JP2007240549A - Sheet-like medium, image forming apparatus, and information input and output system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information input and output system suitable for carrying, without causing image quality in formed images to deteriorate, and without having articles of consumption for output on paper durable in folding, lightweight, and superior in portability. <P>SOLUTION: A sheet-like medium 14 prepares a discrimination code image that is an image obtained by coding discrimination information capable of specifying a document, a code pattern image 11, including a coordinate code image that is an image coding position information indicating a position on the sheet-like medium, a document image 12 formed on the code pattern image 11, and an output region image 13 indicating the output region capable of adding electronic information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet-like medium, an image forming apparatus, and an information input / output system, and in particular, a sheet-like medium having an output area image formed on a surface, an image forming apparatus for producing the sheet-like medium, and the sheet-like medium The present invention relates to an information input / output system using a medium.

  Conventionally, PDAs (Portable Digital Assistants), notebook personal computers, and the like are used as input / output devices for electronic information that can be easily carried. However, although these devices can be carried, they are difficult to obtain compared to paper, and in order to share information displayed on the screen or hand it over, it is necessary to use a separate printer. It was necessary to print out the results using the image output apparatus. In particular, there is a problem that it is very troublesome when the place where the user is working is separated from the place where the image output apparatus is installed. Also, it is inferior to cheap paper in terms of handwriting input, visibility, and listability, and there are still many scenes where information is handled by outputting to paper.

  On the other hand, there is a drawback in that the information stamped on the paper is fixed on the surface of the paper and cannot be linked with the electronic information. Electronic paper created by arranging electrodes, liquid crystal materials, etc. on a flexible medium has recently been developed as a method for enhancing the linkage with electronic information while being in sheet form like paper. It uses a special medium and is difficult to obtain easily compared to paper. In addition, there is a problem that the visibility is inferior compared to paper, thicker than paper, and there are restrictions on the degree of freedom of carrying such as electric circuits are formed in the medium and folding conditions are limited. .

  If it is possible to create a medium that enhances the linkage between electronic information and paper, using ordinary paper and a printer commonly used in offices, exchange of electronic information on paper as necessary You can create a tool to do. Furthermore, if a configuration that can write and output electronic information to a sheet-like medium with input / output functions can be realized as a small device, a system that enables simultaneous input and output of electronic information on paper is configured. it can. The purpose of this patent is to realize the above system.

  Here, a printer is used to superimpose a document image on a code pattern image including identification information for each page and position information on a paper surface, create a superimposed image on a medium, and convert handwritten information into electronic information. There are known media that enable this (Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, although the media disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose an input method for taking handwritten input into electronic information, a method for writing electronic information on the paper is not disclosed.

  Therefore, a method of outputting electronic information to a medium with a portable device is known (Patent Document 3). In this method, a portable device having a print head is used, and printing is performed by moving on the medium surface.

  Further, a medium in which a rewritable material and a code symbol for making an image erasable are superimposed is disclosed (Patent Document 4).

Further, in Patent Document 2, in the technique for printing position information according to the paper size to be printed from a vast absolute coordinate space, boundary information of the position information to be printed on the paper surface (for example, upper left coordinates and lower right coordinates of the position information to be printed). A method of generating and printing a code pattern image inside a printer by generating (coordinates) at a terminal and transmitting it to a printer is disclosed.
JP2004-94907 Special table 2004-528644 JP2003-48343 JP2000-247032

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 3, a device using ink or ribbon is used in a specific configuration, and information cannot be rewritten after printing, so information is fixed on the medium and updated. It is difficult to extract the changing information at the same position. On the contrary, if the data is output anywhere on the paper, it is difficult to determine which is the latest information, and the paper becomes dirty. In addition, since consumables such as ink and ribbon are included in the output device, printing cannot be performed when the consumables are exhausted, and portability is insufficient.

  Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 4, although the recording medium is suitable for the purpose of reusing the code symbol, the recording layer is only the reversible recording layer, as is apparent from the drawing that gives the layer structure of the medium. The irreversible recording unit is not separately configured, and is not suitable for recording composed of both an image that requires image quality or durability and a reversible image. In addition, when irreversible recording is performed on this recording medium using an irreversible recording method such as inkjet, the irreversible recording layer is formed on the reversible recording layer, so that the quality of the reversible recording layer is deteriorated. In other words, there is a problem that a marker that gives a position cannot be read. Furthermore, since the reversible recording layer is pre-coated with the code symbol layer and the rewritable recording layer on the medium, the output area is created in the necessary area according to the user's needs as the object of this patent. It was difficult to specify the output area. Furthermore, it is necessary to prepare the medium itself in advance, and it is not assumed that ordinary paper is created so as to have an output area as necessary. In addition, since the rewritable material is applied to the entire surface, the material is disposed even in a region where rewriting is not necessary, and there is a problem that the material is wasted. Furthermore, there is no disclosure of a system that uses this rewritable area as an output area.

  Further, in order to create a sheet-like medium with input / output functions using paper, it is necessary to superimpose a code image and an output area on the sheet-like medium with a document image, which is suitable for this method. A printer is not disclosed, and in particular, it is difficult to easily obtain a sheet-like medium with an input / output function unless the code pattern image generation processing load placed on the entire surface of the document can be reduced. there were.

  In the method described in Patent Document 1, since a code pattern image is superimposed on each page to be printed, a code pattern image having the same size as an electronic document to be printed by a terminal such as a PC is generated. For example, when printing a 100-page A4 size electronic document, it was necessary to send 100 code pattern images to the printer. It is desirable that the code pattern image has a configuration that is difficult to be seen by human eyes, and since it is desired to embed more information in the code, the pattern constituting the code pattern image needs to be printed with high definition. For this reason, the normal code pattern image is printed with a high resolution of 600 dpi or more. Since such a high resolution code pattern image has a large amount of information, the communication load is high and transmission to the printer takes time, that is, the productivity of the printer is lowered, and the productivity of the entire system is lowered. There was a problem that.

  Further, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 2, a code pattern image having a size equal to the paper surface size is generated from the encoding to the image generation in the printer, and therefore an arithmetic unit (controller) incorporated in the printer. The processing load becomes very high. In order to perform such high-load processing without reducing the productivity of the printer, it is necessary to mount an expensive arithmetic device inside the printer. In this case, the image forming apparatus becomes expensive, When the above-described calculation is performed by the calculation device, printer productivity is reduced. Also, when decoding this code, there is a problem that an expensive arithmetic device is required as well, and expensive processing is required to extract identification information and position information from the read code pattern. .

  In addition, the conventional sheet-like medium for linking with electronic information is intended for an input function that captures handwritten input information on paper as electronic information, and it is difficult to form information input and output on paper. .

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. On a paper that is strong against bending and excellent in light portability, the image quality of an image to be formed is not deteriorated, and a consumable is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet-like medium, an image forming apparatus, and an information input / output system that realize an information input / output apparatus that is suitable for portability.

  In order to achieve the above object, a sheet-like medium according to the present invention is formed of an infrared absorbing material in an area where a document image can be formed on the surface, and identification information for specifying the document image and on the surface A code pattern image which is an image obtained by encoding information including position information indicating each position; a document image formed of a first infrared transmitting material on the code pattern image; and the document on the code pattern image It is formed of a second infrared transmitting material in which the light absorption wavelength in the visible region is changed by light irradiation in the region where the first infrared transmitting material of the image is not formed, and absorption is visible in the visible region, and can be erased. It is characterized in that an output area image indicating a correct output area is recorded.

  Here, being erasable means that the light absorption wavelength changed by light irradiation is reversible.

  According to the sheet-like medium of the present invention, the identification information for specifying the document image and the position information indicating each position on the surface are indicated by the code pattern image formed of the infrared absorbing material. A document image is formed on the image with a first infrared transmitting material.

  In addition, the second infrared transmitting material in which the light absorption wavelength in the visible region is changed by light irradiation in the region where the first infrared transmitting material of the document image on the code pattern image is not formed, and the absorption in the visible region appears. An output area image indicating an erasable output area is formed.

