U.S. patent application number 13/682291 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-22 for color micro bar code marker and system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Honeywell International Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.. Invention is credited to Kwong Wing Au, Pedro Davalos, Mahesh K. Gellaboina, Sharath Venkatesha.
Application Number | 20140138441 13/682291 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50692144 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140138441 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davalos; Pedro ; et
al. |
May 22, 2014 |
COLOR MICRO BAR CODE MARKER AND SYSTEM
Abstract
A micro marker is formed of geometric features having various
colors to apply to an object. The micro marker includes a
background having a first color, multiple localization features
formed on the background having a second color, and multiple
information encoding features, each information encoding feature
having a color selected from multiple colors to represent digital
values, the information encoding features being arranged proximate
the localization features on the background.
Inventors: |
Davalos; Pedro; (Plymouth,
MN) ; Au; Kwong Wing; (Bloomington, MN) ;
Venkatesha; Sharath; (Golden Valley, MN) ;
Gellaboina; Mahesh K.; (Andhra Pradesh, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC. |
Morristown |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Honeywell International
Inc.
Morristown
NJ
|
Family ID: |
50692144 |
Appl. No.: |
13/682291 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
235/462.04 ;
235/462.08; 235/494 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 7/10821 20130101;
G06K 7/12 20130101; G06K 19/06028 20130101; G06K 7/1443 20130101;
G06K 19/0614 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/462.04 ;
235/494; 235/462.08 |
International
Class: |
G06K 7/12 20060101
G06K007/12; G06K 7/10 20060101 G06K007/10; G06K 19/06 20060101
G06K019/06 |
Claims
1. A marker formed of geometric features having various colors to
apply to an object, the marker comprising: a background having a
first color; multiple localization features formed on the
background having a second color wherein the multiple localization
features comprise two spaced apart geometric features susceptible
to decoding by a reader having a processor and a low-resolution
camera; and multiple information encoding features, each
information encoding feature having a color selected as a
combination of multiple colors to represent digital values, the
information encoding features being arranged proximate the
localization features on the background.
2. The marker of claim 1 wherein the multiple information encoding
features are positioned between the two spaced apart geometric
features.
3. The marker of claim 2 wherein the localization features encode
the start and end of the information encoding features based on the
shape and color of localization features.
4. The marker of claim 1 wherein the information encoding features
comprise quadrilaterals.
5. (canceled)
6. The marker of claim 4 wherein the quadrilateral colors are
selected from combinations of three or four different colors.
7. The marker of claim 4 wherein the quadrilateral colors are
selected from combinations of yellow, magenta, and blue.
8. The marker of claim 4 wherein the quadrilaterals are arranged
centered on a line between centers of the localization features and
are equally spaced apart.
9. The marker of claim 8 wherein the localization features have a
relative length of one 1.0 units and wherein the quadrilaterals
have a relative length of 0.75 units and are separated from the
localization features by 1.5 units, and wherein the localization
features and quadrilaterals have a relative height of one 1.0
unit.
10. The marker of claim 9 wherein the quadrilaterals are separated
from each other by a constant margin.
11. A method comprising: obtaining an image of an object having a
marker on the object visible in the image; recognizing a portion of
the object using image analyses, wherein the portion of the object
is larger than the marker; selecting a plurality of pixels within
the image where the marker is not likely to be located; eliminating
the plurality of pixels within the image to create a reduced pixel
image; identifying localization features of the marker within the
reduced pixel image; and obtaining information from the information
encoding features between a pair of the localization features.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein identifying localization
features includes recognizing a background of the marker and
recognizing the localization feature shape and colors on either
side of the information encoding features.
13. (canceled)
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the localization features
include localization feature shapes having a selected color, and
wherein the information encoding features are quadrilaterals, each
having a color selected as a combination of multiple colors to
represent digital values, the information encoding features being
arranged between the pair of reference features on the
background.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein information from the information
encoding features comprises: locating each information encoding
feature between the localization features; decoding bit values per
encoding feature from red, green and blue channels and combining
the bit values from each encoding feature.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein localization features are
different from each other, and wherein the method further comprises
using the differences to identify an order in which to decode the
information encoding features.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein the quadrilaterals are arranged
centered on a line between centers of the localization features and
are spaced equally apart.
18. A system having a unit to capture or input an image and a
processor to perform a method, the method comprising: identifying
an object in an image; determining a likely location of a marker as
a function of the identified object; determining a location of the
marker based on the likely location of the marker, a background of
the marker, and two localization features; identifying information
encoding quadrilaterals centered on a center line between the two
localization features; obtaining color information from each of the
information encoding quadrilaterals; and determining a digital
value for the marker as a function of the color information.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein obtaining color information from
each of the information encoding quadrilaterals comprises: locating
each information encoding feature between a pair of the
localization features; decoding bit values per encoding feature
from red, green and blue channels and combining the bit values from
each encoding feature.
20. (canceled)
21. The method of claim 11 wherein the portion of the object is a
face.
22. The system of claim 18 wherein the object is a face.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Barcodes have been used for many years to encode information
attached to objects such as devices and items for sale. Barcodes
are commonly decoded with a scanner in close proximity, such as in
grocery stores. Barcodes become harder to localize, read, and
decode as the relative size of the barcode marker becomes smaller
compared to the area monitored by the scanner. This effect can lead
to difficulties localizing and decoding small barcodes at far
distances while using standard area imaging-based scanners.
SUMMARY
[0002] A Color Micro Bar Code Marker (C-U Code) is formed of visual
geometric features having various colors as part of a system for
marker localization and encoding. The C-U Code marker includes a
background having a first color, multiple localization features
formed on the background having a second color, and multiple
information encoding features, each information encoding feature
having a color selected from multiple colors to represent digital
values, the information encoding features being arranged proximate
the localization features on the background.
[0003] A method includes obtaining an image of an object having a
C-U Code marker on the object visible in the image, recognizing a
portion of the object utilizing image analytics, identifying the
micro marker as a function of the recognized portion of the object,
identifying localization features of the micro marker, and
obtaining information from the information encoding features
between the localization features.
[0004] A device has a unit to capture or input an image and a
processor to perform a method. The method includes determining a
location of a micro marker from an image containing the micro
marker based on a background of the marker and localization
features, identifying information encoding quadrilaterals centered
on a center line between the localization features, obtaining color
information from each of the information encoding quadrilaterals,
and determining a digital value for the micro marker as a function
of the color information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a micro marker barcode system
according to an example embodiment.
[0006] FIG. 2 is block schematic diagram of a micro marker barcode
according to an example embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of images of a micro marker
barcode for processing according to an example embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a person wearing glasses having
a micro marker barcode according to an example embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of finding
and decoding a micro marker barcode in an image of an object
according to an example embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of decoding a
micro marker barcode according to an example embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a computer system for executing
one or more methods according to an example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] In the following description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is
shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be
practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it
is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention. The following
description of example embodiments is, therefore, not to be taken
in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is
defined by the appended claims.
[0013] The functions or algorithms described herein may be
implemented in software or a combination of software and human
implemented procedures in one embodiment. The software may consist
of computer executable instructions stored on computer readable
media such as memory or other type of storage devices. Further,
such functions correspond to modules, which are software, hardware,
firmware or any combination thereof. Multiple functions may be
performed in one or more modules as desired, and the embodiments
described are merely examples. The software may be executed on a
digital signal processor, ASIC, microprocessor, or other type of
processor operating on a computer system, such as a personal
computer, server or other computer system.
[0014] A color coded micro marker barcode system addresses a need
for applications where a relatively small barcode needs to be
scanned from long distances, applications when barcodes need to be
placed on products in an unobtrusive fashion, or for applications
where high quality or high resolution sensors are not available,
and the amount of information required for encoding by the
application is small such as single byte encoding. Previously there
was no barcode system, no symbology marker standard, and no
fiducial or reference definition that was able to meet this need
for a low resolution micro barcode from long distances with low
quality sensors.
[0015] A barcode reader is able to localize and decode information
contained in the color coded micro marker barcode. In some
embodiments, barcode readers are able to localize and decode micro
barcodes consisting of only a few hundred pixels within a large
image of over 2 million pixels. This task is equivalent of finding
a needle in a haystack and reading text printed on the needle.
[0016] Embodiments of the color coded micro marker barcode system
address the problem of embedding small information content in a
concealed marker that can be decoded from long distances.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a micro marker system 100. A
marker is shown at 110 and a reader is shown at 115. The reader may
include a processor 117 coupled to a camera 118. There are two main
components in the micro marker 110. Localization features 120 are
located near corners of the marker 110. Information encoding
features 125 are positioned proximate the localization features
120, such as between a pair of localization features, but near
enough to the features such that they can be located and decoded.
The system 100 is fully expandable to support variations with
higher information content.
[0018] In one embodiment, the marker 110 is composed of black
background 130 in a rectangular shape. Localization features 120
include two color filled dots at the ends of the marker surrounded
by black areas to provide for localization. The background may also
be referred to as a localization feature, as it can help identify
the marker 110 from an image of a larger object to which the marker
may be attached. Information encoding features 125 include colored
filled quadrilaterals between the localization dots.
[0019] Localization dots 120 serve as both the main landmarks for
localizing and also as alignment reference markers. The marker
localization problem can be constrained by establishing assumptions
about marker placement and scene environment. In one embodiment,
marker placement assumptions are that the marker is placed on an
object that can be detected and localized independently of the
micro marker, thus coupling the marker localization problem with
localization of known larger objects. The reference dots may also
be filled with color to assist localization.
[0020] The micro marker information in one embodiment is encoded
through color filled quadrilaterals between the reference dots, and
various color combinations allow multiple message encodings. In one
example, a marker 200 as shown in FIG. 2 contains two cyan
reference dots 210 and 215 and four color filled quadrilaterals
220, 222, 224, and 226 of either red, green, or blue colors. This
combination of three possible colors in four bins allows the
encoding of 81 unique marker identifiers. However, variations in
coded colors could include using only two colors, four colors, or
more colors for encoding, allowing between 16 and 625 or more
unique marker identifiers. Further marker symbology variations
include using additional bins for coded colors, either in between
the reference dots or anywhere surrounding the reference dots.
[0021] FIG. 2 also illustrates one particular example of relative
sizes of various features of the marker 200. The dimensions are
referred to with respect to arbitrary units of length. The actual
size of each unit may be variable, making the marker inherently
scalable in size, and may depend on the environment in which the
marker will be used. In one embodiment, the marker is used in
protective eyeglasses. The width of the marker may be selected to
unobtrusively fit on a bridge between over the nose of the wearer,
or on goggles. Such widths are generally 1/8.sup.th to 1/10.sup.th
of an inch. The purpose of the marker may be to ensure that a
person wears proper eyewear protection in a laboratory, and so
should be detectable from a distance such as one meter or so by a
fairly low resolution camera, such as a 1M pixel camera.
[0022] Once the overall size of the marker is selected for the
particular application, the units shown in FIG. 2 may be used to
create a marker in one embodiment. For instance, the reference dots
210 may have a diameter of 1 unit, with quadrilaterals 220, 222,
224, 226 having being 0.75 units on a side. The black background
may have a width of 1.25 units, with approximately 0.25 units
between edges of the dots and quadrilaterals, and the outside edge
of the marker 200. The quadrilaterals are separated by 1/12.sup.th
of a unit, and the quadrilaterals are separated from the reference
dots by 1.5 units, or about two quadrilaterals in width. The
reference dots are also separated from the ends of the marker by
the same distance. This is but one example, and the number of units
for each different feature or the ratio of the size between
different features may vary in further embodiments. For instance,
further embodiments may vary the ratio of the colored
quadrilaterals or the radius of the dots to the size of the
background while maintaining the ability to detect and decode the
marker from a desired distance.
[0023] In some embodiments, the marker may have a black area of
0.193 inches by 1.4 to 1.5 inches with a reference dot diameter of
0.125 inches.
[0024] In alternative embodiments, the reference dots may be
another shape, such as any polygon or other shape that is
susceptible to video analytic identification. Similarly, the
quadrilaterals encoding the information may have different shapes
in further embodiments. However, circular reference dots are
advantageous in some embodiments due to the constraints of having a
center and a radius, making them less likely to occur in a
background image, and easier to identify a center to use in
identifying the information encoded quadrilaterals. Similarly,
quadrilaterals for information encoding provide the ability to
easily detect the color from background clutter.
[0025] In various embodiments, different colors may be used for the
reference dots and information quadrilaterals. In one embodiment,
the reference dots are cyan. Yellow, magenta, and blue may be used
for the information quadrilaterals in one embodiment. Detection may
involve capturing an RGB image and then using a green channel and a
blue channel to determine the digital information represented.
