JP2009080370A - Drawing pattern multiplexing apparatus, and drawing pattern multiplexing method, program and anisotropic reflecting medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drawing pattern multiplexing apparatus or the like used in production of an anisotropic reflection medium which is formed by aggregate of cells having anisotropic reflection characteristics and in which a plurality of drawing patterns are multiplexed. <P>SOLUTION: The drawing pattern multiplexing apparatus 1 forms cell group for each drawing pattern by a cell group forming means 23. Next, the drawing pattern multiplexing apparatus 1 projects the three-dimensional shape relating to the drawing pattern onto a projection plane by a normal information recording means 25, and records the elevation and azimuthal angle relating to the normal direction of each projected pixel as normal information. Then, the drawing pattern multiplexing apparatus 1 projects the vector relating to normal information onto a normal projection plane having the specific azimuthal angle for each drawing pattern by a normal information converting means 27. Next, the drawing pattern multiplexing apparatus 1 determines a grid angle for each pixel based on the converted normal information and creates artwork data expressing the irregularities of the cell groups included in all of the cell groups by an artwork data creation means 29. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a symbol multiplexing apparatus, a symbol multiplexing method, a program, and the anisotropic method used to manufacture an anisotropic reflective medium formed by a set of cells having anisotropic reflection characteristics and multiplexed with a plurality of symbols. The present invention relates to a reflective medium.

  Ordinary printed matter forms a color printed image using four colors of ink. And when printing an image of the subject, in order to effectively reproduce the stereoscopic effect of the subject, the shadows and highlights included in the image will be in an appropriate state in consideration of the lighting and orientation of the subject at the time of shooting. Pay close attention to. This is because, when observing an image printed on a plane, human vision recognizes the stereoscopic effect of the subject from shadows and highlights included in the image. However, lighting that effectively reproduces the three-dimensional effect of one part sacrifices the three-dimensional effect of another part. In ordinary printed matter, the three-dimensionality of the subject in a situation where the lighting and viewing direction are fixed. Only the feeling can be reproduced.

  On the other hand, a method has been proposed in which an image having anisotropic reflection characteristics that cause an anisotropic reflection phenomenon is materialized on a medium such as paper, plastic, or metal to express the stereoscopic effect of the image (for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 2). These methods express a change in the reflection of a three-dimensional shape using an anisotropic reflection phenomenon to express the stereoscopic effect of an image.

  The anisotropic reflection phenomenon is a phenomenon in which when a fine scratch with uniform orientation is made on the smooth surface of the medium, the light incident on the surface of the medium is strongly reflected in a direction other than the regular reflection direction. Say. Hereinafter, the property that causes the anisotropic reflection phenomenon is referred to as anisotropic reflection property. A medium having a surface on which an anisotropic reflection phenomenon occurs is referred to as an anisotropic reflection medium.

  In the method described in Patent Document 1, the entire screen is divided into fine cells, and the directions of the lines in each cell are determined based on the normal direction of the three-dimensional shape at the position corresponding to each cell. ing. By forming these lines on the medium, a three-dimensional reflection image can be obtained when the medium is observed. In Patent Document 1, a device is devised for observing the anisotropic reflection so as to change smoothly.

In the method described in Patent Document 2, the grating angle of the diffraction grating at each position is determined based on the normal direction of the three-dimensional shape. Then, by forming this diffraction grating on the medium, a diffraction grating medium in which the same stereoscopic effect is expressed can be obtained. Note that Patent Document 2 also describes a method of expressing a three-dimensional color by controlling the lattice pitch according to the color component in charge or controlling the lattice area according to the density value of the color component in charge. Yes.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-062604 Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-224965

