JP2020080068A - Two-dimensional marker, two-dimensional marker recognition processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a two-dimensional marker and a two-dimensional marker recognition processing system capable of increasing the amount of information without narrowing the visible range by a camera.SOLUTION: A two-dimensional marker (1), in which rectangular pattern blocks are printed in a mosaic pattern to form a display area, comprises: a main display area (4) that retains and displays main information while giving priority to visibility; and sub display areas (2, 3) that retain and display supplementary information while giving priority to information density per unit area. A two-dimensional marker recognition processing system comprises: a two-dimensional marker position detection unit that estimates a marker position from a drawing form of the two-dimensional marker (1) in imaging information and outputs it to an input and output unit; a flow line configuration unit that outputs a history of the marker position estimated by the two-dimensional marker position detection unit to the input and output unit so as to be drawn as a flow line; and a two-dimensional marker information reading unit that reads the information retained and displayed in the mosaic pattern in the imaging information and outputs the information to the input and output unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a two-dimensional marker and a two-dimensional marker recognition processing system, and more particularly to a two-dimensional marker and a two-dimensional marker recognition processing system that are easily visible even if the information density is increased.

  Bar codes are often used to manage products and goods. This bar code is an identifier that represents a numerical value or a character by the thickness of a striped line. As the identifier, that is, management information, information such as numbers, characters, and symbols is converted into a one-dimensional code according to a certain rule, and can be input/output as digital information that is easy to read by a machine such as a register.

  This bar code has a functional restriction, and it cannot be read unless the margins on the left and right of the bar code symbol, that is, the area of the quiet zone (hereinafter, also referred to as "non-display area") is sufficiently secured. As a matter of fact, the quiet zone requires an area of 10 times or more the narrow bar width (minimum element).

  If this quiet zone is not secured sufficiently, reading will be unstable. As a similar restriction, it is necessary to secure a predetermined height for printing the barcode. If the height is too low, the laser beam may deviate from the bar code, and stable reading may not be possible. In fact, it is necessary to secure at least 15% of the bar code length.

  The bar code is called a one-dimensional code because it holds and displays information only in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, the two-dimensional code is a display type code capable of holding and expanding information in the horizontal and vertical directions. There are two types of two-dimensional codes. That is, there are two types: a matrix type (matrix code) in which small squares are arranged vertically and horizontally, and a stack type (stack code) in which a plurality of one-dimensional barcodes are vertically stacked. Here, only the matrix code is taken as a two-dimensional code.

  This two-dimensional code is a so-called QR code (registered trademark) and has first to third advantages. First, data can be quickly acquired by reading the mosaic pattern of the square mark with a terminal such as a mobile phone. Second, it's free and easy to create. Thirdly, it has an advantage that the information density per unit area is higher than that of the bar code, and if the data to be coded is the same, the printing and display area becomes smaller. Due to these characteristics, the two-dimensional code has become an indispensable existence even at the entrance of the airport and the manufacturer's display of parts.

  On the other hand, in a store, a factory, a warehouse, etc., a flow line analysis is known in which the movement of a person or an article and a transportation means for the article is traced (hereinafter, also referred to as “trace”) to improve efficiency. For example, in a factory where many personnel are assigned, a marker is attached to the target person from the viewpoint of efficiency, the marker is tracked by an electromagnetic capturing means such as a beacon, and if the tracking data is used to analyze the flow line. It is also known that a predetermined purpose can be achieved.

  In order to achieve such a predetermined purpose, if visual information acquisition (hereinafter also referred to as “imaging” or “visual recognition”) by a camera is used without using a beacon or the like, the object in the captured image is It is difficult to detect the position and identify the type by using the color and shape of the cue as a clue. For example, a face authentication system that manages an unspecified large number of persons involves the difficulty that a camera and a large-scale computer system that can clearly capture the face of a subject at a predetermined angle are indispensable.