[0026] Decoding of the information encoding feature in one
embodiment is illustrated at 300 in FIG. 3, where an RGB image of a
marker 305 is captured at 310. The RGB image 310 has a green
channel at 315, and a blue channel at 320 and a red channel, which
is not used in this embodiment. Orientation and locations of the
reference features and geometric configuration of the information
encoding features are used to localize the information encoding
features. Then each colored quadrilateral is assigned a digital
value for each channel as illustrated based on the intensity and a
threshold. The information from the channels is then combined to
determine the digital information contained in the marker. In this
embodiment, the consecutive quadrilaterals in cyan, green, blue,
and black, corresponding to the following values in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Color Green Channel Blue Channel Cyan 1 1
Green 1 0 Blue 0 1 Black 0 0
[0027] Thus, the values shown in FIG. 3 are 11100100. The
particular type of marker shown can represent up to 256 unique
objects, or 128 types plus a parity bit in various embodiments.
Other embodiments can use all or other combinations of red, green
and blue channels to encode and decode the information
features.
[0028] In another embodiment, the pair of localization features has
different shapes and/or colors. One localization feature can be a
yellow circle and the other localization feature can be a cyan
star. The different shapes and colors of the localization features
are used to indicate the start and end of the information encoding
features. The start and end localization features ensure that the
decoded information is combined in the correct order even when the
marker is captured upside down in the image. For example, the
decoded values of 300 in FIG. 3 could be erroneously interpreted as
00011011 if read from the right to left.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a person 400 wearing a pair of
goggles 410 having a micro marker bar code 415 shown in block form.
An image of the person may be obtained from a distance that is too
far to accurately read a common prior art bar code, unless the bar
code is very large or the optics of the reader are sufficient to
provide an image from which the code is easily recognizable. In one
embodiment, with the micro code marker, an image of the person may
be obtained and processed to recognize the face of the person. From
there, it is much easier to recognize the micro marker code based
on expected position of the marker given the recognized image of
the face. The localization features of the micro marker code may
then be used to localize the micro marker code and then obtain the
information encoded in the code using the reference points to
identify the location of the information quadrilaterals.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 500 of
finding and decoding a micro marker barcode in an image of an
object according to an example embodiment. At 510, an image of an
object having a micro marker on the object visible in the image is
obtained. An object is recognized utilizing image analytics at 520.
At 530, an identified sub-region of interest is selected as a
function of the recognized object. The recognized object in one
embodiment may be the face of a person. Many different products are
available to identify faces in images. At 540, the locations of the
localization features of the micro marker are identified. The
identification and localization may be simplified by elimination of
image pixels where the micro marker is not likely to be located, as
can be derived from knowing the position of the recognized portion
of the object. For instance, if one is looking for a code on
eyewear, all pixels other than those in and around a recognized
face portion of an image may be eliminated. Thus, the search for
the background and localization features comprising the micro
marker barcode is greatly simplified. At 550, information from the
information encoding features between a pair of the localization
features is decoded.
[0031] In some embodiments, identifying localization features
includes recognizing a background of the micro marker and
recognizing two circular localization features on either side of
the information encoding features. The portion of the object may be
a face, and the micro marker is positioned proximate the face. The
localization features include circles in one embodiment having a
selected color. The information encoding features in one embodiment
are quadrilaterals, each having a color selected from multiple
colors to represent digital values, the information encoding
features being arranged between the pair of reference features on
the background. In various embodiments, the square colors are
selected from red, green, and blue. In further embodiments the
square colors are selected from yellow, magenta, and blue. The
quadrilaterals may be arranged centered on a line between centers
of the circles and are equally spaced apart.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 600 of
decoding a micro marker barcode according to an example embodiment.
A computer readable storage device may have instructions for
causing a computer to perform method 600. The method includes
determining a location of a micro marker at 610 from an image
containing the micro marker based on the localization features. At
620, the locations of the encoded features are is determined based
on the localization features location. At 630, color information is
obtained from each of the information encoding features. Finally at
640, a digital value for the micro marker is determined as a
function of the color information.
[0033] In a further embodiment, determining a location of the micro
marker includes identifying an object in the image proximate the
micro marker and using the location of the identified object to
determine a likely location of the micro marker.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a computer system to implement
methods according to an example embodiment. In the embodiment shown
in FIG. 7, a hardware and operating environment is provided that
may be used to form a micro marker barcode reader. Several
components may be eliminated from the diagram in order to minimize
expense, as many components may not be needed to obtain and process
images containing micro marker barcodes.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 7, one embodiment of the hardware and
operating environment includes a general purpose computing device
in the form of a computer 700 (e.g., a personal computer,
workstation, or server), including one or more processing units
721, a system memory 722, and a system bus 723 that operatively
couples various system components including the system memory 722
to the processing unit 721. There may be only one or there may be
more than one processing unit 721, such that the processor of
computer 700 comprises a single central-processing unit (CPU), or a
plurality of processing units, commonly referred to as a
multiprocessor or parallel-processor environment. In various
embodiments, computer 700 is a conventional computer, a distributed
computer, or any other type of computer.
[0036] The system bus 723 can be any of several types of bus
structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a
peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus
architectures. The system memory can also be referred to as simply
the memory, and, in some embodiments, includes read-only memory
(ROM) 724 and random-access memory (RAM) 725. A basic input/output
system (BIOS) program 726, containing the basic routines that help
to transfer information between elements within the computer 700,
such as during start-up, may be stored in ROM 724. The computer 700
further includes a hard disk drive 727 for reading from and writing
to a hard disk, not shown, a magnetic disk drive 728 for reading
from or writing to a removable magnetic disk 729, and an optical
disk drive 730 for reading from or writing to a removable optical
disk 731 such as a CD ROM or other optical media.
[0037] The hard disk drive 727, magnetic disk drive 728, and
optical disk drive 730 couple with a hard disk drive interface 732,
a magnetic disk drive interface 733, and an optical disk drive
interface 734, respectively. The drives and their associated
computer-readable media provide non volatile storage of
computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules
and other data for the computer 700. It should be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that any type of computer-readable media
which can store data that is accessible by a computer, such as
magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks,
Bernoulli cartridges, random access memories (RAMs), read only
memories (ROMs), redundant arrays of independent disks (e.g., RAID
storage devices) and the like, can be used in the exemplary
operating environment.
[0038] A plurality of program modules can be stored on the hard
disk, magnetic disk 729, optical disk 731, ROM 724, or RAM 725,
including an operating system 735, one or more application programs
736, other program modules 737, and program data 738. Programming
for implementing one or more processes or method described herein
may be resident on any one or number of these computer-readable
media.
[0039] A user may enter commands and information into computer 700
through input devices such as a keyboard 740 and pointing device
742. Other input devices (not shown) can include a microphone,
joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These
other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 721
through a serial port interface 746 that is coupled to the system
bus 723, but can be connected by other interfaces, such as a
parallel port, game port, or a universal serial bus (USB). A
monitor 747 or other type of display device can also be connected
to the system bus 723 via an interface, such as a video adapter
748. The monitor 747 can display a graphical user interface for the
user. In addition to the monitor 747, computers typically include
other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and
printers. A camera 755 may also be coupled to the video adapter 748
or other adapter to provide images containing micro marker barcodes
according to various embodiments described above.
[0040] The computer 700 may operate in a networked environment
using logical connections to one or more remote computers or
servers, such as remote computer 749. These logical connections are
achieved by a communication device coupled to or a part of the
computer 700; the invention is not limited to a particular type of
communications device. The remote computer 749 can be another
computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a client, a peer device
or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of
the elements described above I/0 relative to the computer 700,
although only a memory storage device 750 has been illustrated. The
logical connections depicted in FIG. 7 include a local area network
(LAN) 751 and/or a wide area network (WAN) 752. Such networking
environments are commonplace in office networks, enterprise-wide
computer networks, intranets and the internet, which are all types
of networks.
[0041] When used in a LAN-networking environment, the computer 700
is connected to the LAN 751 through a network interface or adapter
753, which is one type of communications device. In some
embodiments, when used in a WAN-networking environment, the
computer 700 typically includes a modem 754 (another type of
communications device) or any other type of communications device,
e.g., a wireless transceiver, for establishing communications over
the wide-area network 752, such as the internet. The modem 754,
which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus
723 via the serial port interface 746. In a networked environment,
program modules depicted relative to the computer 700 can be stored
in the remote memory storage device 750 of remote computer, or
server 749. It is appreciated that the network connections shown
are exemplary and other means of, and communications devices for,
establishing a communications link between the computers may be
used including hybrid fiber-coax connections, T1-T3 lines, DSL's,
OC-3 and/or OC-12, TCP/IP, microwave, wireless application
protocol, and any other electronic media through any suitable
switches, routers, outlets and power lines, as the same are known
and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
EXAMPLES
[0042] 1. A micro marker formed of geometric features having
various colors to apply to an object, the micro marker
comprising:
[0043] a background having a first color;
[0044] multiple localization features formed on the background
having a second color; and
[0045] multiple information encoding features, each information
encoding feature having a color selected from multiple colors to
represent digital values, the information encoding features being
arranged proximate the localization features on the background.
[0046] 2. The micro marker of example 1 wherein the localization
features comprise two spaced apart geometric features, with the
multiple information encoding features positioned between the two
spaced apart geometric features.
[0047] 3. The micro marker of example 2 wherein the localization
features encode the start and end of the information encoding
features based on the shape and color of localization features.
[0048] 4. The micro marker of any of examples 1-2 wherein the
information encoding features comprise quadrilaterals.
[0049] 5. The micro marker of example 4 wherein the quadrilaterals
have colors that represent digital values.
[0050] 6. The micro marker of example 5 wherein the quadrilateral
colors are selected from combinations of three or four different
colors.
[0051] 7. The micro marker of example 5 wherein the quadrilateral
colors are selected from combinations of yellow, magenta, and
blue.
[0052] 8. The micro marker of example 5 wherein the quadrilaterals
are arranged centered on a line between centers of the localization
features and are equally spaced apart.
[0053] 9. The micro marker of example 8 wherein the localization
features have a relative length of one 1.0 units and wherein the
quadrilaterals have a relative length of 0.75 units and are
separated from the localization features by 1.5 units, and wherein
the localization features and quadrilaterals have a relative height
of one 1.0 unit.
[0054] 10. The micro marker of example 9 wherein the quadrilaterals
are separated from each other by a constant margin.
[0055] 11. A method comprising:
[0056] obtaining an image of an object having a micro marker on the
object visible in the image;
[0057] identifying localization features of the micro marker;
and
[0058] obtaining information from the information encoding features
between a pair of the localization features.
[0059] 12. The method of example 11 wherein identifying
localization features includes recognizing a background of the
micro marker and recognizing the localization feature shape and
colors on either side of the information encoding features.
[0060] 13. The method of any of examples 11-12 and further
comprising:
[0061] recognizing a portion of the object utilizing image
analyses; and
[0062] identifying the micro marker as a function of the recognized
portion of the object.
[0063] 14. The method of any of examples 11-13 wherein the
localization features include localization feature shapes having a
selected color, and wherein the information encoding features are
quadrilaterals, each having a color selected from multiple colors
to represent digital values, the information encoding features
being arranged between the pair of reference features on the
background.
[0064] 15. The method of any of examples 11-14 wherein information
from the information encoding features comprises:
[0065] locating each information encoding feature between the
localization features;
[0066] decoding bit values per encoding feature from red, green and
blue channels and
[0067] combining the bit values from each encoding feature.
[0068] 16. The method of example 15 wherein localization features
are different from each other, and wherein the method further
comprises using the differences to identify an order in which to
decode the information encoding features.
[0069] 17. The method of any of examples 14-16 wherein the
quadrilaterals are arranged centered on a line between centers of
the localization features and are spaced equally apart.
[0070] 18. A system having a unit to capture or input an image and
a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
[0071] determining a location of a micro marker from an image
containing the micro marker based on a background of the marker and
two localization features;
[0072] identifying information encoding quadrilaterals centered on
a center line between the two localization features;
[0073] obtaining color information from each of the information
encoding quadrilaterals; and
[0074] determining a digital value for the micro marker as a
function of the color information.
[0075] 19. The system of example 18 wherein obtaining color
information from each of the information encoding quadrilaterals
comprises:
[0076] locating each information encoding feature between a pair of
the localization features;
[0077] decoding bit values per encoding feature from red, green and
blue channels and
[0078] combining the bit values from each encoding feature.
[0079] 20. The system of example 19 wherein determining a location
of the micro marker includes identifying an object in the image
proximate the micro marker and using the location of the identified
object to determine a likely location of the micro marker.
[0080] Although a few embodiments have been described in detail
above, other modifications are possible. For example, the logic
flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order
shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other
steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the
described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed
from, the described systems. Other embodiments may be within the
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *