JP6524900B2 - Two-dimensional code, printed object on which the same is printed, semiconductor device, and method of detecting two-dimensional code - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a two-dimensional code, a print target on which the two-dimensional code is printed, a semiconductor device, and a method of detecting a two-dimensional code.

  Light emitting devices such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) including semiconductor light emitting elements such as LED chips are required to be miniaturized along with the recent demand for smaller and thinner electronic devices. In addition, from the viewpoint of management such as traceability, there is a demand for applying lot marking to the total number of light emitting devices.

  When using alphabets and numbers as lot markings, the combination of them is limited, so it is necessary to increase the number of characters depending on the lot quantity. However, since the light emitting device is very small in size, it may be difficult to increase the number of characters.

Patent No. 4804125

  One object of the embodiment according to the present invention is to provide a two-dimensional code capable of recording and decoding with sufficient accuracy, a print object on which the same is printed, a semiconductor device and a method of detecting the two-dimensional code. .

  The two-dimensional code according to an aspect of the present invention is a two-dimensional code represented as a symbol string combining a plurality of types of symbols represented by a combination of a plurality of elements, and the elements constituting each symbol are The first side excluding the one side, the second side, and the third side of the four sides defining the rectangular area in the vertically elongated rectangular area which determines the size of the symbol, and the rectangular area in the longitudinal direction A division line dividing the rectangular area, a first diagonal line dividing the rectangular area in a diagonal direction, a second diagonal line intersecting the first diagonal line, and a central point of the center of the rectangular area, the first side Different symbols are defined by a combination of the second side, the third side, the dividing line, the first diagonal line, the second diagonal line, and the center point, and one side of the four sides defining the rectangular area is excluded A plurality of symbols are arranged in the direction to form a symbol string.

  With the above configuration, even if the print target is small, recording and combination can be performed with sufficient accuracy.

It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that a symbol string is read with respect to the printing target object which printed the symbol string comprised by the two-dimensional code which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the two-dimensional code which concerns on one Embodiment. 3A to 3F are plan views showing components constituting the two-dimensional code of FIG. It is a top view which shows 64 patterns of the two-dimensional code which can be expressed with the component of FIG. 3A-FIG. 3F. It is a top view which shows the two-dimensional code which concerns on a modification. It is a top view which shows the two-dimensional code which concerns on another modification. It is a top view which shows the two-dimensional code which concerns on another modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. However, the embodiments shown below are exemplifications for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following. Further, the present specification does not in any way specify the members described in the claims to the members of the embodiment. In particular, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention thereto only, as long as there is no particular description. Note that the size, positional relationship, and the like of the members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Further, in the following description, the same names and reference numerals indicate the same or the same members, and the detailed description will be appropriately omitted. Furthermore, each element constituting the present invention may be configured such that a plurality of elements are constituted by the same member and one member is used in common as a plurality of elements, or conversely, the function of one member is realized by a plurality of members It can be shared and realized.

  According to a two-dimensional code according to one aspect, a state in which none of the first side, the second side, the third side, the dividing line, the first diagonal line, and the second diagonal line is included can be included. According to the above configuration, a symbol not including an element can be represented as, for example, zero, and one representable state can be increased.

  According to another aspect of the two-dimensional code, one of the four sides defining the rectangular area may be a side opposite to the second side.

  According to another aspect of the two-dimensional code, when the combination of the elements constituting one symbol does not include an element passing through the center of the rectangular region, the symbol is centered at the center of the rectangular region. Points can be displayed. With the above configuration, by adding a center point to a symbol that does not pass through the center of the rectangular area, it becomes a state in which all elements have a certain element, ie, a line segment or center point printed at the center, Therefore, false recognition can be reduced to improve the accuracy of optical recognition.

  According to a two-dimensional code according to still another aspect, in the case where the combination of the elements forming one symbol does not include any of the dividing line, the first diagonal, and the second diagonal, the rectangle for the symbol is included. The center point can be displayed at the center of the area. With the above configuration, by adding the center point to a symbol that does not pass through the center of the rectangular region, it is possible to reduce false recognition and improve the accuracy of optical recognition.

