JP2002216069A - Dot code recording method, dot code recording device and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extremely reduce any reading error at a reader side due to the thickness of dots resulting from inter-dot interference when dots are closely or adjacently arranged. SOLUTION: The presence or absence of a dot is defined according to '1' or '0' of recorded data. When a dot code constituted by arranging those dots according to a prescribed format is recorded on a recording medium so as to be optically readable, the image data of each dot are generated according to the interference of the dots arranged according to the prescribed format, and the recording of each dot is performed according to the generated image data. For example, when the dot under consideration is an isolated dot, a dot density whose tone value is '50' is allocated. When the dot under consideration is made adjacent to any dot at the right and/or left side or at the upper and/or lower side, a dot density whose tone value is '70' is allocated, and when the dot under consideration is made adjacent to dots at the right and/or lest side and at the upper and/or lower side, a dot density whose tone value is '100' is allocated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dot code recording method for recording data as optically readable dots on a recording medium such as paper, a recording apparatus thereof, and an operation of such a recording apparatus. And a computer-readable storage medium storing a program including instructions for causing a computer to execute the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, data including audio, video, text, or the like is encoded, and the presence or absence of a dot is defined according to "1" or "0" of the encoded data.
It has been known for a long time that a dot code in which these dots are arranged according to a predetermined format is optically readable on a recording medium such as paper.

[0003] Regarding this, the present applicant has also disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
It has been proposed as JP 31466 and JP 8-171620.

FIG. 12 shows a physical format configuration of a dot code disclosed in these publications.

That is, the dot code 100 is composed of a plurality of blocks 101 arranged two-dimensionally adjacently.

Each block 101 corresponds to a black dot or a white dot (white dot in FIG. 12) corresponding to "1" or "0" of data divided for each block of data including sound to be recorded. The dot image corresponds to the color of the recording medium itself.) The dot image includes a data dot pattern area 102 in which a predetermined two-dimensional array exists.
Further, a marker 104 having a fixed number of continuous blacks arranged at the four corners of each block used to find a reference point for reading each dot (data dot 103) in the data dot pattern area 102; Marker 1 used to find the reading reference point more accurately
04 and a pattern address 105 including an error detection or error correction code similarly arranged between the markers 104 for identifying each block, and a pattern dot 105 which is a group of isolated dots all of which are white areas. 106.

Therefore, according to the dot code 100, even if the entire size of the dot code 100 is larger than the imaging field of view 107 of the reader, in other words, the dot code 100 is imaged by the reader in one shot. Even if it is not possible, if each address given to each block 101 is detected in block units together with the data dots 103 included in the block, the data included in each block is collected and the entire original data is collected. Since it is possible to reconstruct, it is possible to record large-capacity data such as voice on the paper surface, and it is possible to easily read even by manual scanning.

[0008] The applicant of the present invention has found that when such a dot code is recorded on a recording medium such as paper by printing or the like, the thickening or thinning of the dot is considered in the reading process, especially in the binarization process. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-179930 has been proposed for the purpose of making it possible to read each dot more adaptively and reliably by focusing on the adverse effect.

That is, according to this publication, the above-mentioned pattern dots 105 are used for optically reading the data dots 103 and used when restoring “1” or “0” of the recorded data. Dot image signal 2
It is disclosed that it functions as a dot for determining a threshold for binarization, and the threshold for binarizing the image signal of the data dot 103 is the pattern dot 1
It is disclosed that the determination is made based on the area of the pattern dot 105 obtained when the image signal 05 is binarized by a predetermined threshold value.

FIG. 13 shows a functional block configuration of a reading apparatus for optically reading the dot code 100 shown in FIG. 12 employing the binarization processing technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-179930. It is a thing.

That is, the reading apparatus includes an illuminating section including an LED or the like for illuminating the dot code 100, an optical system that forms an image of the reflected light of the dot code 100, and an image forming device that forms an image by the optical system. An imaging unit 201 including an area sensor such as a CCD for imaging, and binarization processing of an image signal output from the imaging unit 201 with a predetermined binarization threshold 2
A binarization unit 202 and the marker 104 from the binarized image data output after being binarized by the binarization unit 202.
Marker detecting section 203 for detecting the
A pattern dot detection unit 204 for detecting the pattern dot 105 based on the marker 104 detected at step 03 and the known format information, and a data dot 103 for each data dot 103 from the pattern dot 105 detected by the pattern dot detection unit 204. Each data dot 103 is read in accordance with a dot reading point detection unit 205 for calculating a reading point and a reading point of each data dot 103 obtained by the dot reading point detection unit 205. Or a dot reading unit 206 that assigns and outputs a value of “0”, a memory 207 that temporarily stores data output from the dot reading unit 206, and a deinterleave process that reads data from the memory 207 and De-interleaving for error correction using Reed-Solomon code A correction processing unit 208, an audio reproduction unit 209 to reproduce and output data such as original audio by performing decompression processing of the error correction data, and a.

The binarizing section 202 calculates an average value of the areas of the plurality of pattern dots 105 detected by the pattern dot detecting section 204. If the average value of the area is larger than a predetermined area, Then, control is performed so as to lower the binarization threshold value when the image signal of the next imaged data dot 103 or marker 104 is binarized, and if the area average value is smaller than a predetermined area, The binarization threshold value for binarizing the image signals of the data dots 103 and the markers 104 picked up in the above is increased.

Therefore, according to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-179930, the pattern dot detecting section 2
Since the threshold value for binarizing the image signal of the pattern dot 105 is controlled and set so that the area of the pattern dot 105 detected at 04 always becomes a predetermined value, the size of the pattern dot 105 is Data dot 103
Data dot 1 if the relationship with the size of
03 can be set or programmed so as to be an optimal reading threshold. as a result,
The binarization of the data dots 103 can be optimally performed, and each dot can be read reliably. For further details of this binarization processing, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-17993
Since it is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 0, further description is omitted.

