JPH03149681A - Dot code - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record much information in a compact space and to read out the information by a simple device by forming a dot strip forming plural dot mark formation parts in a longitudinal square area like a matrix. CONSTITUTION:The dot strip 2 forming plural dot mark formation parts 3 in the longitudinal square area like a matrix is provided and is constituted so that 1-bit information is recorded in accordance with the existence of a dot mark on each dot mark formation part 3. A reading mark 5 displaying the reading reference position of each dot mark is formed in parallel with one side of the dot strip 2. Consequently, much information can be recorded in a space smaller than a bar code and the information can be read out by the simple optical reader for reading out only the arrangement of dot marks.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a dot code that transmits information by optically reading dot marks.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, barcodes have been widely used in product management and the like. In other words, a barcode is printed directly on the product or its packaging, or a sticker with the barcode printed on it is affixed to the product or its packaging, and it is read by a barcode reader at the time of receiving, shipping, or selling the product for product management and sales. It is used for management, etc.

Furthermore, in various cards such as cash cards and commuter passes, magnetic cards equipped with a magnetic recording section are widely used, and IC cards with even larger storage capacities are also being put into practical use.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, since the amount of information that can be recorded with barcodes is small, there is a problem that more precise product management cannot be performed. Expanding the scope was difficult.

In addition, barcodes cannot be easily used because they must be drawn using a dedicated device, and there is also the problem that barcodes cannot be easily changed.

In addition, magnetic cards and IC cards require expensive writing and reading devices, making them difficult to use for customer cards for small stores, patient tickets for hospitals and clinics, business cards that can be automatically read, etc. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a don't code that can be easily and inexpensively used by an optical reading method and has a large amount of information and a large information density.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The dot code of the present invention is provided with a dot strip in which dot mark formation parts are formed in a matrix in an elongated rectangular area, and one bit of information can be read depending on the presence or absence of a dot mark in each dot mark formation part. A special reading mark is formed parallel to one side of the dot strip to indicate a reading reference position of the dot mark. It can be composed of a continuous row of dots or a row of blank spaces of continuous dots. Alternatively, the leading marks may be constituted by continuous rows of dots parallel to the sides in the width direction of the dot strip, and the leading marks may be formed at both longitudinal ends of the dot strip or at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction. Further, it is preferable to form a dot blank part at the middle position of the dot row, and to form this dot blank part continuously over the entire length of the dot strip. It is preferable to form it at a position shifted from the center in the direction.

(Function) According to the dot code of the present invention, 1 bit of information can be recorded in one dot mark forming part, and since the dot mark forming parts are arranged in a matrix on the dot strip, it is compared to a bar code. A large amount of information can be recorded in a small space using a dot mark, and it can be read by a simple optical reader that simply reads the arrangement of dot marks. Furthermore, since the reading reference position is given by the reading mark during reading, it is possible to read accurately without causing reading errors.

(Embodiment) An embodiment in which the dot code of the present invention is applied to a card will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the card 1 of this embodiment is applied to a hospital ticket, and a dot strip 2 displaying a dot code is arranged along one long side of the card 1. ing. In this dot strip 2, the information to be recorded with the dot code is the patient's name,
Possible information includes address information, health certificate information, medical record information, etc. Further, the card 1 is also displayed with characters, and the information to be displayed in characters may include the display of a medical examination ticket, the name of a hospital, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dot strip 2 is formed by printing with a 24-dot printer. On the dot strip 2, dot mark forming parts 3 consisting of two dots in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, a total of four dots, are formed in a matrix shape, and one bit of information is recorded depending on the presence or absence of a dot mark in each dot mark forming part 3. is configured to do so. In addition, each dot mark forming portion 3.3.
In between, an identification space 4 is formed in the shape of a base with a width of 1 door). As a result, eight dot mark forming portions 3 are formed in one row along the width direction of the dot strip 2,
The configuration is such that one byte of information can be recorded in one row of dot mark forming section 3. Furthermore, a reading mark 5 is formed by continuous printing with a width of one dot along one longitudinal side of the dot strip 2, and the reading mark 5 is configured to provide a reference position for reading each dot.

Although FIG. 1 schematically shows the relationship between the dot positions of the printer and each dot mark forming section 3, in the actual printing state of dot marks, adjacent dots are printed so as to partially overlap each other.

The card I having the above configuration can be easily created using predetermined software using, for example, a personal computer equipped with a computer main body, a printer, an input keyboard, and a display device.
When information is entered from the input keyboard into the computer while checking it on the display device, the computer converts the information into a dot code, and the printer prints the dot strip 2 along with the character information on the card. can.

Further, this card 1 can read the dot strip 2 with a card reading device, convert it into information, and perform information processing as appropriate. When reading the reading mark 5
The relative position of the dot mark forming part 3 can be recognized, and even if the card 1 is tilted or twisted, it can be read accurately without causing a reading error.

As the card reading device, for example, one configured to read the dot strip 2 with a line image sensor and input the read signal to a personal computer etc. can be used. The information can be processed and the results can be displayed on a display device or printed on a printer. Note that the resolution of the normal line image sensor 12 is 16 dots/mm, and if this is used, the above-mentioned optical reading code I can be sufficiently read.

Furthermore, instead of using a personal computer, a dedicated machine in which a writing device and a reading device are integrated into a unit may be used.