  Furthermore, according to the two-dimensional code according to another aspect, the rectangular area is rectangular, and one side of the four sides defining the rectangular area is excluded as one of the long sides of the rectangular area. it can. According to the above configuration, by arranging each symbol string vertically and arranging the symbol string in the horizontal direction, it is possible to print the symbol string efficiently, which is especially advantageous for space saving printing.

  Furthermore, according to the two-dimensional code which concerns on another form, the said dividing line can be provided in the position which bisects the said rectangular area of a rectangle.

  Furthermore, according to a two-dimensional code according to another aspect, the two-dimensional code can be printed by irradiating a laser beam on a printing object to be printed with the two-dimensional code. According to the above configuration, printing using ink can be avoided and contamination with ink can be avoided, so a two-dimensional code suitable for an optical component or the like in which contamination becomes a problem can be realized.

  Furthermore, according to another aspect of the two-dimensional code, the symbol string can be composed of five or less characters. According to the above configuration, even when the print target is small, it can be made a distinguishable two-dimensional code.

  Furthermore, the printing object according to another embodiment is a printing object on which the above two-dimensional code is printed.

(Embodiment)
The top view of the two-dimensional code which concerns on embodiment is shown in FIGS. In these figures, FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing how a symbol string 100 is read with respect to an object to be printed on which a symbol string 100 composed of a two-dimensional code according to one embodiment is printed. A plan view showing a two-dimensional code 10 according to the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing constituent elements of the two-dimensional code 10 of FIG. 2, and FIG. The top views which show 64 patterns of the two-dimensional code 10 which can be expressed with an element are shown, respectively.

  A plurality of two-dimensional codes 10 shown in these figures are printed on the print object WK in the same manner as letters, numerals, or barcodes, etc., and represent certain information. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the optical reader 40 reads and decodes the symbol string 100 composed of the two-dimensional code 10 as needed. For example, information such as a product serial number, date of manufacture, manufacturing place, name of manufacturing apparatus, name of manufacturer, etc. can be included in the symbol string 100 of the two-dimensional code. The optical reader 40 includes a camera 20 for imaging and a decoder 30. If necessary, an illumination unit or the like may be added to illuminate the print target at the time of imaging.

  In this specification, printing refers to a method in which a laser beam is applied to an object to be printed using a laser beam machine to print, print, display, or display a two-dimensional code by cutting, discoloration, marking using a marking needle, etc., continuity It is used in a sense including a method of printing a two-dimensional code with ink using a printer such as an ass-type ink jet printer. As described above, printing using a two-dimensional code can be performed using ink, in addition to marking, scribing, and discoloration of the material. In the case where the print target is an optical element such as a light emitting diode, the ink adheres to an unintended portion to stain the light emitting portion by a printing method in which the ink is ejected using a printer such as a continuous ink jet printer. In order to prevent this, it is preferable to scan the laser light using a laser marker or the like and record the information by marking or the like. In the present specification, printing is used in a sense including a method of recording a two-dimensional code on a product by a method such as marking, marking, color change, etc. besides printing. Moreover, not only the structure printed on the surface of a product but the aspect recorded on the inside of a translucent member, for example is included. Thus, printing refers to "displaying" the elements of the two-dimensional code on the printing object by some means. Alternatively, depending on the size and properties of the printing object, in addition to printing directly on the printing object, printing on a tape etc. and sticking on the application object, welding a resin plate or metal plate printed with a two-dimensional code, etc. Indirect application is also possible.

  In this two-dimensional code 10, one symbol is represented by a combination of a plurality of elements as shown in FIG. When each element is used alone, it becomes an aspect as shown to FIG. 3A-FIG. 3F. And by combining these elements, a total of 64 types of states can be expressed with one symbol from 0 to 63 as shown in FIG. By arranging a plurality of such symbols of the two-dimensional code 10, various information can be expressed. For example, it is possible to represent 10 states from 0 to 9 in the case of numerals, and 26 states in one letter from A to Z in the alphabet. However, due to the strong demand for downsizing of products in recent years, the space in which characters and symbols can be printed becomes extremely narrow at present, the amount of information that can be expressed with numbers and alphabets is limited, and more information can be expressed. It has been demanded. Here, it is possible to record a larger amount of information by using lot marking such as QR code or data matrix generally known as a two-dimensional code, but when the printing space is small, these lot markings can be used. The size is also reduced, which makes it difficult to achieve the printing accuracy, and it is not easy to ensure the reading accuracy. For example, light-emitting devices in recent years that have a thickness of 1 mm or less, for example, about 0.3 mm in size, are used, and a plurality of lot markings can be accurately made in a smaller printing target area of such printing target It is easy to imagine how difficult it is to print, read it and decode it correctly.

