AU2016200254A1 - Dot pattern - Google Patents

Abstract

A dot pattern, wherein a plurality of reference points is provided in an area of a block having a predetermined information dot arranged thereon; a plurality of reference points to be defined is arranged from the reference points; an information dot is arranged, of which information is defined by a distance and a direction from the reference point; and at least the information dot at the Predetermined position is made into a direction dot showing the direction of the block by a direction from the reference point. 4 / / ~ 2 lulL F 1=4= = == -1 :11 B F 17 F F LIII F 2: 1 -4 -

Description

DOT PATTERN This application is a divisional of Australian patent no. 2012204140, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention 0001] The present invention relates to an information input and output method using a dot pattern for inputting and outputting various information and programs by optically reading the dot pattern information formed on a printed material or the like, and particularly, the present invention relates to a technology whereby a direction of a block configuredby a dot can be determined. Description of the Related Art 00021 Conventionally, an information output method for outputting the information such as voice by reading a bar code formed on a printed material or the like has been suggested. For example, a method for storing the information equivalent to the given key information in a storing means in advance, retrieving this information from keys read by a bar code reader, and outputting it has been suggested. In addition, a technology to form a dot pattern that minute dots are arranged in a 1 predetermined rule so that much information and many programs can be outputted, fetch the dot pattern printed on the printed material or the like by a camera as the image data, digitalize it, and output the voice information has been also suggested. 00031 However, the conventional method for outputting the voice or the like by the bar code has a problem such that the bar code printed on the printed material or the like is obtrusive. In addition, the bar code is large and it occupies a part of a page space, so that this method has a problem such that it is not possible to allocate many bar codes in an easy understood manner to each of a part of writing or sentence, or a photograph, a picture, a character having a meaning in an image of a graphic, and an object from a point of view lay out. 00041 Therefore, as shown in the following patent documents, the inventor (s) of the present invention has suggested fully new dot patterns capable of storing much data without influences on a print side. [Patent Document 1] WO/2004/084125 [Patent Document 2] PCT/JP2004/019427 00051 In these related arts by the inventor (s) (namely, patent documents 1 and 2), the inventor suggests that a key dot is provided and a direction of the data (a 2 direction of a block) and an area of a block are defined. Since the direction of the block can be grasped in this manner, the information defined by the block can be given a different meaning for each direction. Therefore, it can be said that the inventor (s) of the present invention suggests an original dot pattern which can store various information. 00061 However, according to the technology of defining thedirectionoftheblockby this keydot, theinformation dot cannot be arranged at a place where the key dot is arranged, so that the information amount of the block is limited and an algorithm for searching for the key dot gets complex to require a long calculation time, and the focused amount of the ambient area of the key dot is large. This leads to a problem to be solved such that a resolution of a frame buffer is also required, which is newly pointed out by the inventor (s) of the present invention. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 00071 The present invention has been made taking the foregoing problems into consideration and an object of which is to realize a technology of using a direction dot in place of a key dot, which can be read even by a frame buffer of which algorithm for search is simple and 3 of which resolution is low, without sacrificing an information dot for definition of a direction of a block. 00081 In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention employs the following means. 0009] In other words, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information, in which a plurality of reference points is provided in an area of a block having a predetermined information dot arranged thereon; plurality of start point to be defined (for example, a central point of a grid area) is arranged from the reference point; an information dot is arranged, of which information is defined by a distance and a direction from the start point; and at least the information dot at the predetermined position is made into a direction dot showing the direction of the block by the direction from the start point. 0011] In other words, according to the present invention, a reference point is arranged on the basis of a predetermined rule (for example, at predetermined intervals for each of apexes of a triangle, a square, further, other polygons and for each of sides thereof or the like) on the surface of medium such as paper. Then, on the basis of a predetermined rule from the arranged plural reference points, the start point is set. In this case, a predetermined rule is that an 4 intersecting point connecting the apexes of the polygons each other is defined as a start point. Further,the start point is defined as the dot arranged at an end point of a vector. This dot functions as an information dot defining the information, however, by differentiating the direction of one information dot at least in the block from other information dots, it is possible to make this information dot into a direction dot indicating the direction and the size of this block. Here, in the case that this direction dot is arranged at the vector end point in the upper direction from the start point, it can be discriminated that the block to which this direction dot belongs is directed upward. 0011] In addition, in the case that a plurality of blocks is connected, the size of the block can be identified by a repeat pattern of the arrangement position of the direction dot. For example, when the direction dot is arranged at the center of the block, if this direction dot appears in upper, lower, right, and left directions for every three areas, it can be identified that this block has the size of three x three grid area. 0012] Thus, by using the information dot also as the direction dot indicating the direction of the block, the direction of the block can be defined while giving the meaning of the information to this direction dot it self. This makes it possible to define the direction of the block without 5 sacrificing the information dot. 0013] In addition, arranging such a direction dot in a block in such a manner that no same positional relation reappears when a rectangular area where such a direction dot within the block is rotated 90 degrees by 90 degrees centering on any reference point, in other words, when the rectangular area is rotated by 90 degrees, 180 degrees and 270 degrees, the direction dot can be read even by a frame buffer of which algorithm for search is simple and of which resolution is low. 0014] Further, such a dot pattern can be generated on a surface of the medium such as paper by programming this dot pattern in an information processor such as a computer and printing and outputting it by a printer or the like on the basis of this program. 0015] In addition, by reading such a dot pattern on the surface of the medium as the image data using an optical readingmeans and analyzing the image data to analyse a position and a distance between the mutual dots, it is possible to identify this dot pattern as a reference point, a start point, a direction dot, and an information dot. 0016] According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information 6 of the first aspect of the invention, wherein the reference points are grid point which are arranged at even intervals in the upper and lower directions or the right and left directions in the block area; and using a center of the four grid point as the start point and with reference to this start point, the information is defined in the information dot by a direction eliminating the direction necessary for defining the direction dot. S0 017] The direction dot is also used as the information dot, however, the direction to define the information and the direction to define the direction of the blockmaybe confused. Therefore, at the position where the direction dot in the block is arranged, the information dot may define both of the information and the direction of the block by a distance from a start point which is a center of four grid point to horizontal and vertical directions and the information dot in other blocks may define the information by a distance from the start point in an oblique direction. 0018] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information of the first aspect of the invention, wherein providing reference grid lines in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction in the area of the block, the reference point uses grid point which are provided on the reference grid line in 7 the longitudinal direction or in the lateral direction at certain intervals as the start point; and with reference to this start point, the meaning of the information is given depending on whether or not the information dot is arranged. 0019] Thus, even in a dot pattern that the meaning of the information is given depending on with or without of the information dot, it is possible to arrange a direction dot which is also used as the information dot. 0020] Here, in addition to the grid point provided on the reference grid line in the horizontal or the vertical direction, setting a grid line in an oblique direction, an intersecting point there of may be defined as a grid point. 0021] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information of the third aspect of the present invention, in which the information dot at a predetermined position in the block is defined as a direction dot; and the information dot to be arranged at a position where the rectangular are a to which this direction dot belongs is rotated 90 degrees by 90 degrees around the center of the block, namely, the information dot to be located at each rectangular area located 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and270 degrees from the block center, respectively, may define the information by a direction or by a distance eliminating a direction necessary for defining 8 the direction dot. 00221 Thus, by arranging the direction dot in such a manner that no same positional relation reappears when a rectangular area which is used as a direction dot within the block is rotated 90 degrees by 90 degrees, the direction dot can be read even by a frame buffer of which algorithm for search is simple and of which resolution is low. 0023] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information of the first aspect of the invention, wherein providing reference grid lines in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction in the area of the block, providing grid point at certain intervals on the reference grid line, and arranging a reference grid point dot on the grid point which is provided on the reference grid line in the lateral direction, the reference point uses a line connecting the reference gird point dots and a line connecting the grid point in the longitudinal direction as a grid line and uses the intersecting point of the grid lines as a start point; and with reference to this startpoint, the informationis defined in the information dot by a direction eliminating the direction necessary for defining the direction dot. 0024] Thus, also in a dot pattern such that the reference grid 9 point dot is arranged on the grid point formed on the reference grid line in a horizontal direction, lines connecting the reference grid point dots mutually and connecting the grid point in the vertical direction mutually are defined as a grid line, and an intersecting point of the grid lines is defined as a start point, it is possible to arrange the direction dot which is also used as the information dot. 0025] In such a dot pattern, since the reference grid line in the horizontal direction is a criterion for arrangement of the reference gridpoint dot, if the directiondot is arranged in any direction among upper and lower directions from the start point, the direction of the dot pattern of the direction dot can be known. Accordingly, the information dot may define the information by a direction eliminating a direction necessary for defining the direction dot (the upper and lower directions),for example, in an oblique direction. 