the scanning mechanism during the
scanning movement, there is a possibility that the sound
reproduction in either of these two prior art systems may be either
unreliable or distorted due to inaccurate alignment.
[0007] It is also known to adhere a magnetic recording strip onto a
photographic print for the storage of a sound message or commentary
directly on the print. Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,270,853. However, such a system provides limited storage space
and uses up available image space when placed on front of the
print. Moving the magnetic strip to the back of the photographic
print reduces its accessibility and makes it awkward to reproduce
the sound while viewing the print. Moreover, this system requires a
magnetic reader head that must be swiped along the longitudinal
axis of the magnetic strip in accurate alignment therewith for the
sound message to be played back with any degree or reliability and
accuracy.
[0008] Clearly, there is a need for a technique for providing a
personalized sound message on a greeting card, postcard, or other
written message which does not rely upon electronic modules that
create unwanted thicknesses in the card sheet material or unsightly
bar codes or magnetic strips. Ideally, such a system would be
capable of incorporating a high-quality sound recording directly on
the surface of the card in an easy, inexpensive and visually
unintrusive manner. The available message length should be as long
as possible to accommodate sound messages of long duration.
Finally, the system should allow for the playback of such a sound
message in an easy and reliable manner which does not rely upon
sweeping or scanning movements that must be critically aligned with
a bar code or magnetic strip.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Generally speaking, the invention is a system and method for
optically imprinting and reading sound data from a printed piece of
sheet material, such as a greeting card that overcomes the
shortcomings associated with the prior art. The system comprises an
encoding device for converting a sound message into a
two-dimensional encodement, a printer for invisibly imprinting the
encodement onto a piece of sheet material, and a reader including
an image sensor array for optically and remotely reading the
encodement and converting it into sound corresponding to the
message without the need for a swiping or scanning movement.
[0010] The encodement may be printed directly onto the printed
sheet material, or onto a different, transparent sheet of material
that is adhered or otherwise secured onto the printed sheet
material. Where the piece of sheet material includes an imprinted
image or design, the encodement may be invisibly integrated into
such image or design. Such invisible integration allows the use of
infrared dyes that would be faintly perceptible if printed against
a blank, light background while still preventing the encodement
from becoming a visual distraction on the greeting card or postcard
that the system or method is applied to.
[0011] The encoding device preferably includes a digitizer for
converting an analog sound system into digital data, a compressor
circuit for compressing the digital sound data, and a circuit for
rendering the compressed digital sound data into a two-dimensional
encodement. The printer preferably imprints the two-dimensional
encodement onto the piece of sheet material in a manner that is
invisible to the human eye. The printer can either print the
encodement onto the piece of printed sheet material, or onto
another piece of sheet material (which may be transparent) which is
subsequently secured onto the printed material. The reader may
include a lens for focusing an image of the encodement onto the
image sensor array to allow it to be remotely read. The image
sensor array may be either a two-dimensional array or a combination
of a linear array and a movable mirror which sweeps the focused
encodement image across the array in such a manner as to obviate
the need for a sweeping movement of the reader. The reader may also
include a decompression circuit for converting digital data
received by the image sensor into an analog sound signal
representative of the original sound message, as well as a speaker
for converting the analog sound signal back into sound.
[0012] The method of the invention includes the steps of recording
a sound message, converting the sound message into a
two-dimensional compressed encodement, invisibly imprinting the
encodement onto a greeting card or a postcard or other written
message, and then optically reading the encodement from the
greeting card by focusing an image of the encodement onto an image
sensor array. The image sensor array responds to the focused image
by generating a compressed digital sound signal which is
decompressed into an analog sound signal and converted into sound
representative of the sound message.
