JP2015087972A - Information code and information code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information code and an information code reader capable of recording secret additional data without enlarging an occupation area.SOLUTION: The code area 10 of an information code 1 is formed based on a base code area 10a and an additional code area 10b. Additional data different from predetermined data recorded in the data area 11 of the base code area 10a is recorded in the additional code area 10b using a cell having the same shape. The additional code area 10b is replaced and disposed in a correctable area by error correction using an error correction code in the data area 11.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information code and an information code reader.

  Information codes such as barcodes and QR codes (registered trademark) are currently used for various purposes, and useful information or information that may be useful can be recorded and provided to users in the information code. Many. For example, in the two-dimensional code generation method shown in Patent Document 1 below, the two-dimensional code is encrypted and generated so as to include confidential data. In other words, by including information known only to the issuer as confidential data in the two-dimensional code, it is possible to distinguish whether it is a forged two-dimensional code. Furthermore, information leakage such as personal information can be prevented by including information that requires security as confidential data in the two-dimensional code.

JP 2009-009547 A

  By the way, in the generation method as described above, since it is necessary to generate an information code so as to record both confidential data and public data that can be read by a normal reading device, an information code in which only public data is recorded is recorded. There is a problem that the occupied area occupied by the information code becomes large. In particular, this problem becomes more prominent as the amount of confidential data increases with respect to public data.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information code and an information code reader capable of recording additional data to be concealed without increasing the occupied area. There is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a plurality of cells are arranged in a matrix to form a code area (10), and predetermined data and errors are formed in the code area. An information code (1, 1a) provided with a data area (11) in which a correction code is recorded, wherein additional data different from the predetermined data is recorded using a cell having the same shape as the cell ( 10b) is replaced and arranged in an area that can be corrected by error correction using the error correction code in the data area.
In addition, the code | symbol in each said parenthesis shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, additional data different from the predetermined data recorded in the data area is recorded in the additional code area using cells having the same shape, and the additional code area includes an error correction code in the data area. It is replaced and arranged in a region that can be corrected by the error correction used.

  As a result, in the normal reading device, the additional code area is error-corrected as dirt, etc., so that the predetermined data is decoded while the additional data is not decoded. On the other hand, if the reading device can identify the additional code area, it can decode the predetermined data from the error-corrected data area after decoding the additional data from the additional code area. In particular, since the additional code area is replaced and arranged in the error correctable area, the amount of additional data does not affect the data area, that is, the area occupied by the information code. Therefore, an information code capable of recording additional data to be concealed without increasing the occupation area can be realized.

  In the invention of claim 2, since an error correction code for correcting the error of the additional data is recorded in the additional code area in addition to the additional data, even if a part of the additional code area is lost due to dirt, etc. The error correction using the error correction code can increase the success rate of decoding additional data.

  In the invention of claim 3, since the additional code area is arranged at a specific position with respect to the code area, if the reading apparatus stores information related to the specific position in advance, the additional code area is extracted from the code area. It can be easily extracted.

  In the invention of claim 4, since the additional code area is formed so as to have a position specifying pattern for specifying the position with respect to the code area, the reading apparatus uses the position specifying pattern included in the code area of the imaged information code. Based on the above, it is possible to easily extract the additional code area from the code area.

  In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the first extraction unit extracts a code image from the information code image captured by the imaging unit, and the second extraction unit determines that the additional code image is included by the determination unit. An additional code image is extracted from the obtained code image. Then, predetermined data is obtained by performing decoding based on the code image extracted by the first extracting means by the first decoding means, and the additional data extracted by the second extracting means by the second decoding means Additional data is acquired by performing decoding based on the code image.

  As a result, it is possible to realize an information code reading device that can decode additional data from the additional code image extracted from the code image and can decode predetermined data from the error-corrected data area.

  In the invention of claim 6, position specifying information for specifying the position of the additional code area with respect to the data area is stored in advance in the storage means, and the determining means is based on the position specifying information by the first extracting means. It is determined whether or not an additional code image is included in the extracted code image.