0026] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information of the fifth aspect of the present invention, wherein the information dot at a predetermined position in the block is defined as a direction dot; in an information dot other than the direction dot located on the grid line in the lateral direction on which the direction dot is arranged, and an information dot which is located at a symmetric position with the direction dot having a grid line in a lateral center 10 direction of the block as a symmetric axis, the information is defined by a direction or by a distance eliminating the necessary direction for defining the direction dot. 0027] In a special exception of this, when the direction dot is arranged at a center of the block, it is necessary that the information dot on the grid line which becomes a central line is arranged eliminating a direction necessary for defining the direction in the direction dot, however, on the other grid line, the information dot can be arranged in any of horizontal and vertical directions and the length of the information dot can be freely defined. 0028] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information, in which a plurality of reference points is provided in an area of a block where predetermined information dot is arranged; aplurality ofstartpoints tobe definedis arranged from the reference points; an information dots of which information are defined by a distance and a direction from the start points is arranged; and the direction of the block is defined in such a manner that at least one or more information dots at predetermined positions are differentiated from the other information dots in the direction from the start point. 0029] Thus, by differentiating how to arrange the information 11 dot (namely, the direction from the start point) from the other information dot, it ispossible to give the othermeaning to the information dot, namely, the information dot can be used for defining the direction of the block. Therefore, this makes it possible to define the direction of the block without sacrificing the arrangement place of the information dot as compared to the key dot. 0030] As stated above, according to a eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information of the seventh aspect of theinvention, wherein the direction of the block is defined by differentiating directional standards of at least one or more information dots at predetermined positions from those of the other information dots. 0032] As statedabove, accordingto aninthaspectofthe present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information of the seventh aspect of the invention, wherein, in the information dots at predetermined positions having the different directional standards from those of the other information dots, the direction of the block is defined by the direction from the start point. 0033] As statedabove, accordingto atenthaspectofthe present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information of the seventh aspect of the invention, wherein 12 the reference point coincides with the start points. 0034] As stated above, according to a eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information of the seventhaspectof the invention, wherein the predetermined position is 3 or more; and the direction of the block is defined by the shape connecting respective positions by a line. 0035] In this way, by setting three or more information dots that are arranged differently, it is possible to define the direction of the block in a shape connecting the arrangement positions by lines. Here, for example, the shape is a triangle and an arrow or the like, and it is preferable that the direction is identified by these forms. 0036] According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern of the seventh aspect of the invention, wherein the predetermined position is 1; and the direction of the block is defined by the arrangement position in the block. 0037] Thus, bymaking the information dot differently arranged at only one place in the block, the direction of the block can be defined depending on the arrangement position in this block. 0038] 13 According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a dot pattern which can easily define the direction of the block. 0038a] According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern, wherein the wherein a plurality of reference points is provided in an area of a block where predetermined information dot is arranged; apluralityofstartpoints tobedefinedis arranged from the reference points; information dots of which information are defined by a distance and a direction from the start points are arranged; and the direction of the block is defined by differentiating the size or the shape of the reference point or the information dot from those of the other dots. 0038b] According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information, wherein a plurality of reference points is provided in an area of a block where predetermined information dot is arranged; apluralityofstartpoints tobedefinedis arranged from the reference points; an information dot of which information is defined by a distance and a direction from the start point is arranged; and the information is defined depending on whether or not the information dot is located on the start point. 0038c] 14 According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information, wherein a plurality of reference points is provided in an area of a block where predetermined information dot is arranged; a plurality of start points to be defined is arranged from the reference points; an information dot of which information is defined by a distance and a direction from the start point is arranged; and the direction of the block is defined depending on whether or not the information dot is located on the start point. 0038d] According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information, wherein a plurality of reference points is provided in an area of a block where predetermined information dot is arranged; a plurality of start points to be defined is arranged from the reference points; an information dot of which information is defined by a distance and a direction from the start point is arranged; and the information is defined by the size or the shape of the information dot. 0038e] According to a eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot pattern for signifying information, wherein a plurality of reference points is providedin an area of a block where predetermined information dot is arranged; a plurality of start points to be defined is arranged from the reference points; an information dot 15 of which information is defined by a distance and a direction from the start point is arranged; and the direction of the block is defined by the size or the shape of the information dot. 0038f] In some aspects of the invention, the reference point coincides with the start point. 16 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 02221 Fig. 1 is a principle view (1) of a dot pattern in GRID1; Fig. 2 shows examples of an information dot of the dot pattern and a bit display of the data defined there; Fig. 3 is an explanatory view for illustrating a key dot in GRID1 and shows an example of the arrangement of the information dot; Fig. 4 is a view showing an arrangement example of the information dot in GRID1 and shows examples of the information dot of the dot pattern and the bit display of the data defined there; Fig.5 shows examples ofthe informationdotinGRID1 and the bit display of the data defined there; Fig. 6 is a view showing a modified example of the dot pattern in GRID1; Fig. 7 is a principle view of a dot pattern in GRID3; Fig. 8 is a view showing an arrangement example of an information dot in GRID3; Fig. 9 is an explanatory view for illustrating a key dot and the information dot in GRID3; Fig. 10 shows examples of the information dot in GRID3 and the bit display of the data defined there; Fig. 11 shows examples of an information dot 3 in GRID3 and the bit display of the data defined there; Fig. 12 is a view showing a modified example of the 17 dot pattern in GRID3; Fig. 13 is a principle view of a dot pattern in GRID4; Fig. 14 is a view (1) showing a definition method of an information dot in GRID4; Fig. 15 is a view (2) showing a definition method of an information dot in GRID4; Fig. 16 is a view (3) showing a definition method of an information dot in GRID4; Fig. 17 is a view (4) showing a definition method of an information dot in GRID4; Fig. 18 is an explanatory view for illustrating a reading order of the information dot by an optical reading means in GRID4; Fig. 19 is a view having a key dot arranged in place of a reference grid point dot in GRID4; Fig. 20 is an explanatory view illustrating a readingmethodof an information dotbyusing a difference method in GRID4; Fig. 21 is a view (1) having a direction dot arranged in GRID1; Fig. 22 shows an arrangement order of an information dot of a view (2) having the direction dot arranged in GRID1; Fig. 23 is a view (1) having a direction dot arranged in GRID3; Fig. 24 is a view (2) having a direction dot arranged in GRID3; 18 Fig. 25 is a view (1) showing an arrangement order of an information dot of GRID3; Fig. 26 is a view showing an arrangement order of a direction dot of GRID3; Fig. 27 is a view (2) showing an arrangement order of an information dot of GRID3; Fig. 28 is a view (1) having a direction dot arranged in GRID4; Fig. 29 is a view (1) showing an arrangement order of an information dot of GRID4; Fig. 30 is a view (2) showing an arrangement order of an information dot of GRID4; Fig. 31 is a view showing an arrangement order of a direction dot of GRID4; Fig. 32 is a view (3) showing an arrangement order of an information dot of GRID4; Fig. 33 is a view (4) showing an arrangement order of an information dot of GRID4; Fig. 34 is an explanatory view (1) changing how to arrange the information dot and defining a direction of a block in GRID1; Fig. 35 is an explanatory view (2) changing how to arrange the information dot and defining a direction of a block in GRID1; Fig. 36 is an explanatory view (3) changing how to arrange the information dot and defining a direction of a block in GRID1; 19 Fig. 37 is an explanatory view (4) changing how to arrange the information dot and defining a direction of a block in GRID1; Fig. 38 is a view (1) showing an arrangement example when the block and the direction cannot be defined; Fig. 39 is a view (2) showing an arrangement example when the block and the direction cannot be defined; Fig. 40 is an explanatory view (1) changing how to arrange the information dot and defining a direction of a block in GRID3; Fig. 41 is an explanatory view (2) changing how to arrange the information dot and defining a direction of a block in GRID3; Fig. 42 is an explanatory view (3) changing how to arrange the information dot and defining a direction of a block in GRID3; Fig. 43 is an explanatory view (4) changing how to arrange the information dot and defining a direction of a block in GRID3; Fig. 44 is an explanatory view (1) changing how to arrange the information dot and defining a direction of a block in GRID4; Fig. 45 is an explanatory view (2) changing how to arrange the information dot and defining a direction of a block in GRID4; Fig. 46 is an explanatory view (3) changing how to arrange the information dot and defining a direction of 20 a block in GRID4; Fig. 47 is an explanatory view illustrating a determination algorithm of a direction dot and an information dot according to the present embodiment; Fig. 48 is an explanatory view (1) defining a direction of a block depending on how to arrange a reference point in a block having a shape thereof other than a grid; Fig. 49 is an explanatory view (2) defining the direction of the block depending on how to arrange a reference point in the block having a shape thereof other than a grid; Fig. 50 is an explanatory view (1) defining a direction of a block depending on how to arrange a reference point when the shape of the block is not a rectangular area and partial reference points coincide with partial reference grid point; Fig. 51 is an explanatory view (2) defining the direction of the block depending on how to arrange a reference point when the shape of the block is not a rectangular area and partial reference points coincide with partial reference grid point; Fig. 52 is an explanatory view (1) changing how to arrange an information dot and defining a direction of a block in a block having reference points arranged at four corners of the block; Fig. 53 is an explanatory view (2) changing how to 21 arrange an information dot and defining a direction of a block in the block having reference points arranged at four corners of the block; Fig. 54 is an explanatory view (3) changing how to arrange an information dot and defining a direction of a block in the block having reference points arranged at four corners of the block; Fig. 55 is an explanatory view (4) changing how to arrange an information dot and defining a direction of a block in the block having reference points arranged at four corners of the block; Fig. 56 is an explanatory view defining a direction of a block by conforming partial reference points to the grid point in the block having reference points arranged at four corners of the block; Fig. 57 is an explanatory view changing a size of a reference point and defining a direction of a block in a block having a shape thereof other than the grid; Fig. 58 is an explanatory view changing a size of a reference point and defining a direction of a block in a block having a shape thereof as the grid; Fig. 59 is an explanatory view showing the state that the size of the information dot arranged at the center of the block is made larger than other information dots to be made into a direction dot; Fig. 60 is an explanatory view changing a shape of an information dot and defining a direction of a block; 22 Fig. 61 is an explanatory view defining the direction of the block by changing the shape of the information dot arranged at the center of the block with the shape of the other information dot; Fig. 62 is an explanatory view defining the direction of the block by arranging no information dot on a grid point of a grid area on a center of a block; and Fig. 63 is an explanatory view defining the direction of the block by arranging an information dot on the grid point of the grid area on the center of the block. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 00391 Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 00401 At first, basic principles of dot patterns used for the present invention will be explained, and then, the embodiments of direction dots of these dot patterns will be explained below. 00411 (Explanation of the dot pattern: GRID1) Figs. i to 20 are explanatory views for illustrating a principle of a dot pattern which is a premise of the present invention. These figures 1 to 20 illustrate a 23 dot pattern in GRID1 and include a key dot 2. 00421 However, this key dot 2 is different from the direction dot of the present invention and is not a characteristicofthe presentinvention. The difference between the key dot 2 shown in these Figs. 1 to 20 and the direction dot of the present invention will be described in detail on and after Fig. 21. 00431 Fig. 1 is an explanatory view showing GRID1 which is an example of the dot pattern according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing examples of the information dot of the dot pattern and the bit display of the data defined there. Figs. 3A and 3B are explanatory views showing information dots arranged centering on a key dot (this key dot is different from the direction dot of the present invention). 00441 An information input and output method using the dot pattern according to the present invention may include generation of a dot pattern 1, a means of recognizing the dot pattern 1 and a means of outputting the information and a program from this dot pattern 1. In other words, by fetching the dot pattern 1 by a camera as the image data, extracting a reference grid point dot 4, then, extractinga key dot 2 (this key dot 2 is different from the direction dot of the present invention) when 24 the dot is not hit at a proper position of the reference grid point dot 4, then, extracting an information dot 3 to digitalize the image data, and extracting an information area to quantify the information, the information and the program are outputted from this dot pattern 1 due to this numeric value information. For example, the information such as voice and the program are outputted to an information output apparatus, a personal computer, a PDA or a cellular telephone or the like from this dot pattern 1. 00451 In the generation of the dot pattern 1 according to the present invention, minute dots for recognizing the information such as voice by a dot code generation algorithm, namely, a key dot, an information dot, and a reference grid point dot 4 are arranged in accordance with a predetermined rule. As shown in Fig. 1, in the block of the dot pattern 1 showing the information, the reference grid point dots 4 (5 x 5) are arranged centering on the key dot 2 and the information dots 3 are arranged around a central grid point 5 which is encircled by four reference grid point dots 4. In this block, arbitrary numericvalue information is defined. The example shown in Fig. 1 illustrates the state that four blocks of the dotpattern1 (within aboldline) are arrangedinparallel. However, it is obvious that the dotpatternlisnot limited to four blocks. 25 00461 It is possible to output one corresponding information and one corresponding program to one block or it is possible to output one corresponding information and one corresponding program to a plurality of blocks. 0 0471 Upon fetch of this dot pattern 1 by the camera as the image data, the reference gridpoint dot 4 can correct distortion of a lens of a camera, cross shot, expansion and contraction of a page space, curve of a surface of a medium, and distortion of printing. Specifically, obtaining a function for correction, namely, (Xn, Yn) = f (Xn' , Yn' ) to transform four distorted reference grid point dots 4 into the original square and correcting the information dot 3 by the same function, the vector of the correct information dot 3 is obtained. 00481 If the reference grid point dot 4 is arranged in the dot pattern 1, the image data made by fetching this dot pattern 1 by the camera can be accurately recognized even when the widespread camera having a lens with a high distortion ratio fetches the image data of the dot pattern 1 since the reference grid point dot 4 corrects the distortion caused by the camera. In addition, even if the inclined camera reads the face of the dot pattern 1, this camera can accurately recognize the dot pattern 1. 26 00491 As shown in Fig. 1, the key dot 2 is a dot arranged with one reference grid point dot 4 located at a substantially center of the reference grid point dots 4 arranged in a rectangular deviated in a predetermined direction. This key dot 2 is a representative point of the dot pattern 1 for one block representing the information dot 3. For example, the key dot 2 is the reference grid point dot 4 at the center of the block of the dot pattern 1 that is deviated upward 0.2 mm by 0.2 mm. In the case that the information dot 3 represents X and Y coordinate values, the position that the key dot 2 is deviated downward 0.2 mmby 0.2 mmbecomes a coordinate point. However, this numeric value is not limited to this and it can be changed in accordance with the size of the block of the dot pattern 1. 00501 The information dot 3 is a dot for recognizing various information. This information dot 3 is arranged around the key dot 2 which is a representative point, and making the center encircled by four reference grid point dots 4 into the grid point 5, this information dot 3 is arranged at the end point represented by the vector using the grid point 5 as a start point. For example, this information dot 3 is encircledby the four reference grid point dots 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the dot separated from that grid point 5 by 0.2 mm has a direction and a 27 length represented by the vector, so that these dots are arranged in eight directions rotated clockwise 45 degrees by 45 degrees to represent three bits. Accordingly, it is possible to represent 48 bits (3 bits x 16) by the dot pattern 1 of one block. 00511 In the example shown in the drawing, the dots are arranged in eight directions to represent three bits, however, it is possible to represent four bits by arranging the dots in sixteen directions not being limited to this and it is obvious that various modifications can be available. 00521 It is preferable that a diameter of the key dot 2, the information dot 3 or the reference grid point dot 4 is about 0.1 mm in consideration of a visual quality, the accuracy of print with respect to a paper quality, a resolution of a camera, and the optimum digitalization. 00531 In addition, in consideration of the necessary information amount with respect to the image pickup area and misrecognition of various dots 2, 3, and 4, it is preferable that the interval between the reference grid point dots 4 is about 1 mm by 1 mm. In consideration of misrecognition of the reference grid point dot 4 and the information dot 3, it is preferable that the deviation of the key dot 2 is about 20% of the grid interval. 28 00541 It is preferable that the interval between this information dot 3 and the grid point encircled by four reference grid point dots 4 is about 15 to 30 % of the distance between the adjacent grid point 5 because if the distance between the information dot 3 and the grid point 5 is shorter than this interval, the dots are easily seen as a large block and the dots are hardly seen as the dot pattern 1. On the contrary, if the distance between the information dot 3 and the grid point 5 is longer than this interval, it is difficult to identify the dot as the information dot 3 having a vector directional character centering on any adjacent grid point 5. 00551 For example, as shown in Fig. 3A, in the information dot 3, the grid interval when Il to 116 are arranged clockwise around the key dot 2 is 1 mm, and 3 bits x 16 = 48 bits is represented by 4 mm x 4 mm. 00561 Further, it is possible to provide sub blocks which have independent information content in the block respectively and are not influenced by other information content. Fig. 3Bshows these subblocks andthe subblocks [I1, 12, 13, 141 , [ 15, 16, 17, 181 , [ 19, 110, Ill, 1121 , and [ 113, 114, 115, 116] composed of four information dots 3 have independent data (3 bits x 4 = 12 bits) 29 respectively developed in the information dot 3. Thus, by providing the sub blocks, it is possible to check an error easily in units of sub block. 00571 It is preferable that the vector direction (the rotational direction) of the information dot 3 is evenly defined for each 30 degrees to 90 degrees. 00581 Fig. 4 shows an example of the bit display of the information dot 3 and the data which is defined there and it shows other configuration. 00591 In addition, using two kinds of long and short information dots 3 from among the grid pointgrid point 5 encircled by the reference grid point dot 4 and defining eight vector directions, itis possible to represent four bits. In this case, it is desirable that the distance between the grid pointgrid point 5 adjacent to longer one is about 25 to 30 % and the distance between the grid pointgrid point 5 adjacent to shorter one is about 15 to 20 %. However, the central interval between the long and short information dots 3 is preferably longer than the diameters of these dots. 00601 It is preferable that the information dot 3 encircled by four reference grid point dots 4 is one dot in consideration of a visual quality. However, in the 30 case of increasing the information amount ignoring the visual quality, the information dot 3 may have much information by allocating one bit to one vector and representing the information dot 3 by a plurality of dots. For example, in a concentric eight directional vectors, 28 pieces of information can be represented by the information dot 3 encircled by four reference grid dots 4 and 2128 is represented by 16 pieces of information dots of one block. 00611 Fig. 5 shows an example of the bit display of the informationdot and the datawhichis defined there. Fig. 5A shows the arrangement of two dots, Fig. 5B shows the arrangement of four dots, and Fig. 5C shows the arrangement of five dots. 00621 Fig. 6 shows a modified example of a dot pattern. Fig. 6A is a schematic view of the arrangement type of six information dots, Fig. 6B is a schematic view of the arrangement type of nine information dots, Fig. 6C is a schematic view of the arrangement type of twelve information dots, and Fig. 6D is a schematic view of the arrangement type of thirty-six information dots. 00631 The dot pattern 1 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 show an example that 16 (4 x 4) information dots 3 are arranged in one block. However, this information dot 3 is not 31 limited to the case that 16 pieces thereof are arranged in one block and various changes are possible. For example, in accordance with the volume of the necessary information amount or the resolution of the camera, as shown in Fig. 3A, 6 (2 x 3) information dots 3 are arranged in one block; as shown in Fig. 3B, 9 (3 x 3) information dots 3 are arranged in one block; as shown in Fig. 3C, 12 (3 x 4) information dots 3 are arranged in one block; or as shown in Fig. 3D, 36 information dots 3 are arranged in one block. [ 00641 (Explanation of Dot Pattern: GRID3) Next, GRID3 will be described. [ 00651 Fig. 7 is an explanatory view showing an example of a dot pattern according to the present invention; Fig. 8 is an enlarged view showing an example of the bit display of the information dot of the dot pattern and the data defined there; and Figs. 9A, 9B, and 9C are explanatory views showing the arrangement of the key dot and the information dot. 00661 The information input and output method using the dot pattern according to the present invention is formed by a means of recognizing the dot pattern 1 and a means of outputting the information and a program from this dot pattern 1. 