U.S. patent application number 13/566637 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-24 for information input output method using dot pattern.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kenji Yoshida. Invention is credited to Kenji Yoshida.
Application Number | 20130020386 13/566637 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36614585 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130020386 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yoshida; Kenji |
January 24, 2013 |
INFORMATION INPUT OUTPUT METHOD USING DOT PATTERN
Abstract
A quadrangular or rectangular area on a medium surface of a
printed material is defined as a block. A virtual straight line in
a vertical direction and a horizontal direction each along an edge
of the block are defined as reference grid lines. Virtual grid
points are virtually provided at a predetermined interval on the
reference grid lines. A reference grid point dot is placed on a
virtual grid point lined in a horizontal direction among the
virtual grid points. Virtual straight lines connecting the
reference grid point dots and the virtual grid points lined in a
vertical direction are defined as grid lines. A virtual
intersection point of the grid lines is defined as a virtual grid
point. A dot pattern is generated by arranging one or more
information dots having a distance and direction on the base of the
virtual grid point.
Inventors: |
Yoshida; Kenji; (Tokyo,
JP) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yoshida; Kenji |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
36614585 |
Appl. No.: |
13/566637 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11794174 |
Jun 26, 2007 |
8237983 |
|
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PCT/JP2004/019613 |
Dec 28, 2004 |
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13566637 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/375 ;
235/454; 235/494 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 19/06037 20130101;
G06K 7/1417 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/375 ;
235/494; 235/454 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30; G06K 7/10 20060101 G06K007/10; G06K 19/06 20060101
G06K019/06 |
Claims
1. A printed material printed with a dot pattern, the dot pattern
comprising: a reference grid point dot placed on a virtual grid
point lined in a horizontal direction among virtual grid points
that are virtually provided at a predetermined interval on
reference grid lines that are virtual straight lines in a vertical
direction and a horizontal direction each along an edge of a block
that is a quadrangular or rectangular area; and one or more
information dots having a distance and a direction on the base of a
virtual grid point that is a virtual intersection point of grid
lines that are virtual straight lines connecting the reference grid
point dots and the virtual grid points lined in a vertical
direction.
2. The printed material printed with the dot pattern according to
claim 1, the dot pattern further comprising: a sub-reference grid
point dot, instead of the information dot, on the virtual grid
point on a grid line which is parallel to the reference grid line
horizontal to a reference block and is placed at a predetermined
interval from the reference grid line in the block.
3. The printed material printed with the dot pattern according to
claim 1, the dot pattern further comprising a key dot that is
placed, instead of the reference grid point dot or the
sub-reference grid point dot, at a position displaced from the
virtual grid point where the reference grid point dot or the
sub-reference grid point dot constituting the block is arranged,
the key dot defining a direction of the block and the configuration
thereof by the displacement direction.
4. The printed material printed with the dot pattern according to
claim 1, wherein the information dot is placed so that numerical
information is defined by calculating a numerical difference
between horizontally adjacent information dots.
5. The printed material printed with the dot pattern according to
claim 1, wherein the blocks are consecutively arranged vertically
and horizontally in any area, and the reference grid point dot is
shared vertically by the blocks.
6. The printed material printed with the dot pattern according to
claim 4, wherein, in the dot pattern where: the blocks are
consecutively arranged in any area; a reference grid point dot and
an information dot at left and right ends of the block are shared;
and a numerical difference between horizontally adjacent
information dots is calculated to define numerical information
between the information dots, an initial value of an information
dot at a horizontal end in the area is determined by any random
number.
7. The printed material printed with the dot pattern according to
claim 3, wherein the key dot is placed on at least one of the four
corners of the block.
8. The printed material printed with the dot pattern according to
claim 1, wherein information in an information dot of the block is
defined by using a position of the information dot in the block to
arbitrarily limit the distance and the direction from the virtual
grid point for each information dot.
