(12) United States Patent
`Iwai et al.
`
`USOO6302329B1
`US 6,302,329 B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`*Oct. 16, 2001
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`RECORDING DIGITAL INFORMATION IN
`TWO-DIMENSIONAL PATTERN, CARRIER
`OF DIGITAL INFORMATION RECORDED
`THEREBY, AND A METHOD AND
`APPARATUS FOR DECODING SUCH
`DIGITAL INFORMATION
`(75) Inventors: Toshiyuki Iwai, Yamatokooriyama;
`Atsushi Aoki, Kashiba; Masahiro
`Esashi; Hiroaki Niwamoto, both of
`Nara; Norimasa Yamaguchi,
`Ikoma-gun; Tsukasa Kaminokado,
`Tenri, all of (JP)
`(73) Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka (JP)
`(*) Notice:
`This patent issued on a continued pros
`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 08/578,502
`(22) Filed:
`Dec. 26, 1995
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Dec. 27, 1994
`(JP) ................................................... 6-325275
`(51) Int. Cl." ................................................... G06K 7/10
`(52) U.S. Cl. ...................... 235/494; 235/456; 235/462.09
`(58) Field of Search ..................................... 235/487,494,
`235/456, 462.08, 462.09
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,074,634 * 1/1963 Gamo .
`3,603,728
`9/1971 Acimura ............................... 382/151
`4,776.464 * 10/1988 Miller et al. .......
`235/462
`4,924,078 * 5/1990 Sant'Anselmo et al
`235/494
`4,939,354
`7/1990 Priddy et al. ........................ 235/456
`
`10/1992 Batterman et al. .................. 235/494
`5,153,418
`5,202,552 * 4/1993 Little et al. ......
`... 235/494
`5,288,986 * 2/1994 Pine et al. .
`... 235/494
`5,308,960 * 5/1994 Smith et al.
`... 235/462
`5,343,031 * 8/1994 Yoshida .....
`... 235/494
`5,408.543
`4/1995 Yoshida ................................ 235/494
`5,515,447 * 5/1996 Zheng et al.......................... 382/100
`5,541,396
`7/1996 Rentsch ................................ 235/454
`5,726,435
`3/1998 Hara et al. .
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2-012 579
`1/1990 (JP).
`7-254 037
`10/1995 (JP).
`7-254037
`10/1995 (JP).
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`OR Code (Quick Response Code), Systemkiki, Nippon
`denso, 1994.
`Patent Abstracts of Japan, abstracting JP 7-254037-A of
`Oct. 3, 1995, Hara et al.
`Benjamin Nelson, Punched Cards to Bar Codes, 1997
`Helmers Publishing, pp. 236, 247, 296 and 339.*
`Roger C. Palmer The Bar Code Book, 1995, Helmers
`Publishing, pp. 331-334.*
`QR Code (Quick Response Code). Systemkiki, Nippon
`denso, 1994, Translated by USPTO, Sep. 1999.*
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Mark Tremblay
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dike, Bronstein, Roberts &
`Cushman IP Group; David G. Conlin
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A digital information recording carrier has a planar record
`ing Surface having an information recording area in which
`meshes corresponding to bits are virtually Set in a matrix
`form, each mesh being provided with an optically recogniz
`able mark corresponding to digital information So that the
`digital information is recorded in the information recording
`area as a two-dimensional pattern. The carrier also has
`Specific patterns each consisting of a plurality of meshes
`which are linked together and which are given marks in a
`given pattern. Some of the Specific patterns are placed in an
`inner portion apart from a perimeter of the information
`recording area.
`
`28 Claims, 29 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`72
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`72
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`72
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`1 of 47
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`FedEx Exhibit 1043
`FedEx v. IV
`IPR2017-00859
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig. 1
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`2 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 2 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig.2
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`
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`Fig.3B PRIOR ART
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`Column 4
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`3 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 of 29
`Sheet 3 0f 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig.4
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`40f47
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`4 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 4 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig.6
`
`34-6
`3443-45
`
`Fig. 7
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`5 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 of 29
`Sheet 5 0f 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig.9
`Fig.9
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 6 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig.13
`
`22A-
`
`
`
`
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`44
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`is
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`7 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 7 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`S61
`
`S62
`
`ition P
`position
`Search for position
`P in bit-mapped data
`
`
`
`S69
`
`
`
`Fig. 16
`Select one of black
`dots present along a
`lower side of the black
`dot region
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S70 Search for a black dot
`that appears next to a
`white dot, downward of
`Selected black dot
`
`
`
`GD
`
`S7
`
`HaS a
`black dot been
`found within a certain
`distance 2
`
`
`
`YES
`Regarding the found
`black dot as constituting
`second loop, make one
`round by left hand
`method
`
`One round been
`completed within a
`Certain number
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`One round been
`made clockwise
`
`S63
`ls
`dot at position P
`black?