32 00671 In other words, by fetching the dot pattern 1 by a camera as the image data, extracting a reference grid point dot 4, then, determining that this as the position of a virtual reference grid point 6, a line connecting these virtual reference grid point 6 is defined as a reference grid line 7. Then, in the case that no dot is arranged at the position of the virtual reference grid point 6 where the reference grid point dot 4 should be originally located on this reference grid line 7, extracting the dot around this virtual reference grid point 6, this dot is determined as the key dot 2 (the angle portion of the four corners of the block) . Next, setting grid lines 8a and 8b in horizontal and vertical directions connecting the virtual reference grid point 6 each other, the intersect point of the grid lines is defined as a gridpoint 11 (a first gridpoint) . Further, searching the dot around this grid point 11, the information dot 3 to be defined by the distance and the direction from that grid point 11 is extracted. 00681 In addition, assuming that an oblique grid line 8c connecting the virtual reference grid point 6 each other in an oblique direction, the intersecting point of these oblique grid lines 8c is also defined as a virtual reference grid point 12 (a second grid point). Then, also searching the dot around this virtual reference grid 33 point 12, the information dot 3 to be defined by the distance and the direction from that grid point 12 is extracted. 00691 Next, the direction of the block is decided depending on the direction of the key dot 2 from the virtual reference grid point 6 or the gridpoint 11. For example, when the key dot 2 is deviated from the grid point into a + y direction, assuming a longitudinal direction as a normal state, the information dot 3 within the block may be recognized. 00701 In addition, if the key dot 2 is deviated from the virtual reference grid point 6 or the grid point 11 into a - y direction, assuming a direction rotating the block around the center of the block by 180 degrees as a normal state, the information dot 3 within the block may be recognized. 00711 In addition, if the key dot 2 is deviated from the virtual reference grid point 6 or the grid point 11 into a - x direction, assuming a direction rotating the block around the center of the block by 90 degrees clockwise as a normal state, the information dot 3 within the block may be recognized. 00721 Further, if the keydot2is deviatedfromthe virtual 34 reference grid point 6 or the grid point 11 into a + x direction, assumingadirection rotating theblock around the center of the block by 90 degrees counterclockwise as a normal state, the information dot 3 within the block may be recognized. 00731 If the images of the dot pattern 1 read by the optical reading means are accumulated in the frame buffer, a central processing unit (CPU) of this optical reading means may analyze the dot of the frame buffer and may decode numeric values which are defined by the distances and the directions from the grid point 11 and 12 of respective information dot 3 for each information dot 3. Then, these numeric values are outputted from the display means and the voice and image output means being checked against the information stored in the optical reading means or a memory of a personal computer as an xy coordinate or a code and with a voice, an image, a moving image, a character, and a program or the like corresponding to the xy coordinate or the code being read. 0 0741 In the generation of the dot pattern 1 according to the present invention, minute dots for recognizing the information such as voice by a dot code generation algorithm, namely, the key dot 2, the information dot 3, and the reference grid 4 are arranged in accordance with the predetermined rule. 35 00751 As shown in Fig. 7, a rectangular area shaped in a square or an oblong on the surface of the medium of the printed material or the like is defined as a block. Then, providing the virtual reference grid point 6 at certain intervals on the reference grid line 7 with the lines in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction configuring the frame of the block defined as the reference grid line 7 (the line represented by a bold line in Fig. 1) the reference grid point dot 4 is arranged on the virtualreference gridpoint 6. Next, makinglines connecting the virtual reference grid point 6 each other and being in parallel with the reference grid line 7 into grid lines 8a and 8b, the intersecting point of the grid lines 8a and 8b is defined as a grid point 11 (a first grid point). 00761 Further, setting a grid line 8c connecting the virtual reference grid point 6 each other in the oblique direction, the intersecting point of these grid lines 8cis alsodefinedas agridpoint12 (asecondgridpoint). 00771 By arranging one or plural information dots 3 having the distances and the directions based on the grid pointgrid point 11 and 12 which are set in this way, respectively, a dot pattern is generated. 00781 36 Upon fetch of this dot pattern 1 by the camera as the image data, the reference gridpoint dot 4 can correct distortion of a lens of the camera, cross shot, expansion and contraction of a page space, curve of a surface of a medium, and distortion of printing. Specifically, obtaining a function for correction, namely, (Xn, Yn) = f (Xn' , Yn' ) to transform the distorted four grid point into the original square and correcting the information dot 3 by the same function, the vector of the correct information dot 3 is obtained. 00791 If the reference grid point dot 4 is arranged in the dot pattern 1, the image data made by fetching this dot pattern 1 by the camera can be accurately recognized even when the widespread camera having a lens with a high distortion ratio fetches the image data of the dot pattern 1 since the reference grid point dot 4 corrects the distortion caused by the camera. In addition, even if the inclined camera reads the face of the dot pattern 1, this camera can accurately recognize the dot pattern 1. 00801 As shown in Fig. 7, the key dot 2 is a dot arranged by a distance and a direction with reference to one grid point 11 located at a substantially center of the grid point pints arranged in a rectangular. This key dot 2 is a representative point of the dot pattern 1 for one 37 block representing one unit of the information dot groups. For example, the key dot 2 is deviated upward from the reference grid point dot 11 at the center of the block of the dot pattern 0.2 mm by 0.2 mm. Accordingly, in the case that the information dot 3 represents X and Y coordinate values from the grid point, the position separated from the key dot 2 downward 0.2 mm becomes a grid point (a coordinate point). However, this numeric value (0 .2 mm) is not limited to this and it can be changed in accordance with the size of the block of the dot pattern 1. 00811 The information dot 3 is a dot for recognizing various information. In Fig. 12, this information dot 3is arrangedaroundthe keydot2whichis arepresentative point, and making the center encircled by four grid pointgrid point 11 (the first grid point) into the grid point 12 (the second grid point), this information dot 3 is arranged at the end point represented by the vector using the grid point 12 as a start point. For example, this information dot 3 is encircled by the grid pointgrid point 11 and 12. As shown in Fig. 8, the dots separated from those grid pointgrid point 11 and 12 by 0.2 mm have a direction and a length represented by the vector, so that these dots are arranged in eight directions rotated clockwise 45 degrees by 45 degrees to represent three bits. 38 00821 According to the drawing, it is possible to represent 48 bits (3 bits x 16) by the dot pattern 1 of one block. 00831 In the example shown in the drawing, the dots are arranged in eight directions to represent three bits, however, it is possible to represent four bits by arranging the dots in sixteen directions not being limited to this and it is obvious that various modifications can be available. 00841 Further, in Fig. 7, in the all grid pointgrid point, the information dot is arranged at the end point position using this grid point as the start point, however, being not limited to this, the information may be defined depending on whether or not the dot is arranged on the grid point. For example, if the dot is arranged on the grid point, the information can be defined as "1", and if the dot is not arranged on the grid point, the information can be defined as "0". 00851 It is preferable that a diameter of the information dot 3 or the reference grid point dot 4 is about 0.1 mm in consideration of a visual quality, the accuracy of print with respect to a paper quality, a resolution of a camera, and the optimum digitalization. 39 00861 In addition, in consideration of the necessary information amount with respect to the image pickup area and misconceptions of various dots 2, 3, and 4, it is preferable that the interval between the reference grid point dots 4 is about 1 mm by 1 mm. In consideration of misconceptions of the reference grid point dot 4 and the informationdot 3, it ispreferable that thedeviation of the key dot 2 is about 20% of the grid interval. 00871 It is preferable that the interval between this information dot 3 and the grid point 11 or 12 is about 15 to 30 % of the distance between the adjacent grid pointgrid point 11 and 12 because if the distance between the information dot 3 and the grid pointgrid point 11 and 12 is shorter than this interval, the dots are easily seen as a large block and the dots are hardly seen as the dot pattern 1. On the contrary, if the distance between the information dot 3 and the grid pointgrid point 11 and 12 is longer than this interval, it is difficult to identify the dot as the information dot 3 having a vector directional character centering on any adjacent grid pointgrid point 11 and 12. 00881 Fig. 9 shows the reading order of the information dot 3 within the block, and the encircled numbers in the drawing mean the areas where the information dots 3 are 40 arranged every grid point 11 and every grid point 12, respectively. 00891 For example, in Fig. 9A, (1) to (25) are arranged clockwise around (1) (this means an encircled number "1" in the drawing and the same applies on and after) which is the center of the block. In this case, for example, the grid interval is 1 mm and three bits x 1,625 = 4,875 bits is represented by 4 mm x 4 mm. 00901 In Fig. 9B, after arranging the information dots (1) to (4) in the rectangular area in the upper left of the block by rotation in a longitudinal direction, the information dots (5) to (7) are arranged at the intersecting points of the horizontal and vertical grid lines. 0091] In Fig. 9C, after arranging the information dots (1) to (16) in the rectangular area in the upper left of the block by rotation in a longitudinal direction, the information dots (17) to (25) are arranged at the intersecting points of the horizontal and vertical grid lines. 00921 Fig. 10 shows an example of the bit display of the information dot and the data which is defined there and it shows other configuration. 41 00931 In addition, using two kinds of short (the upper stage of Fig. 10) and long (the lower stage of Fig. 10) information dots 3 from among the grid pointgrid point 11, 12 encircled by the reference grid point dot 4 and defining eight vector directions, it is possible to represent four bits. In this case, it is desirable that the distance between the grid pointgrid point adjacent to longer one is about 25 to 30 % and the distance between the grid pointgrid point adjacent to shorter one is about 15 to 20 %. However, the central interval between the long and short information dots 3 is preferably longer than the diameters of these dots. 00941 It is preferable that the information dot 3 encircled by four grid pointgrid point 11, 12 is one dot in consideration of a visual quality. However, in the case of increasing the information amount ignoring the visual quality, the information dot 3 may have much information by allocating one bit to one vector and representing the information dot 3 by a plurality of dots. For example, in a concentric eight directional vectors, 28 pieces of information can be represented by the information dot 3 encircled by four reference grid dots 4 and 2128 is represented by 16 pieces of information dots of one block. 00951 42 Fig. 11 shows an example of the bit display of the information dot 3 and the data which is defined there. Fig. 11A shows the arrangement of two dots, Fig. 11B shows the arrangement of four dots, Figs. 11C to 11E show the arrangement of five dots, and Fig. 11F shows the arrangement of seven dots. 00961 Fig. 12 shows a modified example of a dot pattern. Fig. 12A is a schematic view of the arrangement type of eight information dots 3 in the block, Fig. 12B is a schematic view of the arrangement type of thirteen information dots 3 in the block, Fig. 12C is a schematic view of the arrangement type of eighteen information dots 3, and Fig. 12D is a schematic view of the arrangement type of forty-one information dots 3. 