9. A dot pattern comprising: a reference grid point dot placed on a
virtual grid point lined in a horizontal direction among virtual
grid points that are virtually provided at a predetermined interval
on reference grid lines that are virtual straight lines in a
vertical direction and a horizontal direction each along an edge of
a block that is a quadrangular or rectangular area; and one or more
information dots having a distance and a direction on the base of a
virtual grid point that is a virtual intersection point of grid
lines that are virtual straight lines connecting the reference grid
point dots and the virtual grid points lined in a vertical
direction.
10. An optical reading device comprising: a reading unit that
obtains the dot pattern according to claim 1, as image data; and a
processor that analyzes the image data and decodes a numeric value
defined by the dot pattern.
11. A reading method comprising: obtaining the dot pattern
according to claim 1, as image data; and by a processor, analyzing
the image data and decoding a numeric value defined by the dot
pattern.
12. An electronic device storing a sequence of instructions for
causing a processor to execute: from a reading unit, obtaining the
dot pattern according to claim 1, onto the processor as image data;
and analyzing the image data and decoding a numeric value defined
by the dot pattern.
13. A dot pattern reading device comprising: a reading unit that
obtains the dot pattern according to claim 1, as image data; and a
processor that analyzes the image data, decodes a numeric value
defined by the dot pattern, and controls an information output
device based on the decoded numeric value.
14. A reading method comprising: obtaining the dot pattern
according to claim 1, as image data; by a processor, analyzing the
image data and decoding a numeric value defined by the dot pattern;
and controlling an information output device based on the decoded
numeric value.
15. An information processing device for using a dot pattern
reading method: a reading unit that obtains the dot pattern
according to claim 1, as image data; and a processor that analyzes
the image data, decodes a numeric value defined by the dot pattern,
and executes a processing corresponding to the decoded numeric
value.
16. A dot pattern generation program for generating the dot pattern
according to claim 1.
17. A dot pattern generation device comprising: a processor
programmed in accordance with a dot pattern generation algorithm
for generating the dot pattern according to claim 1; and a
transmission unit that transmits the dot pattern to a dot pattern
output unit.
18. A dot pattern generation method of a dot pattern comprising:
generating the dot pattern according to claim 1 in accordance with
a dot pattern generation algorithm for generating the dot pattern;
and transmitting the dot pattern to a dot pattern output unit.
19. An information input and output device comprising: a reading
unit that obtains the dot pattern according to claim 1, as image
data; a processor that analyzes the image data and decodes a
numeric value defined by the dot pattern; and an output unit that
outputs at least one of a voice, an image, a moving image, a
character, and an executed result of a program that are related
with the numeric value decoded by the processor.
20. An information input and output method using a dot pattern
comprising: from a reading unit, obtaining the dot pattern
according to claim 1, as image data; by a processor, decoding the
dot pattern; and outputting at least one of a voice, an image, a
moving image, a character, and an executed result of a program that
are related with a numeric value decoded by the processor.
21. An electronic device, storing a sequence of instructions for
causing a processor to execute: from a reading unit, obtaining the
dot pattern according to claim 1, onto the processor as image data;
by a processor, decoding the dot pattern; and outputting at least
one of a voice, an image, a moving image, a character, and an
executed result of a program that are related with a numeric value
decoded by the processor.
22. The information processing device for reading the dot pattern
according to claim 15, wherein the corresponding processing is
outputting of at least one of a voice, an image, a moving image, a
character, and an executed result of a program.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/794,174, filed on Jun. 26, 2007, which is a
371 National Stage of International Application No.
PCT/JP2004/019613, filed on Dec. 28, 2004, the entire contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an information input output
method using a dot pattern for inputting and outputting various
information and programs by optically scanning dot pattern
information formed on a printed material and the like.
[0004] 2. Background Art
[0005] There has been proposed an information input output method
for outputting audio information and the like by scanning a bar
code printed on a printed material and the like. For example, a
method has been proposed to store information corresponding to a
given key in a storage means, and retrieve the information
corresponding to the key scanned by a bar code reader. In addition,
a technique has been proposed to generate a dot pattern in which
fine dots are arranged based on a predetermined rule to output many
information and programs, use a camera to scan the dot pattern
printed on a printed material into image data, and digitize the
data to output audio information.