  That is, according to the two-dimensional code according to the embodiment, one symbol can express 64 states, which can represent much more information than a combination of a number and an alphabet, and can reduce the number of characters (symbol string 100). The necessary information can be expressed by the number of symbols to be constructed. Also, for example, in combinations of letters and numbers, there are character types that are difficult to distinguish, such as the number “1” and the alphabet “I” or the number “0 (zero)” and the alphabet “O (o)”. In the present embodiment, the difference between the states is remarkable, and the risk of such misreading or misjudgment can be reduced. In this manner, the present invention can be suitably used as a printable two-dimensional code even for a very small size article which tends to have a low resolution.

  Specifically, the two-dimensional code 10 one character shown in FIG. 2 (for convenience, a symbol that is a two-dimensional code may be called a character) defines the entire outer shape with a vertically long rectangular area (rectangular area SA) doing. Among the four sides defining the outer shape of the rectangular area SA, the first side 1, the second side 2 and the third side 3 excluding the rectangular area SA, and the rectangular area SA are elements disposed inside the rectangular area SA. It comprises a dividing line 4 which divides in the vertical direction, a first diagonal 5 which divides the rectangular area SA in the oblique direction, and a second diagonal 6 which intersects the first diagonal 5. By combining these six elements, 63 states can be expressed. Also, a symbol not including any of the first side 1, the second side 2, the third side 3, the dividing line 4, the first diagonal line 5, and the second diagonal line 6 is included as a state 1 (state 0). As a result, it is possible to express a total of 64 states by increasing one expressible state.

  The dividing line 4 is preferably provided at a position where the rectangular rectangular area SA is bisected. As a result, the distance between the first side 1 and the third side 3 is secured, and even in the case where the resolution is low, identification of these becomes easy.

(Center point 0)
Furthermore, the central point 0 at the center of the rectangular area SA can also be included as one of the elements. Thereby, the detection accuracy at the time of reading of the secondary transmission code can be improved. That is, when expressing a state in which no element is printed (for example, a zero state), whether it is an unprinted state (a printing error or an area not to be printed) or a space as a result of recording a two-dimensional code (a zero state) ) Can be easily distinguished by the presence or absence of the center point 0. Furthermore, if there is no element to be printed in the middle of the rectangular area SA, the center point 0 can also be used as an index for indicating that this part is a space. That is, for example, when “state 1” is expressed by only the first side 1 as shown in FIG. 3A, “state 4” of only the third side 3, which is also the horizontal bar, and division In some cases, it may be difficult to distinguish the line 4 from the "state 8". Therefore, in such a case, by printing the center point 0, the height direction in the rectangular area SA can be determined on the basis of the center point 0. In other words, the first side 1 or the third side 3 If there is no center point 0, it can be determined that it is the dividing line 4.

  The above has described the distinction of the elements in the vertical direction of the rectangular area SA, but the center point 0 can also be used for the distinction in the horizontal direction of the rectangular area SA. That is, as shown in FIG. 3B, when expressing “state 2” with only the second side 2, the position of the second side 2 can be determined by displaying the center point 0 together.

  The center point 0 can omit printing if there is an element passing through the center. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3D, FIG. 3E, and FIG. 3F, when the dividing line 4, the first diagonal line 5, and the second diagonal line 6 are printed, even if there is no center line, a rectangle is formed by these line segments. The central position of the area SA can be defined. Conversely, if the combination of elements constituting one symbol does not include an element passing through the center of rectangular area SA, as described above, center point 0 is displayed at the center of rectangular area SA for this symbol. Since all the symbols are printed with some element at the center, ie, a line segment or center point 0, which can be used for positioning, false recognition can be reduced and the accuracy of optical recognition can be improved.