00971 The above-described dot pattern 1 shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 show an example that 25 pieces of information dots 3 are arranged in one block. However, this information dot 3 is not limited to the case that 25 pieces thereof are arranged in one block and various changes are possible. For example, in accordance with the volume of the necessary information amount or the resolution of the camera, as shown in Fig. 12A, 8 pieces of information dots 3 are arranged in one block; as shown in Fig. 12B, 13 pieces ofinformation dots 3 are arrangedin one block; as shown in Fig. 12C, 18 pieces of information dots 3 43 are arranged in one block; or as shown in Fig. 12D, 41 pieces of information dots 3 are arranged in one block. [ 00981 (Explanation of Dot Pattern: GRID4) Next, GRID4 will be described. [ 00991 Fig. 13 specifically shows a dot pattern according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 13A shows a dot pattern of 4 x 4 grids, Fig. 13B shows a dot pattern of 5 x 4 grids, and Fig. 13C shows a dot pattern of 6 x 4 grids. 0100] In Fig. 13A, at first, providing reference grid lines 7a to 7d in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction composing a square, grid pointgrid point 13 are arranged at certain intervals within the square. 0101] Further, the reference grid lines 7a to 7d and the grid point 13 are not printed on a page space (a medium space) in practice but they are virtually set upon arrangement of the dot pattern on an image memory of a computer or upon reading of the dot pattern. 01021 Next, the reference grid point dots 4 are arranged on the grid pointgrid point 14 on the upper and lower reference grid lines 7a and 7b in a lateral direction. 01031 44 Next, assuming grid line 8a and 8b in horizontal and vertical directions connecting the grid pointgrid point 13 each other, the intersecting point of these grid lines 8a and 8b is defined as a grid point 13 in the same way. 01041 Next, by arranging one or two information dots 3 having the distance and the direction with reference to the grid point 13 for each grid point 13, a dot pattern is generated. Further, in Fig. 13, one information dot 3 is arranged for each grid point 13. 01051 Fig. 13A shows the case that the information dots 3 are arranged with four grids in a longitudinal direction and four grids in a lateral direction (4 x 4 grids) ; Fig. 13B shows the case of 5 x 4 grids; and Fig. 13C shows the case of 6 x 4 grids; respectively. 01061 Fig. 14 shows the definition of the information dot 3 and the value is defined in the direction of the information dot 3 around the grid point 13. In this drawing, by arranging the information dots in eight directions rotated clockwise 45 degrees by 45 degrees with reference to the grid line passing through the grid point, it is possible to define eight kinds ofinformation in total (000 to 111 in a notation system of 2, three bits). 45 01071 In addition, in Fig. 15, by having the distance in two stages clockwise, it is possible to define sixteen kinds of information in total (in the notation system of2), namely, the informationof0000 to l111 (fourbits). 01081 Fig. 16 shows the case that a plurality of information dots 3 is arranged on a concentric circle around the grid point 13. By defining the position as "1" when there is a dot thereon and defining the position as "0" when there is no dot thereon, 8 bits can be defined. In other words, it is possible to define the bit information clockwise with the dot positioned in a vertical direction determined as the first bit. 0109] Fig. 17 shows the case that there are two concentric circles and 16 bits can be defined. Thus, it is possible to define the vast amounts of information with respect to one grid point 13. 0110] Fig. 18 is an explanatory view for illustrating a reading order of the information dot 3 by an optical reading means. In the drawing, the encircled numbers are used for a convenient purpose and the dot pattern is as illustrated in Figs. 13A to 13C in practice. 0111] In Fig. 18A, at first, reading the information dot 46 for each grid point along a reference grid line 7c at a left side in a longitudinal direction (the encircled numbers (1) to (3)), then, the grid pointgrid point 13 on a next grid line 8b in a longitudinal direction are read by rotation from the above (the encircled numbers (4) to (6) ) . Thus, reading for each grid point 13 is carried out in series. 01121 The reading for each grid is carried out by rotation from left of the grid line 8b in the longitudinal direction in the above explanation, however, it is obvious that the order of the grid for arranging and reading the information may be arbitrarily set. 01131 Fig. 19 shows an example that the key dot 2 is arranged on the grid point 13 on the reference grid line in place of the reference grid point dot 4. The key dots 2 are arranged on the position deviated upward with reference to the grid point 13 at the middle position of a reference grid line 7a. 01141 By these key dots 2, the direction of the dot pattern can be defined. 01151 Fig. 20 is an explanatory view illustrating a reading method of the information dot 3 by using a difference method. Hereinafter, the number surrounded 47 by a square in the drawing is represented by [ ] and the number encircled in the drawing is represented by ( 01161 In other words, in Fig. 20, the value [ 1] is represented by a difference between the value of the information dot of (4) and the value of the information dot of (1) in 4 x 4 grids. 01171 In the same way, [ 2] can be represented by the difference between (5) and (2), and[ 3] canbe represented by the difference between (6) and (3) . Further, [ 4] to [12] are represented in the same way. 01181 It is possible to represent [ 1] to [ 12] by the difference between the following information dots. 0119] 11 = (4) - (1) [21 = (5) - (2) 31 = (6) - (3) 41 = (7) - (4) 51 = (8) - (5) 61 = (9) - (6) 71 = (10) - (7) 81 = (11) - (8) 91 = (12) - (9) 101 = (13) - (10) 11] (14) - (11) 48 121 = (15) - (12) By using such a difference method, pluraldifferent dot patterns can be generated with respect to one true value so as to improve a security. 01201 (Explanation of a direction dot in GRID1) The above-described Figs. 1 to 20 mainly explain an example of a dot pattern proposed by the inventor (s) of the present invention. In the following explanation, the case of defining the direction of the block by the direction dot without using the key dot 2 will be described in detail. 01211 Figs. 21A and 21B show the examples that a direction dot 21 is arranged on the premise of the dot pattern in GRID1 described in Figs. 1 to 20. 01221 In this example, the information is defined depending on how to deviate the area surrounded by the reference grid point dot 4 from the central point. Accordingly, the information dot 3 can be arranged on the all grid areas, however, the direction dot 21 is arranged only on 3 x 3 pieces of center grid areas. 01231 On the area where the direction dot 21 is arranged, the direction dot represents the direction and the information being positioned deviated in the horizontal 49 andverticaldirections from the centralpoint. In other words, in Fig. 21A, it is known that this block is upward because the direction dot 21 is arranged at the position deviated upward (a + Y direction) from the center. In the case that this direction dot 21 is arranged at the position deviated downward (a - Y direction) from the center, it is known that this block is downward. In the same way, when this direction dot 21 is arranged at the position deviated to the left (a - X direction) from the center, it is known that this block turns left, and when this direction dot 21 is arranged at the position deviated to the right (a + X direction) from the center, it is known that this block turns right. 01241 In addition, in the grid area other than the direction dot 21, the information is defined by making the direction dot deviated into an oblique direction from the central point. This method of defining the information is described as above, so that the explanation thereof is herein omitted. 01251 Further, such a grid area having a different directional standard from that of the other grid areas (the grid area where the direction dot 21 is arranged) defines the block in the direction of the direction dot 21 when the direction dot is arranged at its center, and when this grid area having the different directional 50 standard is arranged in the other area of the block (the direction area), it is possible to define the direction of the block due to this arranged position (refer to Fig. 40). In addition, providing plural grid areas having the different directional standards, the direction of theblock canbe defineddue toits arrangementmode (refer to Figs. 34 to 37). In these cases, only by arranging the gridareahaving the different directional standards, the direction of the block can be defined, so that it is not always have to conform the information dot 3 arranged at this grid area to the direction of the block. This will be described in detail later. 01261 Thus, by arranging the information dot 3 in the horizontal and vertical directions on the direction area and arranging the information dot 3 in the oblique direction on the other areas, an equal space property of the reference grid point is not sacrificed because none of the reference grid point dots 4 is deviated due to the key dot 2. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the reading algorithm for the dot pattern. In addition, the information dot 3 can be arranged as it is in the direction area, so that the direction of the block can be defined without sacrificing the information dot 3. Further, even when the direction dot 21 is arranged, the information can be defined by the amount of deviation from the centralpoint (the length from the centralpoint) 51 and the information dot 3 can be used also as the direction dot 21. 01271 Fig. 47 is an explanatory view illustrating a determination algorithm of a direction dot and an information dot. 01281 Upon determination of the direction dot 21 and the information dot 3, the following procedure will be carried out. [ 01291 (1) s = I0 - 12 is calculated. [ 01301 (2) t = 13 - Il is calculated. 01311 (3) s - t is calculated. 01321 (4) If s - t is not less than a predetermined value p, the dot is determined to be an information dot, and if s - t is less than the predetermined value p, the dot is determined to be a direction dot. 01331 Specifically, in the case of Fig. 47A, when s - t = I0 - 12 - 13 - Il = I0 - 12 , I0 - 12 > p are established, the dot is the information dot. 01341 In the case of Fig. 47B, when s - t = I - I2 52 13 -Il = 0, 0<pare established, the dotis the direction dot. 01351 Further, the value of p can be arbitrarily set and it is preferably around 120 pixel 2, however, this value is not limited to this. 01361 Fig. 21A shows a block formed by nine pieces of grid areas (3 x 3 = 9) and Fig. 21B shows an example that the blocks are arranged two-by-two in the horizontal and vertical directions. 01371 Figs. 22A and 22B show the arrangement order for each grid area of the information dot 3 corresponding to Figs. 21A and 21B. The arrangement order of the information dot 3 is not limited to this. 01381 (GRID3: arrangement example of direction dot) Figs. 23A and 23B show the case that the direction dot 21 is applied to the other dot pattern (GRID3). 01391 In GRID1, the information dot 3 is arranged in the area surrounded by four reference grid point dots, however, in GRID3, the information dot 3 is arranged also at the position of the reference grid point. In this example, it is possible to arrange the direction dot 21 within the block focusing on any reference grid point. 53 01401 In Fig. 23A, the reference grid point located at the lower right of the upper left grid area among 16 pieces of grid areas (4 x 4 = 16) is defined as the arrangement place of the direction dot 21. When the direction dot 21 is arranged at this place, at the positions rotated by 90 degrees around a center 24 of this block (23a, 23b, 23c), the direction dot 21 cannot be determined if the information dot 3 is arranged in the same direction as the direction dot 21 (the horizontal and vertical directions). Therefore, there is a possibility that the direction of the block cannot be defined. 01411 Therefore, at the reference grid point other than the arrangement place of the direction dot 21, the information dot is arranged in the oblique direction. Thereby, it becomes easy to search the direction dot 21. 01421 In Fig. 23A, it is defined that this block is upward when the dot is arranged at the position of the direction dot 21, namely, the dot is arranged upward from the reference grid point in this drawing. 01431 However, the present embodiment is not limited to that the direction of the block is defined at the dot position itself, and as shown in this drawing, the direction of the block can be also defined by arranging 54 the area where the dot is arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions at the upper left in the block itself. In this case, it is not always have to conform the dot arranged in this area to the direction of the block and itmaybe arranged in the right, left, and lower directions from the reference grid point. Thus, by arranging the area for defining the information in a different directional standard from the other information dot 3 (a direction area 21a: in this direction area 21a, the information dot 3 is arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions of the reference grid point, and in the area having the intersecting point of the grid line in the other areas as the reference grid point, the dot is arranged in the oblique direction) at a predetermined position in the block in advance, the direction of the block can be defined. In other words, if the direction area 21a is arranged at the upper left, this block is upward. In addition, since the direction of the block can be defined only at the arrangement place of this area (the direction area 21a) , the information dot 3 of this area (the direction area 21a) may be arranged in any direction from the reference grid point only if it is a direction different from the other information dots 3. 