In the first embodiment, the leading mark 5 is formed with a width corresponding to one dot along one longitudinal side of the dot strip 2. Since the identification space 4 is not present, there is a risk that the leading mark 5 may be confused with the adjacent dot mark forming portion 3 and recognized, or that the reading mark 5 may be misread.

Therefore, various embodiments aiming at solving these problems will be described below.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, leading marks 6 with a width of two dots are formed at both ends of the dot strip 2 in the longitudinal direction, and an identification space 4 is formed between adjacent dont mark forming portions 3. is forming. In addition, the top and bottom of the dot strip 2 can be identified by a one-dot blank space 7 formed along one side of the dot strip 2 over the entire longitudinal length of the dot strip 2, excluding the reading mark 6. .

In the case of this embodiment, since the thick leading marks 6 are formed, there is no risk of reading errors or confusion with adjacent dot marks, and since the leading marks 6 are formed at both ends, Even if the dot strip 2 is tilted, it can be easily corrected and read.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a blank space 8 corresponding to two printer dots is formed at the middle position of the reading mark 6 in the second embodiment, and a dot strip 2 is formed between this blank space 8.8. Continuous blank space 9 over the entire length
is formed. With this configuration, in addition to the leading mark 6 in the width direction of the dot strip 2, there is also a blank area 8.
．． Since the dot 9 functions as a reading mark in the longitudinal direction, it has the same effect as forming reading marks in the width direction and the longitudinal direction, and the relative positions of the dot marks can be recognized more accurately, and reading errors do not occur.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the blank portion 8.9 in the third embodiment is formed offset from the center position of the dot strip 2 in the width direction. In this way, the top and bottom of the dot strip 2 can be identified by deviating the blank portion 8.9 from the center position.

In the second to fourth embodiments described above, an example was shown in which the reading marks 6 were formed at both ends of the dot strip 2 in the longitudinal direction, but they may be further arranged at intermediate positions at appropriate intervals.

In the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the leading marks 6 at both ends of the dot strip 2 shown in the fourth embodiment are omitted, and a blank area 8.9 is filled with printer markings extending over the entire length of the dot strip 2. A reading mark lO having a width of two dots is formed.

Furthermore, in a sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the printed portions of the reading marks 1 and 0 of the fifth embodiment are left blank to form a leading mark 1) consisting of a blank section.

In each of the above embodiments, an example is shown in which the printer has 24 dots, but the same can be applied to a printer with 32 dots, 48 dots, or 64 dots.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the dot code of the present invention, 1 bit of information can be recorded in one dot mark forming part, and since the dot mark forming parts are arranged in a matrix on the dot strip, it is possible to record one bit of information in one dot mark forming part. In comparison, a large amount of information can be recorded in a small space, and can be easily written using a printer or the like, and can be read using a simple optical reading device that only reads the arrangement of dot marks.

Furthermore, since the reading reference position is given by the reading mark during reading, it is possible to read accurately without causing reading errors.

In addition, the leading mark is composed of a continuous row of dots parallel to the widthwise side of the dot strip, and
A leading mark is formed in the width direction and length direction of the dot strip by forming a blank space of dots at the middle position of the dot row, and by continuing to form this blank space of dots over the entire length of the dot strip. It has the same effect as that, and the relative position of the dot marks can be recognized more accurately, preventing misreading. Further, by forming a blank area of dots offset from the center, great effects such as being able to identify the top and bottom in the width direction are achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 show one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the dot mark forming part of the dot strip and the arrangement of the reading mark, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the card, and FIGS. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of the dot mark forming portion and the leading mark of the dot strip in the second to sixth embodiments, respectively. 2−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
------1--Dot strip 3---------------------
−−−−−−−・−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−・−−−−−−−1−Reading mark 6−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−Reading mark 8−−−−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−One blank space 9−−−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
Blank section 10----------------
−−−−−−−−1・Reading mark 1)−−−−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−Reading Mark Agent Patent Attorney Ishihara
Win 1 (1o (10gl II @o @1) +
1) 1 1) 1) 0, aooo ・ ・
as · Town 1 · o o. i @ 1) @ @ @ @
@ @ ・ ・II (1. 061 ”: 0000 # Hospital 000 MEDICAL INs TITt JTE Fig. 3 2.7., ! 6--Re-1 sig mark Fig. 4 8.9 - Planning Department Fig. 5), Go to 4 Figure 6 10 - Reach 1 Kuk - Mark No. F Figure mouth: Mouth 2 mouth i Mouth 2 mouth 1) - Reach 1 Bummer 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A dot strip in which dot mark formation parts are formed in a matrix is provided in a long and narrow rectangular area, and the number of dot marks is determined by the presence or absence of dot marks in each dot mark formation part.
1. A dot code configured to record bit information, and further comprising a reading mark formed parallel to one side of the dot strip to indicate a reference position for reading the dot mark. (2) The dot code according to claim 1, wherein the leading mark is composed of a continuous dot row parallel to the longitudinal side of the dot strip or a continuous dot blank space row. (3) The leading mark is composed of a continuous row of dots parallel to the widthwise sides of the dot strip, and the leading marks are formed at both longitudinal ends of the dot strip or at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction. The dot code according to claim 1. (4) The dots according to claim 3, characterized in that a dot blank area is formed at an intermediate position of the dot row forming the leading mark, and the dot blank area is formed continuously over the entire length of the dot strip. code. (5) The dot code according to claim 4, wherein the blank portion of the dots is formed offset from the center in the width direction of the dot strip.