[0013] The message recordation step may be implemented by remotely
transmitting a sound message through any remote voice communication
system, such as a telephone, radio, or internet. The message
recorded may originate from a microphone, another recording device
such as a tape recorder, or the sound recording of a camera having
such a capacity, an audio CD or CD-ROM, or even a remote sound
library. The method of the invention may further include the step
of augmenting and editing the sound message prior to the conversion
of an analog sound signal representative of the sound message into
a compressed digital signal. The addition of such a step finds
particular utility in a greeting card customizing kiosk, where the
user might wish to mix sounds (such as background music) with a
verbal message that is imprinted onto the greeting card or other
type of communication.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a greeting card printing
station that includes an encoding circuit and a printer for
invisibly printing a sound message onto a greeting card;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the encoding circuit
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a drawing of a greeting card produced by the
printer illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIGS. 4a and 4b are enlargements of image areas of the
greeting card illustrated in FIG. 3, illustrating how selected
portions of the image area are invisibly encoded with a sound
message;
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates how the sound encodement may be invisibly
imprinted on a transparent sheet material which is subsequently
secured onto a greeting card;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operating
the greeting card printing station illustrated in FIG. 1 in order
to generate the sound encoded greeting card illustrated in FIG.
3;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a blocked diagram of a circuit of a reader that
optically reads the invisibly encoded sound message in the greeting
card illustrated in FIG. 3, and
[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective drawing of a hand-held arrangement
of the optical reader of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein like numbers
designate like components throughout all the several Figures, the
sound encoding components of the invention may easily be integrated
into a greeting card printing station 1. The station 1 may include
a sound encoding circuit 3 having an input cable 5 connected to a
microphone 7, and an output cable 9 connected to a central
processing unit 11. The unit 11 may be, for example, any one of a
number of PC-type computers.
[0023] With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sound encoding
circuit 3 includes an analog to digital converter 13 for receiving
an analog signal from the microphone 7 via cable 5 and for
converting this signal into digital sound. Encoding circuit 3
further includes an audio compression module which reduces the
amount of digital data required to represent the audio signal
received from the microphone 7. Audio compression module 15 may be,
for example, an AMBE-1000 Voice Coder manufactured by Digital Voice
Systems, Inc. Such modules are capable of reducing the amount of
data necessary to represent the analog signal received from the
microphone 7 by about a 10 to 1 ratio. The encoding circuit 3 also
includes an encoder 17 which translates the compressed digital data
received by the audio compression module 15 into a two-dimensional
data array such as, for example, AIM Standard PDF 417. Software and
hardware for encoding and arranging the data according to such a
standard is obtainable from Symbol Technologies, Inc., as part of a
LS 49042D Scanner System. Another example is an encodement known as
"Data Strip" available from Data Strip Corporation. An even more
preferred encodement is commercially available under the trade name
"Paper Disk" from Cobblestone Software, Inc. located in Lexington,
Mass. "Paper Disk" encodement is preferred due to its robustness;
i.e., its scheme of providing redundant information at different
locations within the encodement area. It is also preferred due to
its ability to be optically decoded without error when skewed,
i.e., when tilted at an angle of between 15 and 20.degree. from
perpendicular with respect to the center line of the lens used in
the optical reader (described hereinafter).
[0024] Greeting card printing station 1 may also include an image
scanner 19 of the type used in the "Kodak Image Magic Picture
Maker" manufactured by Eastman Kodak located in Rochester, N.Y.
Such an image scanner 19 includes a glass panel 20 where a
photograph 21 may be supported for an image scanning operation.
Scanner 19 also includes a slot 22 for receiving images from
CD-ROM. While not specifically indicated in FIG. 1, scanner 19 is
also capable of receiving images from floppy discs, and rendering
positive images from negative film. In all cases, the electronic
circuits of the scanner 19 translate an image into a formatted
scheme of digital data which is transmitted to the central
processing unit 11 via a cable 23.
[0025] The greeting card printing station 1 further includes a
display monitor 25 having a CRT tube in combination with the user
keyboard 27 interconnected via a cable 29. The display monitor 25
displays all of the various formatting, print content, print font,
and imaging options open to the operator of the printing station 1,
as well as a precise representation of how these various visual
options will appear on the final printed card. While the station 1
is illustrated as having a keyboard-type interface 27, it may
optionally use a "touch screen" type interface. It should be noted
that all of the various card editing options are stored in the
memory of the CPU 11, whose output is connected to the display
monitor 25 via a cable 26.
[0026] Finally, the greeting card printing station 1 includes a
printer 31 for printing the final format of the card selected on
the display monitor 25 onto an appropriate piece of sheet material.
In the preferred embodiment, printer 31 may be an XLS 8650 digital
color printer manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Company located in
Rochester, N.Y. Such a printer is fully capable of not only
rendering high quality color images with cyan, yellow, and magenta
inks printed in a fine pixelated form, but is also capable of
printing infrared dyes in the aforementioned encodement pattern
which are completely or nearly invisible to the human eye.
[0027] FIGS. 3, 4a and 4b illustrate not only the sound-encoded
greeting card produced by the station I, but the manner in which
the printer 31 imperceptibly prints the sound encodement onto the
face of the card 33. Card 33 may includes image areas 33 generated
by the photograph 21 or other image recording medium run through
the scanner 19 of the greeting card printing station 1. Card 33 may
further include design areas 37 is the form of artistic borders or
other patterns that are selected by the system operator and printed
on the card 33 to enhance appearance. Finally, the card 33 may have
printed areas 39 carrying written greetings, messages, or other
information selected by the user of the printer station 1. In the
preferred embodiment, the sound message encodement is preferably
printed in at least one of the various image, design, or printed
areas 35, 37, and 39 as the darker portions of these areas provides
a situs for the imperceptible printing of, for example, infrared
inks.
[0028] Inks that are highly active in the infrared spectrum may
include, as a principal component, an indium and tin mix oxide.
While such inks are largely neutral with respect to visible light,
they are not entirely so; many display a light yellowish green
color that is distinctly visible to the naked eye, particularly
when printed over a substantially white background. However, such
inks may be imperceptibly integrated into the darker areas 40 in,
for example, an image area 35, as is specifically shown in FIG. 4b.
Such an imperceptible printing may be accomplished by calculating,
via the CPU 11, the precise contribution in terms of both color and
overall visible light absorbency that the infrared ink will make on
everyone of the selected group of pixels once it is overprinted
thereon. Since a yellowish green color may be duplicated by the
deposition of yellow and cyan inks, the CPU 11 first determines the
exact amount of cyan and yellow density values that the
overprinting of the infrared ink will apply to each of the pixels
carrying audio data. After completing this step, the CPU 11 then
calculates the cyan, magenta, and yellow densities for all of the
pixels in the image file which are necessary to create the image in
true color. In other words, the CPU 11 computes the precise number
of cyan, magenta, and yellow density units that will have to be
deposited onto each of the pixels in the image area 35 in order to
obtain the proper "target" color for each pixel. After completing
this step, the CPU 11 then subtracts the cyan, magenta, and yellow
density units computed when determining the color contribution of
the yellowish green infrared ink when the ink is overprinted onto
the image area 35.
[0029] Once this step has been completed, the image area 35 will be
printed in "true" color after the printer 31 prints all of the
image pixels in cyan, magenta, and yellow dye, and then overprints
the image area 35 with infrared ink since the CPU 11 now relies
upon the light, yellowish green contribution of this ink to
complete the image in "true" color. Since this process has the
consequence of eliminating any visible contrast between the
infrared dye and the image area 35, the encoded areas 41 printed
onto the image area 35 by the infrared ink are completely
imperceptible to the human eye. This particular aspect of the
invention is explained in more detail in U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 08/959,036 filed Oct. 18, 1997 assigned to the Eastman
Kodak Company, the entire specification and claims of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates the method of operating the greeting card
printing station illustrated in FIG. 1. The method is initialized
at the start step 45 by activating all of the components of the
system. Next, the photograph 21 or other image is scanned by the
scanner 19, as is indicated in step 47. This step results in the
scanner 19 converting the image into a two-dimensional array of
digital data, and transferring this data into the memory bank of
the CPU 11. Next, the user of the system 1 selects, from the
message, print font, and design choices displayed on the monitor
25, a format for the greeting card, as is indicated in step 49. In
the next step of the method, the user commands the CPU to display a
card bearing both the selected format and the image scanned by the
scanner 19. The CPU responds by displaying a "rough draft" of the
card onto the monitor as is indicated in step 51. In the next step
53, the user edits both the image and the format in accordance with
the system options available. Such editing may involve the
enlargement or reduction of the image, the vignetting of the image,
the selection of different arrangements spacial between the image
and the written greeting, etc. At the end of this step, the user
selects a final format, as is indicated in step 55.