  If the face recognition system that manages an unspecified large number of people is sufficient as described above, such a difficulty can be avoided. That is, if a two-dimensional marker designed in advance so that the location of the target person can be easily captured and tracked and that the type can be easily identified can be attached to the object to be managed, a significantly simpler system can be used. Can also achieve the purpose of flow line analysis.

  Especially, in a large business site, etc., it is necessary to keep track of whereabouts of important persons such as managers/supervisors. It is also possible to identify a specific person to whom a marker is attached and always grasp it. In order to track the marker, instead of the above-mentioned beacon or the like, a camera installed on the ceiling constantly photographs the management target, and the image pickup information is processed by a relatively simple computer system. It is possible to always grasp.

  The two-dimensional marker described below includes a position detection marker and an information marker for embedding information. The information marker is generally formed by arranging square blocks (hereinafter, referred to as “pattern blocks”) having a plurality of colors (mostly white and black), and represents the information by the difference in the arrangement. In order to increase the amount of information without changing the size of the two-dimensional marker, if the size of the block is made small and precise, the amount of information that can be embedded in the two-dimensional marker having the same area can be increased.

  However, if the camera having the same resolution is used to obtain the imaging information, the more detailed the mosaic pattern, the larger the size of the two-dimensional marker must be captured. This is a disadvantage that the two-dimensional marker and the camera cannot be separated. Further, as the camera angle for photographing is inclined from the front, the resolution deteriorates and it becomes difficult to collect information from the mosaic pattern. Therefore, there has been a demand for a two-dimensional marker that can increase the amount of information that can be displayed while maintaining the visible range that can be recognized by the camera.

JP, 2004-78351, A

  Patent Document 1 discloses a method capable of increasing the amount of information by switching the displayed information marker at each time. Since the size of the two-dimensional marker does not change, the distance at which the two-dimensional marker can be recognized does not change. However, there is a problem that, for example, a small liquid crystal display is required to switch and display at each time, which cannot be realized by a normal printed matter.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its object is to be simple and static as if printed on paper, and to hold and display without narrowing the viewing range by the camera. It is to provide a two-dimensional marker capable of increasing the amount of information.

  The present invention according to claim 1 is a two-dimensional marker having a display area for holding and displaying information, in which rectangular pattern blocks that can be visually recognized in different shades for identifying management targets are printed in different mosaic patterns. The display area has a main display area for holding and displaying main information with priority on visibility, and a sub-display area for holding and displaying supplementary information with priority on information density per unit area. It is a thing.

  According to the invention of claim 1, the visibility is preferentially set in the main display area, so that the main information can be visually recognized with relatively high reliability even for a camera that takes an image from a diagonal direction at a considerable distance. .. Further, since the information density per unit area is preferentially set in the sub display area, more supplementary information can be held and displayed instead of reducing the reliability. In this way, by combining two types of information transmission performance depending on the importance of information to be held and displayed, the size of the two-dimensional marker can be increased by using the static two-dimensional marker as if printed on paper. The amount of information can be increased without changing the size. As a result, it is possible to provide a two-dimensional marker that can increase the amount of information that can be displayed while maintaining the visible range by the camera.

  The invention according to claim 9 is a two-dimensional marker recognition processing system for recognizing the managed object by processing imaging information of a managed object with the two-dimensional marker according to claim 1 imaged by a camera, The computer has an arithmetic processing unit, a storage unit, and a predetermined program stored in the storage unit, and the arithmetic processing unit executes the program, thereby the two-dimensional image in the imaging information. A two-dimensional marker position detection unit that estimates the marker position from the drawing form of the marker and outputs it to the input/output unit, and reads the information held and displayed in the mosaic pattern in the imaging information and outputs it to the input/output unit. It is a system that forms a two-dimensional marker information reading unit and a flow line forming unit that outputs the history of the marker position estimated by the two-dimensional marker position detection unit to the input/output unit so as to draw the history of the marker position on the flow line.