  Therefore, information can be input based on the code pattern image formed on the surface of the sheet-like medium, and information can be output to the output area image by light irradiation. An information input / output device suitable for portability can be realized on an excellent sheet-like medium without a consumable for output, and an infrared transmission material for an output area image of a document image is formed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the image quality of the formed document image.

  Further, the second infrared transmitting material can be a photochromic material that absorbs ultraviolet rays and shows absorption in the visible region. As a result, information can be output on the output area image by ultraviolet rays, and the output information can be erased, so that the information output on the output area image can be updated.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a position code image which is an image obtained by encoding position information indicating each position on the surface of the sheet-like medium, and identification information for specifying a document image formed on the surface. A code pattern image generation unit that generates a code pattern image by synthesizing an identification code image that is a coded image of the image, and the code pattern generated by the code pattern image generation unit on the surface of the sheet-like medium An image forming unit that forms an image with an infrared absorbing material and forms a document image with a first infrared transmitting material on the formed code pattern image; and the first image of the document image on the code pattern image The second infrared transmitting material in which the visible light absorption wavelength changes in the region where the infrared transmitting material is not formed by light irradiation and the visible light is absorbed. In is configured to include an output image forming section for forming an output area image indicating erasable output area.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the code pattern image generator generates a position code image that is an image obtained by encoding position information indicating each position on the surface of the sheet-like medium and a document image formed on the surface. A code pattern image is generated by combining an identification code image that is an image obtained by coding identification information for specifying. Then, the image forming unit forms the code pattern image generated by the code pattern image generating unit on the surface of the sheet-like medium with an infrared absorbing material, and transmits the first infrared ray on the formed code pattern image. Form document images with materials.

  In addition, the output image forming unit changes the light absorption wavelength in the visible region by light irradiation in the region where the first infrared transmitting material of the document image on the code pattern image is not formed, and absorption appears in the visible region. An output region image showing an erasable output region is formed with the infrared transmitting material.

  Therefore, by forming a code pattern image and a document image on the surface of the sheet-like medium, information can be input based on the code pattern image formed on the surface of the sheet-like medium. Since information can be output to an image, an information input / output device suitable for portability can be realized on a sheet-like medium that is strong against bending and light in portability and does not have consumables for output. it can. Further, by forming the output area image in the area of the document image where the infrared transmitting material is not formed, it is possible to prevent the image quality of the formed document image from being deteriorated.

  Further, the second infrared transmitting material can be a photochromic material that absorbs ultraviolet rays and shows absorption in the visible region. As a result, information can be output on the output area image by ultraviolet rays, and the output information can be erased, so that the information output on the output area image can be updated.

  An information input / output system according to the present invention includes the above-described image forming apparatus, a code pattern image capturing unit that reads the code pattern image formed on the sheet-like medium, and the identification information and the code pattern image from the read code pattern image. The image information extraction unit that extracts the position information, the processing function input unit that selectively inputs the processing function information indicating the processing function that the user wants to perform, the processing function information input by the processing function input unit, and the image information extraction unit A transmission unit that transmits the extracted identification information and the position information, a processing function information transmitted by the transmission unit, the identification information, and a reception unit that receives an output command corresponding to the position information; and the reception Light of a single wavelength or a plurality of wavelengths selected from the ultraviolet light or visible light based on the output command received by the unit A data input / output device including an output unit for outputting image information to the output image area of the sheet-like medium by modulating the degree, print data including a document image formed by the image forming device, and the data input A document command creating device for creating map data for determining the output command for the output device, and managing the print data and the map data created by the document command creating device, based on the map data, And a document management device that transmits to the data input / output device an output command corresponding to the processing function information, the identification information, and the position information transmitted from the data input / output device.

  According to the information input / output system of the present invention, the document command creation device creates print data including a document image formed by the image forming device and map data for determining an output command to the data input / output device. .

  Further, the image forming apparatus forms a code pattern image, a document image, and an output area image on the surface of the sheet-like medium.

  In the data input / output device, the code pattern image imaging unit reads a code pattern image formed on the sheet-like medium, and the image information extraction unit extracts identification information and position information from the read code pattern image. In addition, processing function information indicating a processing function that the user wants to perform is selected and input by the processing function input unit, and processing function information input by the processing function input unit by the transmission unit and identification information extracted by the image information extraction unit And the position information are transmitted to the document management apparatus.

  The document management device manages the print data and map data created by the document command creation device, and responds to the processing function information, identification information, and position information transmitted from the data input / output device based on the map data. The output command is transmitted to the data input / output device.

  Then, in the data input / output device, an output command corresponding to the processing function information, identification information, and position information transmitted by the transmission unit is received from the document management device, and output based on the output command received by the reception unit The unit modulates the light intensity of one or a plurality of wavelengths selected from ultraviolet light or visible light, thereby outputting image information to the output image region of the sheet-like medium.

  Therefore, the data input / output device can input information based on the code pattern image formed on the surface of the sheet-like medium, and can output information to the output area image by ultraviolet rays. An information input / output device suitable for portability can be realized without a consumable for output on a sheet-like medium having excellent properties. Also, based on the map data created by the document command creation device, output by the data input / output device is controlled by sending an output command corresponding to the processing function information, identification information, and position information to the data input / output device. can do.

  The document management apparatus assigns the same identification information to each of the document processing map unit for storing the map data, the document image corresponding to the sheet-like medium, and the map data. Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, the map information is transmitted to the document processing map unit, and the processing function transmitted from the data input / output device while referring to the map data stored in the document processing map unit. A command processing unit that controls the output of the data input / output device by sending an output command corresponding to the information, identification information, and position information to the data input / output device, and data that stores the result of the output control by the command processing unit And a storage unit.

  As described above, according to the sheet-like medium, the image forming apparatus, and the information input / output system of the present invention, information can be input by the code pattern image formed on the surface of the sheet-like medium, and the light Because information can be output to the output area image by irradiation, an information input / output device suitable for portability without a consumable for output on a sheet-like medium that is strong in bending and light in portability In addition, since the output area image is formed in an area where the infrared transmitting material of the document image is not formed, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the image quality of the formed document image. can get.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the sheet-like medium with an input / output function that is realized in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a code pattern image 11, a document image 12, and an output area image 13 are formed on an input / output function-equipped sheet-like medium 14 in accordance with each image pattern.

  The sheet-like medium 14 may be a film-like medium having high flexibility such as OHP. However, from the viewpoint of visibility and availability, a recording sheet generally used in an office or the like is preferably used. .

  In FIG. 1, a code pattern image 11 is formed on a sheet-like medium 14 with an input / output function. A schematic diagram of the code pattern image 11 is shown in FIG. This two-dimensional code pattern image 11 represents the position (coordinates) of each point on the surface of the sheet-like medium 14 with an input / output function and identification information common between these positions.

  The two-dimensional code pattern image 11 of the present embodiment is configured by arranging unit regions 21 as shown in FIG. 2 in a two-dimensional matrix. For example, on the surface of the sheet-like medium 14 with an input / output function, a rectangular area obtained by removing a margin part having a predetermined width from the vertical and horizontal end sides is set as a code pattern arrangement area for printing the two-dimensional code pattern image 11. Let us consider an orthogonal coordinate system in which the upper left corner point of the region is the coordinate origin, the right direction is the positive direction of the x-axis and the lower direction is the positive direction of the y-axis. A two-dimensional code pattern image 11 used in this embodiment is obtained by arranging rectangular unit areas substantially densely in the x and y axis directions in this code pattern arrangement area. A part of the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 is schematically shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the unit regions 21 are arranged in an xy two-dimensional orthogonal matrix with the point O in the upper left corner of FIG. 3 as the coordinate origin. If a serial number starting from 1 is assigned to each unit area 21 in the x direction and the y direction from the origin O, the coordinates of the individual unit areas 21 are indicated by a set of serial numbers in the x and y directions. Can do. For example, the coordinates of the unit region 21 at the upper left corner of FIG. 3 are (1, 1), and the coordinates of the unit region 21 adjacent to the right are (2, 1). This coordinate system is referred to as a “pattern coordinate system” for convenience. Preferably, the shape of the unit region 21 is a square. When the unit area 21 is a rectangle, the coordinate scale differs between the x direction and the y direction. Therefore, when the length obtained in the pattern coordinate system is converted into an actual dimension such as a mm unit, the x direction and the y direction. Although the conversion coefficient differs depending on whether or not the conversion coefficient is square, the conversion coefficients in both the x and y directions can be made the same.

  As shown in FIG. 2, one unit area 21 includes a position code image 22 that is an image obtained by coding position information of the unit area 21 on the surface of the sheet medium with input / output function 14, and an input / output function. It consists of an identification code image 23 which is an image obtained by coding identification information for specifying the document image 12 formed on the surface of the sheet-like medium 14.

  The position information of the position code image 22 is typically information indicating two-dimensional coordinates where the position code image (or a unit area including the position code image) is arranged on the code pattern arrangement area. The coordinates may be in the pattern coordinate system described above. For example, if the data amount of the position information is 8 bits in each of the x and y directions, 256 coordinates can be expressed in each of the x and y directions. In this case, if one unit area 21 is 3 mm × 3 mm, for example, an area of about 80 cm square can be expressed (addressed) at intervals of 3 mm. In the apparatus that reads the two-dimensional code pattern image 11, the code pattern is obtained by using the position information of 3 mm intervals decoded from the detected position code image and the position information of the position code image in the read image. The reading position can be specified with a position resolution of about the minimum pitch. The position code image area should preferably be compactly packed, not distributed within the unit area. If each part constituting the position code image 22 is dispersed throughout the unit area 21, it is necessary to read the entire unit area in order to read the position information. However, the position code image 22 is gathered in a part of the unit area 21. If so, the position information can be detected if only that portion can be read completely. That is, the smaller the reading area of the scanner, the more compact the position code image 22 is. In this sense, the area shape of the square or rectangular position code image 22 shown in FIG. 2 is suitable. However, the area of the position code image 22 may not be square or rectangular as long as it is compact. If the arrangement area of the position code image 22 in the unit area 21 is biased in at least one of the x direction and the y direction, the required reading area can be reduced as compared with the conventional case.

  Although shown in the schematic diagram in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 shows a specific example of the two-dimensional code pattern image 11. In this example, a glyph code (for example, JP-A-6-103390 and JP-A-6-75795) developed at the Palo Alto Research Center of Xerox Corporation in the United States is used as a code symbol. This is a two-dimensional code pattern image 11. In this example, the unit area 21 is a square area of 8 symbols × 8 symbols. The value of each symbol is represented by a hatched pattern as shown in FIG. In this example, the symbol value 0 is a right-down slanting line that makes an angle of 45 degrees counterclockwise with respect to the vertical line, and the symbol value 1 is a right-upping line that makes an angle of 45 degrees clockwise with respect to the vertical line. Expressed with diagonal lines. Among these, the position code image 22 is a square image of 6 symbols × 6 symbols in the upper left corner of the unit area 21, and the identification code image 23 is the remaining area obtained by subtracting the 6 × 6 symbol squares from the unit area 21. This is an image of an inverted L-shaped area. In this example, columns and rows of the synchronization code 24 are provided in the vertical and horizontal directions along the outer periphery of the unit region 21. In this example, as shown in FIG. 4, the synchronization code 24 is a series of diagonally right-upward (“1”) diagonal symbols, and the symbol size and arrangement pitch are the same as the symbol size and pitch in the unit area 21. . The synchronization code 24 is provided at equal intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions, and each unit area 21 is provided in a square area surrounded by the synchronization code 24. The synchronization code 24 indicates a break of each unit area 21. That is, in the apparatus that has read the two-dimensional code pattern image 11, when a row and a column in which a symbol rising rightward is continuous is detected, the inside of the mesh of the lattice formed by the row and the column is recognized as the unit region 21. The 6 × 6 symbol at the upper left corner of the unit area 21 can be recognized as the position code image 22. The synchronization code 24 may not be the one illustrated in FIG. 4 as long as the location of the unit area 21 or the position code image 22 can be specified. For example, the synchronization code may be a code in which symbols having specific shapes different from the hatched symbols are arranged at the four corners of the unit area 21.

  In the example of FIG. 4, a row and a column having a width corresponding to one symbol are used for the synchronization code 24. However, if the mark constituting the synchronization code 24 is sufficiently small, the unit area 21 can be separated by 2 without a gap. The marks may be arranged in a dimensional arrangement, and the mark is arranged in the margin of the adjacent unit region 21.

In the example of FIG. 4, one position code image 22 stores a total of 36 symbols, that is, 36-bit data. Of the 36 bits, 18 bits can be used for encoding the x coordinate and 18 bits can be used for encoding the y coordinate. If all 18 bits are used for position encoding, 2 ¹⁸ (about 260,000) positions can be encoded. When each hatched pattern is composed of 8 pixels × 8 pixels as shown in FIG. 5, when printing at 600 dpi (dot per inch), the vertical and horizontal length of one dot of 600 dpi is 0.0423 mm. The vertical and horizontal lengths of the two-dimensional code (including the synchronization code 16) in FIG. 4 are about 3 mm (= 8 pixels × 9 symbols × 0.0423 mm per symbol). When 260,000 positions are encoded at intervals of 3 mm, a length of about 786 m can be encoded. If the reading accuracy is good, all 18 bits can be used for position coding. However, if a reading error becomes a problem, it is preferable to include redundant bits for error detection and error correction. Increasing the proportion of redundant bits in 18 bits increases error detection and error correction capability, but the range of positions that can be expressed decreases.

In the example of FIG. 4, the identification code image 23 is arranged in a rectangular area of 2 bits × 8 bits and a rectangular area of 2 bits × 6 bits, and can store identification information of a total of 28 bits. When using the 28-bit as the identification information, can represent the identification information about 270 million (2 ²⁸ patterns), the redundancy for error detection or error correction some bits of the 28 bit Bits may be used to cope with reading errors.

  In the above example, 1-bit data is expressed by one symbol by using two oblique line patterns with angles of 90 degrees different from each other as a symbol. However, this is only an example, and a code symbol is used instead of the oblique line pattern. In addition, a code symbol system that indicates 1-bit information for each grid point by turning on / off dots at each grid point set in the code pattern arrangement area may be used, or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-528644). As described above, a code symbol system that expresses 2 bits of information per grid point by shifting the position of placing a dot to each grid point set in the code pattern placement area may be used. Shape symbols and patterns can be used.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, since the code pattern image 11 according to the present embodiment needs to be readable even if it is superimposed on the document image 12 and the output area image 13, a binder material for ink or toner is used. Compared with materials such as polyester, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, and polyvinyl acetate used as materials, it is manufactured using a material with a large light absorption coefficient in the infrared region of wavelength 700 nm to 1000 nm. Is done. Examples of the material satisfying the above conditions include carbon-based materials such as carbon black. More preferably, the material is formed using an infrared absorbing material having a maximum absorption wavelength in a wavelength range of 700 nm to 1000 nm. Further, in the example of FIG. 1, a document image 12 is formed on the code pattern image 11. The layer of the document image 12 is required to be transparent to infrared rays for reading the code pattern image 11, and is formed of color toner as a first infrared transmitting material. A reflection spectrum of a general color toner on paper is shown in FIG.

  The measurement is a result of measuring the relative reflectance with respect to the alumina white plate by reflection measurement using a UV4100 spectrophotometer manufactured by Hitachi, using an alumina white plate as a white reference sample. It can be seen that light absorption is small in the wavelength region of 700 nm to 1000 nm except for the carbon black toner. FIG. 6 also shows an example in which black toner was prepared by blending cyan, magenta, and yellow toners. It can be seen that a sufficiently transparent toner can be formed in the wavelength region of 700 nm to 1000 nm.

  In the configuration example of the sheet medium with information input / output function 14 of FIG. 1, an output area image 13 is further formed. The output region image 13 is formed by using a reversible material such as photochromic or thermochromic as the second infrared transmitting material, or a coloring material that is colored in response to an external stimulus such as fluorescence or phosphorescence. Preferably, it is formed including a photochromic material capable of reversibly converting colors by a light wave that can be easily controlled on and off. In this example, a photochromic material that absorbs ultraviolet rays and appears in the visible light range, absorbs visible light of a color corresponding to the generated absorption, and returns transparent to visible light is used. Examples of photochromic materials include materials such as spiropyrans, spirooxazines, fulgides, and diarylethenes. In this example, diarylethenes having strong repeated resistance were used. As shown in FIG. 1, the dye material containing diarylethene is formed as an output region image 13 only in a region where information is output. In an area for outputting an image such as character information that requires a resolution higher than the accuracy of the data input / output device, the dye material may be patterned into an image shape as shown in FIG.

  The output area image 13 is formed in an area other than the toner portion of the area where the document image 12 is formed so as not to deteriorate the image quality of the document image 12.

  Next, an example of an information input / output system using the sheet medium with input / output function 14 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The information input / output system 300 creates map data (to be described later) necessary for managing the document and print data necessary to output the document on the sheet-like medium 14, and transmits the document to the document management apparatus 302 (to be described later). A command creation device 301, a document management device 302 that provides identification information for each page of a print to a document and simultaneously manages map data, and identification information provided by the print data and the document management device 302 are also included. And an image forming apparatus 303 as an apparatus for creating a sheet-like medium with an input / output function for forming each of a document image, a code pattern image, and an output area image on the sheet-like medium 14, and the image forming apparatus 303. And a data input / output device 304 for inputting / outputting information on the sheet-like medium 14 with an input / output function.

  Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 303 for creating the sheet-like medium 14 with an input / output function will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the image forming apparatus 303, the print data input unit 101 receives print data transferred from a host apparatus such as the document management apparatus 302. This print data is data in which a document image to be printed is described in a page description language, or document image data itself, and includes additional information such as document attribute information in addition to the document contents. In this example, the additional information includes paper size information and identification information to be embedded in the two-dimensional code pattern image 11. In this embodiment, different identification information is attached to each page of the paper to be printed. In this case, the identification information is printed as additional information for each page of the print data by a higher-level device such as the document management device 302. The data is attached to the data body and transferred to the image forming apparatus 303 as the image forming apparatus. The additional information extraction unit 102 extracts additional information from the print data. The extracted additional information includes the above-described identification information and paper size. The identification information encoding unit 103 encodes the input identification information by a predetermined encoding method. In this encoding process, for example, a well-known error correction encoding method such as an RS (Reed Solomon) code or a BCH code can be used. An error detection coding method such as CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) or checksum can also be used. Which one is used may be determined according to the purpose. When adding redundant data, the identification information encoding unit 103 calculates redundant bits for the identification information in accordance with an error correction or error detection encoding method, and outputs the added identification information as an identification code. In this encoding process, the order of each bit of the identification information is changed according to a predetermined rule. For example, conversion processing or encryption processing is performed on the identification information, and redundant bits are obtained from the processing result. Also good.

  When a symbol used in the code image represents a plurality of bits of data with one symbol, the bit string output from the identification information encoding unit 103 is divided by the number of bits that the symbol can represent, so that the symbol value of each symbol Can be interpreted as

  The identification code matrix generation unit 104 arranges each symbol value of the identification code output from the identification information encoding unit 103 in the form of a two-dimensional matrix corresponding to the symbol arrangement pattern of the identification code image 23 in the unit area 21. . That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the identification code input to the identification code matrix generation unit 104 is serial data 81 in which each symbol value is arranged in a line. As a pre-process for conversion to the identification code image 23 shown in FIG. 4, the identification code matrix 82 is converted into an inverted L-shaped identification code matrix 82 having a width of two rows. A mapping rule indicating how many rows and columns of the identification code matrix are mapped to each symbol value of the serial data 81 is determined in advance in the system using the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 of the present embodiment to generate an identification code matrix. It may be registered in the unit 104.

  The position code matrix storage unit 105 stores a position code matrix group created in advance. That is, the positional information representing the coordinates on the surface of the sheet-like medium 14 is basically the same even if the sheet-like medium 14 changes. For example, when the reference point of the position information is set to the upper left of the image, the position information arranged at the upper left of the image is the same (for example, X coordinate 0, Y coordinate 0) for any image. For this reason, in this embodiment, a position code matrix corresponding to each coordinate position that may be used on the maximum size paper handled by the image forming apparatus 303 is generated in advance and stored in the position code matrix storage unit 105. Keep it. That is, position information representing each coordinate is encoded by the same encoding method as that of the identification information encoding unit 103, and a position code matrix is generated from the position code obtained as a result by the same process as the identification code matrix generation unit 104. Keep it. When the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 is generated, the stored position code matrix is used. For example, out of the position code matrix group held by the position code matrix storage unit 105, only those having a coordinate range corresponding to the size of the sheet-like medium 14 to be printed are extracted and used from the reference position such as the upper left corner. In this way, the calculation load on the image forming apparatus 303 when the code pattern image 11 is generated is reduced. The position code matrix storage unit 105 may store, for example, a position code matrix corresponding to the coordinates using the coordinates as indexes.

  In the above configuration, since the position information is different for each unit region 21, the position code matrix storage unit 105 holds a position code matrix for each piece of position information. On the other hand, since the identification information is common even if the positions are different, the identification information encoding unit 103 and the identification code matrix generation unit 104 may obtain an identification code matrix of one piece of identification information. Therefore, when the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 is generated, the image forming apparatus 303 does not have to encode a large amount of position information or generate a code matrix, so that the calculation load is extremely small.

  The code arrangement unit 106 arranges the position code matrix corresponding to each piece of position information and the identification code matrix corresponding to the identification information at the corresponding positions in the code pattern arrangement area, thereby outputting a two-dimensional code pattern to be output. A two-dimensional code matrix corresponding to the size of the image 11 is generated. In this process, the position code matrix of each position information is arranged at the coordinates indicated by the position information, and the identification code matrix of the same identification information is arranged adjacent to the position code matrix of each position information. Alternatively, for each position, a square position code matrix and an inverted L-shaped identification code matrix are combined to create a code matrix of the unit area 21, and the code matrix of the unit area 21 at each position corresponds to the corresponding position. To generate a two-dimensional code matrix of the entire pattern. When the synchronization code 24 is included in the two-dimensional code pattern image 11, the code placement unit 106 inserts a code row or column corresponding to the synchronization code 24 between the code matrices of the unit areas 21. However, this is not essential, and since the synchronization code 24 is a known pattern arrangement, it may be inserted by the code pattern image generation unit 108 described later.

  The pattern storage unit 107 stores a bit map pattern image of code symbols corresponding to each symbol value as shown in FIG.

  The code pattern image generation unit 108 replaces each symbol value of the two-dimensional code matrix created by the code arrangement unit 106 with a pattern image corresponding to the symbol value acquired from the pattern storage unit 107, thereby generating a two-dimensional code pattern image. 11 is generated. When it is necessary to insert the synchronization code 24, for example, a pattern image corresponding to each symbol value of the two-dimensional code matrix is arranged for the blank portion in each lattice of the image of the synchronization code 24 prepared in advance. I'll do it.

  The two-dimensional code pattern image 11 generated in this way is passed to the image cutout unit 109. Based on the size information of the sheet-like medium 14 extracted from the print data by the additional information extraction unit 102, the image cutout unit 109 is a part of the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 that is actually printed on the sheet-like medium 14. Cut out. This cutout may be performed by cutting out the area of the code pattern area corresponding to the size of the sheet-like medium 14 vertically and horizontally from a reference point such as the upper left corner of the two-dimensional code pattern image 11, for example. That is, in this example, the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 including the position information of each coordinate in the range corresponding to the size of the maximum sheet-like medium 14 handled by the image forming apparatus 303 is generated and used from among them. The size portion is cut out by the image cutout unit.

  Instead of providing the image cutout unit 109 in the subsequent stage of the code pattern image generation unit 108, the following modifications can be considered. That is, a cutout unit is provided between the code arrangement unit 106 and the code pattern image generation unit 108, and the cutout unit cuts out a portion corresponding to the paper size from the large size two-dimensional code matrix generated by the code arrangement unit 106. It is a method. As yet another modification, information on the size of the sheet-like medium 14 is supplied to the code placement unit 106, and the code placement unit 106 uses the position code matrix of each coordinate corresponding to the size of the sheet-like medium 14 as a position code. A method of taking out from the matrix storage and arranging them is also conceivable.

