JP2008027029A - Optical symbol, article therewith, method of attaching optical symbol to article, and method of decoding optical symbol - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide codes utilizing optical symbols of high reading accuracy even when an article is easily distorted or printing accuracy is low by proposing a new bar-code without dependence on the width of the bar-code. <P>SOLUTION: Cells are linearly arranged, and specific data is indicated by the color order of the respective cells. A code system is used in a method of decoding an optical symbol readable if the continuous and linear form of color arrangement is maintained. As a data display method, various methods other than the "order of colors" can be adopted such as a method of assigning a numerical value to each color by 1:1 (R=0, B=1, etc.), a method of assigning data by the transition of colors ("CM"="MY"="YC"=0, "CY"="YM"="MC"=1, etc.), and a method of assigning data to the combinations of colors. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical code for information processing attached to an article. In particular, the present invention relates to an optical symbol used in the optical code, a method for attaching the optical symbol to an article, and a decoding method.

  Various symbols that are optically read for information processing attached to articles are used. For example, so-called barcodes that record information in a one-dimensional black and white pattern have been used for a long time.

Optical code using color Also, as an optical code, a code using not only white and black but also chromatic colors such as red and blue (here, a code using such a chromatic color is called a color code for convenience) ) Is also widely proposed.

  In general, the optical code (system) using color (using chromatic colors) is more likely to change the corresponding data when the color detection of the reader changes. End up. Therefore, there is a problem that it is easily influenced by color fading, printing unevenness, illumination light, and the like.

Examples of Prior Patent Documents For example, in Patent Document 1 below, a barcode using three colors is disclosed. This barcode is a barcode configured to represent “1” when the color is changed in the first order and “0” when the color is changed in the second order.

  Patent Document 2 below discloses a code that can increase the data storage capacity by setting the color density of each of the three primary colors to a plurality of stages.

  Patent Document 3 below discloses a two-dimensional code that divides information into a predetermined bit string according to the printing capability of the printer, selects a color for each divided bit string, and records and creates and restores the code. ing.

  Patent Document 4 below discloses a code that can be used as a general white and black bar code or a bar code with color.

JP 63-255783 A (Patent No. 2521088) JP 2002-342702 A JP 2003-178277 A JP 2004-326582 A

  As described above, a so-called one-dimensional barcode is widely used as a one-dimensionally arranged code system. There are many types of one-dimensional barcodes, and all of them are code systems that encode an image using different widths of black and white (bright and dark) patterns that appear alternately. It can be understood that the two-dimensional barcode has the same concept by replacing “width” with “cell position”.

  Normally, barcodes are printed directly on paper or products, so there is no problem if the above concept is implemented as it is.

  However, in a product that is easily distorted or in situations where only inaccurate printing is possible, a method that depends on the width of the bar is not necessarily a reasonable method. In such a situation, there are a number of situations in which there is a need to give up IDs, but due to the above-mentioned problems, there is no choice but to give up.

  On the other hand, as described above, many so-called color barcodes have been proposed. However, most of the conventional color barcodes are aimed at increasing the density of data, and there are some cases in which the practical use of the color barcodes is impaired due to the increase in the types of colors and densities.

  Also, in the field of conventional black and white barcodes, conventional techniques are followed as they are, and there are few known proposals for improving the above-described problems. This is considered to be due to the fact that a method of sticking a sticker on which a barcode is printed is generally attached to the article, and the barcode is hardly printed directly on an easily distorted article.

  However, in the method of applying a seal, there is no risk that fraud may occur such as reapplying the seal or replacing it with another seal. Therefore, a code that can be directly printed on an article is considered desirable.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and its purpose is to propose a new bar code that does not depend on the width of the bar code, and has a high reading accuracy even in an easily distorted article or in a situation where the printing accuracy is not high. It is to provide a code that uses optical symbols.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention proposes the following code.

  The code of the present invention arranges cells in a line and indicates specific data according to the order of colors of the cells. We propose a code system that can be read if the continuity of the color arrangement and the form (topology) of the linear shape are maintained.

  In addition to the “color order”, various methods can be used for representing data. A method of assigning numerical values to each color on a one-to-one basis (R = 0, B = 1, etc.), a method of assigning data by color transition (“CM” = “MY” = “YC” = 0, “CY” = “ Various methods such as a method of assigning data to a combination of colors can be adopted.

  In this patent, the term “linear” means that the cells are arranged in a line, and there is no branch and no intersection. As long as it is connected in a row, it may be straight, curved, or bent.

Explanation of terms Here, a brief explanation of terms in the text is given.

  First, in the text, the article to which the optical symbol is attached may be any tangible object. It is not necessarily a hard rigid body and may be a soft article such as food. As will be described later, the present invention proposes an optical symbol that is resistant to distortion and deformation of articles, and flexible articles such as clothes are also "articles" in the text.

  An article container or packaging is also an article. Furthermore, planar and plate-like articles such as paper are also “articles” in the text.

  In addition, the following terms are used in the text.

  Code: A standard for representing data in symbols. In order to clearly indicate that it is a standard, it may be called a code system.

  Symbol: Refers to data converted based on the above standards. For example, in a general bar code, each “black and white pattern” obtained by converting data based on a “standard” called “bar code” is called a symbol or “bar code symbol”.

  Decoding: The process of obtaining original data from each symbol based on its code is called decoding.

  Reader: A device that reads symbols attached to articles. The read data is subject to decoding, and the original data is obtained as a result of decoding.

  Data: The object to be converted to a symbol. Generally, it is numerical data, but it may be character data or digital data consisting of 0 and 1.

  Specifically, the present invention employs the following means.

  (1) In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an optical symbol formed by arranging a plurality of cells, which are regions to which one color selected from n color groups is attached, in a linear form. . Here, n is an integer of 3 or more.

  (2) Further, in the optical symbol of the above (1), the present invention is characterized in that the cells are arranged in a continuous, unbranched, non-crossing manner, and the adjacent cells have different colors. Symbol.

  (3) In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention arranges a plurality of cells, each of which is a region to which one color selected from n color groups is attached, in the linear arrangement. An end-point cell to which colors other than the n colors are attached is provided at both ends of the optical symbol. Here, n is an integer of 3 or more.

  The start point and the end point can be identified by this color.

  (4) According to the present invention, in the optical symbol of (1), in the optical symbol of (3), the color of the first adjacent cell that is the cell adjacent to the end point cell is n The optical symbol is a predetermined color determined in advance from a color group.

  The start point and the end point can be identified by (a combination of) these colors.

  (5) Further, in the optical symbol of (4), the present invention provides a predetermined color in which the color of the second adjacent cell adjacent to the first adjacent cell is determined in advance from the n color group. It is an optical symbol characterized by being.

  (6) According to the present invention, in the optical symbol of (1), all of the n colors are adjacent to the end point cell or in a predetermined position near the end point cell. It is an optical symbol characterized by being attached to.

  (7) Further, the present invention provides the decoding method for decoding an optical symbol of (6), wherein the color assigned to the adjacent cell or the cell at the predetermined position is a color calibration of the cell. It is an optical symbol decoding method characterized by being used in a video recording.

  (8) Further, in the decoding method for decoding an optical symbol according to (6), the present invention provides a color difference between the cells by adding the color assigned to the adjacent cell or the cell at the predetermined position. The optical symbol decoding method is used for calibration of the optical symbol.

  (9) The present invention further includes a tracking step of tracking the cell included in the optical symbol in the optical symbol decoding method according to the above (7) or (8). An optical symbol decoding method, wherein the cell is traced based on a color difference between a color attached to the end point cell and a color attached to the adjacent cell or the cell at the predetermined position. is there.

  (10) Further, in the optical symbol of the above (3), the present invention is characterized in that the color attached to the end point cell or a similar color is attached to a region other than the cell array. It is an optical symbol.

  (11) Further, according to the present invention, in the article to which the optical symbol of (3) is attached, the color attached to the end point cell or a similar color is attached to an area other than the cell array. This is an article with an optical symbol.

  (12) Further, the present invention is the article described in (11) above, wherein the color given to the end point cell or a similar color thereof is an achromatic color such as black or gray.

  (13) Further, in order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention arranges a plurality of constituent cells that are regions to which one color selected from the n color groups is added, and An optical symbol, wherein an end point cell in which colors other than the n colors are attached to both ends or one end of a linear array and the constituent cells appear alternately two or more times. Here, n is an integer of 3 or more.

  (14) In the optical symbol according to (1), the code represented by the cell is determined by the relationship between the cell and the color of the adjacent cell. .

  (15) Further, according to the present invention, in the optical symbol of the above (1), a check, a notation method, and the like are distinguished depending on how to express the code of the cell.

  (16) Further, according to the present invention, in the optical symbol described in the above (1), a color corresponding to an excessive light amount of a light source that illuminates the optical symbol is not included in the n color group. The optical symbol is characterized.

  (17) Moreover, this invention is an article | item which attached | subjected the optical symbol as described in any one of said (1)-(6) or any one of (13)-(16).

  (18) Further, the present invention is a code system using the optical symbol according to any one of (1) to (6) or (13) to (16).

  (19) Furthermore, the present invention provides the method for decoding an optical symbol according to any one of (1) to (6) or (13) to (16), wherein the optical symbol is And obtaining the optical symbol image data, searching the image data for a start point and an end point end cell, and finding the end point based on the found start and end point end cells. An optical symbol decoding method comprising: tracking a configuration cell provided between cells; and decoding the tracked configuration cell.

  (20) Further, the present invention provides data to be recorded in the method for attaching an optical symbol according to any one of (1) to (6) above or (13) to (16) to an article. A step of creating the optical symbol based on the method, and attaching the created optical symbol to a predetermined article, wherein the attaching step includes printing the optical symbol on the article; and A method for attaching an optical symbol to an article, comprising: attaching an expression symbol to an article by embroidery; and attaching an adhesive seal depicting the optical symbol to the article. It is.

  In the optical symbol of the present invention, the order of the constituent cells can be specified by tracking the constituent cells. Since the data is expressed by a combination of colors of the constituent cells, a code system that does not affect the reading of data even if the size of the constituent cells changes can be obtained.

  In addition, since the degree of freedom of the relative positional relationship between the cell groups constituting the symbol is high, it can be used for an article having a flexible surface.

  For example, a symbol can be directly printed on food such as soft meat using food coloring. In addition, it is possible to print directly on a cloth or a soft article.

  In a conventional optical bar code, a symbol is attached to an article by a process such as sticking a sticker, and there is a high risk of data tampering such as changing the sticker. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since a symbol can be directly printed even on a flexible article, it is extremely difficult to reattach this symbol to another symbol. As a result, according to the present invention, data alteration can be prevented in advance.

  Further, according to the optical symbol and the code system using the optical symbol according to the present invention, the symbols are arranged by arranging cells in a linear shape. However, as long as it is linear, it may be a straight line or a curved line. A symbol with a high degree of freedom can be obtained.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the present embodiment, a code using an optical symbol having a form in which cells are linearly arranged is proposed. This optical symbol is a planar symbol and is attached to various articles.

Cell (constituting cell) and end point cell The optical symbol of this embodiment includes a cell and an end point cell. A cell is a range / area to which one color is applied, and can take various shapes. Circles, squares, triangles, etc. can be used. Optical symbols are formed by arranging the cells in a line.

  An end point cell is a cell located at an end point of an optical symbol composed of a group of cells connected in a line. In the present embodiment, the end point cell is a region / range that is colored differently from cells other than the end point cell. Further, as will be described later, whether the end point is a “start point” or an “end point” can be expressed by a combination (color) with another cell adjacent to the end point cell.

  When the start point is expressed, the end point cell may be called a start cell. When an end point is expressed, the end point cell may be called an end cell.

  In addition, when a cell other than the end point cell is particularly distinguished from the end point cell, it may be referred to as a “configuration cell”.

