MXPA02000110A

MXPA02000110A - Recording of information.

Info

Publication number: MXPA02000110A
Application number: MXPA02000110A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Petter Ericson
Original assignee: Anoto Ab
Priority date: 1999-06-28
Filing date: 2000-06-28
Publication date: 2003-07-21
Also published as: CN1359587A; WO2001001670A1; JP2003503905A; RU2002101922A; AU752626B2; CA2377187A1; EP1197065A1; HK1048216A1; AU6038400A; KR20020033111A; TW492242B; BR0011955A

Abstract

In a method of electronic information recording from an information carrier, a position coding pattern 13 is placed above or below the information carrier, the information on the information carrier and the position coding pattern 3 are represented by an image with the help of a plurality of partial images, the position coding pattern is used to determine where the partial images should be stored in a memory area, the partial images in the memory area constitute together an image of the information on the information support, the position coding pattern is filtered from the partial images, a product, a device and software used to implement the method are also described

Description

INFORMATION RECORD FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of electronic information recording. In addition, the invention relates to a product intended to be used for electronic recording of information from an information medium; said product comprises at least one portion in the form of a sheet that is provided with a pattern of position coding. In addition, the invention relates to a computer-readable medium, a system and a device for recording information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It often happens that a user has text and images in paper form, but would like to convert them to an electronic form so that they can be processed on a computer or sent electronically, for example, in a fax or e-mail message. GB 2,288,512 discloses a manual scanner that can be used for image registration. The scanner comprises a line sensor, two wheels arranged at the ends of the line sensor, and sensors to detect the rotation of the wheels. The scanner is passed back and forth through an image or piece of text that the user wishes to register. The relative position of the line sensor is recorded with the help of sensors and wheels. The registered position is then used to determine where the image data recorded by the line sensor in an image memory should be stored. A drawback associated with the scanner is that it contains moving parts. Another drawback is that the wheels only allow the scanner to be moved in certain directions. WO98 / 20446 of the applicant describes another type of manual scanner or reading pen that is used for the selective recording of text. It comprises a light-sensitive area sensor, which is adapted to register images with partially overlapping content. A signal processing unit uses the partially overlapping content of the images to collect in a mixed image. The OCR program converts the characters in the mixed image to encoded character format. This scanner has the advantage that it does not require any moving part to determine the position. However, it is only designed for the registration of sequences of characters along one row of text at a time. US 5,852,434 discloses an arrangement for recording manuscript text by determining the absolute positions on a writing surface. The arrangement comprises a writing surface provided with a position code, a device in the form of a pen with a tip of the pen and a detector capable of detecting the code of positions, as well as a computer which is capable of determining the position of the device in relation to the writing surface on the basis of the position code detected. When a user writes on the writing surface, the position code is continuously recorded along the trajectory of the tip of the pen with the help of the detector. The registered position code is transferred to the computer for analysis. Finally, the result is transferred to a visual presentation or a printer. However, this provision is not suitable for the registration of existing text or images. US 5,852,434 describes three examples of a position code. According to an example, the code of positions is formed of points, each of which is formed of three concentric circles. The outermost circle represents an X coordinate, and the middle circle represents a Y coordinate. In addition, the two outermost circles are divided into 16 parts, which depending on whether they are full or not, indicate different numbers. This means that each pair of X, Y coordinates is coded with a point with a specific appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to completely or partially avoid the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art devices for the electronic recording of text and images. This object is achieved by an information recording method according to claim 1, a product to be used in relation to the electronic record of information according to claim 12, a computer readable medium according to claim 23, a device according to claim 27, and a system according to claim 29. More specifically, according to a first aspect of the present invention, it relates to a method of electronic recording of information from an information medium, whose method comprises the steps of placing a sheet with a pattern of coding positions and the information support, so that one overlaps the other; representing by an image information about the information carrier and the pattern of position coding, with the help of a plurality of partial images; and using the position coding pattern to gather the partial images into a mixed image of the information represented by an image. In accordance with the invention, a position coding pattern is thus applied to the information carrier, placing the coding pattern of positions above or below the information carrier. Therefore, information support is not provided with a position coding pattern from the beginning. Rather, the pattern is applied temporarily or permanently, at a later stage. This means that any image or text can be registered with the help of the position coding pattern. Since the position coding pattern is used to collect the partial images, special or separate position sensors are not required. Furthermore, it does not matter in what order or relation the partial images are recorded, since their respective positions are determined by the position coding pattern. For example, records of partial images may overlap, and registration may begin at any point on the information medium. The important thing is that the partial images together comprise all the information that will be recorded, since this makes it possible to gather the partial images in a mixed image with the help of the position coding pattern. In addition, the collection of the partial images in a mixed image can be carried out efficiently with the help of the position coding pattern. It requires much less processing capacity than the collection of partial images through the partially overlapping contents of the same. In addition, the precision and predictability of the assembly of the partial images does not depend on the information per se on the information support. The pattern of position coding can be projected as a light pattern on the information carrier, copied to a copier on the information carrier, or placed above or below the information carrier in any other suitable way. However, in a preferred embodiment, the positioning step comprises placing a sheet with the coding pattern of positions above or below the information carrier. This way of placing the position coding pattern is at the moment the easiest and most economical way to place the pattern of position coding and information support, so that one overlaps the other. In a preferred embodiment, the sheet with the position coding pattern is also transparent, except for the position coding pattern, and is placed on top of the information carrier. This modality makes it possible to represent information about information support by an image, and the pattern of encoding positions simultaneously in any partial image. Then, the pattern of position coding can be used to unambiguously determine a position in terms of the information represented by an image in each partial image, so that the partial images can be collected without any distortion. However, it would also be conceivable to record a partial image of only information on the information medium every second time, and every second time a partial image of only the position coding pattern. In this embodiment, the information and the pattern of coding positions can be represented by an image by electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths, and they can have different wavelength characteristics. If the sheet with the position coding pattern is placed above the information carrier, in this mode the sheet and the pattern of position coding must be transparent to the electromagnetic radiation by which the information is represented by an image, but not transparent to the electromagnetic radiation by which the pattern of coding positions is represented by an image. On the other hand, if the sheet is placed below the information support, the information support and information must be transparent to the electromagnetic