[0006] However, the aforementioned conventional method of using a
bar code to output audio information and the like has a problem in
that a bar code printed on a printed material and the like may
obstruct the view. There is another problem in that, when a bar
code is large enough to occupy a part of the paper, it is
substantially impossible to arrange many bar codes in a limited
layout space with each bar code placed in part of text or a
sentence or for each meaningful character and other object
appearing in an image such as a photograph, a picture, and a
graphic so as to be easily viewed.
[0007] A camera is used to capture a dot pattern as image data
which is digitized into an achromatic 256-gray-scale image, and
then a change in gray scale is differentiated to recognize a dot.
The differential coefficient is compared with a predetermined
threshold value to obtain a dot edge. Then, the 256-gray-scale data
is converted to binary data indicating white or black. This binary
conversion may lead to a dot print error due to a printing blur or
misalignment, or pixilation misalignment when dots are printed on
paper. Conventionally, these printing errors are checked by parity
checking. However, this error checking has a problem in that a
specific dot causing a printing error cannot be identified and
imaging range must be broadened because error checking is performed
on a chunk of data containing a plurality of dots instead of
individual dot.
[0008] Another problem lies in that, lens distortion, oblique
imaging, expansion and contraction of paper, curved surface of a
medium surface, and distortion at the time of printing may cause a
dot pattern to be distorted, thereby requiring an advanced
technique for correcting the distortions.
[0009] The present invention is provided to solve these problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique in
which a dot pattern to be displayed on a printed material and the
like can be placed based on a new rule to define a large amount of
data.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A first aspect of the present invention is an information
output method using a dot pattern, wherein a quadrangular or
rectangular area on a medium surface of a printed material and the
like is defined as a block; a straight line in a vertical direction
and a horizontal direction each along an edge of the block is
defined as a reference grid line; a virtual grid point is placed at
a predetermined interval on the reference grid line; a reference
grid point dot is placed on a virtual grid point on the horizontal
reference grid lines; a straight line connecting the reference grid
point dots and virtual grid points on a vertical line is defined as
a grid line; an intersection point of grid lines is defined as a
virtual grid point; and one or more information dots having a
distance and a direction on the base of the virtual grid point are
arranged to form a dot pattern, the method comprising: generating
the dot pattern; scanning the dot pattern into image information by
an optical reading means; converting the dot pattern into a
numerical value; and reading and outputting the information
corresponding to the numerical information from a storage
means.
[0011] According to this method, a dot pattern capable of defining
a large amount of information can be generated by placing an
information dot on the base of a virtual grid point in an area
between the upper and lower reference grid lines configuring an
upper edge and a lower edge of a quadrangular block.
[0012] A second aspect of the present invention is an information
input output method using a dot pattern, according to the first
aspect thereof, wherein a sub-reference grid point dot in stead of
the information dot is placed on the virtual grid point on a grid
line which is parallel to the reference grid line horizontal to a
reference block and is placed at a predetermined interval from the
reference grid line in the block.
[0013] Use of a sub-reference grid point allows even low precision
data to be used to easily identify a grid line and accurately
calculate positional relation of an information dot from a virtual
grid point. More specifically, use of a sub-reference grid point
dot enables analysis for any misalignment of dots printed on a
medium surface (paper), centering errors of digitized dots, folding
of a print surface, and deformation of a dot pattern shot in an
oblique direction by an optical reading means.
[0014] A third aspect of the present invention is an information
input output method using a dot pattern, according to one of the
first and second aspects thereof, wherein at least one of the
reference grid dots or sub-reference grid dots constituting the
block is displaced from a virtual grid point and is used as a key
dot in which the displacement direction to the block and the
configuration of the block are defined.
[0015] Use of a key dot allows the optical reading means to
recognize the direction of a dot pattern. Thus, a larger amount of
information can be defined as a dot pattern by changing the meaning
of an information dot read for each direction.
[0016] A fourth aspect of the present invention is an information
input output method using a dot pattern, according to one of the
first to third aspects thereof, wherein a numerical difference
between horizontally adjacent information dots in the information
dot is calculated into numerical information to output an
information group enumerating the numerical information in the
block.