`NO
`Determine next
`search position
`
`Certain range fro
`search position been
`searched completely
`
`S66 Recursively search for
`black dots mutually
`adjoining (linked) upward
`and downward, rightward
`and leftward, or obliquely
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`number of
`mutually linked
`black dots fall within
`a Certain
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Width and
`height of a black dot
`region fall within
`gertain range
`
`YES
`
`8 of 47
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 8 of 29
`Sheet 8 0f 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
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`
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`18
`
`90f47
`
`9 of 47
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 9 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`S41
`
`Determine reference
`position P
`S42 Search for position P
`in bit-mapped data
`
`S43
`ls
`dot at position P
`white?
`YES
`S44
`NO
`Determine next
`search position
`
`(3)
`
`
`
`
`
`Certain range fro
`search position been
`searched completely
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`G)
`
`S46 Recursively search for
`white dots mutually
`adjoining(linked) upward
`and downward, rightward
`and leftward, or obliquely
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Fig. 19
`
`
`
`S47
`
`Does
`number of
`mutually linked
`White dots fall Within
`a certain
`range 2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`YES
`S48 1. Do
`width and
`height of a white dot
`region fall within
`certain ranges
`
`
`
`10 of 47
`
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`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 10 0f 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 11 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig.21
`
`62
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`12 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 12 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig.22
`
`
`
`62
`
`A
`
`
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`
`
`63
`
`Fig.23
`
`Recorded
`information
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Data conversion (encoding)
`algorithm
`
`81
`
`13 of 47
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`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 13 0f 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
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`14 of 47
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 14 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`SO1
`
`S02 Determine size of recording
`surface according to data size
`
`SO3
`
`
`
`S O4
`
`Place specific patterns
`on recording surface
`
`Arrange bit information to
`meshes of information recording
`area according to
`predetermined mapping
`
`S05
`
`Print
`
`END
`
`15 of 47
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 15 of 29
`Sheet 15 0f 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig.26
`Fig. 26
`
`
`
`23
`
`
`
`16 0f47
`
`16 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 16 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig.28
`
`
`
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`2%
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`% 2%
`
`17 of 47
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 17 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig.31
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`18 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 18 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`Recorded
`information
`
`Output
`device
`
`Data
`
`
`
`
`
`Data conversion (decoding)
`algorithm
`
`91
`
`19 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 19 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig.35
`
`START
`
`
`
`
`
`S11
`
`Read recorded information
`
`S12
`
`Extract specific patterns
`in four COrners
`
`S13 Determine mesh size based
`on information on extracted
`specific patterns
`
`
`
`
`
`S14
`
`
`
`
`
`Extract remaining specific
`patterns based on mesh size
`and predetermined
`arrangement information
`
`S15 Determine positions of meshes
`in information recording area
`based on positional information
`of extracted specific patterns
`
`
`
`
`
`S16 Read information recorded at
`meshes according to
`predetermined mapping
`
`
`
`S17
`
`20 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 20 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig.36A
`
`Fig.36B PRIOR ART
`
`
`
`
`
`2 23 %
`34,
`
`Fig.38
`% %
`
`
`
`22B
`
`21 of 47
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2001
`
`Sheet 21 of 29
`
`US 6,302,329 B1
`
`Fig. 39
`
`23
`
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`
`% %
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`22 of 47
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`US. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 22 0f 29
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`US 6,302,329 B1
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`”E””3”E””E”
`
`
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`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 23 of 29
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`US 6,302,329 B1
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`Oct. 16, 2001
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`US. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2001
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 26 of 29
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`US 6,302,329 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2001
`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 27 Of 29
`Sheet 27 0f 29
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`US 6,302,329 B1
`US 6,302,329 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 28 of 29
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`US 6,302,329 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2001
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`Sheet 29 of 29
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`US 6,302,329 B1
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`Fig.50 PRIOR ART
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`

`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`RECORDING DIGITAL INFORMATION IN
`TWO-DIMENSIONAL PATTERN, CARRIER
`OF DIGITAL INFORMATION RECORDED
`THEREBY, AND A METHOD AND
`APPARATUS FOR DECODING SUCH
`DIGITAL INFORMATION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a digital information
`recording carrier having digital information recorded in the
`form of a two-dimensional pattern on a recording Surface of
`the carrier. The invention also relates to a digital information
`recording method and apparatus which can produce Such
`digital information carriers. Further, the invention relates to
`a digital information decoding method and apparatus which
`can read and decode digital information recorded on Such a
`digital information carrier.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`FIG. 50 shows a two-dimensional data code which has
`been used in a method for recording digital information by
`arraying a matrix two-dimensionally on a recording Surface
`(see U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,354). The two-dimensional data
`code is to record digital information by virtually Setting
`matrix meshes corresponding to bits on a recording Surface
`220 of a recording carrier, and by assigning to each mesh a
`white or black color representing data.