  As a result, when an information code having an additional code area is imaged, the additional code area can be easily extracted from the code area, so that not only the decoding time for decoding the additional data can be shortened but also the processing The load can be reduced.

  In the seventh aspect of the invention, since the additional code area is formed to have a position specifying pattern for specifying the position with respect to the code area, the determination means determines whether the first code area is based on the presence of the position specifying pattern. It is determined whether or not an additional code image is included in the code image extracted by the extraction unit.

  As a result, when an information code having an additional code area is imaged, the additional code area can be easily extracted from the code area, so that not only the decoding time for decoding the additional data can be shortened but also the processing The load can be reduced.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the information code which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows a base code area | region. It is explanatory drawing which shows an additional code area | region. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an information code reading device that reads an information code according to a first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a reading process in the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the additional code area | region in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the reading process in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the information code which concerns on the modification of 1st Embodiment.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which an information code and an information code reader of the present invention are embodied will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration of the information code according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an information code according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the base code area 10a. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the additional code area 10b.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information code 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as a cell aggregate in which a plurality of information display unit cells (hereinafter also simply referred to as cells) are aggregated. Each cell is a plurality of types of cells having different colors, densities, or luminances, and each cell region is configured as a square region. By arranging such cells in a matrix, the entire code area (area where each cell is arranged) 10 is configured as a rectangular area.

  The information code 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a code area 10 formed based on a base code area 10a as shown in FIG. 2 and an additional code area 10b as shown in FIG. More specifically, predetermined information is recorded in the base code area 10a, and additional information to be added to the predetermined information is recorded in the additional code area 10b. The code area 10 is formed by being replaced with an error correctable area in the data area 11 of the base code area 10a. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, for convenience, the dark cells in the additional code area 10b are hatched. However, the dark cells in the base code area 10a and the dark cells in the additional code area 10b are actually the same color. Displayed so that they cannot be distinguished visually.

  For this reason, when the information code 1 is read, an ordinary information code reader can correct only the predetermined information because the additional code area 10b is error-corrected as dirt or the like. On the other hand, in the information code reading device capable of specifying the additional code area 10b as in the information code reading device 20 described later, both the predetermined information and the additional information can be decoded.

  That is, by replacing the additional code area 10b as a separate layer on the base code area 10a, the additional information decoded from the additional code area 10b can be concealed as private information. In the information code 1 according to the present embodiment, for example, general information (product number, product name, etc.) of a shipped product is recorded as the predetermined information, and management information (production lot number, production line name, etc.) is added as additional information to be kept confidential. It can be recorded and displayed on its shipping product.

Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the information code 1 will be described.
First, the configuration of the base code area 10a will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the base code area 10a is configured based on the QR code standard. In the example shown in FIG. 2, a light color cell and a dark color cell are a square area having the same number of vertical and horizontal (25 cells × 25 cells). It is arranged to be. A functional pattern and a data area 11 are arranged in the base code area 10a.

  The function pattern is a pattern required to decode the encoded data, and includes finder patterns 12a to 12c for specifying the base code area 10a, alignment patterns, timing patterns, and the like.

  The data area 11 includes a plurality of code blocks, and is divided into a data code block and an error correction code block. The data code block is configured as a block in which encoded data (data code word) obtained by encoding each data element of data to be decoded is expressed by a plurality of cells. The error correction code block is a block in which an error correction code word is generated by a predetermined method based on the data code word of the corresponding data code block, and an error correction code constituted by the error correction code word is expressed by a plurality of cells. It is configured as. As a method of generating an error correction code word based on the data code word, for example, a known Reed-Solomon error correction method can be used.

  In addition, four error correction levels L, M, Q, and H (in order from L to H) are prepared as error correction levels, and this error correction level is a high rate of allowing unreadable cells. That is, it corresponds to the high allowable defect rate. The allowable defect rate of each level is about 30% for error correction level, about 25% for error correction level Q, about 15% for error correction level M, and about 7% for error correction level L.