  According to the invention of claim 9, the two-dimensional marker position detection unit estimates the marker position from the depiction form of the two-dimensional marker in the imaging information. The estimated marker position is output to the input/output unit so that the flow line constituent unit draws a history as a flow line. On the other hand, the two-dimensional marker information reading unit reads the information held and displayed in the mosaic pattern in the imaging information and outputs it to the input/output unit.

  It is possible to provide a two-dimensional marker that is simple and static as if printed on paper, and that can hold the viewing range of the camera without narrowing it and increase the amount of information that can be displayed.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 1 of the two-dimensional marker according to the first embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the usage example of the two-dimensional marker of FIG. It is a top view which shows the example 1 of arrangement|positioning of the periphery vicinity in the two-dimensional marker of FIG. It is a top view which shows the example 2 of arrangement in a two-dimensional marker with a different outline. It is a top view showing other example 3 of arrangement in a two-dimensional marker which has a different external shape. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a person position identifying system to which the two-dimensional markers of FIGS. 1 to 5 are applied. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing functions and the like of a computer used in the person position identifying system of FIG. 6. It is a figure which shows the worker management table used with the person position identification system of FIG. 11 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 4 of the two-dimensional marker according to the second embodiment. FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 4 near the periphery of the two-dimensional marker of FIG. 9. It is a figure which shows the 2nd operator management table. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 5 of the two-dimensional marker according to the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 5 near the periphery of the two-dimensional marker of FIG. 12. FIG. 16 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 6 of the two-dimensional marker according to the fourth embodiment. It is a top view showing example 6 of arrangement of the neighborhood of a two-dimensional marker.

  Examples 1 to 4 exemplifying embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In addition, Arrangement Examples 1 to 3 will be illustrated by Example 1 using FIGS. 1 to 5. 1 to 3 show an arrangement example 1, FIG. 4 shows another arrangement example 2, and FIG. 5 shows another arrangement example 3. In addition, Arrangement Example 4 will be illustrated by Example 2 using FIGS. 9 and 10. Also, an arrangement example 5 will be illustrated by the third embodiment using FIGS. 12 and 13. In addition, an arrangement example 6 will be illustrated by the fourth embodiment using FIGS. 14 and 15.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an arrangement example 1 of each information in the two-dimensional marker according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the two-dimensional marker 1, first, a region 4 in which a position detecting marker is arranged is set. Even if the set area 4 is rectangular, the shape of the entire two-dimensional marker 1 does not have to be rectangular, and may be a parallelogram or a pentagon described later with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The position detection marker area 4 is the main display area 4 in the present invention, and will be described with the same reference numeral 4.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of using the two-dimensional marker shown in FIG. A circular shape is suitable when the two-dimensional marker 1 is attached to the top surface of the cap 5, as shown in FIG. This is a typical example in which the person 10 wearing the hat 5 is the management target 10 (identical reference numeral), as will be described later with reference to FIG.

  On the other hand, a square is generally used as the position detecting marker. This is, for example, the method of Kato et al. (H. Kato and M. Billinghurst, “Marker tracking and hmd calibration for a vIDeo-based augmented reality conferencing system,” in 2nd IEEE and ACM International Workshop on Augmented Reality, 1999.(IWAR' 99), 1999, pp. 85-94.), because the detection method has been established.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, when the position detection marker region 4 is arranged at the center of the circular two-dimensional marker 1 in such a positional relationship that the centers thereof are aligned with each other, a thick frame-like border (hereinafter , Which is also referred to as a “surrounding frame”) has a blank space inside and outside the position detection marker region 4. Since this margin is relatively narrow, it is not possible to set an area having the same size and shape as the position detection marker area 4, and if it is left as it is, it tends to become a dead space.

