JPH0652373A - Asymmetric pattern code and its reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an asymmetric pattern code without requiring a reference point to decide coordinates and with high security. CONSTITUTION:Asymmetric unit code patterns 1, 2, 3... are formed by arranging four measure shape code elements 1-1,..., 1-4 by connecting one of them to an upper stage and three of them to a lower stage asymmetrically, and the asymmetric pattern code can be comprised by arranging plural asymmetric unit code patterns 1, 2, 3... Since the unit code pattern is formed asymmetrically, it is possible to decide the upper/lower and right/left directions even when no reference point exists, which enables the coordinates for reading processing to be easily found.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an asymmetric pattern code which does not require arrangement of reference coordinates for writing and reading data, and a reading method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various codes have been used to record information on a card such as a prepaid card, a tag card of a product, or the product itself. For example, a bar code is often used as a one-dimensional code, and as a two-dimensional code, four cells in a square are painted separately.
A code called a Carla code has been developed that can express 16 types of data.

[0003]

However, in the conventional code, in order to read and write the code data,
A reference coordinate such as a start point is required. Without this reference coordinate, data cannot be read or written,
Moreover, if the code data is recorded at a position that is slightly deviated from the reference coordinates, there is a problem that an error occurs.
In addition, there are cases where a plurality of reference coordinates are required to identify the top, bottom, left, and right, which reduces the data area. Further, there is a problem in security such that the reference coordinates are a key for decoding the code data.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems in the conventional code, and the recorded data can be accurately read even if the reference coordinates are not provided.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an asymmetric pattern code and its reading method, which are improved in security by reducing the error caused by the deviation between the coordinate and the data recording position.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention arranges a plurality of grid-shaped code elements in an asymmetrical shape and selectively fills each code element to obtain data. An asymmetric pattern code is constructed by arranging a plurality of unit code patterns that can be recorded.

In the asymmetric pattern code thus constructed, the data can be recorded by filling the code elements of the unit code pattern, and when the data is recorded in each unit code pattern, the asymmetry of the unit code pattern is obtained. Since the ratio of data recorded in the vertical or horizontal direction is constant depending on the shape, the coordinates necessary for reading the code can be easily obtained depending on the position where the predetermined ratio is obtained at the time of reading. It is possible to implement code that does not require coordinate arrangement.

Further, according to the asymmetric pattern code reading method of the present invention, the ratio of the presence or absence of vertical or horizontal data in each unit code pattern is detected and the ratio set in advance according to the asymmetric shape of the unit code pattern is detected. By contrast, the coordinates necessary for reading the code data are set, and the code data is read based on the coordinates.

In the thus constructed reading method, the asymmetric pattern code having the structure defined in claim 1 has a constant ratio of presence / absence of vertical or horizontal data depending on the asymmetrical shape of the unit code pattern. So
Detects the ratio of the presence or absence of vertical or horizontal data in each unit code pattern of the recorded pattern code,
Coordinates are set based on the matching positions by comparing the set ratios, and the code data is read. Therefore, even if the reference coordinates such as the start point are not arranged, the vertical and horizontal directions can be easily identified and the data can be accurately read.

[0009]

EXAMPLES Next, examples will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an asymmetric pattern code according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the unit code pattern 1 uses four grid-shaped code elements, one code element 1-1 is arranged in the upper stage, and three code elements 1 are arranged in the lower stage.
-2, 1-3, 1-4 are arranged, the upper left code element 1-2 is overlapped with the lower left code element 1-2,
It has an asymmetrical shape. A plurality of unit pattern codes 1, 2, 3, ... Configured in this way are arranged to form an asymmetric pattern code. And code elements 1-1, ... 1-4, 2 of 1, 2, 4, 8
By providing a 4-digit code with a base and selectively filling it, 16 information from 0 to 15 can be expressed.

Since the variation of the upper and lower data of the unit pattern code of this configuration is 1: 3, conversely, by obtaining the probability of the variation of the upper and lower data at the time of reading, the code pattern formed on the prepaid card or the like. It is possible to obtain the coordinates such as the start point necessary for processing the.

As described above, the asymmetric pattern code can be discriminated between upper, lower, left and right even if a reference point is not set in advance. Since no reference point is provided, it is difficult to find a clue for code analysis and security is improved. In addition, the printing of reference points is no longer necessary and the data area can be used widely.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment, in which the unit code pattern 11 is constructed by using six grid-shaped code elements. Ie 1 in the upper row
Code element 11-1, 3 code elements in the middle row 11-2, 11-3, 11-4, 2 code elements in the lower row
11-5 and 11-6 are arranged respectively, the upper code element 11-1 is overlaid on the middle left code element 11-2, and the middle right code element 11-4 is connected to the lower left code element 11-. It is asymmetrically formed by stacking and combining with 5.

In the case of this unit code pattern, 64 pieces of information can be represented by giving each code element a binary 6-digit code of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32. Since the variation of the upper, lower and middle data of the unit code pattern of this configuration is 1: 3: 2, the probability of the variation of the upper, lower, middle and lower data at the time of reading is calculated to obtain the data for the code pattern processing. The coordinates can be obtained.

Next, a method of obtaining the coordinates for reading the code pattern will be described with reference to the schematic flowchart of FIG. First, the recognition pattern data of the asymmetric pattern code to be used is generated and stored in a table in advance. Then, in order to obtain the coordinates for reading the asymmetric pattern code actually recorded on the article or the like, the table is searched to read predetermined recognition pattern data, while the article or the like having the asymmetric pattern code recorded is read. The asymmetric pattern code is detected by the detector, the data of the asymmetric pattern code is read, and compared with the recognition pattern data to determine whether or not they match. If they do not match, this comparison operation is repeated until the items with the asymmetric pattern code are moved, and the coordinates necessary for reading the asymmetric pattern code are determined based on the data at the time of the match. Is set.

[0015]

As described above on the basis of the embodiments,
According to the present invention, since each unit code pattern is formed in an asymmetrical shape, it is possible to discriminate up / down / left / right without a reference point, and since the reference point is not arranged, it is difficult to find a clue for code analysis and security is improved. Is improved, and the arrangement of the reference points is not required, so that the data area can be widely used, and other advantages can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an asymmetric pattern code according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the asymmetric pattern code according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a method for obtaining coordinates necessary for reading an asymmetric pattern code according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 unit code pattern 1-1, ... 1-4 code element 2 unit code pattern 3 unit code pattern 4 unit code pattern

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An asymmetric pattern code in which a plurality of grid-shaped code elements are connected and arranged in an asymmetrical shape, and a plurality of unit code patterns are arranged so that data can be recorded by selectively filling each code element. . 2. The asymmetric pattern code reading method according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the presence or absence of data in the vertical or horizontal direction in each unit code pattern is detected and set in advance according to the asymmetric shape of the unit code pattern. A method for reading an asymmetric pattern code, characterized in that the coordinates necessary for reading the code data are set by comparing with the ratio, and the code data is read based on the coordinates.