  In the methods described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the reflection of a three-dimensional shape when the illumination direction changes in a specific direction under specific shooting conditions (excluding lighting) determined based on the production intention. The appearance can be reproduced on the medium. However, in the methods described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a change in the illumination direction when a single three-dimensional shape has a single shooting condition excluding lighting and a single light source in the illumination direction. It can only be expressed. Therefore, the visual effect is monotonous and the design is not necessarily high.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to produce an anisotropic reflective medium that is formed by a set of cells having anisotropic reflection characteristics and a plurality of symbols are multiplexed. It is to provide a symbol multiplexing device or the like to be used.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first invention is a symbol multiplexing apparatus used for manufacturing an anisotropic reflective medium formed by a set of cells having anisotropic reflection characteristics and multiplexed with a plurality of symbols. A cell group forming means for forming a cell group for each symbol; and a three-dimensional shape according to the symbol is projected onto a projection plane, and an elevation angle and an azimuth angle according to a normal direction of each projected pixel are normal. Normal information recording means for recording as information, and a vector related to the normal information is projected onto a normal projection plane having a specific azimuth for each symbol, and an elevation angle related to the projected vector is converted into normal information. Normal data conversion means for determining the grid angle for each pixel based on the conversion normal information, and creating block data that expresses the unevenness of the cell groups included in all cell groups Means Preparative a symbol multiplexer according to claim. By using the symbol multiplexing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to create block data used for the production of an anisotropic reflection medium in which a plurality of symbols are multiplexed.

  The cell group forming means in the first invention desirably forms a cell group so that cells according to a plurality of designs are evenly distributed on the anisotropic reflection medium. This makes it possible to reproduce a three-dimensional shape related to a plurality of designs on the anisotropic medium with substantially the same brightness.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the composition data creating means further determines a lattice pitch for each of the symbols. Thereby, for example, when a different lattice pitch is assigned to each symbol, it can be reproduced as different colors of light irradiated to a three-dimensional shape related to a plurality of symbols.

  A second invention is a symbol multiplexing method used for manufacturing an anisotropic reflection medium formed by a set of cells having anisotropic reflection characteristics, wherein a plurality of symbols are multiplexed. Forming a group; projecting a three-dimensional shape according to the design onto a projection plane; and recording an elevation angle and an azimuth angle in a normal direction of each projected pixel as normal information; and the normal information Projecting the vector related to the normal projection plane having a specific azimuth angle for each design, and using the elevation angle related to the projected vector as the conversion normal information, and for each pixel based on the conversion normal information And determining the lattice angle and creating block data representing the irregularities of the cell groups included in all the cell groups. By using the symbol multiplexing method according to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to create block data to be used for manufacturing an anisotropic reflective medium in which a plurality of symbols are multiplexed. It is also possible to provide block data created by the method according to the second invention through a telecommunication line.

  In the step of forming the cell group in the second invention, it is preferable that the cell group is formed so that cells according to a plurality of designs are evenly distributed on the anisotropic reflection medium. The effect of this is as described above in the description of the first invention.

  It is desirable that the step of creating the composition data in the second invention further determines a grid pitch for each of the symbols. The effect of this is as described above in the description of the first invention.

  The third invention is a program for causing a computer to function as the symbol multiplexing device of the first invention. By installing the program according to the third invention in a computer, the symbol multiplexing apparatus according to the first invention can be obtained.

  A fourth invention is an anisotropic reflection medium in which a set of cells is formed based on block data created by the symbol multiplexing method of the second invention, and a plurality of symbols are multiplexed. This anisotropic reflection medium has a special visual effect.

  A fifth invention is an anisotropic reflection medium formed by a set of cells having anisotropic reflection characteristics, in which a plurality of symbols are multiplexed, wherein a cell group is formed for each of the symbols, and a plurality of symbols is formed. The cell groups are formed so that the cells according to the above are evenly distributed on the anisotropic reflection medium, the lattice angle is determined for each pixel according to the design, and the lattice pitch is determined for each cell group. It is an anisotropic reflective medium characterized by being. Similar to the fourth invention, this anisotropic reflection medium has a special visual effect.

  The anisotropic reflection medium of the fourth invention or the fifth invention is, for example, a plurality of symbols multiplexed using normal projection planes having different azimuth angles. This anisotropic reflection medium reproduces the appearance of moving a plurality of illuminations in different directions.

  The anisotropic reflective medium according to the fourth or fifth invention is, for example, a plurality of symbols that are multiplexed using different grating pitches. This anisotropic reflection medium reproduces the appearance of moving a plurality of illuminations of different colors.

  The anisotropic reflective medium according to the fourth or fifth aspect has, for example, a three-dimensional shape in which a plurality of designs are different. This anisotropic reflection medium reproduces an unrealistic appearance by combining two different motifs.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a symbol multiplexing device or the like used for manufacturing an anisotropic reflective medium formed by a set of cells having anisotropic reflection characteristics and multiplexed with a plurality of symbols. And the anisotropic reflective medium produced using the design multiplexing apparatus etc. has a very high design property.