  However, a more precise inner display area 2 can be provided inside the surrounding frame, that is, in the display area provided inside the position detection marker 6 (FIG. 3). Similarly, a more precise outer display area 3 can be set in the display area provided outside the surrounding frame, that is, outside the position detection marker 6.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 1 near the periphery of the two-dimensional marker shown in FIG. As shown by contrasting FIGS. 1 and 3, the two-dimensional marker 1 has position detecting markers 6 arranged in its position detecting marker region 4. An inner marker 7 (FIG. 3) is arranged in the inner display area 2 (FIG. 1). Similarly, the outer marker 8 (FIG. 3) is arranged in the outer display area 3 (FIG. 1).

  The position detecting marker 6 is made of, for example, a single black color, and the inner marker 7 and the outer marker 8 are made of, for example, square pattern blocks that are painted in white and black. The color of the position detection marker 6 is not limited to black and may be different from the background color of the two-dimensional marker 1. Further, the colors of the pattern blocks forming the inner marker 7 and the outer marker 8 are not limited to white and black, and may be a plurality of colors different from the background color of the two-dimensional marker 1. Note that it is preferable that these are drawn with a large contrast and a strong contrast so that they can be clearly binarized.

  As can be seen from FIG. 3, the two-dimensional marker 1 has more information that can be held by the outer marker 8. That is, the inner marker 7 can hold information for 9 blocks. Similarly, the outer marker 8 can hold information for 12 blocks.

  When white and black pattern blocks are used, since one block has 1-bit numerical information, the inner marker 7 and the outer marker 8 can have a total of 21-bit numerical information. Actually, there is a processing load for identifying the case where the rotation is performed by 90 degrees in four directions. Here, for example, any one of the four corners of the pattern block of the inner marker 7 is specified and referred to as a detent mark. Be sure to fix the detent mark to white and the other to black. In this case, the numerical information is reduced by 17 bits by 4 bits.

  With this detent mark, it is easy to avoid a place where the information is misread by another information of another mark even if the information is the same information of the same mark but is simply rotating. That is, in order to avoid this erroneous reading, it is possible to reduce the place where a considerable calculation processing load is required, to the extent of determining which position of the two-dimensional marker the position of the detent mark is.

  For the sake of convenience of description, the above-described rotation stop mark is fixed to the upper left of the center of the two-dimensional marker 1 shown in FIG. If this FIG. 3 is rotated by 90 degrees in four directions, four cases can be created, so that corresponding information can be added. However, in a case where the use described later with reference to FIG. 6 is assumed, it is almost up to the person in question which direction the subject 10 faces in the north, south, east, and west directions in the imaging information obtained by looking down the subject 10 from above. Is.

  In such a case, it is possible to identify that the target person 10 is the same person if the imaging information is processed to be rotated by software regardless of whether or not there is the above-described detent mark. Regardless of whether the position is above, below, left or right, it is recognized as the same by the arithmetic processing of the computer 12 which will be described later with reference to FIG. In the fingerprint collating device, even if the fingerprints of the same finger are rotated up, down, left and right, it is possible to identify the fingerprints of the same person by the software. However, as described above, a considerable calculation processing load is required every time.

  Note that if the object is a management object that does not rotate, the position of the detent mark may be changed to increase the number of bits by 4 bits, or the processing load for determining the rotation may be reduced. For example, in the case of a management target that moves on a belt conveyor, rotation determination is not necessary because it does not rotate.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 2 of two-dimensional markers having different outer shapes. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another arrangement example 3 of two-dimensional markers having different outer shapes. It will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 that the two-dimensional marker 1 does not have to be circular. FIG. 4 shows a case where the two-dimensional marker 1 is a parallelogram, and FIG. 5 shows a case where the two-dimensional marker 1 is a pentagon. In either case, in the two-dimensional marker 1, since a margin is generated outside the position detection marker area 4, the outer display area 3 is arranged as shown in Arrangement Example 2 of FIG. 4 and Arrangement Example 3 of FIG. can do.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a person position identifying system to which the two-dimensional markers of FIGS. 1 to 5 are applied. As shown in FIG. 6, the person position specifying system is a system that detects a position where a specific person 10 is located as an application example of the two-dimensional marker 1. Here, the person 10 is wearing the hat 5 to which the two-dimensional marker 1 is attached. This person position specifying system includes a camera 11, a computer 12, and a display device 13.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing functions and the like of a computer used in the person position identifying system of FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, by executing predetermined software (program) in the computer 12, each function for realizing the purpose of specifying the position of the person is formed. That is, in the computer 12, an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) (not shown) reads out and executes a predetermined program stored in the storage device 17, so that the two-dimensional marker position detection unit 14 and the two-dimensional marker information reading unit. 15 and a flow line forming portion 16 are formed.