`In Such a recording method, generally, control informa
`tion representing the orientation of an information recording
`area 219 and the size of a cell (data density) is provided for
`reading convenience’s sake. In the example of FIG. 50, as
`the control information, the perimeter of the rectangular
`information recording area 219 is provided with a linear
`portion 212 on its two adjoining SideS 221 and a clocking
`information portion 216 on the remaining two sides 231. The
`linear portion 212 is formed of adjoining black cells, and the
`clocking information portion 216 is formed of alternately
`connected white and black cells. During a reading operation,
`the orientation of the information recording area 219 is
`detected due to the linear portion 212, and the size of cells
`is detected through the clocking information portion 216.
`In the above conventional digital information recording
`method, however, the clocking information portion 216 will
`be farther away from the data as the size of the information
`recording area 219 increases. This is because the clocking
`information portion 216 is provided along the perimeter of
`the information recording area 219. AS a result, due to
`factorS Such as distortion of the recording Surface 220,
`characteristics of the reading device (Scanner, CCD camera,
`etc.), or the like, a large difference in data position between
`recording and reading operations will be caused in the
`vicinity of the center of the information recording area 219,
`resulting in reading errors. For example, instead of origi
`nally intended information on a cell of the fifth row, the
`fourth column, the information on the cell of the sixth row,
`the fifth column may be erroneously read. Consequently, the
`conventional digital information recording method has a
`problem that the size of the information recording area 219
`cannot be increased and therefore that the Storage capacity
`cannot be increased.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention has been developed with a view to
`Substantially Solving the above described disadvantages and
`
`65
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`2
`has for its essential object to provide a digital information
`recording carrier which can prevent the occurrence of read
`ing errors over the entire range of the information recording
`area even if the Size of the information recording area is
`increased, and therefore which allows the Storage capacity to
`be increased.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`digital information recording method and apparatus which
`can produce Such a digital information recording carrier.
`A still further object of the present invention is to provide
`a digital information decoding method and apparatus which
`can read and decode digital information recorded on Such a
`digital information recording carrier.
`In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the
`present invention provides a digital information recording
`carrier, comprising:
`a planar recording Surface having an information record
`ing area in which cells corresponding to bits are virtu
`ally Set in a matrix form, each cell being provided with
`an optically recognizable mark corresponding to digital
`information So that the digital information is recorded
`in the information recording area as a two-dimensional
`pattern; and
`Specific patterns each consisting of a plurality of cells
`which are linked together or contiguous and which are
`given optically recognizable marks in a given pattern,
`the Specific patterns including a predetermined pattern
`which is placed in an inner portion apart from a
`perimeter of the information recording area.
`In this digital information recording carrier, predeter
`mined patterns are disposed inside apart from the perimeter
`of the information recording area. Therefore, even if the
`information recording area is distorted in the vicinities of its
`center, the positions of cells in the vicinities of the center of
`the information recording area are accurately determined
`based on the positions of the Specific patterns. Accordingly,
`few or no reading errors will in the vicinities of the center
`of the information recording area even if the size of the
`information recording area is increased. Also, for the periph
`eral part of the information recording area, the occurrence of
`reading errorS is prevented by providing clocking informa
`tion as in the prior art or by providing the Specific patterns.
`AS a consequence, it is possible to increase the Storage
`capacity by increasing the size of the information recording
`aca.
`In one embodiment, the Specific patterns are dispersedly
`arranged all over the information recording area. In this
`case, the position of any arbitrary cell is accurately deter
`mined over the entire range of the information recording
`area. As a consequence, it is possible to increase the Storage
`capacity by increasing the size of the information recording
`aca.