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

FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer that realizes a symbol multiplexing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the hardware configuration in FIG. 1 is an example, and various configurations can be adopted depending on the application and purpose.
In the symbol multiplexing apparatus 1, a control unit 3, a storage unit 5, a media input / output unit 7, a communication control unit 9, an input unit 11, a display unit 13, a peripheral device I / F unit 15, etc. are connected via a bus 17. Is done.

  The control unit 3 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like.

The CPU calls a program stored in the storage unit 5, ROM, recording medium, etc. to a work memory area on the RAM, executes it, drives and controls each device connected via the bus 17, and the symbol multiplexing device 1 The process described later (see FIG. 7 and the like) is realized.
The ROM is a non-volatile memory and permanently holds a computer boot program, a program such as BIOS, data, and the like.
The RAM is a volatile memory, and temporarily stores programs, data, and the like loaded from the storage unit 5, ROM, recording medium, and the like, and includes a work area used by the control unit 3 for performing various processes.

The storage unit 5 is an HDD (hard disk drive), and stores a program executed by the control unit 3, data necessary for program execution, an OS (operating system), and the like. As for the program, a control program corresponding to an OS (operating system) and an application program corresponding to processing described later are stored.
Each of these program codes is read by the control unit 3 as necessary, transferred to the RAM, read by the CPU, and executed as various means.

  The media input / output unit 7 (drive device) inputs / outputs data, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk drive, CD drive (-ROM, -R, -RW, etc.), DVD drive (-ROM, -R). , -RW, etc.) and media input / output devices such as MO drives.

  The communication control unit 9 includes a communication control device, a communication port, and the like, and is a communication interface that mediates communication between the computer and the network 19, and performs communication control between other computers via the network 19.

The input unit 11 inputs data and includes, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, and an input device such as a numeric keypad.
An operation instruction, an operation instruction, data input, and the like can be performed on the computer via the input unit 11.

  The display unit 13 includes a display device such as a CRT monitor and a liquid crystal panel, and a logic circuit (such as a video adapter) for realizing a video function of the computer in cooperation with the display device.

  The peripheral device I / F (interface) unit 15 is a port for connecting a peripheral device to the computer, and the computer transmits and receives data to and from the peripheral device via the peripheral device I / F unit 15. The peripheral device I / F unit 15 is configured by USB, IEEE 1394, RS-232C, or the like, and usually has a plurality of peripheral devices I / F. The connection form with the peripheral device may be wired or wireless.

  The bus 17 is a path that mediates transmission / reception of control signals, data signals, and the like between the devices.

Next, the meaning of terms used in the following description will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cell having anisotropic reflection characteristics.

  The anisotropic reflection medium is formed by, for example, a set of fine lattice cells 41. As shown in FIG. 4, the cell 41 has, for example, a square shape with 43 being the length of one side of the cell 41. The shape of the cell 41 is not limited to a square, but if it is a square, there is no particular problem.

  In the cell 41, a plurality of grid lines 45 shown in black are formed. The lattice lines 45 are parallel to each other according to the lattice angle 47 in the same cell 41. If 49 is the line width of the grid lines 45 and 51 is the interval between the grid lines 45, the length obtained by adding 49 and 51 is the grid pitch 53. In the finally produced anisotropic reflection medium, either the portion shown in black, that is, the lattice line 45, or the portion shown in white, that is, a portion other than the lattice line 45 may be formed in a convex shape. . In other words, the grid lines 45 may be convex, and other than the grid lines 45 may be concave, or the grid lines 45 may be concave and other than the grid lines 45 may be convex.

Next, a configuration for realizing the function of the symbol multiplexing device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of functions of the symbol multiplexing device 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of forming a cell group. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a normal vector N1 on the projection plane S1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating projection of the normal vector N1 onto the normal projection plane S2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the symbol multiplexing apparatus 1 includes a three-dimensional shape design unit 21, a cell group formation unit 23, a normal line information recording unit 25, a normal line information conversion unit 27, a composition data creation unit 29, and the like. .

  The three-dimensional shape design means 21 designs a three-dimensional shape related to a desired pattern to be reproduced on the surface of the anisotropic reflection medium. The three-dimensional shape design means 21 corresponds to a modeling function of CG (Computer Graphic) software that is generally commercially available. When a plurality of symbols to be multiplexed have different three-dimensional shapes, a three-dimensional shape is designed for each symbol.

  The cell group forming unit 23 forms a cell group for each symbol. Here, the cell group is a set of cells in charge of reproduction of a specific symbol.

FIG. 4 shows three types of cell group formation examples. The formation of the cell group is desirably performed so that cells according to a plurality of designs are evenly distributed on the anisotropic reflection medium. This makes it possible to reproduce a three-dimensional shape related to a plurality of designs on the anisotropic medium with substantially the same brightness. When two symbols are multiplexed, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (1), cells that are vertically or horizontally adjacent to each other are formed to belong to different cell groups. When three symbols are multiplexed, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (2), in a 3 × 3 cell group arbitrarily extracted (shown by a thick black line), there are 3 cells related to different cell groups. Form to be included one by one. When four symbols are multiplexed, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (3), in a 2 × 2 cell group arbitrarily extracted (shown by a thick black line), cells related to different cell groups are 1 Form to be included one by one.
Note that the cells related to a plurality of symbols do not necessarily need to be evenly distributed on the anisotropic reflection medium, and the ratio of the cells related to each symbol may be adjusted depending on the intention of the presentation. In this case, each symbol is reproduced with brightness according to the ratio of the number of cells related to each symbol. Even in this case, it is preferable that the distribution of cells belonging to a single cell group is not evenly distributed and is spatially uniform.

  The normal line information recording unit 25 projects the three-dimensional shape related to the design onto the projection plane, and records the elevation angle and the azimuth angle related to the normal direction of each projected pixel as normal line information. In general, in the CG production process, rendering is performed to create a final image from data created by modeling in consideration of lighting, camera conditions, and the like. In the conventional rendering, the luminance value of the RGB color component in each pixel is calculated. The normal line information recording unit 25 calculates the elevation angle and the azimuth angle in the normal direction of each projected pixel, and these are used as the normal line. Record as information.

  When the multiple symbols to be multiplexed have different three-dimensional shapes, the symbol multiplexing apparatus 1 records normal information on each symbol by the normal information recording means 25.

  The normal line information conversion unit 27 projects a vector related to normal line information onto a normal line projection plane having a specific azimuth angle for each symbol, and uses an elevation angle related to the projected vector as conversion normal line information. The conversion normal information is used when the lattice angle is determined by the composition data creating unit 29 described later. This is because in order to express the aspect of the reflection of the illumination light with respect to the three-dimensional shape on the surface of the anisotropic reflection medium, it is necessary to pass the normal information to the lattice angle by some method.

  The symbol multiplexing apparatus 1 converts normal line information for each of a plurality of symbols to be multiplexed by the normal line information converting means 27. That is, even when a plurality of symbols to be multiplexed have the same three-dimensional shape, normal information is converted using a normal projection plane having a specific azimuth for each symbol. However, the specific azimuth is not necessarily different for each symbol, but includes the same value.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the normal vector N1 is represented by an azimuth angle φ and an elevation angle k with respect to the coordinate system defined on the projection plane S1, starting from a point P on the projection plane S1. On the other hand, a vector having a direction indicated by a grating angle (hereinafter referred to as a “lattice direction vector”) is expressed only by an azimuth angle defined on the surface of the anisotropic reflection medium, and thus is normal. All the information related to the vector N1 cannot be inherited. Therefore, the normal vector information conversion unit 27 projects the normal vector N1 onto a predetermined azimuth angle (α in FIG. 6 described later) and reduces the dimension, thereby converting the information related to the normal vector N1 into a lattice direction vector. Inherit.

As shown in FIG. 6, the normal projection plane S2 is a new projection plane that is perpendicular to the projection plane S1 and is provided in the azimuth α direction. The normal line information conversion means 27 projects the normal vector N1 onto the normal line projection plane S2. The projected vector is a transformation normal vector N2. Then, the normal vector information conversion unit 27 calculates the elevation angle t of the conversion normal vector N2. The value of the elevation angle t is inherited to the lattice direction vector by the composition data creating means 29 described later. As shown in FIG. 6, the elevation angle t is defined by the angle formed between the reference line and the transformation normal vector N2 with reference to a line passing through P in S2 and perpendicular to S1 (t = 0 degree). To do.
Here, since the hidden surface of the three-dimensional shape is not projected, the direction of the normal vector N1 is always the direction of the table of the projection surface S1 when viewed from the point P. Therefore, the elevation angle t can take a range of 180 degrees (−90 degrees ≦ t ≦ 90 degrees).

The composition data creating means 29 determines a lattice angle for each pixel based on the conversion normal information for the cell group corresponding to the design, and expresses the unevenness of the cell group included in all the cell groups. Create data. Further, if necessary, the composition data creating means 29 further determines a lattice pitch for each symbol. For example, when different grid pitches are assigned for each design, it can be reproduced as different colors of light applied to a three-dimensional shape related to a plurality of designs.
As will be described later with reference to FIG. 7, the composition data creation means 29 is based on the information determined by the cell group formation means 23, the normal information recording means 25, the normal information conversion means 27, etc. Create data.

Next, the details of the operation of the symbol multiplexing device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the composition data creation process performed by the symbol multiplexing apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 7, after interactive processing with the user via the input unit 11 and the display unit 13 is performed and the 3D shape design unit 21 designs the 3D shape (S101), the control unit 3, a cell group is formed by the cell group forming means 23 (S 102).

  Next, the control unit 3 selects a cell group (S103), and projects a three-dimensional shape related to the design handled by the selected cell group onto the projection plane (S104).

Next, the control unit 3 records the elevation angle and azimuth angle of the normal direction of each pixel of the three-dimensional shape projected in S104 as normal information by the normal information recording unit 25 (S105). Then, the control unit 3 determines the azimuth angle of the normal projection plane (S106), and projects the vector related to the normal information on the normal projection plane having a specific azimuth angle by the normal information conversion means 27. The elevation angle related to the projected vector is used as the transformation normal information (S107).
The azimuth angle of the normal projection plane according to S106 may be a value designated by the user via the input unit 11, or may be a value stored as a default value in the storage unit 5.

  Next, the control unit 3 determines a lattice pitch (S108). The lattice pitch may be a value designated by the user via the input unit 11 or may be a value stored in the storage unit 5 as a default value. The lattice pitch may be the same value for each cell group or may be different.

  Next, the control unit 3 selects a cell included in the cell group selected in S103 (S109). For the selection of cells, for example, an ID is assigned to a set of cells expressed in the composition data, and the cells are selected in ascending order of the IDs.

  Next, the control unit 3 determines the lattice angle of the cell selected in S108 (S110). The lattice angle relates to the pixel corresponding to the cell, and is determined based on the conversion normal information in S107.

Next, the control part 3 confirms whether the process was complete | finished about all the cells (S111).
If the process has not been completed, the process is repeated from S109 (No in S111).
If the process has been completed, the process proceeds to S112 (Yes in S111).

Next, the control part 3 confirms whether the process was complete | finished about all the cell groups (S112).
If the process has not been completed, the process is repeated from S103 (No in S112).
When the process is finished, the process proceeds to S113 (Yes in S112).

Next, the control unit 3 creates composition data (S113). Specifically, based on the lattice pitch determined in S108, the lattice angle determined in S110, and the like, the control unit 3 generates, for example, binary data indicating the lattice lines in black and the portions other than the lattice lines in white. create.
As described above, the symbol multiplexing apparatus 1 creates block data used for producing an anisotropic reflective medium.

Next, a manufacturing process of the anisotropic reflection medium will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of the anisotropic reflection medium.
As shown in FIG. 8, the anisotropic reflection medium production process includes a block data production process in S201, an original production process in S202, and a medium production process in S203.

  In the composition data creation step, composition data is created using the symbol multiplexing device 1 described above. Details are as described above.

  In the composition data creation step, the lattice pitch related to the corresponding cell is determined for each design. Further, in the composition data creation step, the line width of the lattice lines and the interval between the lattice lines are determined based on the determined lattice pitch. Here, depending on the method of forming irregularities in the original plate production process and the medium production process, which will be described later, the irregularities are not necessarily formed as expressed in the block data. For example, when the grid line portion is formed in a convex shape, the width of the formed convex portion becomes wider than the line width of the grid line expressed in the composition data, or vice versa. It may end up. Therefore, in the block data creation process, in consideration of the formation method of the unevenness in the original plate production process and the medium production process, the line width of the lattice lines and the distance between the lattice lines in the finally produced anisotropic reflection medium are For example, the composition data is created so as to have substantially the same length.

In the original production process, an original corresponding to the medium production process is produced based on the original data created in the original data production process.
As a method for forming the unevenness expressed in the block data on the original, an embossed original can be obtained by forming a photoresist by photolithography and performing etching or cutting with an NC machine tool. When a diffraction grating is used, there are a method using two-beam interference, a grating plot method, a method using an electron beam drawing apparatus, and the like. Among these, since the cell drawing accuracy is high and noise is low, an electron beam drawing apparatus is preferably used.

In the medium production process, an anisotropic reflection medium is produced using the original produced in the original production process.
In the medium production process, an apparatus for transferring the unevenness formed on the original plate to a substrate such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), an apparatus for depositing a reflective layer on the unevenness, an apparatus for applying an adhesive or an adhesive, and the like are used.

Next, examples according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first appearance of the anisotropic reflection medium in which two symbols are multiplexed. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second appearance of the anisotropic reflection medium in which two symbols are multiplexed. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a third appearance of the anisotropic reflection medium in which two symbols are multiplexed. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a fourth appearance of the anisotropic reflective medium in which two symbols are multiplexed.

  9 to 12 show normal projection planes N2 (see FIG. 6) having different azimuth angles α for each cell group corresponding to each symbol for two symbols related to a sphere having the same three-dimensional shape. The anisotropic reflective medium multiplexed using is shown. As can be seen from continuous observation of FIGS. 9 to 12, when the normal projection plane N2 having different azimuth angles α is multiplexed, a plurality of illuminations are moved in different directions with respect to the sphere. The appearance was reproduced. The observed three-dimensional shape is not the original sphere, but has been recognized as a complicated shape that cannot actually exist. As described above, by multiplexing the two designs according to the present embodiment, an anisotropic reflection medium having a special visual effect can be manufactured.

  In addition, although not shown, anisotropic reflections are multiplexed using two different lattice pitches for each cell group corresponding to each symbol for two symbols related to the same three-dimensional sphere. A medium was also made. When such an anisotropic reflective medium was observed while relatively changing the direction of incident light and the observation direction, the appearance of moving a plurality of illuminations of different colors was reproduced. That is, it was recognized that light of different colors moved.

  Although not shown, the normal projection plane S2 (see FIG. 6) having a different azimuth angle α for each cell group corresponding to each symbol is used, and is different for each cell group corresponding to each symbol. An anisotropic reflection medium multiplexed with a grating pitch was also produced. When such an anisotropic reflective medium is observed while relatively changing the direction of incident light and the direction of observation, it looks like a plurality of illuminations of different colors are moved in different directions. It was reproduced. That is, it was recognized that light of different colors moves in different directions with respect to the sphere.

  In addition, although not shown in the figure, an anisotropic reflection medium multiplexed according to the present embodiment on a sphere design and a Virgin Mary image design was also produced. When such an anisotropic reflective medium was observed while relatively changing the direction of incident light and the direction of observation, two different motifs intermingled and the unrealistic appearance was reproduced. In particular, a mysterious design expression that cannot be assumed from the prior art has become possible, such as the observation of a Virgin Mary image that appears in a sphere.

  As described above, the symbol multiplexing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention forms a cell group for each symbol. Next, the symbol multiplexing apparatus 1 projects the three-dimensional shape related to the symbol onto the projection plane, and records the elevation angle and azimuth angle in the normal direction of each projected pixel as normal information. Next, the symbol multiplexing apparatus 1 projects a vector related to normal vector information onto a normal projection plane having a specific azimuth for each symbol, and uses the elevation angle related to the projected vector as conversion normal vector information. Next, the symbol multiplexing apparatus 1 determines a lattice angle for each pixel based on the conversion normal information, and creates composition data representing the unevenness of the cell groups included in all the cell groups.

  Then, a plurality of designs are obtained by performing an original plate making process for producing an original plate based on the produced block data, and a medium producing process for producing an anisotropic reflective medium using the original plate produced in the original plate producing process. Is produced.

  The preferred embodiments of the symbol multiplexing device and the like according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

Hardware configuration diagram of a computer realizing the symbol multiplexing apparatus 1 The figure which shows an example of the cell which has an anisotropic reflective characteristic The block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the function of the symbol multiplexing apparatus 1 The figure which shows the formation example of a cell group The figure which shows the normal vector N1 on projection surface S1 The figure which shows projection to normal projection plane S2 of normal vector N1 The flowchart which shows the flow of the composition data creation process which the symbol multiplexing apparatus 1 performs The figure which shows the manufacturing process of an anisotropic reflective medium The figure which shows the 1st appearance of the anisotropic reflective medium which multiplexed two designs The figure which shows the 2nd appearance of the anisotropic reflective medium which multiplexed two designs The figure which shows the 3rd appearance of the anisotropic reflective medium which multiplexed two designs The figure which shows the 4th appearance of the anisotropic reflective medium which multiplexed two designs

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ......... Symbol multiplexing apparatus 3 ......... Control part 5 ......... Storage part 7 ......... Media input / output part 9 ......... Communication control part 11 ......... Input part 13 ......... Display part 15 ... ... Peripheral device I / F unit 17 ......... Bus 19 ... ... Network 21 ... ... Three-dimensional shape design means 23 ... ... Cell group forming means 25 ... ... Normal information recording means 27 ... ... Normal information Conversion means 29... Composition data creation means 41... Cell 43... Length of one side of cell 41 45... Grid line 47... Grid angle 49. ......... Spacing between grid lines 45 53 ....... Grid pitch

Claims (12)

A symbol multiplexing device that is formed by a set of cells having anisotropic reflection characteristics and is used for manufacturing an anisotropic reflective medium in which a plurality of symbols are multiplexed,
Cell group forming means for forming a cell group for each symbol;
Normal line information recording means for projecting the three-dimensional shape according to the pattern onto a projection plane and recording the elevation angle and the azimuth angle according to the normal line direction of each projected pixel as normal line information;
Normal vector information conversion means for projecting the vector related to the normal information onto a normal projection plane having a specific azimuth for each of the symbols, and using the elevation angle related to the projected vector as conversion normal information;
A composition data creating means for determining a lattice angle for each pixel based on the conversion normal information and creating composition data expressing the irregularities of the cell groups included in all the cell groups;
The symbol multiplexing apparatus characterized by comprising.   2. The symbol multiplexing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cell group forming means forms a cell group so that cells related to a plurality of symbols are evenly distributed on the anisotropic reflection medium. .   3. The symbol multiplexing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composition data creating unit further determines a lattice pitch for each symbol. 4. A symbol multiplexing method used for producing an anisotropic reflective medium formed by a set of cells having anisotropic reflection characteristics, wherein a plurality of symbols are multiplexed,
Forming a cell group for each symbol;
Projecting a three-dimensional shape according to the design onto a projection plane, and recording the elevation angle and azimuth angle in the normal direction of each projected pixel as normal information;
Projecting a vector related to the normal information onto a normal projection plane having a specific azimuth for each of the symbols, and setting an elevation angle related to the projected vector as converted normal information;
Determining a lattice angle for each pixel based on the conversion normal information, and creating composition data expressing the irregularities of the cell groups included in all the cell groups;
The symbol multiplexing method characterized by including.   5. The symbol multiplexing according to claim 4, wherein the step of forming the cell group forms the cell group so that cells according to a plurality of symbols are evenly distributed on the anisotropic reflection medium. Method.   6. The symbol multiplexing method according to claim 4, wherein the step of creating the composition data further determines a lattice pitch for each symbol.   The program which makes a computer function as a symbol multiplexing apparatus in any one of Claims 1-3.   An anisotropic reflective medium in which a set of cells is formed and a plurality of symbols are multiplexed based on the composition data created by the symbol multiplexing method according to any one of claims 4 to 6. An anisotropic reflection medium formed by a set of cells having anisotropic reflection characteristics, in which a plurality of patterns are multiplexed,
A cell group is formed for each of the symbols, the cell groups are formed so that cells according to a plurality of symbols are uniformly distributed on the anisotropic reflection medium, and a lattice angle is determined for each pixel according to the symbol, An anisotropic reflection medium, wherein a lattice pitch is determined for each cell group.   The anisotropic reflective medium according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a plurality of designs are multiplexed using normal projection planes having different azimuth angles.   The anisotropic reflection medium according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a plurality of designs are multiplexed using different grating pitches.   The anisotropic reflective medium according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of designs have different three-dimensional shapes.