  The two-dimensional marker position detection unit 14 detects the position of the two-dimensional marker 1, that is, the position of the person 10 by the method shown in the method of Kato et al. Since the two-dimensional marker information reading unit 15 can specify the range of the inner marker 2 and the outer display area 3 based on the detected position, the corresponding numerical values can be obtained from the arrangement of the pattern blocks of the inner marker 7 and the outer marker 8. You can get information. The flow line configuration unit 16 forms a flow line by connecting the positions of the two-dimensional markers having the same numerical information in time series.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a worker management table used in the person position identifying system of FIG. The worker management table 18 shown in FIG. 8 is stored in the storage device 17. The worker management table 18 includes numerical information held and displayed by the two-dimensional marker 1, a person 10 wearing a hat 5 to which the two-dimensional marker 1 is attached, a role ID indicating the role of the person 10, and the like. The relationship with the worker ID for uniquely identifying the worker is held. The role ID identifies a role such as a person in charge of actual work, a supervisor, and a maintenance person. By using this table, it is possible to know which person 10 has the detected flow line.

  The configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 4 of the two-dimensional marker according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 4 near the periphery of the two-dimensional marker shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, a fine outer display region 19 is provided, which is different from the first embodiment.

  In the fine type outer display area 19, a fine type outer marker 20 composed of a pattern block having a smaller grain size than the pattern block used in the inner display area 2 is arranged. This is effective when the area outside the position detection marker area 4 is small in the two-dimensional marker 1 and a pattern block having the same size as the pattern block used in the inner display area 2 cannot be arranged.

  Conversely speaking, since the size of the position detection marker region 4 can be maximized within the range that fits in the two-dimensional marker 1, the managed object 10 with the two-dimensional marker 1 is far from the camera 11. However, it becomes easier to detect the position detection marker area 4. However, in this case, when the distance between the camera 11 and the two-dimensional marker 1 is long, the numerical information of the inner marker 7 can be read, but the numerical information of the fine outer marker 20 cannot be read.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a second worker management table. As shown in FIG. 11, the role ID is associated with the numerical information of the inner marker 7 of the second worker management table 17. If there is only one person in each role in a limited area where one camera 11 can take an image, the inner marker 7 having the same information is assigned to a plurality of persons in duplicate. It will not be done. In other words, a small number of bits is enough.

  Therefore, the flow line configuration unit 16 can form a flow line by connecting the positions of the two-dimensional markers 1 including the inner markers 7 having the same numerical value information in time series. After that, if the numerical information of the fine outer marker 20 can be read at any timing, the worker ID shown in the second worker management table 21 can be associated with the corresponding flow line.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 5 of the two-dimensional marker according to the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 5 near the periphery of the two-dimensional marker shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a configuration in which both the outer display region 3 and the fine type outer display region 19 are used may be considered. The arrangement of the inner marker 7, the outer marker 8, and the fine outer marker 20 in this case is shown in FIG. In this case, when the distance from the camera 11 is long, the numerical information of the inner marker 7 and the outer marker 8 can be read, and the numerical information of the fine outer marker 20 cannot be read.