radiation by which the pattern of position coding is represented by an image, and not transparent to the radiation. electromagnetic by which the information is represented by an image. Since a device for recording information in this mode needs to be able to send electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths, it will be more complex and thus more expensive. Furthermore, since the pattern of position coding and the information to be recorded are represented by an image by different partial images, there will be a displacement between the partial image from which a position is determined and the next partial image. (or prior) that includes the information for which the position is used, to gather the partial image with other partial images of the information. In a preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention comprises the additional step of filtering the position coding pattern. In this way, the final mixed image of the information will essentially constitute an image of the information support information without the position coding pattern. The filtering step can be carried out in the mixed image or, preferably, in the partial images. When the pattern of position coding is superimposed on the information on the information support, it will hide part of the information. As soon as possible to recreate the original information, the filtering of the position coding pattern is preferably done by replacing values in pixels representing the pattern of position coding, with pixel values obtained by averaging values in pixels representing the information. The average is preferably carried out in pixels located near the pixel that is to be replaced. In this context, the average also includes averaging by weighting the values in pixels. The position coding pattern can be formed of symbols. In such a case, the filtration preferably comprises the steps, for each symbol, of calculating the average of the values in pixels, of pixels adjacent to the periphery of the symbol, and replacing values in pixels that represent the symbol with said average of the values in pixels. As mentioned earlier, the pattern of position coding makes it possible to gather the images in a mixed image of the information. The gathering of the images preferably comprises the substeps of determining a position for each partial image of the information on the basis of the pattern of coding positions in the same partial image or adjacent partial image., and determine where the partial image of the information should be stored in a memory area based on the determined position. Since the position obtained from the position coding pattern represents the location of the same image or adjacent partial image on the information medium, it is possible to recreate the information on the information medium. In most cases, the partial images will overlap to some degree. This can be used to improve the image: if a pixel in the partial image that is to be stored in the memory area overlaps with a pixel in an image previously stored in the memory area, the average of the values in pixels of these overlapping pixels are preferably calculated, and the previously stored value in pixels is replaced with said average. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the steps of representing by an image information about the information carrier with a first resolution, if a first part of the pattern of coding positions on the sheet is detected, and representing by an image the information on the information support with a second resolution, if a second part of the position coding pattern is detected. In this way, the user can select to a certain degree the speed with which the information about the information support is recorded, so that a faster registration can be made when a lower resolution is sufficient. The different parts of the position coding pattern can be, for example, parts with different graphic appearances or parts that encode coordinates from different intervals or areas of coordinates. All the steps of the previous method, except to place the coding pattern of positions above or below the information support, are advantageously carried out "automatically" by means of a device that registers images and which has a software processor (programmatic) to process the images as described above. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, it relates to a product designed to be used in connection with the electronic recording of information from an information medium, the product of which comprises at least a portion in the form of a sheet provided with a pattern of position coding that extends through the sheet and encodes a plurality of positions on the sheet. The sheet portion is transparent except for the position coding pattern, the sheet portion being adapted to be placed on top of the information carrier for recording information therefrom. The product may consist, for example, of the portion in the form of a sheet or of a plastic folder, the front of which is provided with the pattern of coding of positions and in which an information support may be placed in the form of a sheet of paper. paper with text and images. The advantages of the product are evident from the previous description of the method. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each position of said plurality of positions is encoded by a specific part of the position coding pattern, and each of said parts of the position coding pattern also contributes to the coding of adjacent positions. In the prior art, each position is coded with its own individual code or symbol, which is "isolated" from the codes or symbols of the surrounding positions. The resolution of the position is thus limited by the partial surface occupied by the symbols or codes of a position. However, according to the invention, a specific part of the position coding pattern is used to encode several positions. In this way, a "floating" transition between the positions is obtained, which makes it possible to increase the resolution of the positions. It is also possible, on the one hand, reduce the relation between the size of the part of the coding pattern of positions that must be read to allow the determination of the position and, on the other hand, the size of the specific part of the coding pattern of positions that encode a position. The pattern of position coding can be any arrangement of lines, figures, surfaces or the like, which allows unambiguous coding of positions. However, as mentioned above, the position coding pattern is preferably formed from a plurality of symbols of at least one first type. In the most basic mode, there are only symbols of the first type, and the positions are coded with the help of the distance between these symbols. Alternatively, the coding can be binary, the existence of a symbol representing a one and the absence of a symbol representing a zero. However, this type of coding can lead to problems in positions that are encoded solely or mainly with zeros. In the most preferred embodiment, the position coding pattern is formed only of a plurality of symbols of a first and a second type or appearance. This pattern can be used for binara coding. It is easy to apply to a surface, since the symbols can be very simple, consisting for example of two points of different colors or diameters. The product having a surface with this pattern is thus easy to manufacture, since the information content of each symbol is small. In addition, it facilitates image processing. In addition, the symbols are preferably distributed evenly across the surface, making it particularly easy to create and interpret the pattern. To allow the creation of the pattern from only a few different types of symbols, while still allowing the coding of a large number of positions, each position of said plurality of positions is preferably coded with the aid of a plurality of symbols. In this case, it is advantageous that the symbols that code a position are distributed in two dimensions, in such a way that the same resolution of the positions in two perpendicular directions on the surface can be achieved. Each of the symbols preferably contributes to the coding of more than one of said plurality of positions. However, there may be edge effects that prevent this from being fully satisfied in the case of very few symbols. The pattern of position coding is optically readable, so that the pattern of position coding and information can be recorded with the same sensor. In this way, the pattern must be able to reflect, emit or absorb light. However, it is not necessary for the light to be on the visible scale. The pattern can also be fluorescent, the fluorescence being activated by electromagnetic radiation from the device which is used to record the information from the information support. The symbols in the pattern can be of any suitable type. They are preferably graphics, so that it will not be necessary to carry out character recognition (OCR) in relation to the determination of the positions, but they could also consist of numbers or characters. In addition, the symbols are substantially of a regular shape, preferably rotationally symmetrical, so that the symbols can be identified in the partial images essentially independently of the rotation of the image. It can be, for example, squares, polygons, lines or, preferably, circles.