01441 In addition, in Fig. 23A, the direction dot 21 can be discriminated from the arrangement direction (the 55 oblique direction) of the information dot 3 tobe arranged in the other reference grid point in the direction of the direction dot 21 (the horizontal and vertical directions). However, as shown in Fig. 23B, the present embodiment is not limited to this and due to the length from the reference grid point, the direction dot 21 can be identified. In this drawing, only the distance between the direction dot 21 and the reference grid point is set longer, and the distance between the information dot 3 at the other position (23a, 23b, 23c) and the reference grid point is set shorter. 01451 Fig. 24 shows the above-described case that two dot patterns in GRID3 are configured in the horizontal and vertical directions, and Figs. 25A and 25B show the arrangement order of the information dot 3 corresponding to this. 01461 Also in the case shown in Fig. 24, the area where the dots are arranged in upper, lower, right and left directions from the reference grid point (the direction area 21a) is arranged at the left upper of the block, the direction of this block can be identified. 01471 Fig. 26A and Fig. 26B show the example that the direction dot 21 is arranged at the center of the block in the dot pattern by GRID3. 56 01481 Thus, by arranging the direction dot21 at the center of the block, it is possible to freely arrange the information dot 3 in horizontal, vertical, and oblique directions on the other grid pints. 01491 Figs. 27A and 27B correspond to Figs. 26A and 26B, respectively, and they illustrate the arrangement order of the information dot 3. 01501 (GRID4: arrangement example of direction dot) Figs. 28 to 33 show the case that the direction dot is further applied to the other dot pattern (GRID4). 01511 In Fig. 28A, on this dot pattern (GRID4), the reference grid point dots 4 are arranged at even intervals on lateral grid lines 28A and 28B at the upper and lower sides of the block, and the information dots 3 are arranged centering on the grid point other than this reference grid point dot 4, respectively. 01521 On such a dot pattern, at the area of a predetermined reference grid point at the next level of a central grid line 28c located at the mid point between the upper and lower grid lines 28a and 28b, the information dots 3 are arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions using this reference grid point as the start point, and this 57 area becomes a direction area 21a. 01531 At this direction area21a, the directional standard of arrangement of the information dot 3 is different from that of the reference grid point belonging to the same grid line. In other words, the information dot 3 is arranged from the reference grid point to the oblique direction at the area of the other reference grid point. On the other hand, at the direction area 21a, the information dot 3 is arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions from the reference grid point. 01541 Thus, in the case that the direction area 21a is arranged at the upper side with reference to the central grid line 28c, it is possible to identify that this block is upward. 01551 At the direction area 21a, the information dot 3 can be arbitrarily arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions, however, it is obvious that the directiondot21 in this direction area 21amaybe arranged being conformed to the direction of the block. 01561 In addition, in the case that the direction area 21a is provided on the central grid line 28c, the dot arranged in this direction area 21a shows the direction of the block as the direction dot 21. 58 01571 In such a dot pattern (GRID4), when the position of any grid point is determined to be the direction dot 21, theinformationdot3ofthegridpointinline symmetry around the central grid line 28c located at the mid point between the upper and lower grid lines 28a and 28b is differently arranged from the direction dot 21. In other words, the direction dot 21 is arranged being deviated from the grid point in the upper, lower, right, and left directions, and at the grid point in line symmetry with that grid point, the information dot 3 is arranged deviated from this grid point in the oblique direction. 01581 On such a dot pattern (GRID4), since the reference grid point 4 are arranged at even intervals only on the upper and lower grid lines 28a and 28b, the longitudinal direction of this block can be identified. Next, the region where the dots are arranged in the oblique direction and the longitudinal direction at their symmetry positions with reference to the center grid line 28c, respectively, is searched. The dot in the longitudinal direction which is searched here becomes the direction dot 21. 01591 Fig. 28B is a view showing the state that two blocks as described above are arranged in parallel in horizontal and vertical directions. 59 01601 In addition, Fig. 29Ais an explanatory view showing an example of how to arrange the information of this dot pattern (GRID4). According to this example, the information is defined by the difference for each dot. In the present specification, it is assumed that [ 1] denotes a number 1 surrounded by a square in the drawing, and (1) denotes an encircled number 1 in the drawing. Here, for example, the first information [ 1] is defined by a value made by subtracting the value of the information dot 3 located at (1) from the value of the dot 3 located at (4). As shown in the drawing, only the grid point on which the direction dot 21 is arranged is not used as the information dot 3, however, it is possible to give a meaning of the information to this direction dot 21 by the difference in length from the grid point. 01611 In addition, in place of the direction dot 21, as described with reference to Fig. 28A, it is obvious that the information dot 3 may be arranged in this area as the direction area 21a. 01621 The upper drawing of Fig. 30 shows the case that theblocks of the dotpattern shown in Fig. 29 are connected two-by-two in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively; and the lower drawing of Fig. 30 shows the calculation of this value. 60 01631 Figs. 31Aand 31B show the example that the direction dot 21 is arranged at the center of the block in the dot pattern by GRID4. 01641 Thus, by arranging the direction dot21 at the center of the block, it is possible to freely arrange the informationdot 3 on the other grid point in the horizontal and vertical directions. 01651 Figs. 32 to 33 show the arrangement of the information corresponding to Fig. 31. 01661 (GRID1: Modified Pattern) Figs. 34A and 34B define the direction of the block only by changing the arrangement direction of the information dot 3 only of a specific grid area (the direction area) in the dot pattern of the block configured by nine pieces (3 x 3 = 9) of the grid area into the arrangement direction of the other grid area (the direction area) on the dot pattern of GRID1. 01671 In other words, in Fig. 34A, the information dots 3 are arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions from the centers of a left lower grid area 34a, a center gridarea34b, andaleftlower gridarea34c, respectively, and in the other grid area, the information dot 3 is 61 arranged fromits center to the oblique direction. Thus, by arranging the grid areas 34a, 34b, and 34c, it can be recognized that this block is upward from a shape of a triangle connecting these grid areas, namely, a relation of an apex 34b with respect to bottom sides 34a and 34c. 01681 Thus, it is possible to define the direction of the block depending on the arrangement relation (here, a triangle) of the grid areas 34a, 34b, and 34c (wherein the information dots 3 are arranged from their centers in the horizontal and vertical directions), of which arrangement directions of the information dot 3 in the block are changed. Thereby, the information dot 3 can be arranged in the all grid areas in the block without sacrificing the grid area for the key dot. 01691 Further, Fig. 34B shows the state that the blocks shown in Fig. 34A are connected two-by-two in the horizontal and vertical directions. 01701 Figs. 35Aand35B show the state that the information dot 3 is arranged corresponding to Figs. 34A and 34B. 01711 Fig. 36A is a modification of Fig. 34A. In the dot pattern of the block composed of 16 pieces of grid areas (4 x 4 = 16) , the information dot 3 is arranged from the 62 center of the grid area into the horizontal and vertical directions only in specific grid areas 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d and then, these grid areas are chanted into the other gridarea (wherein the information dot 3is arranged from the center into the oblique direction). In this way, the directionoftheblockis defined. Inthisblock, the grid areas 36a, 36c, and 36d are linearly arranged in parallel with the bottom side and the grid area 36b is only protruded. Accordingly, it is known that the direction of this block is the protrusion direction of the grid area 36b, namely, upward. 01721 Further, Fig. 36B shows the state that the blocks shown in Fig. 36A are connected two-by-two in the horizontal and vertical directions. 01731 Figs. 37Aand37B show the state that the information dot 3 is arranged corresponding to Figs. 36A and 36B. 01741 Thus, as shown in Figs. 34 to 37, the direction of the block is defined by changing the arrangement direction of the information dot 3 into that of the other grid area only in a specific grid area, the information dot 3 can be arranged in the all grid areas by defining the direction of the block without sacrificing the grid area for the key dot. 01751 63 Fig. 38 and Fig. 39 show the example that the direction of the block cannot be defined even if the grid area is arranged as described with reference to Figs. 34 to 37. 01761 In other words, in the case of Fig. 38A, grid areas 381, 382, and383wherein the informationdot 3is arranged being deviated in the horizontal and vertical directions of the grid point are linearly continued in the oblique direction of the block, and when a line connecting these specific grid areas is also linearly connected to the other block, the direction ofthe block cannotbe defined. In addition, in the case of Fig. 38B, grid areas 384, 385, and 386 wherein the information dot 3 is arranged being deviated in the horizontal and vertical directions of the grid point are linearly continued in the upper and lower directions of the block, so that the direction of the block cannot be defined. 01771 Further, in the case of Fig. 38C, grid areas 387, 388, and 389 wherein the information dot 3 is arranged being deviated in the horizontal and vertical directions of the grid point configures a triangle. However, the figures made by rotating this triangle by 180 degrees (forexample, 395, 394, 389or 391, 392, 393) appear across blocks, so that the block itself cannot be defined (there is a possibility to recognize a block B5 by error) and 64 is cannot be determined if its direction is upward or downward. 01781 In the same way, in Fig. 39, a line grid areas 401, 402, and 403 wherein the information dot 3 is arranged being deviated in the horizontal and vertical directions of the grid point configures a triangle. However, the figures made by rotating this triangle by 180 degrees (for example, 404, 405, 406) appear across blocks B3 and B4, so that there is a possibility to recognize the block B5 which is not a block originally by error, the block cannot be defined correctly, and it cannot be determined if its direction is upward or downward. 01791 Fig. 40A is a modified example of a dot pattern (GRID3) described with reference to Fig.23. In this drawing, the reference grid point dots 4 are arranged at even intervals on the grid line configuring the outer circumference of the block; the grid lines connecting these reference grid point dots 4 in the horizontal and vertical directions are arranged; and assuming that the intersecting point of the grid lines to be a grid point, the area surrounded by four grid pointgrid point is defined as a grid area. The information dot 3 having the length and the direction (the vector) is arranged with reference to the center of this grid area. Then, with reference to the grid point, the information dot 65 3 is arranged. Here, with respect to the grid area, only in an upper center grid area 411, the information dot 3 deviated from the central point into the horizontal and vertical direction is arranged, and in the other grid area, the information dot 3 deviated from the central point into the oblique direction is arranged. In this case, it is known that this block is upward from the arrangement position of this grid area 411. 01801 Thus, the direction of this block can be identified depending on where the grid area 411 having the information dot 3 arranged in a specific direction is arranged in the block. 01811 As described above, it is also possible to identify the direction of the block only from the place where the grid area 411 as the direction area is arranged in the block. 01821 In other words, in the case of Fig. 40A, only in the grid area 411, the directional standard of the dot arrangement is the horizontal and vertical directions, so that it can be said that this grid area 411 is the direction area. 01831 In this case, since this direction area is arranged at the upper center, it is possible to identify that this 66 block is upward. Further, in the case that the grid area 411 is deemed to be the direction area in this way, it is not always necessary to conform the information dot 3 which is arranged in the grid area 411 to the direction of the block. Therefore, within this grid area 411, it is also possible to arrange the information dot at the vector end point, namely, left, right, or the lower direction using the central point (the start points) as the start point. 01841 In addition, it is obvious that the information dot 3 to be arranged in the grid area 411 is defined as the direction dot 21. In this case, it is possible to define the direction of the block due to the direction from the central point of the grid area 411. In this case, the grid area 411 where the direction dot 21 is arranged may be located at any place in the block. 01851 Further, Fig. 40B shows the state the blocks shown in Fig. 40A are connected two-by-two in the horizontal and vertical directions. 01861 Figs. 41A and 41B show the arrangement order of the information dot 3 corresponding to Figs. 40A and 40B. 01871 Fig. 42A shows the dot pattern described with reference to Fig. 40A by the block composed of 16 (4 x 67 4 = 16) pieces of grid areas. Fig. 42B shows the state that these blocks are connected two-by-two in the horizontal and vertical directions. 01881 Since the directional standard of the dot arrangement is the horizontal and vertical directions only in the grid area 411 also in Figs. 42A and 42B as same as the above-described Fig. 40A, this grid area 411 can be deemed to be a direction area. 01891 In this case, since this direction area (the grid area 411) is arranged at the position shown in Fig. 42A, it is possible to identify that this block is upward. Further, in the case that the grid area 411 is deemed to be the direction area in this way, it is not always necessary to conform the information dot 3 to be arranged in the grid area 411 to the direction of the block. Therefore, within this grid area 411, it is also possible to arrange the information dot 3 at the vector end point, namely, left, right, or the lower direction using the central point (the start points) as the start point. 0190] Figs. 43A and 43B show the arrangement order of the information dot 3 corresponding to Figs. 42A and 42B. 0191] Fig. 44A is a modified example of the dot pattern (GRID4) described with reference to Fig. 28A. In this 68 dot pattern, the information dot 3 is arranged at the position deviated from the grid point in the horizontal and vertical directions only in the predetermined area 441, and in the other grid point, the information dot 3 is arranged at the position deviated from the gridpoint in the oblique direction. 01921 Thus, by differentiating the directional standard (the horizontal and vertical directions) for arranging the information dot 3 from the information dot 3 in the other grid point (the oblique direction) defining this area441as the direction area, itispossible to recognize the direction of this block (here, upward). 01931 The information dot 3 to be arranged in this area 441 may be arranged at the arbitrary position within the horizontal and vertical directions, however, it is obvious that the direction of the block may be indicated defining this information dot 3 itself as the direction dot 21. 01941 Fig. 44B shows the state that the blocks described with reference to Fig. 44A are connected two-by-two in the horizontal and vertical directions. 01951 Fig. 45 is an explanatory view illustrating the arrangement state of the information dot 3 corresponding 69 to Fig. 44A; Fig. 46 is an explanatory view illustrating the arrangement state of the information dot 3 corresponding to Fig. 44B. 01961 Thus, also in the case of the dot pattern by GRID4, without sacrificing a specific grid point for the key dot, the information dot 3 can be arranged with reference to the all grid point. 01971 (Other Embodiment of Direction Dot) Figs. 48 to 55 will illustrate the other embodiment(s) of the direction dot. 01981 Fig. 48 defines the direction in the block of which shape is other than the grid shape. 0199] In this drawing, at first, reference points 48a to 48e are arranged. The shape indicating the direction of the block (here, an upward pentagon-shape) by a line connecting these reference points 48a to 48e is defined. Then, on the basis of this reference point, start pointsstart points 48f, 48g, and 48h are arranged, and the information dot 3 is arranged at the vector end point having the direction and the length using these start pointsstart points as the start point and the end point. Thus, it is possible to define the direction of the block depending on how to arrange the reference point in this 70 drawing. Then, by defining the direction of the block, the size of the entire block is defined. 02001 In Fig. 48, the reference points 48a to 48e and the information dot 3 are described assuming that all of them have the same shapes. However, as shown in Fig. 57, the reference points 48a to 48e may be larger than the information dot 3. In addition, these reference points 48a to 48e and the information dot 3 may have any shapes if they can be identified and a triangle, a square, and other polygons may be available. 02011 Fig. 49 shows the state that the blocks shown in Fig. 48 are connected two-by-two in the horizontal and vertical directions. 02021 Fig. 50 and Fig. 51 show the case that the shape of the block is not made into the grid shape, namely, the rectangular shape and the reference points partially coincide with the start pointsstart points. 02031 In other words, 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d, 48e, 48f, and 48g arranged in Fig. 48 can be deemed to be a reference point and a start points at the same time. Therefore, in Fig. 50, the information dot 3 is arranged at the end point of the vector having each point as the start point. Then, in a pentagon-shape composed of 48a, 48b, 48c, 48f, 71 and 48g, it is possible to recognize that this block is upward since 48c is the apex. 02041 Fig. 51 shows the state that the blocks shown in Fig. 50 are connected two-by-two in the horizontal and vertical directions. 02051 Fig. 52 and Fig. 53 show the case that the direction of the block is defined by arranging the information dot in a directional standard different from other one. 02061 In these drawings, the referencepoints are arranged at the four corners of the block. The direction of the block 3 is defined by differentiating the direction of the information dot 3 in the direction area 21a among the information dots 3 arranged centering on the start points from the directional standard of the other information dots. In other words, only in the direction area21a, the informationdot3is arrangedat the position deviated from the start points into the horizontal and vertical directions, and in the other areas, the information dot 3 is arranged at the position deviated from the start points into the oblique direction. In Fig. 52, since the direction area 21a is arranged at the position (a + Y direction) deviated upward from the block center, it is known that this block is upward. In the case that the direction of the block is defined depending 72 on the position of the direction area 21a in the block in this way, the information dot 3 in the direction area 21amaybe arbitrarily arranged. In other words, in this drawing, the information dot 3 is arranged at the vector end point in the right direction from the start points. 02071 Fig. 53 shows the state that the blocks shown in Fig. 52 are connected two-by-two in the horizontal and vertical directions. 02081 Fig. 54 and Fig. 55 show the case that the direction of the block is defined by arranging the information dot in the directional standard different from the other directional standards in a plurality of areas. 02091 In these drawings, the referencepoints are arranged at the four corners of the block. In this block, by differentiating the directional standards in the arrangement of the information dots 3 at three positions among the information dots 3 which are arranged centering on the start points from that of other areas, these three positions are deemed to be the direction areas 21a, and then, the direction of the block is defined by the shape of the line connecting these direction areas 21a. In other words, in these drawings, from the shape of the triangle, it is possible to identify that this block is upward. 73 02101 Fig. 55 shows the state that the blocks shown in Fig. 54 are connected two-by-two in the horizontal and vertical directions. 02111 Fig. 56 shows the case that a reference point 4a is conformed to a grid point. In the case of arranging the reference points 4a so as not to be symmetric about a point with reference to the center of the block, it is possible to define the direction of the block as it is without arranging the direction area and the direction dot. 02121 Fig. 57 shows the state that the sizes of the dots at the reference points 48a to 48e of the dot pattern shown in Fig. 48 are larger than the information dot 3. 02131 Further, according to the present embodiment, each of the information dot, the direction dot, and the reference dot having a circular form is described, however, the present embodiment is not limited to this and it is obvious that a noncircular form such as a triangle, a square, and other polygons may be available. 02141 In Fig. 58, by making only a reference dot 58a at one position larger than the other reference dots 58b to 58d, the direction of the block is defined by the 74 direction in which this large reference dot 58a is arranged. Also with respect to this reference dot 58a, it is obvious that the shape and the size may be changed. In addition, without arrangement of the reference dot 58a, the direction of the block may be defined. Further, in the case of defining the direction of the block by arranging such a dot having its size changed, this dot is not always to be a reference dot but it may be the information dot 3. In the case of defining the direction of the block by changing the size of the information dot 3, without sacrificing the information ofthe information dot 3, the direction of the block can be defined. 02151 In Fig. 59, by making the size of the direction dot 21 larger than the size of the other information dot 3 or the size of the reference grid point dot 4, it is possible to identify this dot to be the direction dot 21. Thus, by changing the size of the direction dot 21 into the size of the other information dot, even if the directional standard of the information dot 3 is the same as that of the direction dot 21 (in Fig. 59, both of them are the horizontal and vertical directions), it is possible to define the direction of the block. 02161 Fig. 62 shows the structure that the information dot is not arranged in the grid area at the upper center of the block. Thus, without arrangement of the 75 information dot 3 at a predetermined grid area (the grid point or the reference point) , it is possible to define the direction of the block depending on the position of that grid area. In this drawing, it is known that this block is upward. 02171 In addition, Fig. 63 shows the case that the direction of the block is defined by arranging the information dot 3 on the grid point at the upper center of the block. 02181 Fig. 60 represents the shape of the information dot to be arranged in the grid area by a plurality of shapes. As shown in Fig. 60, the shape of the information dot is selected from among a black square, a black triangle, and a black circle, and the different information may be defined for each shape. 0 2191 In addition, in this drawing, the direction of the block can be defined by arranging two dots among the reference grid point dots at the four corners deviated from the reference grid point. In this drawing, since the reference grid point dots at the upper left and the upper right of the block are deviated upward, it is possible to recognize that this block is upward. 02201 Fig. 61 shows the state that only the information 76 dot 3 arranged at the grid point of the grid area at the center of the block is different from the other information dot in shape. At this grid point, a triangle information dot is arranged, and due to the shape of this triangle, it is possible to recognize that this block is upward. 02211 The present invention can be widely applied to an illustrated book, a photograph, a card game, and a security system or the like being read by an optical sensor. 77