`In one embodiment, the cells each have a shape of a
`Square of Same size. And, each specific pattern is composed
`of a central closed area with a shape of a Square and a loop
`portion Surrounding the central closed area entirely. The
`central closed area consists of four cells each provided with
`a light as an optically recognizable mark and the loop
`portion consists of twelve cells each provided with a dark as
`an optically recognizable mark.
`In another embodiment, each Specific pattern is composed
`of a central portion with a shape of a Square, a first loop
`portion Surrounding the central portion entirely, and a Sec
`ond loop portion Surrounding the first loop portion entirely.
`The central portion consists of a single cell provided with a
`dark as an optically recognizable mark, the first loop portion
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`3
`consists of eight meshes each provided with a light as an
`optically recognizable mark, and the Second loop portion
`consists of Sixteen cells each provided with a dark as an
`optically recognizable mark.
`In these cases, it is easy to find the Specific patterns in the
`information recording area. Also, the number of cells con
`Stituting the Specific pattern is relatively Small. Further,
`when an identical or Similar pattern appears nearby as the
`recorded information, the Specific pattern will not easily
`overlap the nearby pattern. Still, the Specific pattern is leSS
`affected by dirt or ink blurs during printing. Besides, the
`algorithm to find the Specific patterns becomes simplified.
`In one embodiment, the Specific patterns are arranged
`with higher density in a peripheral part of the information
`recording area than in an interior of the information record
`ing area. In this case, the reading precision for the peripheral
`part where distortion is more likely to occur due to the
`reading device characteristics is enhanced So that the occur
`rence of reading errors is prevented.
`In another embodiment, the Specific patterns are placed
`with higher density in the interior of the information record
`ing area than in the peripheral part of the information
`recording area. In this case, the reading precision for the
`vicinities of the center of the information recording area is
`enhanced So that the occurrence of reading errorS is pre
`vented.
`In one embodiment, the information recording area is a
`rectangular area having four corners and a specific pattern is
`placed at each corner. In this case, Searching for the Specific
`patterns placed at the four cornerS allows an easy determi
`nation of the range occupied by the information recording
`area within the recording Surface.
`In one embodiment, the specific patterns placed at the four
`corners are different from the Specific patterns placed in the
`other portions of the information recording area. In this case,
`Searching for the Specific patterns different from the others
`allows a still easier determination of the range occupied by
`the information recording area within the recording Surface.
`In one embodiment, part of the Specific patterns placed at
`the four corners are different from the rest thereof Such that
`a Set of the Specific patterns placed at the four corners
`becomes asymmetrical with respect to a 90°, 180°, or 270
`rotation on the recording Surface. This arrangement makes it
`easy to recognize top and bottom or right and left of the
`information recording area.
`In one embodiment, the Specific patterns have a light and
`a dark as the optically recognizable marks, and a light/dark
`Status of Some of the Specific patterns is inverse to that of the
`other specific patterns So as to make a contrast against
`nearby cells in which digital information has been recorded.
`In this case, it is easy to recognize boundaries between the
`Specific patterns and the Surrounding information-recorded
`cells. This allows an easy Search for the Specific patterns.
`The present invention further provides a digital informa
`tion recording method, comprising the Steps of:
`Virtually Setting cells corresponding to bits in a matrix
`form in an information recording area provided within a
`planar recording Surface;
`placing Specific patterns at least in an interior of the
`information recording area apart from a perimeter of
`the information recording area, wherein each Specific
`pattern consists of a plurality of cells which are linked
`together and which are given optically recognizable
`marks in a given pattern; and
`providing each of the cells present in regions other than
`regions occupied by the Specific patterns of the infor
`mation recording area with an optically recognizable
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`US 6,302,329 B1
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`4
`mark corresponding to digital information to be
`recorded So that the digital information is recorded in
`the information recording area as a two-dimensional
`pattern.
`This digital information recording method can easily
`produce the digital information recording carriers according
`to the above-described various embodiments of various
`types.
`In one embodiment, the digital information recording
`method further comprises the Steps of:
`comparing light/dark Statuses of cells defining a perimeter
`of each Specific pattern with light/dark Statuses of
`information-recorded cells which are immediately
`adjacent to the perimeter of the Specific pattern; and
`inverting, if the compared light/dark Statuses are coinci
`dent with each other, the light/dark Statuses of constitu
`ent cells of the Specific pattern Such that the Specific
`pattern is distinguished from the adjacent information
`recorded cells.
`In this case, it is easy to recognize the boundaries between
`the Specific patterns and the information-recorded cells
`immediately adjacent to the Specific patterns on the record
`ing Surface of the generated digital information recording
`carrier. This allows an easy Search for the Specific patterns.
