JPH03149682A - Method and device for forming dot code - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply form a dot code having much information volume and high recording density by converting inputted information into a dot code and printing out a dot mark corresponding to the dot code by a printing mechanism. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with an information input means 11, means 13 to 15 for converting the inputted information into a dot code, the printing mechanism 17, and a means 16 for controlling the drive of the mechanism 17 based upon the dot code. Thereby, the inputted information is converted into the dot code and the dot mark corresponding to the dot code is printed out by the mechanism 17. Consequently, the dot code having much information volume and high information density can simply be formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for creating a dot code that transmits information by optically reading dot marks.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, barcodes have been widely used in product management and the like. In other words, a barcode is printed directly on the product or its packaging, or a sticker with the barcode printed on it is affixed to the product or its packaging, and it is read by a barcode reader at the time of receiving, shipping, or selling the product for product management and sales. It is used for management, etc.

Furthermore, among various cards such as cash cards and commuter passes, magnetic cards equipped with a magnetic recording section are widely used, and IC cards with even larger storage capacities are also being commercialized.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, since the amount of information that can be recorded with barcodes is small, it is not possible to perform more precise product management.
Not only is it difficult to extend the scope of application to fields other than product management in Icheon, where there is a large amount of information, but barcodes cannot be easily used because they must be drawn using a specialized device. there were.

In addition, magnetic cards and IC cards require expensive writing and reading devices, making it difficult to use them frequently as customer cards for small stores, patient tickets for hospitals and clinics, business cards that can be automatically read, etc. There was a problem that.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention (1) to provide a method and apparatus for easily creating a dot code using an optical reading method and having a large amount of information that can be recorded and a large information density.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The dot code creation method of the present invention converts input information into a dot code in a dot code that records information depending on the presence or absence of dot marks in dot mark forming portions arranged in a matrix. The special feature is that the printing mechanism is driven based on the dot mark and the dot mark is printed.If necessary, necessary character information can also be printed in the dot mark printing process and a series of processes.

Further, the dot code creation device of the present invention is a dot code creation device that records information depending on the presence or absence of dot marks in the dot mark forming portions arranged in a matrix, and includes an information input means and an information input device for recording the input information. According to the dot code creation method and apparatus of the present invention, the dot code creation method and apparatus thereof are characterized by comprising: a means for converting into a dot code, a printing mechanism, and a means for driving and controlling the printing mechanism based on the dot code.
When information is input manually, it is converted into a dot code and a dot mark corresponding to the dot code is printed by a printing mechanism, so dot codes with a large amount of information and high information density can be easily created.

Furthermore, it is highly practical to print text information at the same time if necessary.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

First, a specific example in which a dot code is applied to a card such as a hospital consultation card will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.A dot strip 2 displaying a dot code is arranged along one long side of a card l. In this dot strip 2, the information to be recorded by the dot code may include information such as the patient's name and address, information regarding the health card, and information regarding the medical record. Further, the card 1 is also displayed with characters, and the information to be displayed in characters may include the display of a medical examination ticket, the name of a hospital, etc.

The dot strip 2, as shown in FIG. 3, is formed by printing with a 24-dot printer. On the dot strip 2, dot mark forming parts 3 consisting of two dots in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, a total of four dots, are formed in a matrix shape, and one bit of information is recorded depending on the presence or absence of a dot mark in each dot mark forming part 3. is configured to do so. In addition, each dot mark forming portion 3.3.
...A discrimination space 4 is formed in the shape of a base grid with a width of one dot. As a result, eight dot mark forming portions 3 are formed in one row along the width direction of the dot strip 2,
The configuration is such that one byte of information can be recorded in one row of dot mark forming section 3. Furthermore, reading marks 5 are formed at both longitudinal ends of the dot strip 2 over the entire width with a width of two dots for providing reading reference positions for each dot mark, and an identification space is formed between adjacent dot mark forming portions 3. 4 is formed. Further, the dot strip 2 is constructed such that the top and bottom of the dot strip 2 can be identified by a blank space 6 corresponding to one dot formed along one side of the dot strip 2 over the entire length in the longitudinal direction, excluding the leading mark 5. ing.

Although FIG. 3 schematically shows the relationship between the dot positions of the printer and each dot mark forming section 3, in the actual printing state of dot marks, adjacent dots are printed so as to partially overlap each other.

