JPH07275513A - Puzzle with two-dimensional data code - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To complete a puzzle in such a way as allowing multimedia information such as a sound and a picture to be played back after the end of a puzzle work, and eliminate the separate acquisition or change of a medium for playing back the multimedia information. CONSTITUTION:Two-dimensional data codes A to I capable of playing back information only in a specified combination are preliminarily printed on a plane puzzle 10 consisting of a plurality of parts 1 to 9. When a code pattern is completed by correctly combining each of the parts 1 to 9, and the data codes A to I are read out with a reader 12, voice information is played back through an earphone 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toy puzzle which is completed by combining information such as colors and patterns in a flat plate or a three-dimensional structure composed of a plurality of elements, and particularly to a two-dimensional data code for each element. A puzzle with a two-dimensional data code attached with.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one of toys, a puzzle is known which is completed by combining information such as colors and patterns in a flat plate or a three-dimensional structure composed of a plurality of elements.
In addition, this puzzle has one side as a teaching material for young children,
Furthermore, even adults are hobbies by many people.

[0003]

Such a puzzle is
The main purpose is to simply combine information such as colors and patterns to complete, and enjoy the process until completion, and the main purpose is to obtain satisfaction when completed. However, when we think about the education of infants, many infants are patient and insidious.
Simply aiming to complete the puzzle,
It was difficult to attract the attention of young children.

On the other hand, similarly, there is a picture book for the purpose of education of infants. As for this picture book, it is known that not only can you simply see a picture or read a sentence, but you can also listen to the sound. For example, the actual Kaihei 2-6246
Japanese Patent Publication No. 4 discloses a language learning machine that combines a barcode and a compact disc. This is because by reading a bar code printed on a picture book with a bar code reader, the compact disk drive selects an audio file that matches the content of the picture of the picture book from the compact disk and generates a sound. In this compact disc, each page of the picture book and the sound that matches the content of each picture are registered as a sound file.

However, in the language learning machine disclosed in this publication, the sound cannot be heard without the compact disc, and each time the picture book is read, the compact disc must be replaced according to the picture book. . Furthermore, only the audio information in the compact disc can be heard, which limits its use.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and further adds the purpose of completing a puzzle by making it possible to reproduce multimedia information such as sounds and pictures after the completion of the puzzle, and An object of the present invention is to provide a puzzle with a two-dimensional data code, which makes it unnecessary to separately obtain or exchange a medium for reproducing the multimedia information.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a puzzle with a two-dimensional data code according to the present invention is composed of a plurality of elements and is completed by a predetermined combination or arrangement of the plurality of elements. Or, it is a three-dimensional puzzle, and the plurality of elements are characters, images,
It includes an element part having a code pattern of a two-dimensional data code that encodes information corresponding to at least one of audio information, and each code pattern has information mutual relation with other code patterns. Characterize.

[0008]

That is, according to the puzzle with a two-dimensional data code of the present invention, a two-dimensional data code that can reproduce information only in a specified combination is printed on a flat plate or a three-dimensional puzzle composed of a plurality of elements. And the code pattern is completed by combining each element correctly,
At that time, when the code portion is read by the information reproducing device, the character, voice, and video information is reproduced.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a plate puzzle in which a two-dimensional data code is recorded and a reading device as a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 to 9 represent parts as elements constituting the puzzle 10. All parts 1-9
Has visible information such as pictures, characters and colors.
The data portion of the two-dimensional data codes A to I is recorded on it.

When the visible information on the part is completed by combining these parts 1 to 9, the code patterns of the two-dimensional data codes A to I can be completed at the same time. When the pen-shaped information reproducing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a reader) 12 traces or scans the data of the two-dimensional data codes A to I in a predetermined order, the reader 12 recognizes the data and the earphones. For example, a voice is output from 14.

Here, the concept of the two-dimensional data codes A to I in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As the two-dimensional data code of this embodiment, for example, the dot code 16 described in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-260464 by the applicant of the present invention can be used. In the dot code 16 data format, one block 18 is composed of a marker 20, a block address 22, address error detection / correction data 24, and a data area 26 in which data such as voice and image is actually stored. ing. The marker 20 normally uses a pattern that does not appear in recording modulation. Further, the address data 22 is data representing the position of the block 22 and the error detection / correction data 24 is used for error judgment of these addresses.