  Even so, the amount of unreadable information can be somewhat reduced as compared with the case of the second embodiment. However, since the outer display area 3 is necessary, the pattern blocks of the inner marker 7 and the outer marker 8 (FIG. 3) are smaller than those in the second embodiment, and it can be read that the conditions such as the distance to the camera 11 and the angle are not improved. There is a tradeoff that is not.

  The configuration of the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 6 of the two-dimensional marker according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 15 is a plan view showing Arrangement Example 6 near the periphery of the two-dimensional marker. As shown in FIG. 14, in the fine mold inner display area 22, a fine mold inner marker 23 (FIG. 15) composed of a pattern block of smaller grains is arranged. Although the pattern blocks of the inner marker 7 (FIG. 3) are reduced, the two-dimensional marker 1 as a whole can hold and display more numerical information as compared with the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, the main points of the present invention will be described with reference to the claims.
[1] The two-dimensional marker 1 is a sheet-like identifier in which display patterns for holding and displaying information are formed by printing dark and light visible rectangular pattern blocks in different mosaic patterns. The two-dimensional marker 1 can identify the management target 10 (FIG. 6) according to the difference in the mosaic pattern. As shown in FIG. 1, the display area includes a main display area 4 and sub display areas 2 and 3. Since the main display area 4 is the position detection marker area 4, the main display area 4 holds and displays the main information whose visibility is prioritized. The sub display areas 2 and 3 hold and display the supplementary information by giving priority to the information density per unit area.

  Since the visibility of the main display area 4 is preferentially set, the main information can be visually recognized with relatively high reliability even from a camera 11 in a distant and oblique direction in which imaging conditions are considerably poor. In addition, since the information density per unit area is preferentially set in the sub-display areas 2 and 3, more supplementary information can be held and displayed instead of reducing the reliability.

  In this way, by combining two types of information transmission performance depending on the importance of information to be held and displayed, it is possible to increase the amount of information that can be held and displayed without narrowing the visible range of the camera 11. The dimensional marker 1 can be provided. Moreover, the two-dimensional marker 1 is simple and static because it can be used in a form in which a sheet body, for example, a sticker printed on paper or the like is attached to the management target 10 (FIGS. 2 and 5). The static means that a driving power source or a driving device such as a display device is not necessary, and the function of retaining and displaying information can be maintained and continuously exhibited.

[2] Further, it is preferable that the main display area 4 of the two-dimensional marker has a larger pattern block area than the sub display areas 19 and 22. Since the main display area 4 of such a form has a large area of the pattern block and has good visibility, the main information of the main display area 4 can be visually recognized with high reliability even from a camera located at a far distance and in an oblique direction. On the contrary, the supplementary information in the sub-display areas 19 and 22 can hold and display more information at the cost of compromising reliability.

[3] Further, in the main display area 4 of the two-dimensional marker, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 15, it is preferable that two or more points of the outer shape projecting edges forming the maximum diagonal of the mosaic pattern are in contact with the outer circumference of the display area. The main display area 4 having such a form can be effectively used by contacting the contour of the mosaic pattern up to the maximum outer circumference of the display area. As a result, a large occupied area can be secured in the main display area 4, so that the visibility is improved and the information can be read with high reliability.

[4] Further, the mosaic pattern of the two-dimensional marker is preferably composed of a combination of two types of pattern blocks 7, 23 (FIG. 15)/8, 20 (FIG. 13) having different sizes. In particular, if the two-dimensional marker 1 has a circular display area, the white background portion other than the main display area 4 has an irregular shape and is narrow, resulting in wasted dead space. However, the sub-display areas 2 and 3 are minutely configured with a mosaic pattern of two types of pattern blocks 7, 8, 20, and 23, which are large and small, including small grains. The mosaic pattern is easy to flexibly fit along the outer shape of the narrow display area left at the half end. Therefore, since the sub-display areas 19 and 22 can be formed and used effectively in places where dead spaces are likely to occur, it is possible to increase the amount of information that can be held and displayed.

