JPH08212318A - Two-dimensional graphic code card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a two-dimensional graphic code card whose read data can be processed by a computer not through a special device by using such a two-dimensional graphic code by graphic that need not be precise so much. CONSTITUTION: This two-dimensional graphic code card represents information data with an array of two-dimensional graphic codes representing N bits with one angular symbol indicating an angle, obtained by equally dividing a circle of 360 deg. by 2N (N: integer larger than 2), with two straight lines, and the information data can be written and read out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card using a two-dimensional graphic code represented by a special angle symbol, and more particularly to a prepaid card or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, optical reading devices (scanners, etc.)
The bar code system is the most widely used as a technique for recognizing various kinds of information by using the. The bar code is not only applied to inventory control, process control, assembly, shipment, and other data management in the manufacturing industry, but is also used in POS systems (point-of-sale information management systems) of retail stores and the like.
In these bar code systems, the bar code symbol printed on the information sheet is irradiated with light and the reflected light is read by an optical sensor, and the read analog signal is converted into an analog signal.
The converter converts the signal into a digital signal and sends the signal to the decoder. The microcomputer processes the image to read numbers, characters and the like represented by the width of the barcode space.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional bar code system, it is required that the width of the white and black bars printed on the information code sheet be accurately printed with extremely high precision. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time and money to print the bar code symbol.

In the case of reading a bar code symbol, after reading the reflected light as an analog signal with an optical sensor,
Since it is necessary to perform A / D conversion by the A / D converter, there is a problem that the device becomes complicated.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to use a graphic code having a simple structure in which the accuracy of written code symbols is not required so much, and the read data can be processed by a computer without A / D conversion. Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-dimensional code type card system.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention uses one angle symbol in which an angle obtained by equally dividing a circle of 360 degrees by 2 ^N (N is an integer of 2 or more) is represented by two straight lines. N
A two-dimensional graphic code card representing information data by an array of two-dimensional graphic codes representing bits, characterized in that the information data can be written and read. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the card is a prepaid card.

[0007]

According to the above structure, 360 is set, for example, when N = 3.
Each of eight angle symbols obtained by dividing the circle of degrees into eight equal parts performs writing and reading processing of the card by using a two-dimensional graphic code in which one symbol represents three bits. Therefore, it is possible to construct a two-dimensional graphic code card system and a two-dimensional graphic code prepaid card system by creating a two-dimensional graphic code card by using an angle symbol which is a simple two-dimensional graphic code.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates an angle symbol 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows a two-dimensional figure code (henceforth abbreviated as two-dimensional code). The two-dimensional code shown in FIG. 1 is in the case of N = 3, that is, 8 divisions, has a structure of 2 rows and 4 columns by the angle symbol 1, and the upper row is 45 degrees: “000”, 90 degrees:
"001", 135 degrees: "010", 180 degrees: "01"
1 ”, the bottom line is 315 degrees:“ 100 ”, 270 degrees:
"101", 225 degrees: "110" 360 degrees: "11"
There is a relation between the angle symbol 1 of 1 "and bit display. Note that if the angle data is subdivided into more than 8 divisions and n divisions, the amount of display information can be increased, but it is efficient even if it is mischievously subdivided. Instead, it is necessary to determine the optimum division amount from the required information amount, data reading accuracy, etc. From these viewpoints, for example, N = 3 is 8 divisions or N = 4 is 16 divisions. When = 4, it is a two-dimensional code representing 4 bits.

In this example, the angle symbol 1 of the unit code is represented by 3 bits, for example, the first symbol "00".
0 "= 0, second symbol" 001 "= 1, third symbol" 01 "
0 "= 2, 4th symbol" 011 "= 3, 5th symbol" 10 "
It is possible to display octal numbers as 0 "= 4, ... 8th symbol" 111 "= 7, etc. Also, since conversion of binary numbers, octal numbers, and hexadecimal numbers can be easily performed as is well known, 4 Data processing may be performed by converting the bits into hexadecimal representation.

Next, in the case of displaying characters, for example, assuming that one character is 8 bits, A: "000011"
11 ", B:" 00000001 ", C:" 00000
Characters such as 010 ″, ... Can be displayed by the combination conversion of the angle symbol 1. Similarly, if the Chinese character is doubled, this can also be displayed by the combination conversion of the angle symbol 1.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a ticket issuing machine of the system when the prepaid card system is constructed by the two-dimensional code card.
The ticket issuing machine of FIG. 2 is a card writing means, and when a banknote is inserted into the ticket issuing machine, the thermal recording writing head 3 is used in the amount information area of the two-dimensional code card 2 as shown in FIG. The amount information etc. is written by the two-dimensional code shown.

Writing of the two-dimensional code represented by the angle symbol 1 is performed, for example, in one writing block of 7 × 5 dot display,
Writing of each angle symbol 1 is completed by the writing head 4 of the heat-sensitive 7-needle head that moves in the direction (transverse direction) orthogonal to the moving direction of the card at a predetermined speed, and printing of the graphic code is completed. To do. Further, although not shown, various kinds of processing for preventing fraudulent cards and the like are performed at the same time. The card 2 which has completed the writing by the two-dimensional code reads the written contents again by the optical reading head 4 for confirmation, confirms whether there is an error, and sends it to the customer after coating. Reference numeral 5 is an optical sensor for reading a key code written with transparent ink or the like.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a card reader of the above system. When using the two-dimensional code card 2, insert the card 2 into the card reader and enter the charge input section 6
When the desired amount of money is input, the CPU 7 reads the balance information of the card 2 by the optical read head 8. The optical reading head 8 moves in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the card 2 and scans the two-dimensional code written sideways while receiving the reflected light from the LED irradiation light or the like by the optical sensor. , Angle symbol 1 and combination information are read. This read head may be configured by a line sensor or an area sensor.

The graphic code of the angle symbol and the combination information read by the read head 8 are decoded by the decoding unit 10 in the reverse procedure of the writing, and then the CPU 7 causes the card 2 to read.
After confirming the remaining amount information and other information, a process such as release of a play object is executed, and a new remaining amount is written on the card 2 by the writing head 9 with the two-dimensional code of the angle symbol 1 and returned to the customer.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A two-dimensional graphic code card in which information is written using an array of two-dimensional graphic codes that represent N bits by one angle symbol that represents an angle obtained by dividing a 360-degree circle into 2 ^N equal to two straight lines. A card system or a prepaid card system having a card writing means for writing and issuing to a card by a two-dimensional graphic code and a card reading means for reading and decoding two-dimensional graphic code information of an angle symbol from the two-dimensional graphic code card and executing the processing. Since a simple graphic code that does not require so much accuracy can be used, a device such as an A / D converter is not required.
There is an effect that a three-dimensional figure code card system can be constructed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a two-dimensional code by an angle symbol according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a card issuing machine according to the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a card reader according to the embodiment shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Angle symbol 2 Two-dimensional code card (two-dimensional graphic code card) 3,9 Writing head 4,8 Reading head 5 Reading sensor 6 Charge sensor 7 CPU 10 Decoding section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An angle symbol, which represents an angle obtained by equally dividing a 360 ° circle by 2 ^N (N is an integer of 2 or more) by two straight lines, represents N.
A two-dimensional graphic code card that represents information data with an array of two-dimensional graphic codes that represent bits, wherein the information data can be written and read. 2. The two-dimensional graphic code card according to claim 1, wherein the card is a prepaid card.