The recorded data in such a format is
The data of "1" and "0" is printed, for example, like "1" with black dots and "0" without black dots, similar to a barcode. Hereinafter, such recording data will be referred to as a data code.

A specific example of the data code shown in the conceptual diagram of FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3D and FIG. As shown in the conceptual diagram of FIG. 2, the blocks 18 are arranged two-dimensionally, and block addresses 22 are added to each. Its block address 2
2 has an address attached to each. In this embodiment, each of the data codes A to I is composed of 10 blocks. For example, in the data code A, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper left block is (1, 0). .
On the other hand, the block address on the right is (1,
1), and so on (1), (3), (1,)
4), move to the lower stage, and from the left, (1, 5), (1,
6), (1, 7), (1, 8), (1, 9) are added to the block address 22 in all the address blocks 18. Further, in the data code B, (2,
0, (2, 1), ..., (2, 9), such as (9, 0), (9, 1), ..., (9, 9) of the data code I.
Addresses are assigned to the 90 data blocks up to. Of course, the number of blocks 18 can be freely changed according to the amount of data to be recorded.

Here, the lowermost marker and the rightmost marker are dummy markers 28. In other words, the block 18 for a certain marker 20 is the data diagonally to the lower right surrounded by the four markers 20 including it, and the markers at the bottom and right are the second from the bottom and the second from the right. A dummy marker 28, which is an auxiliary marker arranged to define a block for the marker.

Next, the contents of the block 18 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3B, a block address 22 and error detection / correction data 24 of the block address 22 are added between the marker 20 of the block 18 and the lower marker. Similarly, a block address 22 and its error detection / correction data 24 are added between the marker 20 and the right marker. In the conceptual diagram of FIG.
Although there is a marker at the upper left of the block and the block address is arranged at the lower right, in the present embodiment, the block address 22 is arranged at the left side and the upper side, and the marker 20 is arranged at the upper left corner. The block address 22
Shows an example of recording at two locations in one block, but this may be one location. However, by recording at two locations, even if noise occurs in one of the block addresses and an error occurs, it can be reliably detected by detecting the other address, so recording at two locations. Is preferred.

The position of the data of the block with respect to a certain marker, the position of the block address thereof, the position of the dummy marker on the code determined by the position, etc. are not limited to the preceding examples.

Next, a pattern example of the marker 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3C, in this embodiment, as the marker 20, a circular black pattern 2 having a diameter of 7 dots is used.
It uses 0A. Then, the portion 20B around the black circle 20A is made white to make it easy to distinguish the black portion of the marker. Further, reference numeral 20C in the figure is an auxiliary line for explanation.

The range of the white portion 20B is desired to be as small as possible in order to increase the recording density, but it is required to be large in order to perform the marker detection processing easily and at high speed. Therefore, the range 20C for sufficiently distinguishing the black pattern 20A when the rotation is 45 ° is set to be within the portion 20B.

The image magnification of the image forming optical system in the reader 12, which will be described later, is set to the size of the data dot 30 in the data area 26 as shown in FIG. In this case, an image is formed on 1.5 pixels. The pixel here means one pixel of the image pickup device of the image pickup unit of the reader 12. That is, one dot recorded on the data codes A to I, for example, a dot of 30 to 40 μm is passed through an imaging system lens to 1.5 pixels of the image sensor which is usually 7 μm or 10 μm in size. Image shall be formed. In the sampling theorem, the pixel pitch should be less than the dot pitch, but here we look at safety,
After that, it is set to 1.5 pixels.