Optical symbol linear present embodiment is constructed by arranging cells linearly as described above. The linear shape may be a straight line or a curved line. Any line can be used as long as adjacent cells can be traced.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the optical symbol 10 representing the numerical value “12345678” (decimal number). In the first embodiment, since 12345678 is expressed as “101111000110000101001110” in the binary system, the binary number “101111000110000101001110” is expressed in the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, a cell 12 is a quadrilateral with Y (representing yellow), M (representing magenta), C (representing cyan), and the like. A plurality of cells 12 are connected to form an optical symbol 10.

  In the first embodiment, the binary components “0” and “1” are represented as shown in the table of FIG. That is, instead of assigning “1” and “0” to colors, “1” and “0” are assigned to color transitions. In this example, black and cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) are used, and the color transition from Y to C, C to M, and M to Y represents “1” ( (See FIG. 2). Further, the color transition from Y to M, C to Y, and M to C represents “0” (see FIG. 2).

  That is, the value of the digit is determined by the color value of the cell 12 of the digit and the color value of the cell 12 of the preceding digit. Here, a digit means a part to which a numerical value is assigned. In order to distinguish the cell 12 to which the digit is assigned from the end point cell 20 or the like, the cell 12 may be particularly referred to as a constituent cell 12.

  In the first embodiment, 24 digits are required to represent the binary number “101111000110000101001110”. In the first embodiment, one digit is associated with one cell 12.

  In the first embodiment, the first two cells 22 and 24 (two cells 22 from the left) are cells indicating the start, and are cells 22 that do not correspond to the numerical digits to be represented. That is, they are not constituent cells 12 that represent data.

  The first two cells 22 and 24 are referred to as a directly adjacent cell 22 and an indirect adjacent cell 24. These direct adjacent cells 22 and indirect adjacent cells 24 are different from the constituent cells 12 representing data.

  The directly adjacent cell 22 is a cell adjacent to the end point cell 20. The indirect adjacent cell 24 is not directly adjacent to the end point cell 20 but is adjacent to the direct adjacent cell 22 or is adjacent to another indirect adjacent cell 24. Further, the end point cell 20 may be a start cell or an end cell. That is, there may be a direct adjacent cell 22 or an indirect adjacent cell 24 on either the start point side or the end point side.

  As described above, the black cells at the left end and the right end in FIG. 1 are the end point cells 20a and 20b, and the adjacent cell 22a is directly connected to the end point cell 20a (black) at the left end (start side). The directly adjacent cell 22a is defined as having a color Y (yellow).

  Accordingly, the start side is indicated by the cell 22a directly adjacent to the black end point cell 20a + Y (yellow).

  Further, the end cell 20b (black) on the right end (termination side) is directly connected to the end cell 20b by the direct adjacent cell 22b and the indirect adjacent cell 24b. It is defined that C (cyan) is added to the directly adjacent cell 22b, and M (magenta) is added to the indirect adjacent cell 24b. Thus, the end side is represented by the indirect adjacent cell 24b of the directly adjacent cell 22b + M (magenta) of the black end point cell 20b + C (cyan).

  As a result of such a configuration, in terms of color, the end points (start point and end point) of the optical symbol 10 can be found by searching for “Y connected to black” and “C and M connected to black”. Further, color calibration can be performed by the C, M, and Y.

  As shown in the table of FIG. 2, three types of color combinations representing numerical values “1” and “0” are prepared. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the description of data is started from the right side of “Y” indicating start (M in FIG. 1). In this case, the first digit (1 in this embodiment) can have two types of options.

  A table showing examples of the two types of options is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3A, the C cell and the M cell 12 are successively connected to the Y cell 12 adjacent to the end point cell 20 (black). The series of C and M cells represents “1” in the first digit. Similarly, in FIG. 3B, the M cell 12 and the Y cell 12 are successively connected to the Y cell 12 adjacent to the end point cell 20 (black). The series of M and Y cells represents the first digit “1”.

  As shown in FIG. 2, there are Y and C as other combinations representing “1”. However, since the combination of the end point cell 20 and the Y cell is used to represent the start side, the same Y color is used. Cannot be used. Therefore, in order to represent “1”, it is necessary that C, M or a combination of M and Y is used instead of Y and C. Therefore, there are two types of options. In this example, the case of representing “1” has been described, but there are also two types of options in the case of representing “0”.