Next, the configuration of the additional code area 10b will be described with reference to FIG.
The additional code area 10b is composed of a standard (hereinafter also referred to as an additional code standard) different from the standard of the base code area 10a (QR code standard in the present embodiment), and in the data area 11 of the base code area 10a. It is formed so as to be narrower than an error-correctable region considering the error correction level. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the light cell and the dark cell are arranged so as to be a square region of 11 cells × 11 cells as a region narrower than a region that can be corrected by error correction.

  Similar to the base code area 10a, the code blocks constituting the additional code area 10b are divided into data code blocks and error correction code blocks. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the data code block is arranged in the upper area (see symbol S1 in FIG. 3), and the error correction code block is arranged in the lower area (see symbol S2 in FIG. 3).

  That is, the additional information can be decoded by decoding the additional code area 10b based on the additional code standard. Even if a part of the additional code area 10b is lost due to dirt or the like, the error correction using the error correction code of the error correction code block in the additional code area 10b is performed, whereby the decoding success rate of the additional data is increased. Can be increased.

  In the present embodiment, the additional code area 10b formed as described above is arranged so as to be replaced with a predetermined specific position in the base code area 10a formed in advance. A code region 10 is formed. As the specific position, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, it is set so as to be within the error-correctable area of the base code area 10a, which is a portion of the data area 11 located at the center of the base code area 10a. be able to.

Next, an information code reading device 20 capable of reading the additional information from the information code 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of the information code reading device 20.
The information code reading device 20 according to the present embodiment is a reading device that optically reads the information code 1, a bar code, and the like. As shown in FIG. 4, the information code reader 20 includes a circuit unit 20 a housed in a case (not shown). The circuit unit 20 a mainly includes an illumination light source 21, a light receiving sensor 28, and an imaging. An optical system such as a lens 27 and a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as “microcomputer”) system such as a memory 35 and a control circuit 40 are provided.

  The optical system is divided into a light projecting optical system and a light receiving optical system. The illumination light source 21 constituting the light projecting optical system functions as an illumination light source capable of emitting the illumination light Lf, and includes, for example, a red LED and a lens provided on the emission side of the LED. FIG. 4 conceptually shows an example in which the illumination light Lf is irradiated toward the reading object R to which the information code 1 is attached.

  The light receiving optical system includes a light receiving sensor 28, an imaging lens 27, a reflecting mirror (not shown), and the like. The light receiving sensor 28 is configured as an area sensor in which light receiving elements, which are solid-state imaging elements such as C-MOS and CCD, are two-dimensionally arranged, and reflects each cell (pattern) of the received information code. An electric signal corresponding to the intensity of the light Lr is output. The light receiving sensor 28 is mounted on a printed wiring board (not shown) so as to be able to receive incident light incident through the imaging lens 27. The light receiving sensor 28 may correspond to an example of “imaging means”.

  The imaging lens 27 functions as an imaging optical system capable of condensing incident light incident from the outside via a reading port (not shown) and forming an image on the light receiving surface 28a of the light receiving sensor 28. . In the present embodiment, after the illumination light Lf emitted from the illumination light source 21 is reflected by the information code, the reflected light Lr is condensed by the imaging lens 27 and a code image is formed on the light receiving surface 28a of the light receiving sensor 28. I am letting you image.

  The microcomputer system includes an amplification circuit 31, an A / D conversion circuit 33, a memory 35, an address generation circuit 36, a synchronization signal generation circuit 38, a control circuit 40, an operation unit 42, a liquid crystal display 43, a buzzer 44, a vibrator 45, and a light emitting unit. 46, a communication interface 48, and the like. As its name suggests, this microcomputer system is composed mainly of a control circuit 40 and a memory 35 that can function as a microcomputer (information processing device), and the image signal of the information code imaged by the optical system described above is hard-coded. It can perform signal processing in terms of hardware and software. The control circuit 40 also performs control related to the entire system of the information code reader 20.

  The image signal (analog signal) output from the light receiving sensor 28 of the optical system is amplified by a predetermined gain by being input to the amplifier circuit 31, and then input from the analog signal when input to the A / D conversion circuit 33. Converted into a digital signal. When the digitized image signal, that is, image data (image information) is input to the memory 35, it is stored in the image data storage area. The synchronization signal generation circuit 38 is configured to generate a synchronization signal for the light receiving sensor 28 and the address generation circuit 36, and the address generation circuit 36 is based on the synchronization signal supplied from the synchronization signal generation circuit 38. Thus, the storage address of the image data stored in the memory 35 can be generated.

  The memory 35 is a semiconductor memory device, and corresponds to, for example, a RAM (DRAM, SRAM, etc.) or a ROM (EPROM, EEPROM, etc.). In addition to the above-described image data storage area, the RAM of the memory 35 is configured to be able to secure a work area and a reading condition table used by the control circuit 40 in each processing such as arithmetic operation and logical operation. . The ROM stores in advance a system program or the like that can control each piece of hardware such as the illumination light source 21 and the light receiving sensor 28. The memory 35 also stores information related to the specific position described above (hereinafter also referred to as position specifying information), a reading program that can execute a reading process described later, and the like. The memory 35 may correspond to an example of “storage means”.

  The control circuit 40 is a microcomputer that can control the entire information code reading device 20 and includes a CPU, a system bus, an input / output interface, and the like. The control circuit 40 can constitute an information processing device together with the memory 35 and has an information processing function. The control circuit 40 is configured to be connectable to various input / output devices (peripheral devices) via a built-in input / output interface. In the case of the present embodiment, the operation unit 42, the liquid crystal display 43, and the buzzer 44 are configured. A vibrator 45, a light emitting unit 46, a communication interface 48, and the like are connected.

  The operation unit 42 includes a plurality of keys, and is configured to give an operation signal to the control circuit 40 according to a user's key operation. The control circuit 40 receives the operation signal from the operation unit 42. At this time, it is configured to perform an operation according to the operation signal. The liquid crystal display 43 is constituted by a known liquid crystal display panel, and the display content is controlled by the control circuit 40. The buzzer 44 is configured by a known buzzer, and is configured to generate a predetermined sound according to an operation signal from the control circuit 40. The vibrator 45 is configured by a known vibrator mounted on a portable device, and is configured to generate vibration according to a drive signal from the control circuit 40. The light emitting unit 46 is, for example, an LED, and is configured to light up in response to a signal from the control circuit 40. The communication interface 48 is configured as an interface for performing data communication with the outside (for example, a host device), and is configured to perform communication processing in cooperation with the control circuit 40.

Next, a reading process executed by the control circuit 40 of the information code reader 20 when reading the information code 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the reading process performed in the first embodiment.
When a predetermined operation is performed on the operation unit 42 in a state where the reading port of the information code reading device 20 is directed to the information code 1, reading processing by the control circuit 40 is started. First, the imaging process shown in step S101 is performed, and image data including the information code 1 is generated based on a signal output from the light receiving sensor 28 that receives the reflected light Lr from the information code.

  Next, a code image extraction process shown in step S103 is performed, and a code image corresponding to the code area 10 is extracted from the image data generated as described above based on the finder patterns 12a to 12c and the like. Subsequently, an additional code image extraction process shown in step S105 is performed, and an image corresponding to the additional code area 10b is extracted as described above as an additional code image based on the position specifying information stored in advance in the memory 35. It is further extracted from the code image. The control circuit 40 that executes the code image extraction process corresponds to an example of a “first extraction unit”, and the control circuit 40 that executes the additional code image extraction process is an example of a “second extraction unit”. It can be equivalent.

  Then, in the first code word acquisition process shown in step S107, a code word is acquired from the image further extracted from the code image. Next, first error correction processing shown in step S109 is performed, an error correction code is acquired from the code word acquired as described above, and the code word is error-corrected using this error correction code.