[5] Further, the main display area 4 of the two-dimensional marker is set by occupying the center of the display area, that is, substantially the center of the two-dimensional marker 1, and the sub-display area 3 is set to the display area. It is preferable to set it in the vicinity of the periphery. According to this, with respect to the main display area 4 occupying the central portion with good visibility, the sub display area 3 can be set in a place where the remaining peripheral peripheral portion is a dead space due to its narrow shape. .. Since the sub-display area 3 is formed so as to have flexibility in its outer shape such as being small, it can be effectively used by fitting the sub-display area 3 to a dead space.

[6] Further, the main display area 4 of the two-dimensional marker 1 is formed to have a surrounding frame-shaped portion that occupies most of the display area, and is formed in a blank portion left inside and outside the surrounding frame-shaped portion. It is preferable to form the sub display areas 2 and 3. The surrounding frame-shaped portion substantially occupies the display area, that is, the area of most of the two-dimensional marker 1. Since the main display area 4 having the surrounding frame-shaped portion has good visibility, the main information in the main display area 4 can be retained and displayed with high reliability. Further, by using the margins left inside and outside the enclosing frame-like portion for the sub-display areas 2 and 3, as much information can be held and displayed as much.

[7] In addition, among the plurality of set sub-display areas, the sub-display area 19 located outside the surrounding frame-shaped portion forming the main display area 4 is a sub-display area located inside the surrounding frame-shaped portion. It is preferable to set the pattern block smaller than 2. The sub-display area located outside the enclosing frame-like portion is narrow, and there is a small amount of the remaining sub-display area with respect to the main display area. In the dead space, the sub-display area formed of the smaller-sized pattern block can be effectively used because its outer shape is easily flexible and easily fitted.

[8] Further, the two-dimensional marker is provided with a detent mark to identify any one of the four corner pattern blocks, the detent mark is always white, and the other three corners are black. It is preferable to fix to. With this rotation stop mark, it is easy to avoid erroneous reading as if it is different information of another mark simply by rotating even though the same information of the same mark is present. That is, in order to avoid this erroneous reading, it is possible to reduce a place where a considerable calculation processing load is required, to an information processing to determine which position of the two-dimensional marker 1 the position of the detent mark is. ..

[9] The two-dimensional marker recognition processing system is configured to recognize the management target 10 by processing the imaging information of the management target with the two-dimensional marker 1 captured by the camera with the computer 12. The computer 12 is configured to include an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) (not shown), a storage device 17, and a predetermined program stored in the storage device 17. The arithmetic processing unit executes the program to form the two-dimensional marker position detecting unit 14, the two-dimensional marker information reading unit 15, and the flow line forming unit 16.

  The two-dimensional marker position detection unit 14 estimates the marker position from the depiction form of the two-dimensional marker 1 in the imaging information and outputs it to the input/output unit 13. The flow line configuration unit 16 outputs the history of the estimated marker position to the input/output unit 13 so as to draw the history of the marker position on the flow line. In addition, the two-dimensional marker information reading unit 15 reads the information held and displayed in the mosaic pattern in the image pickup information and outputs it to the input/output unit 13.

  In this two-dimensional marker recognition processing system, the camera 11 constantly captures and tracks the two-dimensional marker 1 provided with the location of the management target 10 and draws the history of the marker position on the display device 13 in real time in a flow line. be able to.

[10] The two-dimensional marker recognition processing system is suitable for the person 10 as a management target. In that case, the information held and displayed in the main display area 4 is associated with the information in which the individuals are grouped. Further, the information held and displayed in the sub display areas 2 and 3 is associated with the information that can identify the individual by combining with the information that groups the individual.

  The information obtained by grouping individuals means, for example, a title of a person, such as a person in charge, a manager/supervisor, a group leader, or a general job, among many people. Since it is often necessary to track the person concerned based on the information of such a title, it is positioned as the main information held and displayed in the main display area 4. Since the visibility of the main display area 4 is set preferentially, the main information can be visually recognized with relatively high reliability even from a camera in a far distance and an oblique direction. For example, if the function of tracking the location of a factory manager in real time is important, it is suitable for that.