`The present invention also provides a digital information
`recording apparatus which comprises the Steps of
`Searching the information recording area for the Specific
`patterns to determine their positions,
`calculating positions of arbitrary information-recorded
`cells by a proportional allocation technique, based on
`positions of four Specific patterns out of all the Searched
`Specific patterns, the four Specific patterns being placed
`on two given rows and two given columns,
`reading bit information of each cell located at the calcu
`lated position; and
`reproducing the digital information recorded on the
`recording Surface based on the read bit information.
`In order to decode the digital information recorded on the
`digital information recording carrier wherein the cells each
`have a shape of a Square of Same size, wherein each specific
`pattern is composed of a central closed area with a shape of
`a Square and a loop portion Surrounding the central closed
`area entirely, and wherein the central closed area consists of
`four cells each provided with a light as an optically recog
`nizable mark and the loop portion consists of twelve cells
`each provided with a dark as an optically recognizable mark,
`the Step of Searching the information recording area for the
`Specific patterns comprises the Sub-Steps of:
`checking the light/dark Status of a reference position for
`a Search for the central closed area of the Specific
`pattern, to decide that the reference position is con
`tained in the central closed area if the light/dark Status
`of the reference position is a light; and
`checking a region occupied by lights which are linked to
`each other, the reference position being included in the
`region, as to whether or not size, width, and height of
`the region are within certain ranges, respectively, to
`confirm that the region is the central closed area.
`Further, in order to decode the digital information
`recorded on the digital information recording carrier
`wherein each Specific pattern is composed of a central
`portion with a shape of a Square, a first loop portion
`Surrounding the central portion entirely, and a Second loop
`portion Surrounding the first loop portion entirely, and
`wherein the central portion consists of a single cell provided
`with a dark as a mark, the first loop portion consists of eight
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`cells each provided with a light as a mark, and the Second
`loop portion consists of Sixteen cells each provided with a
`dark as a mark,
`the Step of Searching the information recording area for
`the Specific patterns comprises the Sub-Steps of:
`checking the light/dark Status of a reference position for
`a Search for the central closed area of the Specific
`pattern, to decide that the reference position is con
`tained in the central closed area if the light/dark Status
`of the reference position is a dark,
`checking a first dark region occupied by darkS which are
`linked to each other, the reference position being
`included in the first dark region, as to whether or not
`size, width, and height of the first dark region are within
`certain ranges, respectively, to confirm that the first
`dark region is the central closed area; and
`confirming, when a Second dark region appears within a
`certain distance upward, downward, rightward or left
`ward from the first dark region after a light region has
`appeared and when a loop has been made around a
`boundary between the light region and the Second dark
`region, that the light region is the first loop portion.
`The present invention further provides a digital informa
`tion recording apparatus for recording digital information as
`a two-dimensional pattern in an information recording area
`provided within a planar recording Surface, wherein cells
`corresponding to bits are virtually Set in a matrix form in the
`information recording area and the recording of digital
`information is executed by providing an optically recogniz
`able mark corresponding to the digital information to each of
`the cells. In the digital information recording apparatus,
`input means take in digital information to be recorded into
`the digital information recording apparatus. Then, pattern
`generating means generate a two-dimensional pattern to be
`printed onto the recording Surface, by placing Specific pat
`terns inside of the information recording area apart from its
`perimeter, the Specific patterns being each formed of a
`plurality of linked cells provided with optically recognizable
`marks in a given pattern, and by placing the digital infor
`mation in regions of the information recording area other
`than regions occupied by the Specific patterns. Finally,
`printing means print the two-dimensional pattern generated
`by the pattern generating means onto the recording Surface.
`Using this digital information recording apparatus allows an
`easy generation of the aforementioned various types of
`digital information recording carriers.
`Further, the present invention provides a digital informa
`tion decoding apparatus for reading and decoding digital
`information from the aforementioned various types of digital
`information recording carriers. In the digital information
`decoding apparatus, reading means read the two
`dimensional pattern recorded on the recording Surface and
`output information representing the two-dimensional pat
`tern. Then, information decoding means reproduce the digi
`tal information recorded on the recording Surface in the
`following way. The information decoding means first Search
`inside of the two-dimensional pattern represented by the
`output information of the reading means for the Specific
`patterns to determine positions thereof, then calculate posi
`tions of arbitrary information-recorded cells by a propor
`tional allocation technique based on the positions of four
`Specific patterns out of all th