[0031] Next, the user selects the audio message which he or she
wishes to invisibly print onto the card, as is indicated in step
57. Typically, this would involve recording a personalized message
of a designated duration through the microphone 7. The limit of the
message duration may be set, for example, at 10 seconds. As is
indicated in step 59, the user then edits and augments the audio
message. Step 59 may involve, for example, making the message
longer or shorter, or adding other sounds to the message (such as
background music) contained with a sound recordation data bank
within the CPU 11. The user then selects the final version of the
audio message, as is indicated at step 61. He then commands the
printer 31 to print the final card 33, which contains the audio
message in an invisibly printed form as previously described.
[0032] FIG. 7 illustrates the optical reader component of the
system of the invention which operates to optically scan the
invisibly imprinted message in the greeting card 33, and to convert
it into a sound message. To this end, the reader includes a lens
assembly 66 for focusing an image of the invisibly imprinted
encodement onto a two-dimensional sensor array 68 through a
spectral filter 67 (which may be coated directly onto one of the
surfaces of the lens assembly 66). The spectral filter is tuned to
a wavelength that enhances contrast between the infrared dye and
the background, whether the dye is absorptive or fluorescent. The
image sensor array may be, for example, a video graphics array
(VGA) sensor having a resolution of 640 by 480 pixels of a type
well known in the art, or a higher resolution 16 mega pixel model
KAF-6300 manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Company located in
Rochester, N.Y. The use of a two-dimensional image sensor is
preferred since it can capture the entire two-dimensional data
array within the invisibly imprinted encodement without the user
being required to move the reader in a scanning motion over the
greeting card 33. The reader further comprises image sensor
electronics 69, a memory 70, an image 71, a decoder circuit 73
which converts the two-dimensional array of data back into a
digital data stream, a decompressor circuit 75 for decompressing
the digital data stream back into a stream representative of the
sound data prior to compression by the circuit 15 and a digital to
analog converter 77 that converts the digital data stream received
from the circuit 75 back into an analog sound signal. Finally, the
reader includes a transducer/speaker circuit 78 which converts the
analog signal into a sound representative of the originally
recorded sound through the microphone 7. The reader circuit 65 is
essentially the same as that described and claimed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/931,575 filed Sep. 16, 1997 by the Eastman
Kodak Company, the entire specification and claims of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0033] Optionally, an auxiliary light source 79 may be used in
conjunction with the optical reader circuit 65 to enhance the
sensitivity of the reader circuit 65 in reading the encodement on
the greeting card 33.
[0034] Preferably the optical reader circuit 65 is battery operated
and assembled within a cylindrical housing 80 so as to render the
entire reader assembly 81 as easily portable as a common
flashlight, as is shown in FIG. 8.
[0035] While both the system and method of the invention have been
described with respect to a specific embodiment, various additions
and modification will become apparent to persons of ordinary skill
in the art. For example, while the sound message may be
non-perceptibly encoded into the image design or print areas of the
card 33 by way of infrared inks, other invisibly or low visibility
inks (i.e., ultraviolet or fluorescent) may be likewise used to
implement such an encodement. Alternatively, the encodement may be
visible, but "camouflaged" into aesthetic background designs in the
greeting card. While the optical scanner assembly 81 is preferably
portable, it may also be implemented in stationary form. While a
two-dimensional image sensor array is preferred, the combination of
a linear sensor array and pivotally movable mirror could likewise
be used to create a reader assembly which is capable of "scanning"
the image of the encodement without the need for a scanning
movement on the part of the system user. All such variations,
modification, and additions are included within the scope of this
invention, which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.
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