The following advantages are obtained by adopting the two-dimensional block division method as described above. That is,
If the dot pitch for each dot is less than the resolution of the image sensor, the code (set of unit data blocks) can be read even if the data dot size is different; It is possible to reproduce even if data dot intervals vary due to variations in scanning speed; unit blocks can be freely expanded two-dimensionally according to the total data amount, resulting in code size. Can be freely changed; because the block address is added respectively, it is possible to play even if you start reading from the middle of the code;
The shape of the code can be freely laid out; there is no need for the prescribed start code and stop code as in bar codes, and no clock code is required.

Further, by utilizing these characteristics, it is possible to reproduce even if camera shake occurs. Therefore, it is very easy to deal with a handy reader. That is, since the reader detects four adjacent markers and divides the markers equally by the number of dots, normalization is performed.
It has the advantage that it is strong against enlargement, reduction, deformation, etc., and is resistant to variations in data line intervals during recording, camera shake during reproduction, etc.

The dots 3 in the data area 26
Regarding 0, for example, one dot has a size of several tens of μm. This can be achieved by appropriately setting the magnification of the data on the film at the time of printing depending on the application and use. Generally, 40 μm or 20 μm, or 80
μm. The data area 26 is, for example, 64 × 64
The size of the dot. These can be freely expanded or contracted to the extent that the error due to the equal division can be absorbed. The marker 20 also has a function as a position index. The marker 20 has a size that does not exist in the modulated data, and in the case of the present embodiment, has a circular shape,
A circular black marker 20A having a diameter of, for example, 7 dots or more, or 7 × 7 dots with respect to the dots of the data area 26.
I am trying.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the two-dimensional data codes A to I in FIG. Each of the data codes A to I has 10 blocks, and each has a block address (hereinafter, each block is referred to as a block address number). As described above, 10 blocks are arranged in order, and
Unless the data codes up to I are read by the reader 12 in the correct order, the blocks (1,0) to (9,9) are not recognized as one data. An arrow 32 as shown in the figure is printed as a mark for reading the data code in the correct order with the reader 12. By following the arrow 32 with the reader 12, (1,0) to (1,9) of the data code A,
The blocks 18 of (1,0) to (9,9) can be read in order such as (2,0) to (2,9) of the data code B. In addition, notation of arrows instead of numbers makes it impossible to read the data by arranging the parts of the puzzle 10 in order before the puzzle 10 is completed. In the portion 34 of the data code I, the data permitting the reproduction of the recorded information is recorded. When the reader 12 recognizes the last information reproduction permission data 34, the voice information can be reproduced.

2D to 3D do not include the arrow 32 and the information reproduction permission data 34 shown in FIG. Next, referring to FIG. 5, the pen-type reader 1
Various configuration examples of No. 2 will be described. This pen-type reader 12
Light source 36, lens (imaging optical system) 38, spatial filter 4
0, image pickup unit (image sensor) 42, preamplifier 44,
And an imaging unit control unit (control unit) 46, and also functions as a scan conversion unit, a binarization processing unit, a demodulation unit, a data error correction unit, a decompression processing unit, a data interpolation circuit, an address sequence detection unit, and the like. , Image processing unit 48, data processing unit 5
0, built in as the data output unit 52. Then, it has an earphone 14 as an audio output device.

Although only the output device for audio information is shown in this figure, if a processing unit for images, characters, line drawings, etc. is built in, it is of course possible to connect an output device corresponding to it. (The same applies to the description of the pen-type reader 12 below. The details are described in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-260464 filed by the applicant of the present invention, and therefore omitted here).

A touch sensor 54 is provided on the side surface of the pen-type reader 12. This is a switch for instructing the timing of fetching the data code. As the touch sensor 54, for example, a piezoelectric switch, a micro switch, a piezoelectric rubber or the like can be used, and a switch having a small thickness of 0.6 mm or less is known. The control unit serving as the imaging unit control unit 46 starts capturing the data code as described above in response to the pressing of the touch sensor 54 by the finger. Then, the capturing ends when the finger is released from the touch sensor 54. That is, the touch sensor 54 is used to control the start and end of the data code acquisition.

Reference numeral 56 in the figure is a battery as an operating power source for each unit in the pen-type reader 12.
FIG. 6 shows a more detailed block diagram of the pen-type reader 12.