  Thus, as an element expressing one symbol of the two-dimensional code 10, the center point 0 is set to the first side, the second side 2, the third side 3, the dividing line 4, the first diagonal 5, the second diagonal 6, FIG. 4 shows an example expressing 64 states in the case of adding.

  In the two-dimensional code 10, as shown in FIG. 2 etc., among the four sides defining the outer shape of the rectangular area SA, one side is not a component. For example, the side opposite to the second side 2 is excluded from the elements. In the example of FIG. 2, the vertical side on the right side is intentionally excluded from the elements. This is because when printing the symbol string 100 of the two-dimensional code 10, when the respective symbols are printed close to each other, it is determined to which of the adjacent symbols the symbol belongs. That is, in the example of FIG. 2, even if the symbols are arranged in the horizontal direction and printed, it can be determined that the vertical side existing between the symbols is the second side 2 belonging to the symbol located on the right side. In this manner, in the direction in which the symbols are arranged, it is possible to avoid false detection by excluding one of the sides from the component. The configuration of FIG. 2 is an example, and the second side 2B can be disposed not on the left side of the rectangular area SA but on the right side as in a two-dimensional code 10B according to the modification shown in FIG. 5, for example. As described above, when the rectangular area SA has a rectangular shape, one of the four sides defining the rectangular area SA, one of which is removed, is one of the long sides of the rectangle, thereby making each symbol vertically long and in the horizontal direction. By connecting the symbol string 100 to the symbol string, it is possible to print the symbol string efficiently, which is particularly advantageous for space-saving printing.

  When arranging the symbols of the two-dimensional code in the vertical direction, the third side 3 is not made the lower side of the rectangular area SA as in the two-dimensional code 10C according to the modification shown in FIG. The third side 3C can be provided. Alternatively, as in the two-dimensional code 10D according to the modification shown in FIG. 7, the upper side of the rectangular area SA may not be provided, and instead, the right side may be used as the first side 1D.

  In this way, it is possible to unambiguously determine which of the adjacent characters the existing element belongs to in the portion where the symbols are adjacent, and since the symbols can be arranged close to each other, the printing space of the symbol string Can be used efficiently. Further, as the length of the continuous line segment of the element defining each symbol, at least one side of the rectangular area SA is secured as a minimum, discrimination becomes relatively easy even if the rectangular area SA is reduced, and two-dimensional The size of the code can be reduced to the limit. For example, the rectangular area SA can have vertical and horizontal sizes of 100 μm or less. In addition, since a laser marker in recent years can reduce the spot diameter of laser light, it is possible to print a symbol string even when the printable area of the two-dimensional code is several hundred or several tens of μm.

Although the number of characters of the two-dimensional code constituting the symbol string is not particularly limited, for example, even if it is a six-character symbol string, the expressible state is 64 ⁶ = 68719476736, and it is possible to express a considerable number of states. Become. Therefore, preferably, the character string is 6 characters or less.

  Further, although the print target is not particularly limited, the present invention can be effectively used for a semiconductor device such as a light emitting device using a semiconductor light emitting element, for example, because it can be effectively applied to a small printable area.

  In the example of FIG. 2 etc., although the example which arranged the rectangular area SA which defines the magnitude | size of one symbol longitudinally long was demonstrated, it can not be overemphasized that it is good also as horizontal length or square shape.

(Method of detecting two-dimensional code)
The two-dimensional code printed as described above is optically read when necessary. For reading, an image is taken by a camera, and an element constituting a two-dimensional code is extracted by image processing. For such image processing, known algorithms for edge extraction can be used. For example, the difference between the background and the line segment and the lightness, saturation or hue of the reference point is read, and the presence or absence of the line segment is determined.

  Here, a method of detecting a two-dimensional code will be described. First, an image is captured using an optical reader 40 as shown in FIG. Then, the outer shape of the two-dimensional code 10 reflected in the image is detected from the image (outer detection step). Next, the position of the internal bit area is specified according to the shape of the detected outer shape (bit area specifying step). Furthermore, a bit value is acquired based on the lightness or color of the specified bit area (bit value acquisition step). In particular, in this method, since the symbol is associated with the 64 states in advance, the original information can be decoded only by a simple 1: 1 correspondence, so that it can be decoded, for example, only by the look-up table. The algorithm for encoding can be greatly simplified as compared with a two-dimensional code of a symbol system such as. Furthermore, the encoding process can be greatly simplified or eliminated. For the sake of convenience, in the present specification, a simple 1: 1 correspondence is also referred to as encoding and decoding.