By the way, such a dot code 100
In actually recording the image on a recording medium such as paper, various recording methods such as printing or printing using an ink jet printer, a thermal transfer printer, or the like can be adopted.

[0015]

However, when the dot code 100 is recorded by any of the above-described methods, or by various methods such as a sublimation type printer or a recording apparatus of a type that exposes photographic paper by irradiating light, In the case of
It has been found that the following problems occur.

That is, when the dots arranged according to the data to be recorded are densely or closely located at a certain place as shown in FIG. As shown in (B), each dot penetrates into a peripheral area by interfering with each other, and a dot exists in an area where a dot should not originally exist. There is a problem in that an area where a dot should not exist is erroneously recognized as having a dot and is read, and data such as original sound is not correctly reproduced and output.

This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 14A to 16B.

FIG. 14 shows a target dot 11 of a certain white dot.
A dot pattern in which four black dots are arranged on the left, right, top and bottom of 0 is printed by a predetermined recording device, and indicates a printing state.
In particular, (A) shows an ideal printing state, and (B) shows a printing state when black dots are printed by a predetermined recording method.

FIG. 15 shows a target dot 11 of a certain white dot.
A dot pattern in which three black dots are arranged at the top, upper right, and right of 0 is printed by a predetermined recording device. In particular, (A) shows an ideal recording state, and (B) shows an ideal recording state. This shows a printing state when black dots are printed by a predetermined recording method.

FIG. 16 shows a target dot 11 of a certain white dot.
A dot pattern in which five black dots are arranged at the left, upper left, upper, upper right, and right of 0 is printed by a predetermined recording device. In particular, (A) shows an ideal printing state. (B) shows a printing state when black dots are printed by a predetermined recording method.

FIGS. 14 to 16 show (B):
An image signal of a portion indicated by an arrow in an image cross section and a binarized image binarized by the reading device in each printing state are shown. The binarized images obtained by binarizing the image signals with the binarization thresholds T1 and T2 are 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, and 206, respectively.
Shows a binarized state when the target dot 110 is read. Further, a reading position 210 for reading the target dot 110 from the image signal is shown in FIG.

This is for explaining whether the target dot 110 can be stably read as white, and the stability depends on the image signal level at the reading position 210 and the reading position in the figure. It is determined whether or not 210 is determined as white even if it is shifted left and right.

It can be seen that the result of the above determination using the dot pattern shown in FIG. 14 is in a state where white can be determined stably.

On the other hand, in the dot pattern of FIG. 15, the density of black dots is higher than in the case of FIG. 14A, and the penetration of the attention dot 110 due to interference is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14B, when the binarization of the reading apparatus is performed at the threshold value T2 in FIG. When a delicate state in which dots are erroneously read and an error occurs in which the binarization threshold value 210 shifts to the right in the drawing, it can be understood that the dots are erroneously read as black dots. Further, in the dot pattern of FIG. 16, as shown in FIG. 16B, the interference of the dots is further increased and the dots are penetrated, and the probability of the erroneous recognition is further increased. When the binarization of the reading device is performed at the threshold value T2 in FIG.
It can be seen that the black dot is erroneously read even though is originally a white dot.

It has been found that this problem particularly occurs when each dot is recorded by only one recording pixel which is the minimum recording unit.

The reason is that when each dot is composed of a plurality of recording pixels, the image data of the dot is generated in advance in small units of recording pixels in consideration of the fatness of the dot during recording. This is because it is possible to prevent the dot-to-dot interference based on the dot thickness at the time of actual recording to some extent.

This is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-249409.
And Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-262958.

This problem is also caused by the fact that the minimum recording unit of a printer is generally set so that adjacent minimum recording units interfere with each other so as to be capable of being filled with solid color. I have.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem caused by the inter-dot interference, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-17993 has been proposed.
One solution is to use the binarization processing technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 0, but such a measure only on the reading device side cannot surely solve this kind of problem. Was.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and the recording technology has an approach of generating image data of each dot in accordance with interference by dots arranged according to data. A dot code recording method and a recording device for solving the problem caused by interference, and a computer-readable storage medium storing a program including instructions for causing a computer to execute the operation of such a recording device The purpose is to provide.

[0031]

In order to achieve the above object, a dot code recording method according to the present invention defines the presence or absence of a dot in accordance with "1" or "0" of data to be recorded. A dot code recording method for optically readable recording a dot code formed by arranging these dots according to a predetermined format on a recording medium. And generating the image data of each dot, and recording each dot according to the generated image data.

That is, according to the dot code recording method, the image data of each dot is generated in accordance with the interference by the dots, and the recording of each dot is performed according to the image data. Therefore, the dots are densely or closely arranged. In this case, it is possible to minimize a reading error on the reading device side due to the dot thickening caused by the inter-dot interference.

In order to achieve the above object, a dot code recording apparatus according to the present invention defines the presence or absence of a dot according to "1" or "0" of data to be recorded, and defines these dots. A dot code recording device for optically readable recording a dot code arranged according to a predetermined format on a recording medium, wherein each of the dots is arranged in accordance with interference by dots arranged according to the predetermined format. Image data generating means for generating the above image data, and recording means for recording each dot in accordance with the image data generated by the image data generating means.

That is, according to the dot code recording device, image data of each dot is generated in accordance with the interference by the dots, and each dot is recorded in accordance with the image data. Therefore, the dots are densely or closely arranged. In this case, it is possible to minimize a reading error on the reading device side due to the dot thickening caused by the inter-dot interference.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the computer readable storage medium according to the present invention defines the presence or absence of a dot according to "1" or "0" of recorded data, and When a dot code formed by arranging dots according to a predetermined format is optically readable recorded on a recording medium, image data of each dot is generated according to interference by the dots arranged according to the predetermined format. And a process of recording each dot in accordance with the generated image data.

That is, according to this storage medium, the image data of each dot is generated in accordance with the interference by the dots, and the recording of each dot is performed according to the image data.
It is possible to reduce as much as possible a reading error on the reading device side due to dot thickening caused by inter-dot interference when dots are densely or closely arranged.

[0037]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a configuration of a dot code recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

This recording apparatus uses the dot code 1 described above.
00, a CPU 2 for controlling the entire recording apparatus, a ROM 3 for storing an operation program of the CPU 2, an input specification such as a resolution of the print engine 1 and an inputtable image data format, and various data. A RAM 4 used as a work memory for temporarily storing, a code data input unit 5 for inputting multimedia information such as audio to be printed as a dot code, and an image and a character to be printed together with the dot code. A readable information input unit 6 for inputting information of a readable image, and prints the input readable information and input voice as dot codes that can be read optically by the print engine 1.

In this embodiment, the print engine 1 converts the readable information and the digital data to be printed as the dot code into multi-valued image data, inputs the converted data, and outputs the multi-valued image data. The photographic paper is conveyed and controlled to irradiate the photographic paper with predetermined light in accordance with the multi-valued image data, thereby performing processing such as development to form an image on the photographic paper.

Hereinafter, the print engine 1 will be described in detail.

Here, the print engine 1 is, for example,
This is a digital image printing apparatus with a resolution of about 85 μm, that is, 300 DPI, in which the minimum recordable pixel pitch is recordable.

The input data of the print engine 1 is so-called CMY image data composed of cyan (abbreviated C), magenta (abbreviated M), and yellow (abbreviated Y), each of which is 8 pieces.
Bit data.

The printing paper is a color print,
It has three photosensitive layers for developing C, M, and Y, respectively.

The print engine 1 emits a red light component having a wavelength of about 650 nm to the photographic paper with respect to the cyan data to cause the cyan photosensitive portion to develop a color. Similarly, magenta data is irradiated with a green light component having a wavelength of around 550 nm to develop a magenta photosensitive portion, and yellow data is irradiated with a blue light component having a wavelength of around 450 nm to develop a yellow photosensitive portion. Things.

The density of cyan, magenta, and yellow to be printed is adjusted by controlling the intensity of each light component or the irradiation time in accordance with 8-bit data of CMY as the input data. The density is lighter as the data is larger and darker as the data is smaller.

That is, the 8-bit data is changed from “0” to “2”.
If the CMY is “255, 255, 255”, each color density remains white, which is the lightest photographic paper color, and C, M,
If Y is “0, 255, 255”, the highest density color of cyan is obtained, and C, M, and Y are “255, 0, 25”, respectively.
5 ”is the highest density color of magenta, C, M, Y
Are "0,0,0", and cyan, magenta, and yellow each have the highest density and the highest density black color.

However, when printing at the highest density for all of cyan, magenta, and yellow, the printing is performed so that the printing is performed to a size slightly protruding from the area of the square where the pitch of the recording pixels is one side. It is.

As a result, for example, in the case where dots of a dot code are recorded by setting the data of magenta and yellow to "255" and the data of cyan to "0", (A) of FIG. 14 to (B) of FIG. As described in (1), the amount of interference between dots increases in accordance with the density of dots or the degree of closeness of dots, as shown in FIG. 14 (B), FIG. 15 (B), and FIG. 16 (B). The device also increases the amount of penetration into the attention dot 110 which is a white dot.

Next, a printing color when the dot code is printed on the printing paper by the print engine 1 will be described.

Here, the printing color of the dot code is
It is determined by a reading device that optically reads a dot code.

The reading device has the configuration shown in FIG.
The illumination light of the illumination unit illuminates the dot code and optically reads the dot code. In the present embodiment, the wavelength is 650 nm.
The red LED shown in FIG.
It is assumed that white dots or black dots in the format shown in FIG.

For this reason, the image data value of the dot of the dot code is determined in consideration of the spectral characteristics so as to be a print color absorbing the illumination light. Is controlled and recorded with a relatively small number. Further, since magenta and yellow are spectral characteristics that normally reflect red light, ideally any numerical values may be used regardless of dots or white dots. Here, the data values of magenta and yellow are “255”.

That is, in this embodiment, the dot code is not composed of white and black, but is made of cyan instead of black.

Hereinafter, such a cyan dot is simply referred to as a “dot”. Also, the white dots described in FIG. 12 are described as “white dots”.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a main flowchart of the recording apparatus having the above configuration. The flowchart described below is stored in the ROM 3 as an operation program, and is executed by the CPU 2.

First, human-readable information such as images and characters is input from the human-readable information input unit 6, converted into digital data, and stored in a layout data area (not shown) on the RAM 4 together with layout information and size information. Save (step S1). Also, audio data is input from the code data input unit 5 and stored in a sound data area (not shown) on the RAM 4 (step S2).

Then, the print engine 1 is read from the ROM 3.
After reading the input specifications such as the resolution and inputtable image data format (step S3), a code image data generation subroutine is called (step S4).
Although the details of the code image data generation subroutine will be described later, here, audio data is read from the audio data area on the RAM 4, and the read audio data is encoded according to the input specification read from the ROM 3. Then, a process of generating code image data from the encoded data and storing it in a code image data area (not shown) on the RAM 4 is performed.

After returning from this subroutine, next, the code image data stored in the code image data area on the RAM 4 is read and arranged in a layout data area (not shown) on the RAM 4, and the layout data is stored. (Step S5).

Then, the layout data stored in the layout data area on the RAM 4 is read, and
The print engine 1 converts the image data into the CMY image data.
(Step S6), the print engine 1 is started, and the actual printing is performed on the paper (step S7).

Next, referring to FIG.
A flowchart of the code image data generation subroutine will be described.

First, audio data is read from the audio data area of the RAM 4 (step S41). Then, according to a predetermined rule of the format shown in FIG. 12 read from the ROM 3, dot array data capable of distinguishing audio data, markers, pattern dots, and block addresses is generated (step S42).

Next, the dot pitch is determined according to the resolution of the input specification and the dot pitch range of the dot code readable by the reader (step S43). To explain with a specific example, in this step S43, it is known that the resolution of the print engine 1 is 300 DPI,
Considering that the dot pitch of a readable dot code of a predetermined reading device specification is 60 μm to 85 μm, 60 to 8 is an integer multiple of one recording pixel pitch of 85 μm.
Since 5 μm is only 85 μm, the dot pitch of the code format shown in FIG. 12 is set to 85 μm, and it is determined that one dot is composed of one recording pixel.

Thereafter, a code image data area is secured in the RAM 4 in accordance with the information amount of the dot array data, and "255" corresponding to white is set on the entire surface (step S44). Then, a marker is detected from the dot array data, and the tone value “0” which is the highest density of cyan is set as the code image data of the marker portion in the code image data area on the RAM 4 (step S).
45).

Thereafter, the cyan gradation value of each dot is determined in accordance with the interference of the dots determined from the arrangement relationship of the dot array data, and is stored in the code image data area (step S).
46).

After returning from this subroutine, the code image data generation subroutine ends, and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the subroutine called in step S46 and will be described.

First, attention is paid to each dot in the dot array data in order, and four dots (up, down, left, right) are checked (step S461).

As a result, if there is a dot on at least one of the left and right and at least one of the upper and lower (step S462), the target dot is set to C, M, and C with the cyan tone value of “100”. Y is "100, 25"
5,255 "(step S463).

If the above result indicates that there is a dot on at least one of the left and right, or that there is a dot on at least one of the upper and lower sides (step S464), the target dot is set to the target dot. , Step S46
Cyan gradation value "70" darker than the gradation value set in 3
C, M, and Y are the gradation values of “70, 255, 255” (step S465).

When there is no dot in any of the left, right, top and bottom, that is, when the target dot is an isolated dot,
C, M, and Y are set as the tone values of “50, 255, 255”, respectively, where the target dot is a cyan tone value “50” that is darker than the tone value set in step S465 (step S466).

This determination of the tone value is repeated until the determination is made for all the dots. When the tone values have been determined for all the dots (step S467), the process returns to the upper routine.

Here, according to the flow charts of FIGS. 2 to 4, voice data including a part of the voice data shown in FIG. 1B is inputted from the code data input section of FIG.
Ideal conceptual diagrams of dot array data, code image data, and dot codes recorded on a medium when generating code image data will be described with reference to FIGS. 1C to 1E, respectively.

FIG. 1B shows a part of the audio data.

The voice data is arranged as two-dimensionally arranged dot array data according to a predetermined rule in step S42. The dot array data corresponding to the voice data in FIG. The dot arrangement data including the data 7 and the surrounding dot arrangement data is shown in FIG.
Shown in

At this time, the dot array data shown in FIG. 1C corresponds to “0” being unrecorded on white paper.
“1” corresponds to a dot in the data dot pattern area,
“2” corresponds to the dot of the block address pattern,
“3” corresponds to the pattern dot, and “4” corresponds to the marker pattern.

The reason that the dot array data is configured to be identifiable according to the configuration described in the format of FIG. 12 in this manner is to make it possible to easily cope with step S42 and subsequent steps. This is because recording control optimal for the configuration can be easily performed.

That is, for example, when it is desired to darken only the marker, the marker "4" in the dot array data may be detected, and the marker can be easily detected.
Therefore, recording control can be easily performed using the dot array data so as to make the marker darker.

When it is desired to print only the pattern dots finely, it is sufficient to detect the pattern dot "3" in the dot array data, and the pattern dots can be easily detected. Therefore, recording control can be easily performed so as to make the pattern dots thin using the dot array data.

Next, FIG. 1D shows only the cyan part of the code image data in the CMY format corresponding to the dot array data of FIG. 1C.

That is, by ascertaining in advance the density of dots to be printed by the print engine 1 or the state of interference between closely adjacent dots, each cyan gradation in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is determined. Is an isolated dot, the gray level is set to a high density of "50". If the target dot is adjacent to a dot on the left and / or right or above and / or below, a gray level of "70" is displayed. When the density of the target dot is lower than that of the isolated dot, and the target dot is adjacent to both the left and / or right and the upper and / or lower dots, the density is set to a lighter gradation value of “100” and read as shown in FIG. The size of the dot of the binarized image read by the apparatus is set so as to be small enough not to protrude from the cell and large enough to touch the cell.

Here, it is assumed that the density of the dots printed by the print engine 1 or the interference state between the closely-connected dots is grasped in advance. Then, the printing state is observed or measured to determine the control method, including the gradation value that can be optimally read by the reading device, and stored as a parameter in the ROM 3 of FIG. Alternatively, it is recorded as a program.

However, the present invention is not limited to storage in the ROM 3.

For example, the function of reading a predetermined dot array pattern including three types of dot array patterns determined and identified in steps S462 and S464 is shown in FIG.
In the apparatus added to the above configuration, the predetermined dot array pattern may be read, and a recording control method including an optimum gradation value or the like may be automatically determined for each pattern.

Thus, by adjusting and calibrating various control variations of the recording apparatus, it is possible to satisfactorily read data while minimizing erroneous recognition due to intrusion into white dots due to inter-dot interference when reading with the reading apparatus. It is possible to record dot codes of the quality that can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, another contrivance as described below can be applied.

That is, a white dot is set as a target dot, its peripheral pattern is detected from the dot array data, and the tone value of the peripheral dot is determined so that the peripheral dot does not enter the white dot of the target dot. It is to be.

In this case, since the one surrounding dot may be adjacent to a plurality of white dots, the tone value of the one dot is determined by each of the plurality of white dots. Determine the first value that can be determined.

This may be determined not by the first value but by the last value.

Further, the tone value of the dot may be determined by judging each value determined by the plurality of white dots comprehensively based on the degree of interference with the white dot.

This will be described with reference to a specific example.

When determining the tone value of one dot, if it is adjacent to three white dots, it is determined based on the relationship with the three white dots. For example, the tone value of one dot is
When the tone values determined when each of the three white dots is the target dot are “50”, “70”, and “100”, the average value is determined. That is, the gradation value in the previous example is (50 + 70 + 100) / 3 =
It becomes "71".

In addition, not the average value but the MAX value, MIN
It may be set to a value.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described.

The configuration of the recording apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment shown in FIG. Further, the main flowchart shown in FIG. 2 and the subroutine flowchart shown in FIG. 3 are similarly applied.

The reader assumed here is the one shown in FIG.
This is the reading device described in FIG. As described above, the binarizing unit 202 determines whether the image data dot is captured when the area average value of a plurality of dots constituting the pattern dot detected by the pattern dot detecting unit 204 is larger than a predetermined area. And the binarization threshold for binarizing the image signal of the marker is controlled to be lowered. Conversely, when the area average value of the plurality of dots is smaller than a predetermined area, the data dot or marker of the imaged data dot or marker is This is a binarization unit that controls so as to increase a binarization threshold for binarizing an image signal.

The predetermined area is an area that is small enough that the pattern dots of the binarized image read by the reading device do not protrude from the cells and large enough to touch the cells.

This binarization method is a binarization threshold setting method that ideally prints the pattern dots and the data dots in the same state. In the print engine 1 of the present embodiment, When all the dots of the pattern dots and the data dots are recorded with a uniform gradation value, unlike the ideal state, the interference as described in FIGS. 14A to 16B is performed. Is recorded so as to generate

Therefore, in the second embodiment, by performing recording according to the method described below, the influence of the interference is reduced, and reading with as little erroneous recognition as possible is enabled.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a subroutine of step S46 in the second embodiment.

First, the dots having the value “3”, which are the dots of the pattern dots of the dot array data, are sequentially focused on, and the focused dots are C, M, and C with the cyan gradation value “50”.
It is assumed that Y is a gradation value of “50, 255, 255” (step S46A).

Next, a value "1" which is a data dot and a value "2" which is a block address dot in the dot array data are detected, and the dots are sequentially focused (step S46B). , Cyan tone value “7”
C, M, and Y, which are "0", are "70, 255, 255" respectively.
(Step S46C).

Such determination of the tone value is repeated until all the dots in the data dot and the block address dot are determined. When the tone value is determined for all the dots (step S46D), Return to the upper routine.

That is, in the second embodiment, the pattern dots and the data dots have different gradations, but the dots in each area of the pattern dots and the data dots are set to the same gradation. is there.

The tone values of the pattern dots and the data dots at this time are determined in advance so as to minimize erroneous recognition when the data dots are read by the reading device.

As an example of the procedure for the determination, the tone value of the pattern dot which is the optimum binarization threshold value for reading is determined first, and then the tone value of the data dot is determined to a value which can be optimally read. There is a way.

Conversely, there is a method in which the tone value of the data dot is determined first, and then the tone value of the pattern dot is determined to a value at which the data dot can be optimally read.

Next, a description will be given of data generated intermediately from when audio data is actually input to the apparatus according to the second embodiment to when it is printed as a dot code.

The input data will be described as the audio data shown in FIG. 1B described in the first embodiment.

At this time, the dot array data generated in step S42 is the same as the first embodiment, as shown in FIG.
It becomes as shown in. Then, the cyan portion corresponding to FIG. 1C of the dot array data of the code image data generated by processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is as shown in FIG.

Here, FIGS. 7A to 7C show dot patterns obtained by printing all the dots with the same gradation value by the conventional method using the reading apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. It is the figure which expanded a part of value image.

In FIG. 7C, a state in which the white dots penetrate into the white dots according to the close contact state of the dots as described with reference to FIGS. 14A to 16B is particularly large.

On the other hand, FIG. 7D to FIG.
Is a dot code printed in the present embodiment,
FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a part of a binarized image obtained by reading a dot pattern having the same dot arrangement ideally as FIGS. 7A to 7C by the reading device having the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 7 will be described in more detail.

First, it is assumed that the optimum binarization result that does not cause erroneous recognition in the reading device is recorded as large as possible so as not to protrude from the cell and to be inscribed in the cell.
This will be described below.

FIG. 7A shows an optimal size, but FIG. 7C shows a state in which it is protruded largely from a cell and is easily misrecognized.

On the other hand, FIG. 7D shows a level that is slightly smaller than the optimal size, but close to the size in contact with the cell, and is less likely to be erroneously recognized.

FIG. 7 (E) is optimal, and FIG. 7 (F) is at a level where the cells slightly protrude from the cells but are less likely to be erroneously recognized.

As described above, in the result of printing in the present embodiment, erroneous recognition is suppressed to a small degree. Further, the subroutine of step S46 is different from that of the first embodiment in FIG. FIG. 5 in the form of FIG.
That is, the program capacity can be reduced and the speed can be increased. This is because the processing contents can be simplified by unifying the gradation values in the data dots.

The cyan gradation value 5 of S46A shown in FIG.
0 determines an optimal binarization threshold for each of the three types of dot array patterns determined and identified in steps S462 and S464 in FIG.
The gradation value of the pattern dot is determined so as to be set as a binarization threshold.

However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a gradation value of a pattern dot may be set so that a binarization threshold weighted according to the frequency of the three types of dot patterns can be set instead of the average.

Next, FIG. 8 shows code image data in which a plurality of dots constituting a pattern dot have at least two or more different gradation values. This makes it possible to finely adjust the binarization threshold value when the dot code recorded with the code image data is read by the predetermined reading device in accordance with the setting of each of the different gradation values.

That is, FIG. 8 shows that when the dot array data of FIG. 1C is processed according to the flow of FIGS. 2 and 3, the gradation values of the pattern dots are set to "49" and "50" by the subroutine of S46. It is what it was.

As described above, when reading the dot code, the reading apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 13 uses a binary value based on the average value of the dot sizes of a plurality of dots in the pattern dot area in the read binary image. The threshold is determined.

Therefore, when the code image is read by such a reading device, the dots having different gradation values in the pattern dots have different dot sizes in the binarized image, and the average value of each dot is different. Is read by a binarization threshold corresponding to the above, and a more optimal binarization threshold can be finely adjusted than when setting the gradation value of each dot of the pattern dots uniformly. is there.

For example, if each dot of the pattern dot can be recorded only with a uniform gradation value and the optimum gradation value is "49.5", the decimal point cannot be set, and Although the tone value can be set only to “49” or “50”, in the present embodiment, the tone value “49” in FIG.
By recording the dots of the pattern dot with different gradation values, such as “1” and “50”, more optimal binarization threshold can be finely adjusted. This is because, in a printing apparatus capable of setting the gradation value below the decimal point, the gradation value is generally “4”.
9.5 "can be set and the same result as when printing can be obtained.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described.

The configuration of the recording apparatus according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1A. Further, the main flowchart shown in FIG. 2 and the subroutine flowchart shown in FIG. 3 are similarly applied.

In the third embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the resolution of the print engine 1 is doubled to 600 DPI. In this case, in step S43, the recording pixels forming one dot have a configuration of 2 × 2 recording pixels. The reading device has the same specifications as those shown in FIG.

That is, as in the first embodiment, the readable dot pitch of the reading apparatus is set to 60 μm to 85 μm.
A dot code that can be read by the reading device only when one dot is composed of 4 2 × 2 recording pixels is generated as a dot code with a dot pitch of 85 μm.

However, the dot pitch was an integral multiple of the minimum recording pixel pitch determined by the resolution of the print engine 1 so that the dot pitch could be read by the reading device. However, this is not necessarily limited to an integral multiple.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of a subroutine of step S46 in the third embodiment, which will be described below.

First, attention is paid to each dot in the dot array data in order, and four dots (up, down, left, right) are checked (step S461).

As a result, if there is a dot on at least one of the left and right, and there is a dot on at least one of the upper and lower sides (step S462), the half of the target pixel is recorded with the cyan gradation value “10”. C, M, and Y are assumed to be gradation values of “10, 255, 255” (step S
463 ').

In addition, at least one of the right and left, or
If there is a dot on at least one of the upper and lower sides (step S464), C, M, and Y are all “70, 255,” with all the recording pixels of the target dot having a cyan gradation value “70”. 255 ”(step S
465 ').

When there is no dot on any of the left, right, top and bottom, that is, when the target dot is an isolated dot,
All the recording pixels of the target dot are set to the cyan gradation value “50”.
C, M, and Y are assumed to be the tone values of “50, 255, 255” (step S466 ′).

This determination of the tone value is repeated until the determination is made for all the dots. When the tone values have been determined for all the dots (step S467), the process returns to the upper routine.

Here, in step S463 'where the dots are both vertically and horizontally adjacent to each other, two recording pixels, which are half of the 2 × 2 recording pixels constituting the target dot, are set to the cyan floor. The tonal value is “10”, and the other two recording pixels, which are the other half, are “2” as the non-printing control target recording pixels with the initial setting performed in step S44 of FIG.
55 "is set to print the dot code.

The reason why the number of recording pixels to be subjected to print control is reduced to only the half is a pattern in which inter-dot interference frequently occurs.
This is reduced to half, which is two recording pixels in the recording pixels. In other words, the recording density is controlled to be low.

Next, a description will be given of data generated intermediately from when audio data is actually input to the apparatus of the third embodiment and printed as a dot code.

The input data will be described below as the audio data shown in FIG. 1B described in the first embodiment.

At this time, the dot array data generated in step S42 is as shown in FIG. 1C as in the first embodiment. Then, the cyan portion of the code image data generated by processing in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 corresponding to FIG. 1C of the dot array data is as shown in FIG.

That is, a dot having dots vertically and horizontally adjacent to each other is one in which only two of the four recording pixels constituting the dot are set with a gradation value of "10". The number of recording pixels is limited so as not to protrude from the cells as much as possible.

In FIG. 9, when the number of recording pixels is restricted, the positions of the recording pixels to be restricted are such that the right two pixels of the 2 × 2 array are not printed, but the present invention is not limited to this. .

The recording pixels that have been subjected to the non-printing control may be determined according to the dot arrangement pattern in consideration of the degree of interference.

That is, for example, of the four recording pixels, a pixel on the opposite side to the one adjacent to other dots other than the surrounding white dots,
Alternatively, it may be set to a pixel on the side adjacent to the white dot. If the position of the non-recording pixel is determined according to the peripheral arrangement pattern, the interference between dots can be further reduced. it can.

Next, FIG. 11 shows that the print engine 1
In the case of 00 DPI, an example is shown in which dots in the data dot area described in the second embodiment are uniformly set to a predetermined gradation value.

That is, all the recording pixels of the data dot have the gradation value of “70”, and all the recording pixels of the pattern dot have the gradation value of “5”.
0 ". FIG. 11 similarly shows the code image data generated by the subroutine of S46, and shows the cyan part of the code image data corresponding to FIG. 1C of the dot array data.

As described above, this embodiment is a process for simplifying the encoding process, and has the effect of improving the processing speed and reducing the program amount.

In FIG. 11, the gradation value of the marker is set to “0”.
Rather than "10".

The reason is that the gradation value and the number of non-recording pixels of recording pixels are adjusted and controlled so that the marker has a density and a size that are optimally readable by the reader.

As described above, in the recording apparatus, the above-described adjustment control is performed so that the code image data including the marker can be optimally read in accordance with the reading processing of the reading apparatus.

As described above, in the first to third embodiments, the example of the dot printing control method according to the dot interference has been described in the subroutine of step S46. When controlling printing of dots in accordance with interference, when printing dots at a predetermined gradation value, control is performed such that the total density of dots that are larger than dots that have a small degree of interference with adjacent white dots is smaller. One is to control the tone value of a dot in accordance with the degree of interference, and to increase the dot tone value as the interference increases.

The other is, according to the degree of interference,
Controlling the number of recording pixels of dots, the greater the interference,
This is to reduce the number of recording pixels.

At this time, the position of the recording pixel to be subjected to the printing control may be controlled, and the arrangement of the non-recording pixel is controlled in the direction of the white dot affected by the interference.

Further, the tone value of the dot, the number of recording pixels, and the position may be individually controlled, and a recording pixel having a larger tone value is arranged in a direction of the white dot which has an influence of the interference. To control.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the present invention. Of course.

That is, the data input from the code data input section has been described as audio data, but the present invention is not limited to this. The data may be digital data of audio data, compressed data of the audio data, or modulated data of the compressed data.

Further, various types of digital data such as text data, image data, and programs may be used.

The dot code is not limited to the one shown in FIG. 12, but may be another dot code.

Here, the gist of the present invention is summarized as follows.

(1) Presence or absence of dots is defined according to "1" or "0" of data to be recorded, and a dot code in which these dots are arranged according to a predetermined format is optically recorded on a recording medium. A dot code recording method for readable recording, wherein image data of each dot is generated according to interference by dots arranged according to the predetermined format, and recording of each dot is performed according to the generated image data. And a dot code recording method.

That is, since the image data of each dot is generated in accordance with the interference by the dots, and the recording of each dot is performed according to the image data, it is caused by the inter-dot interference when the dots are densely or closely arranged. A reading error on the reading device side due to the thickened dot can be reduced as much as possible.

(2) The image data of each dot is multi-valued image data having a gradation determined according to the interference and capable of representing an intermediate gradation. The dot code recording method according to (1), wherein the recording is performed according to multi-valued image data.

That is, in addition to the effect of the above (1), by adjusting the gradation according to the interference of dots by a device capable of controlling multi-valued image data, the thickness of the dots in the binarized image of the reading device is adjusted. Can be easily controlled, and a reading error on the reading device side can be further reduced.

(3) The dot code recording method according to claim 2, wherein all of the dots are dots based on multi-valued image data representing an intermediate gradation.

That is, in addition to the effect of the above (2), interference with white dots can be avoided as much as possible, and reading errors of white dots in the reading device can be reduced.

(4) The dots based on the multi-valued image data representing the intermediate gradation include only the dots based on the multi-valued image data representing the same intermediate gradation in a predetermined area. (3) The dot code recording method described in 1.

That is, in addition to the effect (3), the process of generating image data can be simplified and speeded up.

(5) The dot according to (3), wherein the dots based on the multi-valued image data representing the intermediate gradation include dots based on a plurality of types of multi-valued image data representing different intermediate gradations. Dot code recording method.

That is, in addition to the effect of the above (3), the dot thickness can be finely adjusted in accordance with the interference by the dots, and the reading error on the reading device side due to the dot thickness caused by the inter-dot interference is minimized. Can be reduced.

(6) The multi-valued image data capable of representing the intermediate gradation is determined such that the lower the interference, the higher the recording density when each dot is recorded on a recording medium. The dot code recording method according to (2), wherein

That is, in addition to the effect (2), recording control can be performed so that each dot has an optimum dot size in a binarized image.

(7) The dot code recording method according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein each dot is recorded by only one recording pixel which is a minimum recording unit.

That is, in addition to the effects of any of the above (1) to (6), even when a dot is formed only in one recording pixel which is a minimum recording unit in which interference is relatively likely to occur, the binary Recording control can be performed so as to obtain an optimal dot size in a converted image.

(8) The presence or absence of a dot is defined according to "1" or "0" of data to be recorded, and a dot code in which these dots are arranged according to a predetermined format is optically recorded on a recording medium. A dot code recording device for recording in a readable manner, wherein the image data generating means generates image data of each dot in accordance with interference by dots arranged according to the predetermined format. A dot code recording device, comprising: recording means for recording each dot in accordance with the generated image data.

That is, since the image data of each dot is generated in accordance with the interference by the dots and the recording of each dot is performed according to the image data, it is caused by the inter-dot interference when the dots are densely or closely arranged. It is possible to reduce reading errors on the reading device side due to thickened dots as much as possible.

(9) The presence or absence of a dot is defined according to "1" or "0" of data to be recorded, and a dot code in which these dots are arranged according to a predetermined format is optically recorded on a recording medium. When recording in a readable manner, a process of generating image data of each dot according to interference by dots arranged according to the predetermined format, and a process of recording each dot according to the generated image data, Computer-readable storage medium storing a program including instructions for causing a computer to execute the program.

That is, since the image data of each dot is generated in accordance with the interference by the dots and the recording of each dot is performed according to the image data, it is caused by the inter-dot interference when the dots are densely or closely arranged. It is possible to reduce reading errors on the reading device side due to thickened dots as much as possible.

[0180]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
A dot code recording method capable of minimizing a reading error on a reading device side due to dot thickening caused by inter-dot interference when dots are densely or closely arranged, and a recording device therefor, and the like. It is possible to provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a program including an instruction for causing a computer to execute an operation of a simple recording apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a configuration of a dot code recording apparatus to which a first embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a part of audio data, and FIG. FIG. 4D is a diagram showing array data, FIG. 4D is a diagram showing each gradation value of a cyan part of code image data in CMY format, and FIG. 4E is a diagram showing a dot code.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a main flowchart of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a flowchart of a code image data generation subroutine in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine for determining a cyan gradation value of each dot in accordance with dot interference determined from an arrangement relationship of dot arrangement data and generating code image data in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a subroutine of “determining a cyan gradation value of each dot according to interference of dots determined from an arrangement relationship of dot arrangement data and generating code image data” in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing respective tone values of a cyan portion of code image data in CMY format according to a second embodiment in which the dot tone of data dots is unified.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are enlarged views of a part of a binarized image obtained by reading a dot pattern by a reading device when all dots are printed with the same gradation value by a conventional method. (D) to (F) are the dot codes (A) to (C) of the dot code processed in the second embodiment, respectively.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of a binarized image obtained by reading a dot pattern having the same dot arrangement by a reading device.

FIG. 8 shows a second example in which pattern dots are finely adjusted in dot units.
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating respective tone values of a cyan portion of code image data in CMY format according to a modified example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a subroutine of “determining a cyan gradation value of each dot according to dot interference determined from an arrangement relationship of dot arrangement data and generating code image data” in the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a CM according to the third embodiment in which, when one dot is composed of 4 pixels of 2 × 2, dots connected to dots on the left, right, up, and down reduce the number of recording pixels to be printed;
It is a figure showing each gradation value of the cyan part of code image data by the Y format.

FIG. 11 shows a case where one dot is composed of 4 pixels of 2 × 2, and data dots are of a uniform configuration and have a uniform gradation. It is a figure showing each gradation value.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a physical format configuration of a dot code.

FIG. 13 is a functional block configuration diagram of a reading device.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams for explaining the state of interference with white dots when interference is small. FIG. 14A is a diagram showing an ideal printing state, and FIG. 14B is a diagram showing an actual printing state.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams for explaining the state of interference with white dots when interfering with an L-shape; FIG. 15A is a diagram showing an ideal printing state; FIG. is there.

16A and 16B are diagrams for explaining an interference state with white dots when the right and left sides and the upper portion are in close contact with each other. FIG. 16A is a diagram showing an ideal printing state, and FIG. 16B is a diagram showing an actual printing state. It is.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 print engine 2 CPU 3 ROM 4 RAM 5 code data input section 6 readable information input section 100 dot code 101 block 102 data dot pattern area 103 data dot 104 marker 105 pattern dot 106 block address pattern 107 imaging field 110 attention dot

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method according to claim 1, wherein the presence or absence of a dot is defined according to "1" or "0" of data to be recorded, and a dot code in which these dots are arranged according to a predetermined format is optically read on a recording medium. A dot code recording method for enabling recording, wherein image data of each dot is generated according to interference by dots arranged according to the predetermined format, and recording of each dot is performed according to the generated image data. Performing a dot code recording method. 2. The image data of each dot is multi-valued image data having a gradation determined according to the interference and capable of representing an intermediate gradation. 2. The dot code recording method according to claim 1, wherein the recording is performed in accordance with the value image data. 3. The dot code recording method according to claim 2, wherein all of the dots are dots based on multi-valued image data representing an intermediate gradation. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the dots based on the multi-valued image data representing the halftone include only the dots based on the multilevel image data representing the same halftone in a predetermined area. The dot code recording method described. 5. The dot according to claim 3, wherein the dots based on the multi-valued image data representing the intermediate gradation include dots based on a plurality of types of multi-valued image data representing different intermediate gradations. Code recording method. 6. The multi-valued image data capable of representing the intermediate gradation is determined such that the lower the interference, the higher the recording density when each dot is recorded on a recording medium. 3. The dot code recording method according to claim 2, wherein: 7. The dot code recording method according to claim 1, wherein each dot is recorded by only one recording pixel which is a minimum recording unit. 8. The presence or absence of a dot is defined according to "1" or "0" of data to be recorded, and a dot code obtained by arranging these dots according to a predetermined format is optically read on a recording medium. A dot code recording device for recording in a possible manner, comprising: image data generating means for generating image data of each dot in response to interference by dots arranged according to the predetermined format; Recording means for recording each dot in accordance with the obtained image data. 9. The presence or absence of a dot is defined according to "1" or "0" of data to be recorded, and a dot code in which these dots are arranged according to a predetermined format is optically read on a recording medium. When recording as possible, a process of generating image data of each dot according to interference by dots arranged according to the predetermined format, and a process of recording each dot according to the generated image data, A computer-readable storage medium storing a program including instructions to be executed by a computer.