The reader 12 recognizes the image data supplied from the detecting section 58 and the detecting section 58 for reading the data code from the puzzle in which the data codes A to I are recorded, and scan conversion for normalizing the image data. A unit 60, a binarization processing unit 62 for converting multi-valued data into a binary value, a demodulation unit 64, an adjustment unit 66 for adjusting a data string, a data error correction unit 68 for correcting a read error and a data error during reproduction, and a data compression. A decompression processing unit 70 for processing, an audio reproducing unit (including earphones) 14, and the like.

In the detector 58, the data code 72 on the print is illuminated by the light source 36, and the reflected light is passed through the imaging optical system 38 such as a lens and the spatial filter 40 for removing moire and the like. Then, the information of light is converted into an electric signal, which is detected as an image signal by the image pickup unit 42 such as CCD or CMD, amplified by the preamplifier 44 and output. The light source 36, the imaging optical system 38, the spatial filter 40, the imaging unit 4
2 and the preamplifier 44 are configured in an external light shielding unit 74 for preventing disturbance to external light. Then, the image signal amplified by the preamplifier 44 is processed by the A / D converter 76.
Is converted into digital information at the scanning conversion unit 6 in the next stage.
Supplied to zero.

The image pickup section 42 is controlled by an image pickup section control section (control section) 46. For example, when an interline transfer type CCD is used as the image pickup unit 42, the image pickup unit control unit 46 uses as a control signal of the image pickup unit 42 a V blank signal for vertical synchronization and a signal for resetting information charges. Image sensor reset pulse signal,
Charge transfer gate pulse signal for sending the charges stored in the charge transfer storage unit arranged in two dimensions to multiple vertical shift registers, and the transfer clock signal for the horizontal shift register that transfers the charges in the horizontal direction and outputs them to the outside. It outputs a certain horizontal charge transfer CLK signal, a vertical charge transfer pulse signal for vertically transferring the plurality of vertical shift register charges and sending them to the horizontal shift register, and the like.

Then, the image pickup section control section 46 gives a light emitting cell control pulse for timing the light emission of the light source 36 in synchronization with this timing. Next, the scan conversion unit 60 is a unit that recognizes the image data supplied from the detection unit 58 as a data code and performs normalization. As the method, first, the image data from the detection unit 58 is stored in the image memory 78, and once read out from there, it is sent to the marker detection unit 80. This marker detection unit 80
Then, the marker for each block is detected. Then, the data array direction detection unit 82 detects the rotation or inclination and the data array direction using the marker. Based on the result, the address control unit 84 reads out the image data from the image memory 78 so as to correct it and interpolates the interpolation circuit 8
Supply to 6. At this time, the memory 88 for correcting the distortion of the aberration of the lens in the imaging optical system 38 of the detection unit 58.
The lens aberration information is read from and the lens correction is also performed. Then, the interpolation circuit 86 performs interpolation processing on the image data and converts it into the original data code pattern.

The output of the interpolation circuit 86 is the binarization processing unit 62.
Given to. Basically, since the data code 72 is a black and white pattern, that is, binary information, it is binarized by the binarization processing unit 62. At that time, the threshold determination circuit 90 adaptively performs binarization while determining the threshold in consideration of the influence of disturbance, the influence of the signal amplitude, and the like.

Since the modulation is performed, the demodulation unit 64 first demodulates it, and then the data is input to the data string adjustment unit 66. In the data string adjusting unit 66, first, the block address detecting unit 92 detects the block address of the aforementioned two-dimensional block, and then the block address error detecting and correcting unit 94 performs the block address error detecting and correcting process. , Address control unit 96
Then, the address order is detected, and the data is stored in the data memory unit 98 in block units. By storing in block address units in this way, data can be stored without waste even if the data is lost in the middle or entered in the middle.

After that, the data read from the data memory unit 98 is corrected by the data error correction unit 68. Then, with respect to the voice information, the decompression processing unit 70 performs decompression processing on the ADPCM, and further, the data interpolation circuit 100 interpolates error-uncorrectable data. The output is converted into an analog signal by the D / A conversion unit 102, and then output as a sound by the earphone, the speaker, the headphone, and the audio output device 14 that is equivalent thereto.

FIG. 5B shows a second embodiment of the present invention in which a two-dimensional data code is recorded in a puzzle 10 'having a three-dimensional structure. Even in this case, after the pattern of the cube is completed by the visible information such as the picture, the character and the color, the voice information is reproduced by scanning the reader 12 in the direction of the arrow 104.

The data code 72 may be printed using visible ink as in the first and second embodiments, or may be printed on each piece to complete the puzzle. If a picture, a photograph, a character, or the like is present, it may be printed using an ink that reflects only infrared light (not visible under visible light). Also,
The information coded as the data code 72 is not limited to audio information, but may be so-called multimedia information including video information, digital code data, and the like. As a leader in these cases, Japanese Patent Application No.
A multimedia information reproducing apparatus such as that described in No. 260464 may be used.

Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. Here, the summary of the present invention is summarized as follows.

(1) In a flat or three-dimensional puzzle composed of a plurality of elements and completed by a predetermined combination or arrangement of these plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements is a character, a video, or audio information. Of the two-dimensional data code that encodes information corresponding to at least one of the code patterns, each code pattern having information correlation with other code patterns. A puzzle with a dimensional data code.

That is, in addition to the purpose of completing a puzzle by adding a two-dimensional data code to a flat or three-dimensional puzzle composed of a plurality of elements, a reader reproduces characters, images and voice information. You can add new ways of enjoying it and motivate you to complete the puzzle. In addition, since the two-dimensional data code is not provided as a separate medium, it is possible to eliminate the need to separately obtain or exchange the medium.

(2) The data for permitting the information reproducing apparatus to reproduce the information encoded in the two-dimensional data code, continuously reproduces the information in the two-dimensional data code in the order determined after the completion of the puzzle. The puzzle with a two-dimensional data code according to (1), wherein the puzzle is arranged in the data read last when read by the device.

That is, since each element is provided with a code pattern in which information can be extracted only by one combination method, it is possible to make it impossible to reproduce information until the combination is completed.

(3) The puzzle with a two-dimensional data code according to (1), wherein the two-dimensional data code is recorded with an infrared reflective paint. That is, by printing the data code with invisible ink, it is possible to prevent the data code from interfering with pictures, photographs, characters, etc. printed on each piece in order to complete the puzzle.

[0044]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Added the purpose to complete the puzzle by making it possible to play multimedia information such as sounds and pictures after the puzzle is completed, and eliminate the need to separately obtain or exchange a medium for playing the multimedia information. It is possible to provide a puzzle with a two-dimensional data code that can be played.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a puzzle with a two-dimensional data code and a reader according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the concept of a dot code as an example of a two-dimensional data code.

3A is an explanatory diagram of a block address, FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a block configuration, FIG. 3C is a diagram showing an example of a marker pattern, and FIG. 3D is a magnification of an imaging system. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram in which a two-dimensional data code portion is extracted and enlarged.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a configuration of a pen-type reader,
(B) is a perspective view of the puzzle with a two-dimensional data code of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a more detailed configuration of the pen-type reader.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 to 9 ... Parts 10, 10 '... Puzzle 12 ... Pen type information reproducing device (reader) 14 ... Earphone 32, 104 ... Arrow 34 ... Information reproducing permission data 72, AI ... Data code

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A flat or three-dimensional puzzle comprising a plurality of elements and completed by a predetermined combination or arrangement of the plurality of elements, wherein each of the plurality of elements is a character, a video, or audio information. A two-dimensional data code that includes an element portion having a code pattern of a two-dimensional data code that encodes information corresponding to at least one, and each code pattern has mutual information correlation with other code patterns. A puzzle with a data code. 2. The information reproducing apparatus is configured such that the data for permitting the information reproducing apparatus to reproduce the information encoded in the two-dimensional data code is the two-dimensional data code continuously in an order determined after completion of the puzzle. The puzzle with a two-dimensional data code according to claim 1, wherein the puzzle is arranged in the data read last when read by.