[0017] A fifth aspect of the present invention is an information
input output method using a dot pattern, according to one of the
first to fourth aspects thereof, wherein the block is arranged
consecutively in any area vertically and horizontally, and the
reference grid dot is shared horizontally by each block.
[0018] A larger amount of information can be placed in a smaller
area by sharing a reference grid dot.
[0019] In addition, same data is defined for each block in any area
so that, when the optical reading means shoots anywhere in the
area, the same data can be obtained. Further, the X and Y
coordinates are defined for each block so as to use the optical
reading means as a coordinate indicating means such as a digitizer
and a tablet.
[0020] A sixth aspect of the present invention is an information
input output method using a dot pattern, according to the fourth
and fifth aspects thereof, wherein a reference grid dot and an
information dot at left and right ends of the block are shared in a
dot pattern placed consecutively in the area, and in the dot
pattern in which a numerical difference between horizontally
adjacent information dots is calculated to define numerical
information between information dots, an initial value of an
information dot at a horizontal end in the area is determined by
any random number.
[0021] This method also allows a larger amount of information to be
placed in a smaller area by sharing a reference grid dot.
[0022] Repetition of an uneven distribution of a dot in the same
position can be prevented by applying a dot placement algorithm
using a difference method to a dot pattern placed consecutively in
an area. Thus, visual recognition of a blurred pattern and the like
due to repetition of an uneven distribution of a dot in the same
position can be prevented.
[0023] A seventh aspect of the present invention is an information
input output method using a dot pattern, according to the third to
sixth aspects thereof, wherein the key dot is placed on at least
one of the four corners of a block.
[0024] According to this method, a key dot is placed in any
position on the four corners of a block to partition one block of
data analytically and visually, thus facilitating generation and
management of data.
[0025] An eighth aspect of the present invention is an information
input output method using a dot pattern, according to one of the
first to seventh aspects thereof, wherein information in an
information dot of the block is defined by using a position of the
information dot in the block to arbitrarily limit the distance and
the direction from the virtual grid point for each information
dot.
[0026] This method allows information to be defined by arbitrarily
limiting the distance and the direction from a virtual grid point,
and a dot pattern in accordance with the present invention can be
used by limiting the application, so as to ensure security of each
other. More specifically, limitedly defined information can be read
only by its corresponding optical reading means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 shows dot patterns in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention: (a) 5 blocks.times.5 blocks, (b) 6
blocks.times.5 blocks, and (b) 7 blocks.times.5 blocks.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a drawing (1) showing the definition of
information of a dot pattern.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a drawing (2) showing the definition of
information of a dot pattern.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a drawing (3) showing the definition of
information of a dot pattern.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a drawing (4) showing the definition of
information of a dot pattern.
[0032] FIG. 6 is an explanatory drawing (1), each showing a dot
reading order.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a drawing (1), each showing a dot
configuration.
[0034] FIG. 8 is an explanatory drawing (2), each showing a dot
reading order.
[0035] FIG. 9 is a drawing (2), each showing a dot
configuration.
[0036] FIG. 10 is an explanatory drawing (1), each showing a dot
reading order in a difference method.
[0037] FIG. 11 is a drawing (1), each showing a dot configuration
when upper and lower reference dots are shared.
[0038] FIG. 12 is an explanatory drawing, each showing a dot
reading order corresponding to FIG. 11.
[0039] FIG. 13 is a drawing, each showing a dot configuration when
an information dot is shared.
[0040] FIG. 14 is a drawing showing a dot reading order and a
method of calculating the value by a difference method.
[0041] FIG. 15 is a drawing showing a dot configuration
corresponding to FIG. 14.
[0042] FIG. 16 is a drawing showing an alternative method of
placing information dots.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0043] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0044] FIG. 1 shows exemplary dot patterns in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention: (a) 4.times.4 grids, (b)
5.times.4 grids, and (c) 6.times.4 grids.
[0045] With reference to FIG. 1 (a), reference grid lines 1a to 1d
are drawn horizontally or vertically along the quadrangle, and a
virtual grid point 4 is placed at a predetermined interval within
the quadrangle.