In addition, the symbols are suitably formed of two colors with a contrasting effect, such as black and white or red and green. Especially preferred is a symbol having an inner circle filled with a first color, and an outer circle filled with a second color up to the edge of the inner circle. In this way, the symbol can be identified with the help of the circular boundary between the first and second colors. This identification is reliable, since it can not be distorted by the information on the information support on which the position coding pattern has been superimposed. The symbol pattern described above does not necessarily need to be placed on the transparent sheet. It can also be used very well on a non-transparent sheet, when the partial images are alternatively recorded from the pattern of position coding and information on the information carrier. The pattern of position coding can be done randomly, so that it does not contain in itself any information about the positions it encodes, but rather the part of the position coding pattern that is located on a partial surface must be coupled with the coding pattern of positions of the entire surface to allow the determination of the position of the partial surface. However, this has the disadvantage that the determination of the position requires a large amount of processor capacity. In addition, it is difficult to generate a pattern of position coding without ambiguities at random, unless a considerable amount of redundancy is accepted. Alternatively, each of said plurality of positions can be defined by a first and a second coordinate which can be determined by means of the part of the position coding pattern that is located on the associated partial surface, the coding pattern of positions representing the direction of the position where the first and second coordinates are stored. However, a position coding pattern formed in this way requires a large amount of memory space. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the position coding pattern is structured in such a way that the position coding pattern that encodes a certain position contains inherent information about that position. More specifically, the position coding pattern is preferably based on a first symbol string, which contains a first predetermined number of symbols, and which has the characteristic that if a second predetermined number of symbols, preferably successively, it is taken from the first chain of symbols, the position of these symbols in the first chain of symbols is determined in unambiguous form, the first chain of symbols being used to determine the position of the partial image in a first dimension on the information support. Since the position code is based on a string of symbols with a finite number of symbols arranged in a predetermined order, it is possible to define a "formula" for determining the position in a first dimension on the surface. In this way, only a small amount of memory space is required to store the symbol string, and the determination of the positions can be carried out quickly and easily. The position in the first dimension can be indicated, for example, as a coordinate in a Cartesian coordinate system or a polar coordinate system. As mentioned above, several of the steps of the method according to the invention are carried out with the aid of a suitably programmed processor. According to a third aspect, the invention relates in this way to a computer-readable medium that stores a computer program for the registration of informationsaid computer program comprises instructions for processing a plurality of partial images that together comprise the information to be registered and a pattern of position coding, the processing comprising the step of using the position coding pattern to gather the images partial information in a mixed image of the information. The computer program may be designed to be used on the device that records the information or on another device to which the images are transferred for processing.

The computer-readable medium with the computer program has essentially the same advantages as the previous method. According to the fourth aspect, the invention relates to a device for recording information, which comprises a sensor for the registration of partial images of an information carrier and a position coding pattern; image processing means for processing the partial images recorded by the sensor, which image processing means is adapted to use the pattern of position coding in the partial images to determine where each partial image should be stored in a memory area. According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a system comprising a product and a device of the type described above. The device and the system have essentially the same advantages as the product and the method. The features described above with respect to the method and the product can also be found in the device and the system. The invention can be used to record information from any type of information support above or below which a position coding pattern can be placed, so that information about the information carrier and the pattern of information Positions coding can be registered simultaneously or alternatively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described in more detail by a currently preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an example of a product having a leaf-shaped portion with a pattern of position coding; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an example of how the symbols can be designated in a mode of the position coding pattern; Figure 3 is a schematic view of an example of 4 x 4 symbols that are used to encode a position; Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a device according to the invention; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of an example of the order in which partial images can be recorded from an information medium; Figure 6 is a flow diagram showing how the partial images are processed; Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of a sheet with a position coding pattern in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The product Figure 1 shows a part of a transparent sheet 1 having a surface 2 on which an optically readable position coding pattern 3 has been applied. Sheet 1 can be a part of a product, eg a folder of plastic, but in this case the sheet constitutes the complete product. The position coding pattern 3 is formed of symbols 4 of a first and second types 4a, 4b, and more specifically of points of two different appearances, the points 4a having a black center point with a white ring around it representing a one , and points 4a having a white center point with a black ring around it representing a zero. For reasons of clarity, the points have been enlarged. They are of equal size and are equidistant. The pattern of coding of positions is arranged so that if a device represents by an image the points on a partial surface of a predetermined size, the position of the partial surface on the surface of the sheet can be determined automatically with the help of means of processing of images on the device. Stroke lines indicate first and second partial surfaces 5a and 5b, respectively. The part of the position coding pattern that is located on the first partial surface 5a, constitutes a first specific part 6a of the position coding pattern. This first specific part encodes a first position 7a, which coincides with the intermediate symbol on the partial surface. Correspondingly, a second position 7b is encoded by the specific part 6b of the position coding pattern located on the second partial surface 5b. In this way, the position coding pattern is partially shared by the attached positions 7a and 7b.

EXAMPLE 1 Position coding pattern A first example of a position coding pattern that allows the determination of positions will now be described. The pattern is adapted for the determination of positions by representing an image of a partial surface containing 5 x 5 symbols. As mentioned above, the symbols represent a binary encoding. The sheet has an x address and an y address. To encode the position in the x direction, series of 32-bit numbers of ones and zeros are generated in a first step. In a second step, series of numbers of 31 bits of ones and zeros are generated eliminating the final bit of the series of 32 bits. Both series of numbers, called consecutively the series of numbers x, must have the characteristic that if five successive numbers are selected at any point in the series, a single group of five bits is obtained that does not exist at any other point in the Serie. They should also have this feature if the end of the series "joins" at the beginning of the series. The five-bit group thus provides unambiguous coding of the location in the series. An example of a series of 32-bit numbers that has the above characteristic is "000010001100101001 1 10101 101 11 1 10". If the last zero is removed from this series of numbers, you get a series of 31-bit numbers that has the same characteristic. The first five bits in the series of numbers above, that is, 00001, constitute the code for the position 0 in the series of numbers, the next five bits, that is, 00010, constitute the code for position 1, etc. The positions in the series of numbers x as a function of the groups of five bits, are stored in a first table. Naturally, position 31 only exists in the 32-bit series. Table 1 below shows the coding of positions for the example described above.