  Next, in the determination process shown in step S111, it is determined whether or not the code image includes an additional code image corresponding to the additional code area 10b. If the code image includes an additional code image, the error correction succeeds. If the error correction in step S109 succeeds, the code image is determined to include an additional code image and the process proceeds to step S111. Yes. The control circuit 40 that executes the determination process may correspond to an example of a “determination unit”.

  Next, the additional code decoding process shown in step S113 is performed, and the additional information is decoded by performing decoding based on the additional code standard for the code word in the additional code area 10b subjected to error correction. When a normal information code different from the information code 1 is imaged, an area unrelated to the additional code area 10b is extracted and the error correction fails, so that the additional code image is included in the code image. If it is not included (No in S111), the process after step S115 is performed without performing the additional code decoding process. The control circuit 40 that executes the additional code decoding process may correspond to an example of “second decoding means”.

  As described above, when additional information is decoded (S113) or error correction fails (No in S111), the code extracted in step S103 in the second codeword acquisition process shown in step S115. A codeword is obtained from the image. Next, the second error correction processing shown in step S117 is performed, and an error correction code is acquired from the code word acquired from the code area 10 as described above, and the code word is error corrected using this error correction code. The At the time of error correction, the code word corresponding to the additional code area 10b is error-corrected as dirt or the like, whereby the code word corresponding to the base code area 10a is acquired.

  If the error correction is successful (Yes in S119) because there is no defect that cannot be corrected other than the additional code area 10b, the base code decoding process shown in step S121 is performed. In this process, the predetermined information is decoded by decoding the code word of the code area 10 obtained by error correction based on the standard of the base code area 10a (in this embodiment, the QR code standard). Is done. The control circuit 40 that executes the base code decoding process may correspond to an example of “first decoding means”.

  When the predetermined information is decoded as described above, the output process shown in step S123 is performed, and only the predetermined information and the additional information or the predetermined information are output and displayed on the liquid crystal display 43, and the reading process ends. . Note that in the case where an image of an information code (including the information code 1 according to the present embodiment) including a defect that cannot be corrected is taken, the error correction fails (No in S119). In this case, the reading process is completed without performing the base code decoding process and the output process.

  As described above, in the information code 1 according to the present embodiment, additional data different from the predetermined data recorded in the data area 11 of the base code area 10a is recorded in the additional code area 10b using cells having the same shape. Thus, this additional code area 10b is replaced and arranged in an area that can be corrected by error correction using an error correction code in the data area 11.

  As a result, in the normal reading device, the additional code area 10b is error-corrected as dirt, etc., so that the predetermined data is decoded while the additional data is not decoded. On the other hand, if the information code reader 20 can identify the additional code area 10b, it can decode the predetermined data from the error-corrected data area 11 after decoding the additional data from the additional code area 10b. In particular, since the additional code area 10b is replaced and arranged in an error-correctable area, the information amount of the additional data does not affect the area occupied by the data area 11, that is, the information code 1. Therefore, an information code capable of recording additional data to be concealed without increasing the occupation area can be realized.

  In particular, in the additional code area 10b, in addition to the additional data, an error correction code for correcting the error of the additional data is recorded. Therefore, even if a part of the additional code area 10b is lost due to contamination or the like, the error correction is performed. Error correction using codes can increase the success rate of decoding additional data. Note that the additional code area 10b may be configured so as to exclude the error correction code block if the usage environment does not require error correction.

  Further, since the additional code area 10b is arranged at a specific position with respect to the base code area 10a (code area 10), an information code reading device in which position specifying information regarding the specific position is stored in advance in the memory 35 or the like. In 20, the additional code image can be easily extracted from the code image.

  In the information code reader 20 according to the present embodiment, the code image is extracted from the image of the information code 1 captured by the light receiving sensor 28 by the code image extraction process, and added by the determination process by the additional code image extraction process. An image extracted from the code image determined to include the image of the code area 10b is set as the additional code image. Then, the predetermined data is obtained by performing decoding based on the code image extracted by the code image extraction process by the base code decoding process, and extracted by the additional code image extraction process by the additional code decoding process. The additional data is acquired by performing decoding based on the additional code image.