[0046] Note that reference grid lines 1a to 1d and virtual grid
points 4 are not actually printed on paper, but virtually set in
computer image memory when dot patterns are placed or read.
[0047] Next, a reference grid dot 2 is placed each on a virtual
grid point 4 on upper and lower horizontal reference grid lines 1a
and 1b.
[0048] Next, a line connecting virtual grid points 4 is assumed as
a grid line 3, and an intersection point of the grid lines 3 is
assumed as a virtual grid point 4.
[0049] Next, one or more information dots 5, each having a distance
and a direction from a virtual grid point 4, are placed for each
virtual grid point 4 to form a dot pattern. It should be noted that
one information dot 5 is placed for each virtual grid point 4 in
FIG. 1.
[0050] As described above, FIG. 1 (a) shows that information dots
are placed with four grids in the vertical direction and four grids
in the horizontal direction (4.times.4 grids), (b) 5.times.4 grids,
and (c) 6.times.4 grids. It should be noted that any number of
grids including and exceeding 2.times.1 grids can be placed.
[0051] FIG. 2 shows how to define an information dot. The value of
an information dot is defined depending on the direction from a
virtual grid point 4. More specifically, an information dot can be
placed on one of the eight points, each shifted 45 degrees
clockwise on a grid line 3 passing through a virtual grid point 4
so as to define a total of eight different information dots (000 to
111 in binary notation, three bits).
[0052] With reference to FIG. 3, a two-step distance is provided,
each in the same direction as described above to define a total of
16 different information dots (0000 to 1111 in binary notation,
four bits).
[0053] With reference to FIG. 4, a plurality of information dots 5
are placed concentrically around a virtual grid point 4. If a dot
is present in a concentric ring, 1 is defined, and if not, 0 is
defined so as to define a total of eight bits. Thus, a dot placed
in a vertical direction is defined as a first bit, and then
subsequent bit information is defined clockwise.
[0054] With reference to FIG. 5, the aforementioned concentric
circle is doubled to define a total of 16 bits. This structure
allows a large amount of information to be defined for a virtual
grid point 4.
[0055] FIG. 6 explains the order for an optical reading means to
read information dots. The circled numbers in the FIG. 6 are used
just for convenience, and in actuality correspond to dot patterns
shown in FIGS. 1 (a) to (c).
[0056] With reference to FIG. 6 (a), scanning starts with the
left-most vertical reference grid line 1c to read an information
dot 5 for each virtual grid point 4 (circled numbers from (1) to
(3)). Then scanning moves on to the next vertical grid line 3 to
read from top to bottom (circled numbers from (4) to (6)). This
process is repeated sequentially to read for each grid point.
[0057] It should be noted that the above described order of reading
for each grid point is to start with the left-most vertical grid
line, but it is obvious to set any order of placing and reading
information.
[0058] With reference to FIG. 7, a grid line 30 is assumed to be
drawn in parallel between the upper reference grid line 1a and the
lower reference grid line 1b, and a sub-reference grid point dot 20
in stead of an information dot is placed each on this grid line
30.
[0059] When a conventional optical reading means reads these dot
patterns, the optical reading means starts to scan the upper
reference grid line 1a and the lower reference grid line 1b to find
reference grid point dots 2. Next, the optical reading means
assumes a grid line 3 on a computer, and then assumes a virtual
grid point 4 from the grid line 3, and finally determines the
distance and length of an information dot 5 on the base of this
virtual grid point 4.
[0060] However, with an increase in the number of grids between the
reference grid lines 1a and 1b, information dot reading errors may
occur due to deformations of paper (medium surface) or reading
precision of the optical reading means.
[0061] However, if a dot (sub-reference grid point dot 20) is
placed on every virtual grid point 4 on a grid line 30 placed in
the middle between the reference grid lines 1a and 1b as shown in
FIGS. 7 (a) to (c), these dots can be used as the base of reading.
Thus, information dots can be easily read without any reading error
even if any deformation occurs in paper (medium surface) or the
optical reading means has low precision.
[0062] It should be noted that a grid line 30 is placed in an equal
distance (equal number of grids) from between the reference grid
lines 1a and 1b, but sub-reference grid point dots 20 may be placed
on any grid line parallel to the reference grid lines 1a and
1b.
[0063] With reference to FIG. 7 (b), a sub-reference grid point dot
20 is placed each on a grid line 30 in a 4.times.5 grid area. With
reference to FIG. 7 (c), a sub-reference grid point dot 20 is
placed each on a grid line 30 in a 6.times.4 grid area. It should
be noted that any number of grids including and exceeding 4.times.1
grid can be set.
[0064] FIGS. 8 (a) to (c) show the order of reading information
dots in a dot pattern having sub-reference grid point dots placed
as described in FIG. 7. Circles numbers shown in the FIGS. indicate
the order of reading. As shown in these FIGS., sub-reference grid
point dots are placed on a grid line C. Thus information dots
cannot be placed on grid point portions, but reading precision can
be greatly improved as described above, time to calculate
information dot values can be reduced, and information dot 5 can be
easily read without causing an error. With reference to FIGS. 9 (a)
and (b), key dots instead of reference grid point dots are placed
on virtual grid points on a reference grid line. In FIG. 9 (a), a
key dot is placed on a position shifted upward from a virtual grid
point in a middle position of a reference grid line A. In FIG. 9
(b), a key dot is placed on a sub-reference grid point dot on a
middle grid line 30.
[0065] These key dots can be used to define the direction of a dot
pattern.
[0066] FIG. 10 describes the order of reading information dots
using a difference method. Hereinafter, bracketed numbers are
indicated by [], circled numbers are indicated by ( ).
[0067] For example, with reference to FIG. 10 (a) showing 4.times.4
grids, a value [1] is represented by a difference between
information dot values (4) and (1).
[0068] By the same token, a value [2] is represented by a
difference between information dot values (5) and (2), and a value
[3] is represented by a difference between information dot values
(6) and (3). Values [4] to [12] are represented in a similar
manner.
[0069] Each of the values [1] to [12] is represented by a
difference between information dot values as shown below.
[1]=(4)-(1)
[2]=(5)-(2)
[3]=(6)-(3)
[4]=(7)-(4)
[5]=(8)-(5)
[6]=(9)-(6)
[7]=(10)-(7)
[8]=(11)-(8)
[9]=(12)-(9)
[10]=(13)-(10)
[11]=(14)-(11)
[12]=(15)-(12) [Mathematical formula 1]
[0070] FIG. 10 (b) shows that this difference is represented by
4.times.2 grids. In this FIG. 10 (b), a sub-reference grid point 20
is placed.
[0071] Hereinafter, in FIG. 10 (b), values [1] to [8] are
represented each by a difference between information dots as shown
below.
[1]=(2)-(1)
[2]=(3)-(2)
[3]=(4)-(3)
[4]=(5)-(4)
[5]=(7)-(6)
[6]=(8)-(7)
[7]=(9)-(8)
[8]=(10)-(9) [Mathematical formula 2]
[0072] This difference method allows a plurality of different dot
patterns to be generated from one true value, thereby enhancing
security.
[0073] It should be noted that not only a difference method but
also any formula defined between information dots can be used to
calculate a true value.
[0074] With reference to FIG. 11, reference grid point dots on
upper and lower reference grid lines are shared.
[0075] With reference to FIG. 11 (a), vertical reference grid lines
are not shared. In this case, the number of information dots
remains unchanged.
[0076] With reference to FIG. 11 (b), sub-reference grid lines are
placed.
[0077] FIG. 12 shows the order of reading information dots
corresponding to FIGS. 11 (a) and (b).
[0078] With reference to FIG. 13 (a), a difference method is used
to share information dots on vertical reference grid lines with
adjacent grids. In this case, random numbers are used for
information dots (initial values in a difference) placed on
left-most vertical reference grid lines to arrange the subsequent
(rightward) dots in irregular positions, thereby preventing visual
blurring of a dot pattern.
[0079] With reference to FIG. 13 (b), sub-reference grid point dots
are placed on a grid line C in FIG. 13 (a). In this case,
information dots cannot be placed on grid points, but there are
advantages that reading precision is greatly improved and
calculation time is reduced. FIG. 14 is an explanatory drawing
showing the order of reading information dots corresponding to FIG.
13.
[0080] FIG. 14 (a) is an example of 4.times.4 grids, and values [1]
to [12] are represented by a difference between information dots as
shown below.
[1]=.sub.1(4).sub.1-.sub.1(1).sub.1=.sub.1(4).sub.2-.sub.1(1).sub.2=.sub-
.2(4).sub.1-.sub.2(1).sub.1=.sub.2(4).sub.2-.sub.2(1).sub.2
[2]=.sub.1(5).sub.1-.sub.1(2).sub.1=.sub.1(5).sub.2-.sub.1(2).sub.2=.sub-
.2(5).sub.1-.sub.2(2).sub.1=.sub.2(5).sub.2-.sub.2(2).sub.2
[3]=.sub.1(6).sub.1=.sub.1(3).sub.1=.sub.1(6).sub.2-.sub.1(3).sub.2=.sub-
.2(6).sub.1-.sub.2(3).sub.1=.sub.2(6).sub.2-.sub.2(3).sub.2
[4]=.sub.1(7).sub.1-.sub.1(4).sub.1=.sub.1(7).sub.2-.sub.1(4).sub.2=.sub-
.2(7).sub.1-.sub.2(4).sub.132 .sub.2(7).sub.2-.sub.2(4).sub.2
[5]=.sub.1(8).sub.1-.sub.1(5).sub.1=.sub.1(8).sub.2-.sub.1(5).sub.2=.sub-
.2(8).sub.1-.sub.2(5).sub.1=.sub.2(8).sub.2-.sub.2(5).sub.2
[6]=.sub.1(9).sub.1-.sub.1(6).sub.1=.sub.1(9).sub.2-.sub.1(6).sub.2=.sub-
.2(9).sub.1-.sub.2(6).sub.1=.sub.2(9).sub.2-.sub.2(6).sub.2
[7]=.sub.1(10).sub.1-.sub.1(7).sub.1=.sub.1(10).sub.2-.sub.1(7).sub.2=.s-
ub.2(10).sub.1-.sub.2(7).sub.1=.sub.2(10).sub.2-.sub.2(7).sub.2
[8]=.sub.1(11).sub.1-.sub.1(8).sub.1=.sub.1(11).sub.2-.sub.1(8).sub.2=.s-
ub.2(11).sub.1-.sub.2(8).sub.1=.sub.2(11).sub.2-.sub.2(8).sub.2
[9]=.sub.1(12).sub.1-.sub.1(9).sub.1=.sub.1(12).sub.2-.sub.1(9).sub.2=.s-
ub.2(12).sub.1-.sub.2(9).sub.1=.sub.2(12).sub.2-.sub.2(9).sub.2
[10]=.sub.1(1).sub.2-.sub.1(10).sub.1=.sub.1(1).sub.3-.sub.1(10).sub.2=.-
sub.2(1).sub.2-.sub.2(10).sub.1=.sub.2(1).sub.3-.sub.2(10).sub.2
[11]=.sub.1(2).sub.2-.sub.1(11).sub.1=.sub.1(2).sub.3-.sub.1(11).sub.2=.-
sub.2(2).sub.2-.sub.2(11).sub.1=.sub.2(2).sub.3-.sub.2(11).sub.2
[12]=.sub.1(3).sub.2-.sub.1(12).sub.1=.sub.1(3).sub.3-.sub.1(12).sub.2=.-
sub.2(3).sub.2-.sub.2(12).sub.1=.sub.2(3).sub.3-.sub.2(12).sub.2
[Mathematical formula 3]
[0081] With reference to FIG. 14 (b), sub-reference grid points are
placed in FIG. 14 (a), and values [1] to [8] are represented each
by a difference between information dots as shown below.
[1]=.sub.1(2).sub.1-.sub.1(1).sub.1=.sub.1(2).sub.2-.sub.1(1).sub.2=.sub-
.2(2).sub.1-.sub.2(1).sub.1=.sub.2(2).sub.2-.sub.2(1).sub.2
[2]=.sub.1(3).sub.1-.sub.1(2).sub.1=.sub.1(3).sub.2-.sub.1(2).sub.2=.sub-
.2(3).sub.1-.sub.2(2).sub.1=.sub.2(3).sub.2-.sub.2(2).sub.2
[3]=.sub.1(4).sub.1-.sub.1(3).sub.1=.sub.1=.sub.1(4).sub.2-.sub.1(3).sub-
.2=.sub.2(4).sub.1-.sub.2(3).sub.1=.sub.2(4).sub.2-.sub.2(3).sub.2
[4]=.sub.1(5).sub.1-.sub.1(4).sub.1=.sub.1(5).sub.2-.sub.1(4).sub.2=.sub-
.2(5).sub.1.sup.-.sub.2(4).sub.1=.sub.2(5).sub.2-.sub.2(4).sub.2
[5]=.sub.1(6).sub.1-.sub.1(5).sub.1=.sub.1(6).sub.2-.sub.1(5).sub.2=.sub-
.2(6).sub.1-.sub.2(5).sub.1=.sub.2(6).sub.2-.sub.2(5).sub.2
[6]=.sub.1(7).sub.1-.sub.1(6).sub.1=.sub.1(7).sub.2-.sub.1(6).sub.2=.sub-
.2(7).sub.1-.sub.2(6).sub.1=.sub.2(7).sub.2-.sub.2(6).sub.2
[7]=.sub.1(8).sub.1-.sub.1(7).sub.1=.sub.1(8).sub.2-.sub.1(7).sub.2=.sub-
.2(8).sub.1-.sub.2(7).sub.1=.sub.2(8).sub.2-.sub.2(7).sub.2
[8]=.sub.1(5).sub.2-.sub.1(8).sub.1=.sub.1(5).sub.3-.sub.1(8).sub.2=.sub-
.2(5).sub.2-.sub.2(8).sub.1=.sub.2(5).sub.3-.sub.2(8).sub.2
[Mathematical formula 4]
[0082] With reference to FIG. 15, a key dot is placed on each of
the four corners to define the block.
[0083] FIG. 15 (a) shows an example of a dot pattern having
4.times.4 grids, FIG. 15 (b) also shows an example of a dot pattern
having 4.times.4 grids with sub-reference grid points.
[0084] With reference to FIG. 16 (a), information dots are placed
shifted for each grid in vertical and horizontal directions and in
an oblique direction.
In this way, distance and direction from a virtual grid point is
shifted every one grid to define the dot position, thereby
maintaining security based on the positional rule. More
specifically, information dots are placed by rigorously defining
the position so that only an optical reading means corresponding to
this configuration can the read information dots.
[0085] With reference to FIG. 16 (b), sub-reference grid points are
placed in a dot pattern shown in FIG. 16 (a).
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0086] As described above, according to the information input
output method using a dot pattern in accordance with embodiments of
the present invention, a virtual grid point is placed at a
predetermined interval in an area between the upper and lower
reference grid points, and an information dot is placed in a
position having a distance and a direction from a virtual grid
point to define any information, thereby increasing the amount of
information contained in a dot pattern.
[0087] In addition, an optical reading means is used to scan a dot
pattern and recognize a reference grid point dot and extract a key
dot which is used to recognize the direction which can be used as a
parameter. Next, an information dot placed between the upper and
lower reference grid points is extracted to quickly output
information and a program.
[0088] In addition, a reference grid point dot or a sub-reference
grid point dot is placed in a dot pattern so that deformations of a
dot pattern due to camera lens distortion, expansion and
contraction of paper, curved surface of a medium, and distortion at
the time of printing can be corrected when an optical reading means
scans the dot pattern into image data.
[0089] Further, a dot configuration error can be checked by
defining any information for each information dot in a block by
specifying the distance and the direction from a virtual grid
point, thereby enhancing security.
* * * * *