The dot strip 2 of the card 1 can be created, for example, by using a personal computer equipped with a computer main body, a printer, a human keyboard, and a display device, and a predetermined software, or by using an equivalent dedicated production device. It can be made into a tube.

The configuration of the main parts of this dot code creation device will be explained with reference to FIG.
A signal from a character code string output means 11 that converts a character code into a character code and outputs it as a character code string is input to the CPU 13 via an interface 12. CPU13
With regard to information to be displayed as a dot code, the character code string is converted into a dot code string by referring to the dot code font table 15 via the dot code buffer 14 and output to the drive control section 16. Further, the character information on the card l is transmitted to the character code string output means 11.
The character code string from is output to the drive control section 16. Then, the drive control section 16 drives and controls the printing mechanism 17 to print the dot strip 2 and character information on the card l.

In this way, when information is input from a human keyboard (not shown) while confirming it on the display device, the dot strip 2 is printed on the card l by the printer mechanism 17 together with character information.

Next, the CP in the printing process of the dot strip 2 is
The operation of U13 will be explained based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5. In Figure 4, after performing initial settings such as initializing the work area (step #l), inputting a character code string (step #2), and then inputting a character code string corresponding to the information to be displayed using dot codes. Convert to dot code string (stencil #3).

This conversion into a dot string is performed by a subroutine shown in FIG. In Fig. 5, after performing the initial settings (step #11), take out the character code string and set it in a predetermined memory (step #12), then take out the character codes one by one and write the character code to the dot. The code font table 15 is looked up and converted into dot codes, and the dot codes are sequentially stored in the memory (steps #13 to #15). In addition, conversion to dot code is done using CP.
At U13, the following operations, which may be performed by logical operations, are repeated until the character code string ends (Step #16), and the process returns.

Returning to FIG. 4, when the conversion to a dot code string is completed (step #3), the printing mechanism 17 is started (step #4), and the printing mechanism 17 is in a state where printing is possible (step #4). Step #5), the dot code string is output to the drive control section 16 in units of processable units (one column), and printed by the printer l-11 structure 17 (step #6).
), and then it is determined whether or not all the dot code strings have been output (step #7). When the output is completed, printing termination processing is performed (step #8), and the printing process for the dot strip 2 is completed.

By inserting the thus prepared card 1 into a card reading device, the information recorded on the dot strip 2 can be read.

When reading the card, by recognizing the relative position of the dot mark forming part 3 using the reading mark 5, the card l
Even if the image is tilted or twisted, it can be read accurately without causing reading errors.

As the card reading device, for example, one configured to read the dot strip 2 with a line image sensor and input the read signal to a personal computer etc. can be used. information processing, and the results can be displayed on a display device or printed on a printer. Note that the resolution of the normal line image sensor 12 is 16 dots/mm, and if this is used, the above-mentioned optical reading code I can be sufficiently read.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the dot code creation method and device of the present invention,
When information is input, it is converted into a dot code and a dot mark corresponding to the dot code is printed by the printing mechanism, so dot codes with a high amount of information and high recording density can be created easily.

Furthermore, if text information is printed at the same time as necessary, great effects can be achieved, such as increased practical convenience.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 show one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the main parts of the dot code creation device, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a card with a dot code written on it, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of the dot mark forming portion and the reading mark of the dot strip, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the dot code creation process, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the dot code conversion process. 2------------------Dot strip 3---------- Dot mark forming section 11----- ---Character code string input means 1 3------------------- CPU U
5----------Dot code font table 16------- Drive control section 17-- -----------Print mechanism agent Patent attorney Masaru Ishihara 1 Figure 111'2''Mouth; 1 print 11 mm l Figure 4 @Figure 5

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a dot code that records information based on the presence or absence of dot marks in dot mark forming sections arranged in a matrix, input information is converted into a dot code, and a printing mechanism is driven based on the dot code, A dot code creation method characterized by printing dot marks. (2) The dot code creation method according to claim 1, characterized in that necessary character information is also printed in a series of processes in addition to the process of printing dot marks. (3) A dot code creation device that records information based on the presence or absence of dot marks in dot mark forming sections arranged in a matrix, which includes an information input means and converts the input information into a dot code. What is claimed is: 1. A dot code creation device comprising: means for printing, a printing mechanism, and means for driving and controlling the printing mechanism based on the dot code.