  The above two-dimensional code can be suitably used as a two-dimensional code to be displayed on a small product having only a small description range or its exterior. In particular, it is most suitable as a two-dimensional code to be printed on a semiconductor device that is required to be miniaturized. However, the print target object of the present embodiment is not limited to a small product, and may be used for product management of a medium or large product, or may be applied to promulgated articles such as advertisements and articles. Good.

100 Symbol row 0 Center point 1, 1 D Second side 2, 2 B Second side 3, 3 C Third side 4 Division line 5 First diagonal line 6 Second diagonal line 10, 10 B, 10 C, 10 D ... Two-dimensional code 20 ... Camera 30 ... Decoder 40 ... Optical reader WK ... Printing object SA ... Rectangular area

Claims (13)

A two-dimensional code represented as a symbol string obtained by combining a plurality of types of symbols represented by a combination of a plurality of elements,
Within the vertically elongated rectangular area where the elements that make up each symbol determine the size of the symbol,
Of the four sides defining the rectangular area, the first side excluding one side, the second side, the third side,
A dividing line which divides the rectangular area in the vertical direction;
A first diagonal that divides the rectangular area in a diagonal direction, and a second diagonal that intersects the first diagonal;
A central point of the center of the rectangular area;
Consists of
Different symbols are defined by combinations of the first side, second side, third side, dividing line, first diagonal line, second diagonal line, center point,
A two-dimensional code formed by arranging a plurality of symbols in the direction of one side removed among the four sides defining the rectangular area to form a symbol string. A two-dimensional code according to claim 1, wherein
A two-dimensional code including a state in which none of the first side, the second side, the third side, the dividing line, the first diagonal line, and the second diagonal line is included. It is a two-dimensional code according to claim 1 or 2,
A two-dimensional code in which one side out of the four sides defining the rectangular area is the side opposite to the second side. It is a two-dimensional code according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A two-dimensional code formed by displaying a center point at the center of the rectangular area for the symbol when the combination of the elements forming one symbol does not include an element passing through the center of the rectangular area. It is a two-dimensional code according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
In the case where the combination of the elements forming one symbol does not include any of the dividing line, the first diagonal, and the second diagonal, a two-dimensional display in which a central point is displayed at the center of the rectangular region for the symbol code. The two-dimensional code according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is
The rectangular area is rectangular,
A two-dimensional code in which one side out of the four sides defining the rectangular area is one of the long sides of the rectangle. A two-dimensional code according to claim 6, wherein
The two-dimensional code in which the parting line is provided in the position which bisects the rectangular area of the said rectangle. A two-dimensional code according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is:
A two-dimensional code in which the two-dimensional code is printed by irradiation of a laser beam on a print target on which the two-dimensional code is to be printed. The two-dimensional code according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein
A two-dimensional code in which the symbol string is composed of five or less characters. The two-dimensional code according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is
A two-dimensional code in which the rectangular area has a size of 100 μm or less in vertical and horizontal directions.   An object to be printed on which the two-dimensional code according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is printed.   The semiconductor device which printed the two-dimensional code as described in any one of Claims 1-10. The two-dimensional code reflected in the image and detecting steps you detected from the image,
And decoding the detected two-dimensional code .
The two-dimensional code is a two-dimensional code expressed as a symbol string in which a plurality of kinds of symbols expressed by a combination of a plurality of elements are combined.
Within the rectangular area where the elements that make up each symbol determine the size of the symbol,
Of the four sides defining the rectangular area, the first side excluding one side, the second side, the third side,
A dividing line which divides the rectangular area in the vertical or horizontal direction;
It is comprised by the 1st diagonal which divides the said rectangular area in the diagonal direction, and the 2nd diagonal which intersects the 1st diagonal,
Different symbols are defined by combinations of the first side, the second side, the third side, the dividing line, the first diagonal, and the second diagonal,
A method of detecting a two-dimensional code comprising arranging a plurality of symbols in the direction of one side removed from among the four sides defining the rectangular area to form a symbol string.

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