  In the same manner, the number of each digit is sequentially represented by the color transition.

  Now, in FIG. 2, using this option, parity and other divisions (plus, minus sign, binary notation selection (gray code, etc.)) can be performed without having a special cell. . Of course, it is possible to increase these options by increasing the number of cells in the left end Y and the first digit.

  For example, FIG. 4 (1) shows an example in which the cell 12 in the CM arrangement is adopted after the cell 12 in Y. FIG. 4B shows an example in which “12345678” (decimal number) is represented by a gray code.

  Furthermore, as with the left end (start side (start side)), a check digit and a digit number display can be arranged in the cell between the last digit and the end cell MC at the right end (end point side).

  Here, the end cell refers to the end point cell 20 representing the end point. In the first embodiment, the C cell 12 and the M cell 12 are sequentially provided adjacent to the end cell (see FIG. 4). Various functions such as digit display can be arranged.

  In the examples described so far, the cells 12 and the end point cells 20 are both arranged in a straight line, but may be arranged in a curved line. It is sufficient if the connection between the cells 12 can be identified and the connection can be traced.

  FIG. 5 shows an example in which the optical symbol of FIG. As described above, various shapes such as a circle, a square, and a star shape can be adopted as the shape of the cell 12. The cells 12 may be arranged in a straight line, a circle, or a curve as long as the connection state can be identified and the adjacent cells 12 can be traced.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which numbers, alphabets, and the like are directly encoded (directly without being converted into binary numbers). FIG. 6 shows three types of conversion tables indicating how numbers and alphabets are converted. The three types are shown because three types of conversions starting from C, conversion starting from M, and conversion starting from Y are prepared in accordance with the color of the first cell 12.

  That is, to represent “0”, whether the cell 12 is arranged in the order of “YMYCM”, the cell 12 is arranged in the order of “MCMYC”, or the cell 12 is arranged in the order of “CYCMY”. There are three ways of representation. One of the three types is selected according to the color of the preceding cell 12.

  In the method shown in FIG. 6 and the second embodiment, the code system is determined based on the color change direction of the adjacent cell 12. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between these change directions. As shown in FIG. 7, the change in color “YC” is equivalent to the change in color “CM” and “MY”. This is also apparent from the table of FIG. Also, the color change “YM” is equivalent to the color change “CY” and “MC”. This is also clear from the table of FIG.

In addition, the start is the same as the first embodiment in that three types of colors can be selected.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which the optical symbol 10 is created from “year2000” using the table of FIG. The end point cell 20 is black as in the example of FIG. 1, and the cell 12 uses three colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow). As shown in FIG. 8, since “y” is represented by “MYCYMYMY”, when “e” starting from “Y” is searched from the table of FIG. 6 using the last “Y”, “YCMCYMCM” is obtained. Use this because it is found. This time, since the last is “M”, search for “a” starting with “M”. Thereafter, each character of “year2000” is similarly converted to form the final optical symbol 10 (FIG. 8).

In the first and second embodiments described above, the case of three colors (CMY) has been described as an example in order to prevent color reading errors as much as possible. Of course, the other three colors are RGB. Although the end point cell 20 has been described as black, the end point cell 20 may be used as long as the background color is black. In this sense, if the background color is other than black (for example, Y), the color of the cell 12 may be selected as the color of the end cell 20.

  In any case, any combination of colors that can reliably detect a difference in relation to the reading conditions may be used. In that sense, if the number of colors used within the allowable range increases, so many different ways of thinking become possible.

  In the third embodiment, an embodiment in which one color G (green) is added in addition to YMC will be described. In the third embodiment, the cell 12 with G (green) is used as a space cell. As a result, for example, data and digit display (= address) can be efficiently displayed.

  A conversion table in the case of the third embodiment is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, in the third embodiment, a different conversion table is used for each digit. FIG. 10 shows an example in which “12345678” (decimal number) is expressed using this conversion table. As shown in FIG. 10, in the third embodiment, a cell 10 with G (green) is used as a space cell 30 (a cell for separating each digit). The presence of the space cell 30 makes it easy to distinguish each digit.

  For example, since the leftmost column is the eighth digit, the eighth digit table in FIG. 9 is used. Since “1” is represented in this table as “YMCYMC”, this is used for the first digit portion. Next, the cell 10 with G (green) is sandwiched as the space cell 30 and the seventh digit is placed. For the seventh digit, the seventh digit table of FIG. 9 is used. When “2” is searched from this table, it is “CYMYMC”, and this is used as the seventh digit. In the same manner, the process continues until the last digit. Finally, if the space cell 30, the M cell 12 + C cell 12 representing the end point, and the end point cell 20 are placed, the final optical symbol 10 is completed (see FIG. 10).

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, since the number of digits (= address) and the numerical value are represented at the same time, the (digit) position in the optical symbol 10 can be changed. It is also possible to divide into a plurality of optical symbols 10. That is, as can be understood from FIG. 9, in the third embodiment, a conversion table is used for each digit, but the conversion results are all different. Therefore, by looking at the pattern of the conversion result, it is possible to easily know what number of data it is. In any case, in the present invention, if the number of colors to be used is increased, the degree of data accumulation can be reliably improved.

Decoding an optical symbol Reading the optical symbol 10 to restore the original data is called decoding. Various decoding procedures are conceivable, but a typical preferred example is as follows.

  (1) An image including the optical symbol 10 on a predetermined article is photographed with a CCD camera or the like and captured as image data.

  The CCD camera is a typical example of a so-called area sensor, and image data may be acquired by another area sensor.

(2) From the above image data,
(A) the endpoint cell 20a, the endpoint cell 20b,
(B) a Y cell (directly adjacent cell 22a) adjacent to the end point cell 20a;
(C) C cell (directly adjacent cell 22b) adjacent to the end point cell 20b + M cell (indirect adjacent cell 24b);
Find out.

  These direct adjacent cells 22 and indirect adjacent cells 24 are characterized in that they do not have the constituent cells 12 continuous on both sides. Further, the direct adjacent cell 22 and the indirect adjacent cell 24 have a feature that when connected to the constituent cell 12, only one side is provided. The direct adjacent cell 22 and the indirect adjacent cell 24 are searched for using such a condition as a clue.

  (3) Y cell (directly adjacent cell 22) adjacent to the end point cell 20a (start cell) and C cell (directly adjacent cell 22b) + M cell (indirect adjacent) adjacent to the other end point cell 20b (end cell) The continuous series of the group of constituent cells 12 connecting the cell 24b) is tracked and specified.

  (4) In the image, the white area is regarded as excessive light due to total reflection, and it is determined that this area is not the optical symbol 10.

  (5) The image is averaged for each fixed area to eliminate the influence of components such as noise, fine shadows, and dirt. In short, it is noise removal by filtering. Various filtering means known in the art such as a median filter can be used.

  (6) A portion other than the linear continuous portion (the portion other than the constituent cell 12) that is connected to the constituent cells 12 is determined not to be the optical symbol 10 depending on the situation such as the shadow and the color of the ground.

  (7) At this time, it is also preferable to use a difference in images when the lighting method is changed.

  (8) The peaks of the continuous Y, C, and M components in the constituent cell 12 are captured, and encoding and checking are performed based on the decoding specifications. In this patent, decoding is called encoding.

  In this manner, the optical symbol 10 is decoded.

Summary As described above, the code system proposed in this embodiment has the following characteristics.

  The optical symbol used in the present embodiment can reliably follow the adjacent cells from both ends by the end point cell 20, the directly adjacent cell 22, and the indirect adjacent cell 24.

  -The colors used can be composed of only pure colors for a three-primary color reader, and the system has a high tolerance for variations such as fading, illumination, and printing.

  Since the data notation method depends only on the order of the expression colors, even if the size of each color range (cell) varies, it has little effect on the reading characteristics.

  ・ Since it follows the concept of tracking adjacent cells in order and picking up the color, it has little influence on the reading characteristics even if it is narrow, bent or bent.

  ・ On the other hand, there is a degree of freedom in the shape of each cell, and even if it is a square, triangle, circle, star or character cell, it has little effect on the reading characteristics.

  -The code | symbol (data) which a cell represents is determined by the relationship between the said cell and the color of the adjacent cell.

  -Checks, notation, etc. can be distinguished according to how the cell code (data) is represented.

  Further, it is preferable not to use a color corresponding to the excessive light amount depending on the type of the light source.

Modification (1) It is preferable to perform calibration by providing a reference cell as a reference for reading at a predetermined location. The reference cell is realized by arranging cells with C, M, and Y colors at predetermined locations.

  This calibration is performed with respect to the color of the constituent cell 12 and the color difference between the constituent cells.

  Further, in order to clarify the difference between the constituent cell 12 and the other parts, the color difference between the end point cell 20 and the constituent cell is confirmed (calibration).

  Moreover, it is preferable that both sides of the cell of the constituent cell 12 are occupied by a color similar to that of the end point cell 20 (and can be reliably distinguished from the color of the constituent cell 12) so that the chain of the constituent cell 12 can be traced.

  For example, in the example shown so far, the constituent cell 12 selects a color from the three color groups of C, M, and Y. The end point cell 20 is “black” which is different from these three colors. Therefore, it is preferable that the “both sides” be black.

  (2) Also, the one-dimensional optical symbol 10 as in the present embodiment is one of the usages that are preferably applied to the edge portion of an envelope, for example. An example of such use is shown in FIG. FIG. 11 shows an example of the optical symbol 10 in which colors are arranged side by side at the edge portion of the envelope. In such an example, both sides of the constituent cell 12 are generally shadowed. Therefore, in an actual example, the end point cell 20 of the optical symbol 10 is appropriate to have a black achromatic color similar to a shadow.

  Here, “both sides” means two directions perpendicular to the extending direction of the optical symbol 10.

  (3) It is also very preferable that the colors of the end point cell 20 and the directly adjacent cell 12 appear several times in order to distinguish from the outside of the end point cell 20 (the envelope ground color in FIG. 11). Such an example is shown in FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 12, the left end (Start side) searches for (1) black (end cell 20a) with both ends sandwiched by Y, and at the same time searches for a directly adjacent cell 22a with the Y attached (2 ) Among the found direct adjacent cells 22a of Y, the direct adjacent cell 22a in which both adjacent sides are not black, that is, the direct adjacent cell 22a in which at least one is not black (end cell 20) is searched for and found. Are directly adjacent cells 22a on the Start side and a calibration cell 102a that determines Y for calibration.

  In the example shown in FIG. 12, since there is an array of “black, Y, C” on the Start side, the Y configuration cell in the center of this array is “the Y configuration cell 12 on the Start side and the calibration cell. This is the configuration cell 12 ”that determines Y of

  By accrediting in this way, for example, even when the ground color is close to yellow, it can be prevented that the constituent cells 12 are misidentified on the ground color side.

  In the example of FIG. 12, the set of “end point cell 20a + directly adjacent cell 22a” is repeated three times on the start side. On the termination side, the set of “end point cell 20b + directly adjacent cell 22b + indirect adjacent cell 24b” is repeated three times on the termination side.

  (4) When the optical symbol of the present embodiment is attached to a transparent plastic case, the above-mentioned “both sides” of the constituent cell 12 is often gray (achromatic) close to white. An explanatory view showing such a situation is shown in FIG. Therefore, in such a case, it is preferable to track the chromatic color of the constituent cell 12 as a mark, and read and decode the optical symbol.

It is explanatory drawing of the optical symbol in this Embodiment. 6 is a table showing correspondence between color transition and data in the present embodiment. It is a figure showing the table | surface which shows two types of options in this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the other optical symbol in this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which processed the optical symbol of FIG. These are three types of conversion tables representing how numbers and alphabets are converted. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship of the change direction of a color. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which produced the optical symbol 10 from "year2000". It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which prepared the conversion table of a different kind for every digit. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example showing "12345678" (decimal number). It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the optical symbol attached | subjected to the edge part of the envelope. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which the color of an endpoint cell and a directly adjacent cell appears repeatedly several times. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the optical symbol was attached | subjected to the transparent plastic case.

Explanation of symbols

10 Optical symbols 12 cells (component cells)
20 End cell 22 Directly adjacent cell 24 Indirectly adjacent cell 30 Space cell 32 Calibration cell

Claims (20)

  An optical symbol formed by arranging a plurality of cells, which are regions to which one color selected from n color groups is attached, in a line. Here, n is an integer of 3 or more. The optical symbol according to claim 1, wherein
The optical symbol, wherein the cells are arranged in a continuous, unbranched and non-crossing manner, and the colors of the adjacent cells are different. A plurality of cells, each of which is a region to which one color selected from n color groups is attached, are arranged in a line,
An optical symbol, wherein end cells each having a color other than the n colors are provided at both ends of the linear array. Here, n is an integer of 3 or more. The optical symbol according to claim 3,
An optical symbol, wherein a color of a first adjacent cell which is the cell adjacent to the end point cell is a predetermined color determined in advance from the color group of n colors. The optical symbol according to claim 4,
An optical symbol, wherein a color of a second adjacent cell adjacent to the first adjacent cell is a predetermined color determined in advance from the n color group. The optical symbol according to claim 1, wherein
An optical symbol, wherein all of the n colors are attached to a cell adjacent to the end point cell or a cell at a predetermined position near the end point cell. The decoding method for decoding an optical symbol according to claim 6,
A method for decoding an optical symbol, wherein a color assigned to the adjacent cell or the cell at the predetermined position is used for calibration of the color of the cell. The decoding method for decoding an optical symbol according to claim 6,
A method for decoding an optical symbol, wherein a color assigned to the adjacent cell or the cell at the predetermined position is used for calibration of a color difference between the cells. The method of decoding an optical symbol according to claim 7 or 8,
A tracking step of tracking the cell included in the optical symbol;
In the tracking step, the cell is tracked based on a color difference between a color attached to the end point cell and a color attached to the adjacent cell or the cell at the predetermined position. A method for decoding an optical symbol. The optical symbol according to claim 3,
An optical symbol characterized in that a color assigned to the end point cell or a similar color is assigned to a region other than the array of the cells. The article with the optical symbol according to claim 3,
An article to which an optical symbol is attached, characterized in that a color attached to the end point cell or a similar color is attached to a region other than the cell array. The article of claim 11,
An article characterized in that the color assigned to the end point cell or a similar color thereof is an achromatic color such as black or gray. A plurality of constituent cells, which are regions to which one color selected from the n color groups is attached, are arranged in a line,
An end-point cell in which colors other than the n colors are attached to both ends or one end of the linear array, and the constituent cells alternately appear twice or more. Here, n is an integer of 3 or more. The optical symbol according to claim 1, wherein a code represented by the cell is determined by a relationship between the cell and a color of an adjacent cell. The optical symbol according to claim 1, wherein a check, a notation, and the like are distinguished depending on how the cell code is expressed. The optical symbol according to claim 1, wherein
The optical symbol, wherein a color corresponding to an excessive light amount of a light source that illuminates the optical symbol is not included in the color group of n colors.   The article | item which attached | subjected the optical symbol of any one of Claims 1-6, or any one of Claims 13-16.   A code system using the optical symbol according to any one of claims 1 to 6, or any one of claims 13 to 16. In the method of decoding an optical symbol according to any one of claims 1 to 6, or any one of claims 13 to 16,
Photographing the optical symbol and obtaining image data of the optical symbol;
A step of searching for the end point cell of the start point and the end point from the image data;
Tracking the constituent cells provided between the end point cells based on the found two end point cells of the start point and end point;
Decoding the tracked constituent cells;
A method of decoding an optical symbol, comprising: In the method of attaching the optical symbol according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or any one of claims 13 to 16 to an article,
Creating the optical symbol based on the data to be recorded;
Attaching the created optical symbol to a predetermined article;
Including
The attaching step includes the step of printing the optical symbol on the article, the step of attaching the optical symbol to the article by embroidery, the step of attaching an adhesive seal depicting the optical symbol to the article, A method for attaching an optical symbol to an article, comprising any of the steps of: