JPS63116286A - Transparent bar code - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove influence upon a decorative design and to prevent a bar code from being altered by printing the bar code with ink containing a coloring matter which does not absorb light in the visible region and absorbs light with fixed wavelength width out of light on the outside of the visual area. CONSTITUTION:A stripe-like bar code 2 is printed on a ground 1 with ink containing a coloring matter which does not completely or almost absorb light with wavelength in the visible region and absorbs light within a fixed bandwidth for light outside of the visible region. As a mark indicating the position of the bar code 2, the bar code 2 is surrounded by a line 3 or a specific pattern, mark, character, numeral, etc., are superposed to the bar code. Since the bar code 2 is transparent or semitransparent, the decorative design can be easily observed and also the space of the print can be saved. In addition, the bar code can be prevented from being altered by a pencil or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a transparent barcode that uses a barcode printed with transparent or translucent ink. This transparent barney can be used as a means for inputting and recording a relatively small amount of information in point-of-sale information systems (PO3), inventory management, logistics-related systems, and the like.

<Prior Art> Barcodes are used to read information by scanning a preprinted barcode with a dedicated reader. A barcode is printed with regular ink in stripes, and information is patterned by a combination of the stripe width and pitch width. The reader slides the barcode in the horizontal direction while projecting light from the light emitting part, and uses the light receiving part to sense the difference in reflectance between the striped part and the non-stripe part of the barcode.

That is, this is an information recording and reproducing method that utilizes the fact that a certain amount of projected visible light is absorbed by a printed area. Therefore, conventional barcodes were printed primarily in black ink.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> There were no problems in the function of reading information with the conventional printed barcodes as described above. Therefore, barcode systems have been applied to a wide range of fields. However, there are at least two problems with conventional barcodes that are often overlooked.

One of them is a design problem. As is well known, conventional barcodes have black stripes, so they have a monotonous design, and depending on the product used, the effect of the product design may be impaired. In particular, when a large number of barcodes are lined up, it can be difficult to identify each one because the designs are very similar to each other. Another problem is that the space used for design expression is limited.

Another issue is information security.

Conventional barcodes can be easily placed in numbers using a ballpoint pen or pencil. Furthermore, the existence of the barcode was obvious at a glance, and it was easy for an unspecified person to read the content information.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, this invention was made as follows. In other words, the barcode of the present invention contains a dye that absorbs no or almost no light with wavelengths in the visible range, but absorbs light with a certain wavelength width outside the visible range. It is printed in stripes using ink.

Further, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment with a mark indicating the position of the barcode. l is the base, 2 is the transparent or semi-transparent barcode, 3
is a landmark. In this case, the material 1 is not limited to paper, plastic, wood, cloth, glass, ceramic, iron, etc., and any surface shape may be used as long as it does not interfere with barcode printing and reading.

A striped barcode 2 is printed on this base 1. This barcode uses ink that contains a pigment that absorbs no or almost no light in the visible wavelength range, but absorbs light in a certain wavelength range for wavelengths outside the visible range. and print. The fact that it absorbs no or almost no light in the visible wavelength range means that it is transparent or translucent. The printing ink is a mixture of a transparent or translucent resin, a suitable solvent, and a transparent or translucent pigment that absorbs the wavelength of the light emitted from the light emitting part. Examples of pigments that are transparent or translucent and have the property of absorbing the wavelength of light emitted from the light emitting part include organic pigments that absorb light in the infrared or near-infrared region. - For example, when a semiconductor laser is used as a light source for the light emitting part of a reading device, it is desirable that the semiconductor laser has a strong absorption rate and absorption coefficient at the oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser, and has as little absorption as possible in the visible region. Such a dye is not particularly limited as long as it has absorption at the oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser but does not absorb in the visible light region and can be printed by an appropriate method. Examples include cyanine dyes, phthalocyanines, naphthoquinones, anthraquinones, dithiol complexes, and triphenylmethanes. A specific example is PA-
1006 (product name: manufactured by Mitsui Toatsukisha Co., Ltd.) can be used.

An example of the absorbance curve for wavelength of such a dye is shown in the second example.
As shown in the figure.

3 is a mark indicating the position of the barcode. In addition to surrounding it with lines as shown in Figure 1, you may also use specific patterns, symbols, letters, numbers, etc. as landmarks. This mark 3 is provided so that the user can easily recognize the general position of the barcode, and it may not be necessary to provide it depending on the method of use.

FIG. 3 shows a case where a barcode is superimposed on normal printing.

4 has letters and symbols printed using regular ink. However, in this case, if there is a possibility that the ink used may absorb even a small amount of light at a specific wavelength outside the visible light range, there is a possibility that reading errors may occur. Therefore, in order to reduce the reading error rate as much as possible, it is advisable to take measures such as positioning the bar code section and the printed character/symbol section slightly shifted vertically.

In this way, when the barcode is printed over the -a print, the information can be entered and recorded while checking the content, and the accuracy and speed of information entry and recording are significantly increased. . It also has the advantage that it is easy to see in terms of design and does not take up space on the printing substrate.

<Effect of the invention> From the above, the present invention has the following excellent effects.

First, since the barcode is transparent or semi-transparent, the barcode does not have to affect the design. In other words, there is no need to take the position or area of the barcode into consideration when designing the design, so the design can be designed freely, and the effect of the printed design will not be impaired by the barcode.

Second, since the barcode is not visible by normal visual means,
Information security effects can be obtained. In other words, it would be extremely difficult to amend the constitution. Furthermore, since the barcode is transparent or semi-transparent in appearance, it is easy to restrict the number of users so that only specific people can read the content information. This effect is further enhanced if the position of the barcode is not indicated by a symbol or the like.

In this case, it is possible to devise a method so that only the user himself/herself remembers the location of the barcode, or it is also possible to make it possible for only the system to read the barcode without informing the user himself/herself.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention. Second
The figure is an absorbance curve of a dye versus wavelength in one example. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the invention. 1... Base, 2... Transparent or translucent barcode, 3... Mark, 4... Characters/symbols.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Printed in stripes using ink containing a pigment that absorbs no or almost no light in the visible wavelength range, but absorbs light in a certain wavelength range for wavelengths outside the visible range. A transparent barcode that is characterized by