Claims (18)

1. Adotpattern, wherein aplurality ofreference points is provided in an area of a block having a predetermined information dot arranged thereon; a plurality of reference points to be defined is arranged from the reference points; an informationdot is arranged, of which information is definedby a distance and a direction from the reference point; and at least the information dot at the predetermined position is made into a direction dot showing the direction of the block by a direction from the reference point.

2. The dot pattern according to Claim 1, wherein the reference points are grid points which are arranged at even intervals in the upper and lower directions or the right and left directions in the block area; and using a center of the four grid points as the start point and with reference to this start point, the information is defined in the information dot by a direction eliminating the direction necessary for defining the direction dot.

3. The dot pattern according to Claim 1, wherein, providing reference grid lines in a longitudinal 78 direction and a lateral direction in the area of the block, the reference point uses grid points which are provided on the reference grid line in the longitudinal direction or in the lateral direction at certain intervals as the start point; and with reference to this start point, the meaning of the information is given depending on whether or not the information dot is arranged.

4. The dot pattern according to Claim 3, wherein the information dot at a predetermined position in the block is defined as a direction dot; and the information dot to be arranged at a position where the rectangular area to which this direction dot belongs is rotated 90 degrees by 90 degrees around the center of the block, respectively, defines the information by a direction or by a distance eliminating a direction necessary for defining the direction dot.

5. The dot pattern according to Claim 1, wherein, providing reference grid lines in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction in the area of the block, providing grid points at certain intervals on the reference grid line, and arranging areference gridpoint dot on the grid point which is provided on the reference grid line in the lateral direction, the reference point uses a line connecting the reference gird point dots and 79 a line connecting the grid points in the longitudinal direction as a grid line and uses the intersecting point of the grid lines as a start point; and with reference to this start point, the information is defined in the information dot by a direction eliminating the direction necessary for defining the direction dot.

6. The dot pattern according to Claim 5, wherein the information dot at a predetermined position in the block is defined as a direction dot; in an information dot other than the direction dot located on the grid line in the lateral direction on which the direction dot is arranged, and an information dot which is located at a symmetric position with the direction dot having a grid line in a lateral center direction of the block as a symmetric axis, the information is defined by a direction or by a distance eliminating the necessary direction for defining the direction dot.

7. A dot pattern, herein a plurality of reference points is provided in an area of a block where predetermined information dot is arranged; a plurality of reference points to be defined is arranged from the reference points; and the information dots of which information are 80 defined by a distance and a direction from the reference points are arranged.

8. The dot pattern according to Claim 7, wherein the direction of the block is defined by the arrangement of the reference point.

9. The dot pattern according to Claim 7, wherein the direction of the block is defined by differentiating directional standards of at least one or more information dots at predetermined positions from those of the other information dots.

10. The dot pattern according to Claim 7, wherein, in the information dots at one or more predetermined positions having the different directional standards being from those of the other information dots, the direction of the block is defined by the direction from the reference point.

11. The dot pattern according to Claim 7, wherein the reference point coincides with the reference point.

12. The dot pattern according to Claim 7, wherein the predetermined position is 3 or more; and the direction of the block is defined by the shape connecting respective positions by a line. 81

13. The dot pattern according to Claim 7, wherein the predetermined position is 1; and the direction of the block is defined by the arrangement position in the block.

14. The dot pattern according to Claim 7, wherein the direction of the block is defined by differentiating the size or the shape of the reference point or the information dot from those of the other dots.

15. The dot pattern according to Claim 7, wherein the information is defined depending on whether or not the information dot is located on the reference point.

16. The dot pattern according to Claim 7, wherein the direction of the block is defined depending on whether or not the information dot is located on the reference point.

17. The dot pattern according to Claim 7, wherein the information is defined by the size or the shape of the information dot.

18. The dot pattern according to Claim 7, wherein the direction of the block is defined by the size or the shape of the information dot. 82