  On the other hand, the information that can identify an individual by combining it with the information that groups the individuals is, for example, a detailed information such as a male in a general job and Mr. A who is 22 years old was assigned to this factory on April 1st. Are tied together. Even if the information reading accuracy deteriorates due to a camera reflection problem, it is often sufficient if only the main information can be read and it is found that it is a general job as information grouping individuals, so it is sufficiently practical. Can be kept.

1 Two-dimensional marker 2 Inside display area (sub display area)
3 Outside display area (sub display area)
4 Position detection marker area (main display area)
6 Position Detection Marker 5 Hat with Two-Dimensional Marker 7 Inner Marker 8 Outer Marker 10 Person Wearing Hat with Two-Dimensional Marker (Management Target)
11 camera 12 computer 13 display device (input/output unit)
14 two-dimensional marker position detecting unit 15 two-dimensional marker information reading unit 16 flow line forming unit 17 storage device 18 worker management table 19 outside display area of fine mold (sub display area)
20 Fine type outer marker 21 Second worker management table 22 Fine type inner display area (sub display area)
23 Fine type inner marker

Claims (10)

A two-dimensional marker in which a display pattern area for holding and displaying information is formed by printing dark and light observable rectangular pattern blocks in different mosaic patterns for identifying management targets,
In the display area,
A main display area that retains and displays main information with priority on visibility,
A sub-display area that holds and displays supplementary information by giving priority to the information density per unit area,
Two-dimensional marker with.   The two-dimensional marker according to claim 1, wherein the main display area has a larger area of the pattern block than the sub display area. In the main display area, two or more points of the outermost edges of the mosaic pattern forming the maximum diagonal contact the outer periphery of the display area.
The two-dimensional marker according to claim 1. The mosaic pattern is composed of a combination of two types of pattern blocks having different sizes,
The two-dimensional marker according to claim 1.   The two-dimensional marker according to claim 1, wherein the main display area is set to occupy a central portion of the display area, and the sub display area is set to a peripheral vicinity portion of the display area.   The two-dimensional structure according to claim 1, wherein the main display area is formed to have a surrounding frame-shaped portion in the display area, and the sub-display area is formed in a margin portion left inside and outside the surrounding frame-shaped portion. Marker. Among the plurality of sub-display areas set, the sub-display area located outside the enclosing frame-shaped portion sets the pattern block smaller than the sub-display area located inside the enclosing frame-shaped portion. Was done,
The two-dimensional marker according to claim 6.   The two-dimensional marker according to claim 1, wherein one of the four corner pattern blocks is specified as a detent mark, the detent mark is always white, and the other three corners are black. A two-dimensional marker recognition processing system for recognizing the management target by processing image information of a management target with a two-dimensional marker attached thereto according to claim 1 by a computer,
The calculator is
An arithmetic processing unit,
Storage device,
A predetermined program stored in the storage device,
Have
When the arithmetic processing unit executes the program,
A two-dimensional marker position detection unit that estimates the marker position from the drawing form of the two-dimensional marker in the imaging information and outputs the position to the input/output unit,
A two-dimensional marker information reading unit that reads information displayed and held in the mosaic pattern in the imaging information and outputs the information to the input/output unit,
A flow line configuration unit that outputs the history of the marker position estimated by the two-dimensional marker position detection unit to the input/output unit so as to draw the history of the marker position on the flow line,
A two-dimensional marker recognition processing system that forms a pattern. The management target is a person,
The information held and displayed in the main display area is associated with the information that groups the individuals, and the information held and displayed in the sub display area is information that can identify the individual by combining with the information that groups the individuals. Was associated with
The two-dimensional marker recognition processing system according to claim 9.

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