  As a result, it is possible to realize the information code reading device 20 that can decipher additional data from the additional code image extracted from the code image and decipher predetermined data from the error-corrected data area 11.

  In particular, position specifying information for specifying the position of the additional code area 10b with respect to the data area 11 is stored in the memory 35 in advance, and in the determination process, it is extracted by the code image extraction process based on the position specifying information. It is determined whether or not an additional code image is included in the code image.

  Thereby, when the information code 1 having the additional code area 10b is imaged, the additional code image can be easily extracted from the code image, so that not only the decoding time for decoding the additional data can be shortened, The processing load can be reduced.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an information code and an information code reader according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the additional code area 10b in the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the reading process in the second embodiment.

  The second embodiment is mainly different from the first embodiment in that the additional code area 10b is formed to have a position specifying pattern for specifying the position with respect to the code area 10. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the additional code area 10b is formed by arranging position specifying patterns 13a and 13b at two corners located on the diagonal line. Both the position specifying patterns 13a and 13b are formed by arranging two dark cells in a symmetrical shape inside an L-shaped portion composed of seven dark cells. In FIG. 6, for convenience, the dark cells other than the position specifying patterns 13a and 13b in the additional code area 10b are hatched. However, in actuality, other than the position specifying patterns 13a and 13b and the additional code area 10b. These dark cells are the same color and are displayed so that they cannot be visually distinguished.

  Thereby, in this embodiment, the additional code area 10b can be specified by searching the code area 10 for the position specifying patterns 13a and 13b. Therefore, it is not necessary to arrange the additional code area 10b at a specific position as in the first embodiment, and the degree of freedom regarding the arrangement of the additional code area 10b with respect to the data area 11 of the base code area 10a can be increased. . Furthermore, regarding the information code reader 20, it is possible to eliminate the need for storing the position specifying information.

Hereinafter, the reading process performed by the control circuit 40 in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
Similar to the reading process in the first embodiment, when a code image is extracted from the image data generated by the imaging process shown in step S101 of FIG. 7 (S103), this extraction is performed in the determination process shown in step S104. It is determined whether or not the position specifying patterns 13a and 13b are included in the code image. The control circuit 40 that executes the determination process may correspond to an example of a “determination unit”.

  Here, as a result of searching the code image, if it is determined that the position specifying patterns 13a and 13b are included in the code image (Yes in S104), an additional code image extraction process shown in step S105a is performed. In this process, the position of the additional code area 10b with respect to the code area 10 is specified based on the positions of the position specifying patterns 13a and 13b searched as described above, and the additional code image is extracted from the code image. When the additional code image is extracted in this way, the processing after step S107 is performed in the same manner as the reading processing in the first embodiment. On the other hand, as a result of searching for the code image, if it is determined that the position specifying patterns 13a and 13b are not included in the code image (No in S104), the above steps are performed without performing the additional code image extraction process or the like. The processes after S115 are performed.

  As described above, in the information code 1 according to the present embodiment, the additional code area 10b is formed to have the position specifying patterns 13a and 13b for specifying the position with respect to the code area 10. For this reason, the information code reader 20 searches the code area 10 of the imaged information code for the position specifying patterns 13a and 13b without storing the position specifying information in advance, so that the additional code area is extracted from the code area 10. 10b can be easily extracted. Further, the information code reading device 20 determines the decoding time for decoding the additional data by determining whether or not the code image includes the additional code image based on the presence / absence of the position specifying patterns 13a and 13b. In addition to shortening, the processing load can be reduced.

  Note that the position specifying pattern according to the present embodiment is not limited to being formed as the position specifying patterns 13a and 13b illustrated in FIG. 6. For example, the additional code area 10b such as a simple L shape may be formed from the code area 10. Any shape that can be extracted is acceptable. In addition, the position specifying pattern according to the present embodiment is not limited to being arranged on the diagonal line among the four corners of the additional code area 10b, and may be arranged at at least one of the four corners, It may be arranged in a specific shape at a different predetermined position.

In addition, this invention is not limited to said each embodiment, For example, you may actualize as follows.
(1) Since the code area 10 is formed by replacing a part of the base code area 10a with the additional code area 10b, an additional code created later for an existing two-dimensional code such as a QR code The information code 1 according to the present embodiment can be configured by pasting the region 10b at the specific position. Thereby, even an information code already displayed on a product or the like can be easily changed to an information code from which additional information can be read. Further, the additional information can be easily changed by pasting the new additional code area 10b to the specific position.

(2) FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an information code 1a according to a modification of the first embodiment.
The base code area 10a of the information code in each of the above embodiments is not limited to being formed based on the QR code standard, but is formed based on another two-dimensional code standard such as a data matrix code or maxi code. Also good. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, it is also possible to replace the additional code area 10b with an error correctable area in the data area 11 of the base code area 10a configured based on the data matrix code standard. The information code 1a can be formed.

(3) The additional information recorded in the additional code area 10b is not limited to information that is desired to be concealed, but may simply be information that does not need to be disclosed, for example, a management number for management.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1a ... Information code 10 ... Code area 10a ... Base code area 10b ... Additional code area 11 ... Data area 13a, 13b ... Position specific pattern 20 ... Information code reader 28 ... Light receiving sensor (imaging means)
35 ... Memory (storage means)
40... Control circuit (determination means, first extraction means, second extraction means, first decoding means, second decoding means)

Claims (7)

An information code in which a plurality of cells are arranged in a matrix to form a code area, and a data area in which predetermined data and an error correction code are recorded is provided in the code area,
An additional code area in which additional data different from the predetermined data is recorded using a cell having the same shape as the cell is replaced with an area that can be corrected by error correction using the error correction code in the data area. An information code characterized by being placed.   The information code according to claim 1, wherein an error correction code for correcting an error of the additional data is recorded in the additional code area in addition to the additional data.   The information code according to claim 1, wherein the additional code area is arranged at a specific position with respect to the code area.   The information code according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the additional code area is formed to have a position specifying pattern for specifying a position with respect to the code area. An information code reader for optically reading the information code according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Imaging means for imaging the information code;
First extraction means for extracting a code image corresponding to the code area from an image of the information code imaged by the imaging means;
Determining means for determining whether or not an additional code image corresponding to the additional code area is included in the code image extracted by the first extracting means;
Second extraction means for extracting the additional code image from the code image determined by the determination means to include the additional code image;
First decoding means for obtaining the predetermined data by performing decoding based on the code image extracted by the first extraction means;
Second decoding means for obtaining the additional data by performing decoding based on the additional code image extracted by the second extraction means;
An information code reading device comprising: An information code reader for optically reading the information code according to claim 3,
Imaging means for imaging the information code;
Storage means for storing in advance position specifying information for specifying the position of the additional code area with respect to the data area;
First extraction means for extracting a code image corresponding to the code area from an image of the information code imaged by the imaging means;
Determination means for determining whether or not an additional code image corresponding to the additional code area is included in the code image extracted by the first extraction means based on the position specifying information stored in the storage means When,
Second extraction means for extracting the additional code image from the code image determined by the determination means to include the additional code image;
First decoding means for obtaining the predetermined data by performing decoding based on the code image extracted by the first extraction means;
Second decoding means for obtaining the additional data by performing decoding based on the additional code image extracted by the second extraction means;
An information code reading device comprising: An information code reader for optically reading the information code according to claim 4,
Imaging means for imaging the information code;
First extraction means for extracting a code image corresponding to the code area from an image of the information code imaged by the imaging means;
Determining means for determining whether or not an additional code image corresponding to the additional code area is included in the code image extracted by the first extracting means based on the presence or absence of the position specifying pattern;
Second extraction means for extracting the additional code image from the code image determined to be included by the determination means based on the position specifying pattern;
First decoding means for obtaining the predetermined data by performing decoding based on the code image extracted by the first extraction means;
Second decoding means for obtaining the additional data by performing decoding based on the additional code image extracted by the second extraction means;
An information code reading device comprising:

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