  The two-dimensional code pattern image 11 corresponding to the size of the sheet-like medium 14 created in this way is stored in the code pattern image buffer 110.

  The configuration for generating the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 has been described above. In parallel with the generation of the two-dimensional code pattern image 11, a document image 12 and an output area image 13 indicated by the print data are generated by a mechanism described below.

  That is, when the print data is page description language data, the document image generation unit 111 converts the data into the document image 12 by a well-known page description language interpretation process. If the print data is image data, the document image generation unit 111 uses the data. By further performing color space conversion and other image processing necessary for printing on the data of the document image 12, data of the document image 12 to be supplied to the print engine 117 described later is generated. The generated document image 12 data is temporarily stored in the document image buffer 112 for timing adjustment.

  After the output area image 13 is extracted from the print data by the output area image extraction unit 113, the output area image generation unit 114 performs printing on the data of the output area image 13 by the same procedure as that for the document image 12. By performing necessary image processing, data of the output area image 13 to be supplied to the print engine 117 is generated. The generated data of the output area image 13 is temporarily stored in the output area image buffer 115 for timing adjustment.

  When one page of image data is accumulated in each of the code pattern image buffer 110, the document image buffer 112, and the output area image buffer 115, the image composition unit 116 synthesizes these images. In this synthesis, for example, the plane or group of the document image 12, the plane of the two-dimensional code pattern image 11, and the plane of the output area image 13 are combined to generate image data including a plurality of planes.

  In one preferred example, the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 is imaged with a material that absorbs light in the infrared region of wavelengths from 700 nm to 1000 nm, but more preferably, the infrared region light is applied to the human eye. Is formed on the sheet-like medium 14 using a material that cannot be easily identified (substantially invisible) but has a property of absorbing a wavelength in a specific infrared region more than a wavelength in the visible light region. On the other hand, the document image 12 forms an image on the sheet-like medium 14 using a color material that does not absorb much wavelength in the specific infrared region and absorbs much wavelength in the visible light region. As shown in FIG. 4, the yellow, magenta, and cyan toners used in the electrophotographic method hardly absorb the wavelength in the infrared region (reflect without being absorbed on the paper), so that the color material for printing the document image Can be used as Similarly, many photochromic materials also absorb little infrared light. In this example, the document image 12 is a plane transferred to the channel of the visible color material of the print engine 117, and the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 is a plane transferred to the channel of the infrared absorbing color material of the print engine 117. The output area image 13 is synthesized as a plane that is transferred to the channel of the photochromic material.

  A print engine 117 as an image forming unit and an output image forming unit forms an image provided from the image composition unit 116 on the sheet-like medium 14. Thereby, it is possible to obtain a printed matter in which the two-dimensional code pattern image 11, the document image 12, and the output area image 13 are superimposed and printed. In this example, the document image 12 and the output region image 13 on the printed matter do not absorb much infrared light in a specific wavelength region, whereas the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 absorbs infrared light in the specific wavelength region well. As a scanner for reading the image 11 (for example, a pen-type scanner), a scanner that reads an image using infrared rays in a specific wavelength region is used, so that the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 is hardly affected by the document image 12. Can be read. As an example, when a sheet-like medium 14 with an input / output function in which an output area image 13 is formed with respect to a black and white document image 12, a method of mixing cyan, magenta, and yellow in the document image 12 portion, etc. A total of three engines: an engine that prints black that absorbs less infrared with respect to infrared, an engine that prints a photochromic material in the output region image 13, and an engine that prints an infrared-absorbing color material in the code pattern image 11 By configuring the print engine 117, an image can be formed. Furthermore, by increasing the number of print engines 117, it becomes possible to handle mono-color and full-color.

  In the image forming apparatus 303 described above, each component other than the print engine 117 can be realized, for example, by causing a computer processor to execute a program describing the function of each unit described above. Moreover, since the function of each unit is relatively simple, some or all of them can be configured as a hardware circuit. Further, a part or all of each unit can be configured as an arithmetic device using both hardware circuits and software, such as a DSP (digital signal processor).

  Next, a data input / output device 304 for inputting to and outputting from the sheet-like medium with input / output function 14 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the data input / output device 304, the code pattern image imaging unit 201 captures the code pattern image 11 on the sheet medium with input / output function 14 created in advance by the image forming device 303. An arrangement example of the code pattern image capturing unit 201 is shown in FIG. In this example, the code pattern image imaging unit 201 includes the imaging device 211 and the infrared LED 212 in FIG. In FIG. 11, the overall shape is a pen shape as a form suitable for handwriting input, but other shapes such as a mouse shape and a pencil case shape may be used as long as the constituent elements are satisfied.

  The imaging device 211 includes an imaging element and an imaging optical system. The imaging device reads a code pattern image 11 formed of a material having higher absorption than the material that formed the document image 12 with respect to infrared light in a wavelength region of 700 nm to 1000 nm. Therefore, it is necessary to use an image sensor such as a CMOS sensor or a CCD sensor having sensitivity in the wavelength region. In the CCD sensor and the CMOS sensor module, a filter for cutting infrared rays may be formed in order to remove infrared light having a wavelength of 700 nm or more, and the filter for cutting these infrared rays is removed or the wavelength is 1000 nm or more. The filter needs to be replaced with a filter that removes infrared light. Further, in the CMOS sensor and the CCD sensor for color image capturing, a color filter is laminated on the surface of the pixel. Although it is more preferable to remove these filters in order to obtain uniform and high sensitivity, a general color filter is transparent to the infrared region and also to light having a wavelength region of 750 nm or more. Since the transmittance is almost equal, color filters may be laminated. On the other hand, when the light having a wavelength in the visible range is captured in the image sensor, the document image 12 on the sheet-like medium with input / output function 14 is superimposed and captured on the code pattern image 11, and the code Since there is a possibility of causing a reading error, it is necessary to insert a filter that greatly reduces the entry of light having a wavelength of 700 nm or more. Even if the filter described here is a thin film formed by vapor deposition or sputtering on the surface glass or inside the glass of a CCD sensor or CMOS sensor, a film material or plastic material is separately provided in the imaging optical system. A glass material filter may be installed. Even more preferably, a filter having a wavelength transmission characteristic that transmits an emission wavelength of an infrared LED 212 for illumination described later and does not transmit light in a shorter wavelength region is preferable. Such filters include interference type and absorption type filters. In the case of interference type filters, there are bandpass filters that transmit a part of the infrared wavelength range, either of which can be used. In addition, the band-pass filter often has a light transmittance of less than 70% at the wavelength with the highest transmittance, and a short-pass filter that passes light in the infrared region and does not pass light in the visible region is more preferable. The image sensor includes a line sensor that acquires an image in one dimension and a two-dimensional sensor that captures an area. However, a two-dimensional sensor is more preferable because a code pattern image can be acquired collectively. Furthermore, there are sensors with various numbers of pixels in the two-dimensional sensor. If the number of pixels is large, the amount of data that must be processed later becomes enormous. Conversely, if the number of pixels is small, the code pattern image 11 cannot be resolved. A number of sensors is more preferred. Assuming that the device in hand is moved at a speed at which characters are written, the imaging device is required to have a frame rate of about 30 to 200 frames per second as the imaging frame rate. More preferably, a frame rate of about 60 to 200 frames per second is required.

  The imaging optical system is an optical system for projecting a code pattern image onto the imaging device. The imaging optical system may include in the optical system a filter that attenuates visible light and transmits infrared light, but more preferably, a filter that transmits infrared light includes a sealing glass ( Alternatively, a structure formed in advance as a thin film on plastic) may reduce the number of parts. Furthermore, the imaging optical system is configured by a lens and a diaphragm, and the characteristics of the optical system affect the imaging area and the brightness of the code pattern image 11. If the unit area 21 of the code pattern image 11 is a square of 3 mm square, it is assumed that the entire code pattern is captured in an image to be captured, so that it is captured in the diagonal direction 3 × √2 = 4. A length of 24 mm or more is required. In general, the image pickup element is often rectangular, and it is preferable that a length of 4.24 mm or more is picked up in the short side direction in order to convert the code pattern image 11 into a code. That is, it is preferable that at least one unit region 21 of the code pattern image 11 is included in the image to be captured. On the other hand, if one pixel forming the unit area 21 of the code pattern image 11 is smaller than one pixel of the image sensor, it is difficult to read the correct code pattern image 11. For example, assuming a code pattern image 11 configured with 600 dpi pixels as a minimum unit, the length of one side of each pixel of the 600 dpi code pattern image 11 is 42.3 μm, but is projected onto the image sensor. If the length of 3 um becomes smaller than one pixel of the image sensor, an undersampling situation occurs in which the image sampling period is lower than the image dots. As an example, when an image of 600 dpi is picked up using an image pickup device with a pixel pitch of 20 μm, the magnification of the image pickup optical system is preferably larger than 0.47 times. In addition, the brightness and the depth of focus can be adjusted by adjusting the F value of the optical system with a diaphragm or the like. When a pen type is selected as the shape of the data input / output device 304, an optical system having a large F value is designed in consideration of a change in the distance between the imaging surface and the optical system due to a change in the tilt of the image. There is a need.

  The infrared LED 212 is provided to capture the code pattern image 11 with higher contrast. Although infrared light is included in the office and under sunlight, the dynamic range of the image sensor can be fully utilized if the intensity can be set higher. On the other hand, if the light emitted from the infrared LED 212 is specularly reflected on the sheet medium with input / output function 14 and directly enters the imaging device 211, the contrast of the code pattern image 11 cannot be obtained. The outer LED 212 needs to be designed and adjusted to a position where the contrast of the code pattern image 11 cannot be taken due to regular reflection. The wavelength of the infrared LED 212 is selected from LEDs having a light emission center wavelength of about 750 nm to 1000 nm, but using a wavelength in a region where the light absorption coefficient of the material forming the code pattern image 11 is high is high contrast. It is more preferable to obtain In addition, the infrared LED 212 can adjust the brightness of the illumination by controlling the current value to the LED according to the size and the light emission time, and can adjust the brightness of the image in the image sensor. Is possible.

  An image captured by the code pattern image capturing unit 201 is converted into a position code obtained by encoding position information and an identification code obtained by encoding identification information by an image code conversion unit 202 serving as an image information extraction unit. The code conversion is preferably performed immediately in synchronization with the imaging frame rate of the code pattern image imaging unit 201. However, it is also possible to sequentially perform code conversion by providing a buffer before the image code conversion unit 202. . When the frame rate of the image sensor is set to 60 frames and code conversion is synchronized with the frame rate, an image of 76800 pixels equivalent to QVGA is converted to 4.6 MBytes per second if grayscale data is acquired with 8 bits. It is preferable to have a configuration that can be used. Conversion processing is performed by a device capable of high-speed data processing, such as a DSP or a dedicated IC. The converted data is composed of a position code and an identification code. The identification code is always the same code on one sheet-like medium 14, and only the position code is changed in the processing on one sheet-like medium 14. It becomes the composition to do. That is, it is possible to determine whether or not the sheet-like medium 14 has been changed to another medium simply by taking the data difference between the codes. In the same case, the identification code portion can be ignored and processed in the subsequent processing. It is possible to reduce the data processing load on the document management apparatus 302 and the data input / output apparatus 304 that transmit / receive data to / from the data input / output apparatus 304 for processing.

  Furthermore, the data input / output device 304 is provided with a control information input unit 203 as a processing function input unit that can be set by a user who inputs and outputs data. The control information input unit 203 has means for selecting the type of processing function that the user wants to perform. As an example, in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 10, any one of input of handwritten information to electronic information by the handwriting input pen 213, image output according to the electronic information by the output ultraviolet LED 214, and erasing of output data by the erasing visible LED 215 And a means for selecting those processing functions. As an example, it is configured by a switch, and any one of the processing functions of handwriting input, data output, and data erasing can be selected. The control information indicating the processing function selected by the control information input unit 203 is sent to the control information synthesis unit 204 and the output control unit 205. It is also possible to perform output control by switching the wiring of the output control unit 205 at the same time as transmitting information encoding the selected processing function to the synthesis unit 204. In this example, since any of the three types of processing functions is selected, control information including 2-bit data is transmitted to the control information combining unit 204.

  In the control information synthesis unit 204, the control information sent from the control information input unit 203 and the identification code and position code sent from the image code conversion unit 202 are synthesized, and the data transmission unit 206 sends it to a higher-level device such as the document management device 302. Sent. At this time, the data transmission unit 206 converts the data according to the protocol of the transmission module and transmits it. For this reason, it is more preferable that a buffer is provided inside the data transmission unit 206.

  On the other hand, the data receiving unit 207 receives output command data from a higher-level device such as the document management device 302. The output command is sent to the output control unit 205, and the device having the processing function selected by the control information input unit 203 is turned on / off according to the output command. In the data input / output device 304 of the configuration example of FIG. 11, output control is not particularly performed when handwriting input is selected by the control information input unit 203, and output is always in an off state, and the handwriting input pen 213 performs electronic control. The handwritten information is taken in. When the output is selected by the control information input unit 203, if the data input / output device 304 is moved within the output area image 13, the output ultraviolet LED 214 is only displayed when an output command is sent from the document management device 302. Emits light. When erasure is selected by the control information input unit 203, the erasable visible LED 215 is in a light emitting state regardless of the output command.

  As described above, based on the output command, the output control unit 205 controls the output ultraviolet LED 214 and the erasing visible LED 215 so as to modulate the light intensity of one or a plurality of wavelengths selected from ultraviolet light or visible light.

  The positions of the handwriting input pen 213, the output ultraviolet LED 214, and the erasing visible LED 215 in FIG. 11 on the sheet-like medium 14 with input / output function are respectively the imaging position on the sheet-like medium 14 with input / output function of the imaging device 211. There may be a gap between the two. In this case, correction is performed by performing coordinate conversion in the control information combining unit 204 or coordinate conversion in a higher-level device such as the document management device 302 according to the control information input by the control information input unit 203. can do.

  Next, map data and print data exchanged by the information input / output system 300 will be described. Map data consists of document data, area designation data, and command data, and print data consists of document data and output area data. An example of the configuration is shown in FIG. Print data and map data are identified by a header portion, and each data is composed of data delimited by delimiters.

  Next, the document / command creation apparatus 301 will be described. The document / command creation apparatus 301 creates a document indicated by a document image formed on the sheet-like medium 14 with an input / output function and a command for the document. The document / command creation device 301 is composed of a personal computer or a dedicated terminal and a program. The document / command creation device 301 creates a normal document, and at the same time, command data defining processing according to the output area image 13 and the input in the data input / output device 304 Created. As an example, a case where the barcode of the output area image 13 is calculated for a check by handwritten input as illustrated in FIG. 13 will be described as an example. The output area of the output area image 13 is calculated based on the check information in the check box 32. The coordinates of the check box 32 part and the result for the check are created as commands. For example, a process for assigning a score to each of the check boxes 32 and further adding the score to the total of the scores so far, and designating an area for outputting an output command among the areas of the output area image 13 can be created as a command. In these processes, command data is generated by setting the coordinates of the area of the check box 32 and the command. Also, region designation data indicating the range of the output region image 13 and the range of the command input region is generated. At the same time that the output function and command function are created, the print information of the document is collected as print data. Data indicating the area of the output area image 13 is extracted from the area designating data created at the time of command creation, and the output area data is constructed, and additional information necessary for printing such as the size of the sheet-like medium 14 is attached as print data. . A configuration example of the print data and the map data is as shown in FIG.

  The print data and map data created by the document / command creation apparatus 301 are sent to the document management apparatus 302 as one piece of data. Hereinafter, the collected data is referred to as “input / output data” for convenience.

  Next, an example of processing in the document management apparatus 302 will be described with reference to FIGS. A case where input / output data is input from the document / command creation apparatus 301 will be described.

  First, in step 400, it is determined whether or not data is input from the document / command creation device 301. When the data is input, the process proceeds to step 402, where the identification information allocation unit 311 performs the header of the input data. In step 404, it is confirmed that the data is input / output data. If it is not input / output data, the process returns to step 400, but if it is input / output data, the following processing is continued.

  In step 406, the identification information allocating unit 311 reads the header in the input / output data, allocates the same identification information to both the print data and the map data, and inserts it as data. As described above, the generation location of the identification information may be in the document management apparatus 302 or the image forming apparatus 303, but one identification information is assigned to one print page.

  In the next step 408, the same header data is checked to determine whether or not it is print data. If it is print data, the print data with identification information is sent to the image forming apparatus 303 in step 410. And return to step 400.

  On the other hand, if it is not print data, it is determined in step 412 whether or not it is map data. If it is map data, it is stored in the document processing map 312 as map data with identification information in step 414. Return to step 400. The document processing map 312 is a map unique to identification information, and it is more preferable that the map data with identification information cannot be easily rewritten.

  If it is neither map data nor print data, it is determined in step 416 whether it is EOF (End of File). If it is EOF, the process ends. If it is not EOF, the process goes to step 400. Return.

  The print data with identification information input to the image forming apparatus 303 creates the sheet medium 14 with input / output function in accordance with the processing in the image forming apparatus 303 described above.

  Next, processing when the document management apparatus 302 exchanges data with the data input / output apparatus 304 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step 420, it is determined whether or not there is an input from the data input / output device 304. When there is an input from the data input / output device 304 to the command processing unit 313 of the document management device 302, the process proceeds to step 422. The control information of the data is read and it is determined whether or not the control information is an input. If the control information is an input, the document processing map 312 is referred to in step 424 and the coordinate area designation is read. .

  In step 426, it is determined whether or not the read area is a command data area. If the read area is not a command data area, the position code in which handwriting input is performed in the data storage unit 314 in step 428. And the identification code are stored as an input code. On the other hand, if it is the command data area, the document processing map 312 is referred to in step 430, and data processing is performed according to the document processing map 312. Based on the result of the command processing at this time, output coordinates in the region of the output region image 13 are determined and stored as output coordinates in a buffer in a part of the command processing unit 313. Further, in step 432, the position code and the identification code for which handwriting input has been performed are stored as input codes in the data storage unit 314, and the process returns to step 420.

  On the other hand, if the control information is not input in step 422, it is determined in step 434 whether or not the control information is erased. If the control information is erased, in step 436 the data is The storage unit 314 stores the erased position code and identification code as an erase code.

  On the other hand, if the control information is not erased, it is determined in step 438 whether or not the control information is output. If the control information is not output, the process returns to step 420, but the control information is output. If there is, in step 440, the document processing map 312 is referred to, and the coordinate area designation is read. In step 442, it is determined whether or not the area is the output area image 13. If it is not an area, the process returns to step 420, but if it is an area of the output area image 13, it is determined in step 444 whether it corresponds to the output coordinates, and a buffer in a part of the command processing unit 313 is obtained. If the output coordinates do not correspond to the output coordinates, the process returns to step 420. If the output coordinates correspond to the output coordinates, in step 446, the data is input. Output command is transmitted to the force device 304.

  In step 448, the position code and the identification code that have been output are stored in the data storage unit 314 as output codes, and the process ends.

  When the control information is erased by the above processing, predetermined visible light is emitted toward the output area image 13 by the data input / output device 304, and the information output on the output area image 13 is erased. The When the control information is output, the data input / output device 304 emits ultraviolet light toward the output image area 13 and outputs predetermined information on the output area image 13 to be absorbed in the visible light area. Appears, and the user can visually recognize the predetermined information output.

  As described above, according to the information input / output system according to the first embodiment, the data input / output device converts the code pattern image formed on the surface of the sheet medium with input / output function onto the document image. As it is possible to input handwritten information that has been formed and output information to the output area image by ultraviolet rays or visible light, it is a consumable for output on paper that is strong against bending and light in portability. Thus, an information input / output device suitable for portability can be realized.

  Also, based on the map data created by the document / command creation device, output by the data input / output device is controlled by sending an output command corresponding to the control information, identification information, and position information to the data input / output device. can do.

  Further, by forming the output area image in the area where the toner of the document image is not formed, it is possible to prevent the image quality of the formed document image from being deteriorated.

  In addition, by forming the output area image with photochromic material, it is possible to output information on the output area image by ultraviolet rays and to erase the information output by the predetermined visible light, so the output information is updated. can do.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 16, in the image forming apparatus 603 according to the second embodiment, an output area print engine 118 for the output area image 13 is separately provided as an output image forming unit, and output once to the output area image buffer 115. The area image 13 is accumulated, and after waiting for the sheet-like medium 14 to pass through the print engine 117 as an image forming unit and the sheet-like medium 14 is sent from the paper feed to the output area print engine 118, the output area image 13 is formed on the sheet-like medium 14, cyan, magenta, yellow, and infrared absorbing toners are put in the conventional four print engines, and the forming material for the output region image 13 is put in another print engine. It is also possible to superimpose the output area image 13 and the code pattern image 11 on a full-color image with a configuration using the. At this time, black forms an image by superimposing cyan, magenta, and yellow toners.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the identification information is included in the print data sent from the host apparatus. However, in the third embodiment, the identification information is not included. It is generated in the image forming apparatuses 303 and 603.

  For example, as identification information to be automatically generated, for example, a serial number given in the order of pages to be output, a sufficiently long hash value of an image of each page, or the like can be adopted. Also, one or more attribute information such as the file name, user name, document creation date and time of the electronic document, identification information (for example, IP address, MAC address, etc.) of the image forming apparatus 303 itself, and the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 Identification information to be embedded in the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 may be automatically generated based on attribute information related to the creation of the two-dimensional code pattern image such as the creation date and time.

  For example, the number of identification information is one per page, which is much smaller than the position information. Therefore, even if the identification information is automatically generated, the calculation load is small. When the identification information is automatically generated, the image forming apparatus 303 stores the identification information and the original electronic document in a management database or management device provided on the network in order to use the identification information later. Are stored in correspondence with each other (or identification information such as a URL specifying the electronic document).

  Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment-3rd Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the position code image itself is prepared in advance instead of the position code matrix.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the position code pattern image storage unit 119 of the image forming apparatus 703 according to the fourth embodiment stores position code images that may be used, for example, for each coordinate. In this configuration, the code arrangement unit 106 arranges only the identification code matrix generated by the identification code matrix generation unit 104 at a necessary position in the code pattern arrangement region, and the code pattern image generation unit 108 that receives the arrangement result identifies A code pattern image 11 of only the code portion is generated. The code pattern image synthesizing unit 120 synthesizes the position code image of each coordinate extracted from the position code pattern image storage unit 119 with the blank portion corresponding to each coordinate of the code pattern image 11 of the identification code portion.

  The position code pattern image storage unit 119 stores a position code pattern image in which each position code image is arranged at each coordinate position and only the identification code image portion is blank, and this is generated as a code pattern image generation. You may make it synthesize | combine with the output image of the part 108. FIG. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment-4th Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the first embodiment, identification information to be embedded in the page of each sheet-like medium 14 is sent from the host device, but in the fifth embodiment, it is encoded instead of the identification information from the host device. Then, an identification code pattern image that is image-coded and repeatedly arranged at each position corresponding to each coordinate of the code pattern arrangement area is sent.

  As shown in FIG. 18, in the image forming apparatus 803 according to the fifth embodiment, the code placement unit 106 sets each position code matrix read from the position code matrix storage unit 105 to each coordinate position in the code pattern placement region. The code pattern image generation unit 108 arranges the symbol values of the respective position code matrices with corresponding image patterns, thereby generating position code pattern images in which position code images corresponding to the respective coordinates are arranged. .

  The code pattern image synthesizing unit 120 synthesizes the position code pattern image with the identification code pattern image extracted from the print data by the additional information extracting unit 102, so that both the position code image and the identification code image are arranged. A two-dimensional code pattern image 11 is generated. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment-5th Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The sixth embodiment is a compromise between the configuration of the fourth embodiment and the configuration of the fifth embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 19, an image forming apparatus 903 according to the sixth embodiment. Then, the two-dimensional code pattern image 11 is generated by synthesizing the identification code pattern image sent from the host device with the position code pattern image stored in the position code pattern image storage unit 119.

  Note that the identification code pattern image in which the identification code image is arranged at each coordinate is sent from the host apparatus to the image forming apparatus 303. Instead, only one identification code image is sent from the host apparatus to the image forming apparatus 303. It is of course possible to generate an identification code pattern image by two-dimensionally arranging the identification code images in the image forming apparatus 303.

  In the above description, the example in which the identification information, the identification code pattern image, or the identification code image is transferred from the host apparatus to the image forming apparatus 303 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that an identification code matrix in which each symbol value of the code is two-dimensionally arranged may be transferred.

  Next, a seventh embodiment will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment-6th Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

As shown in FIG. 20, in the data input / output device 804 according to the seventh embodiment, the control information, the position code, and the identification code synthesized by the control information synthesis unit 204 are sent to the data transmission unit 206 at the same time. The data is transmitted to the code comparison unit 209.
On the other hand, the data receiving unit 207 receives a position code and an identification code for performing an output command from the host device. The received position code and identification code are temporarily stored in the data buffer unit 208, and the comparison unit 209 confirms that the control information from the control information combining unit 204 is output. The output control unit 205 is controlled when the position code and the identification code stored in the data buffer unit match. In this configuration, output can be performed without depending on the communication speed.

  Next, an eighth embodiment will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment-7th Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 21, in the data input / output device 904 according to the eighth embodiment, the control information input unit 203 does not need to select an output, and the output is between the data buffer unit 208 and the image code conversion unit 202. This is done automatically by comparison. When the user wants to output, the user selects the output by moving the data input / output device to the output area.

  Next, a ninth embodiment will be described. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment-8th Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the ninth embodiment, the data input / output device 304 is configured to function by receiving a set of an identification code and a coordinate code for executing output.

  Processing performed when the document management apparatus 302 according to the ninth embodiment exchanges data with the data input / output apparatus 304 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step 500, it is determined whether or not there is an input from the data input / output device 304 to the document management device 302. If there is an input from the data input / output device 304 to the command processing unit 313 of the document management device 302, the process proceeds to step 502. Then, the control information of the input data is read to determine whether or not the control information is erased. If the control information is erased, the data storage unit 314 is erased in step 504. The obtained position code and identification code are stored as an erasure code, and the process returns to step 500.

  On the other hand, if the control information is not deleted, it is determined in step 506 whether or not the control information is input. If the control information is not input, the process returns to step 500, but the control information is input. In step 508, the position code and the identification code for which handwriting input has been performed are stored as input codes in the data storage unit 314. Further, in step 510, the document processing map 312 is referenced to read the coordinate area designation. It is done.

  In step 512, it is determined whether the read area is a command data area. If the read area is not a command data area, the process returns to step 500. If the read area is a command data area, step 514 is performed. The document processing map 312 is referred to, and data processing is performed according to the document processing map 312. The output coordinates in the output area are determined based on the result of the command processing at this time, and the position code and the identification code for executing the output are transmitted to the data input / output device 304 in the next step 516. In step 518, the transmitted position code and identification code are stored as output codes in the data storage unit 314, and the process ends.

It is the top view and sectional drawing of the sheet-like medium with an input / output function which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the code pattern image which shows the unit area | region which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the code pattern image which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an image figure which shows the specific example of the two-dimensional code pattern image which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an image figure which shows the example of the unit pattern which forms the code pattern image which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the reflectance on the paper of a color toner. It is the schematic which shows the structural example of the information input / output system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the function of the identification code matrix production | generation part of the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structural example of the data input / output apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an example of arrangement of an image pick-up part and an output part of a data input / output device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is an image figure which shows an example of a structure of the printer data and map data used by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an image figure of the check sheet produced with the sheet-like medium with an input / output function concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the process in case the document management apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention exchanges data with a document and command preparation apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the process in case the document management apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention exchanges data with a data input / output device. It is a functional block diagram showing an example of composition of an image forming device concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structural example of the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structural example of the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structural example of the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structural example of the data input / output apparatus which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structural example of the data input / output apparatus which concerns on the 8th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the process in case the document management apparatus which concerns on the 9th Embodiment of this invention exchanges data with a data input / output device.

Explanation of symbols

11 Code pattern image 12 Document image 13 Output region image 14 Sheet-like medium 22 Position code image 23 Identification code image 101 Print data input unit 108 Code pattern image generation unit 111 Document image generation unit 116 Image composition unit 117 Print engine 118 Output region print Engine 120 Code pattern image synthesis unit 202 Image code conversion unit 203 Control information input unit 205 Output control unit 206 Data transmission unit 207 Data reception unit 211 Imaging device 212 Infrared LED
213 Input pen 214 UV LED for output
215 Visible LED for erasure
300 Information Input / Output System 301 Document / Command Creation Device 302 Document Management Device 303, 603, 703, 803, 903 Image Forming Device 304, 804, 904 Data Input / Output Device 311 Identification Information Allocation Unit 312 Document Processing Map 313 Command Processing Unit

Claims (6)

It is an image that is formed of an infrared absorbing material in a region where a document image on the surface can be formed, and that encodes information including identification information for specifying the document image and position information indicating each position on the surface. A code pattern image,
A document image formed of a first infrared transmitting material on the code pattern image;
The second infrared transmitting material in which the light absorption wavelength in the visible region is changed by light irradiation in the region where the first infrared transmitting material of the document image is not formed on the code pattern image, and the absorption in the visible region appears. An output area image showing an output area that is formed and is erasable, and
A sheet-like medium on which is recorded.   The sheet-like medium according to claim 1, wherein the second infrared transmitting material is a photochromic material that absorbs ultraviolet rays and shows absorption in a visible region. A position code image which is an image obtained by coding position information indicating each position on the surface of the sheet-like medium, and an identification code image which is an image obtained by coding identification information for specifying a document image formed on the surface; A code pattern image generation unit that generates a code pattern image by combining
The code pattern image generated by the code pattern image generation unit is formed on the surface of the sheet-like medium with an infrared absorbing material, and a document image is formed on the formed code pattern image with a first infrared transmitting material. An image forming unit for forming
The second infrared transmitting material in which the light absorption wavelength in the visible region is changed by light irradiation in the region where the first infrared transmitting material of the document image is not formed on the code pattern image, and the absorption in the visible region appears. An output image forming unit for forming an output area image indicating an erasable output area;
An image forming apparatus including:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second infrared transmitting material is a photochromic material that absorbs ultraviolet rays and exhibits absorption in a visible region. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4,
A code pattern image capturing unit for reading the code pattern image formed on the sheet-like medium;
An image information extraction unit for extracting the identification information and the position information from the read code pattern image;
A processing function input unit for selectively inputting processing function information indicating a processing function desired by the user;
A transmission unit that transmits the processing function information input by the processing function input unit and the identification information and the position information extracted by the image information extraction unit;
A receiving unit that receives an output command corresponding to the processing function information, the identification information, and the position information transmitted by the transmitting unit; and the ultraviolet light or visible light based on the output command received by the receiving unit. A data input / output device including an output unit that outputs image information to the output image region of the sheet-like medium by modulating light intensity of a single wavelength or a plurality of wavelengths selected from:
A document command creation device for creating print data including a document image formed by the image forming device and map data for determining the output command for the data input / output device;
The print data and the map data created by the document command creation device are managed, and based on the map data, the processing function information, the identification information, and the location information transmitted from the data input / output device are included. A document management device for transmitting a corresponding output command to the data input / output device;
Information input / output system including The document management device includes a document processing map unit for storing the map data;
The same identification information is assigned to each of the document image corresponding to the sheet-like medium and the map data, the document image and the identification information are transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the map data is processed to the document processing. An identification information assigning part to be transmitted to the map part;
While referring to the map data stored in the document processing map unit, the data input / output device outputs an output command according to the processing function information, the identification information, and the position information transmitted from the data input / output device. A command processing unit for controlling the output of the data input / output device by transmitting to
The information input / output system according to claim 5, further comprising: a data storage unit that stores a result of output control by the command processing unit.