TABLE 1 Position Group of five bits 0 00001 1 00010 2 00100 3 01000 4 10001 5 00011 6 00110 7 01100 8 11001 9 10010 10 00101 11 01010 12 10100 13 01001 14 10011 15 00111 16 01110 17 11101 18 11010 19 10101 20 01011 21 10110 22 01101 23 11011 24 10111 25 01111 26 11111 27 11110 28 11100 29 1000 30 10000 31 00000 It is only possible to code 32 positions, that is, positions 0-31, with the help of the 32-bit series. However, if you write the series of 31 bits 32 times in succession in a first row, and the series of 32 bits 31 times in succession in a second row below the first row, the series will move in relation to each other in such a way that two groups can be used of five bits one written on top of the other, to code 31 x 32 = 992 positions in the row direction. For example, suppose that the following code is written on the sheet: 000 ... 111 1 1000001000110010100 110101 1011 1 110 ... 000 ... 111 1 1000010001100101001 1 10101 101 1 1 1 100 ... If groups of five bits are translated into positions according to table 1, the following positions of the 32-bit series and 31 bits in the sheet are indicated. 0 1 2 ... 30 31 0 1 2. . . 29 30 31 0 1 2 0 1 2 ... 30 0 1 2 3. . . 30 0 1 2 3 4 The coding in the X direction is based in this way on using a series of numbers consisting of n bits, which is formed in such a way that if m are taken successive numbers of the series, these m numbers they will unambiguously code the position in the series. The number of codable positions is increased by using a second series of numbers, which is a subset of the first series of numbers and which is in this way of a different length than the first series. In this way, a displacement between the series in the longitudinal direction of the rows is obtained. The coding in the Y direction is based on the same principle. A series of numbers is created, referred to in the sequence as the series of numbers Y, which consists of p numbers, the series being formed in such a way that if r successive numbers of the series are taken, these r numbers will code the position in the series, and in this way the position in the Y direction in unambiguous form . The numbers in the series of numbers Y are coded in the pattern on the sheet as a difference between the positions in the X direction in the two rows, which is calculated in a special way. More specifically, the alternate rows of the 31-bit series and the 32-bit series are written as follows: Row 1: (31) (31) (31) (31) .. Row 2: (32) (32 ) (32) (32) .. Row 3: (31) (31) (31) (31) .. Row 4: (32) (32) (32) (32) .. Row 5: (31) ( 31) (31) (31) ..

Naturally, on the sheet, the series are written using the two different dot sizes. The rows start at different positions in the series of numbers X. More specifically, two successive rows are started in such a way that if the module 32 of differences between two numbers of positions located one above the other is determined, the difference is expressed by means of of a five-bit binary number, and the two most significant bits of that five-bit binary number are taken, this number must be the same no matter where one is in the row. In other words, the series is started in such a way that the displacements between the series in two successive rows remain within a specific interval along the entire row. In this example, the maximum displacement is 31 positions or bits, and the minimum displacement is 0 positions or 0 bits. The displacements along each pair of rows are then within one of the ranges of 0-7, 8-15, 16-23 or 24-31 positions / bits. For example, suppose that the series are written as follows (expressed as position numbers): Row 1: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 30 0 1 2 3 Row 2: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 30 31 0 1 2 Row 3: 25 26 27 28 29 30 0 1 24 25 26 27 28 Row 4: 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 16 17 18 19 20 Row 5: 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 0 23 24 25 26 27 If the difference is determined in the above manner, it will be 0 between rows 1 and 2, 0 between rows 2 and 3, 1 between rows 3 and 4, and 3 between rows 4 and 5. Take, for example, 26-18 in rows 3 and 4, which is equal to 8, which is 01000 in the binary code. The two most significant numbers are 01. If you rather take 0 - 23 in the same rows, whose module 32 is equal to 9, the two most significant numbers are 01, just as in the previous example. In this example, four difference numbers are obtained, 0, 0, 1, 3. Now, if in the same way as for the X address, a series of numbers Y has been created from the numbers 0, 1, 2 and 3 which has the characteristic that if four successive numbers of the series are taken, the position in the series will be determined unambiguously, it is possible to look for the number 0013 in a table, unambiguously determine the position in the address Y. In this way, it is possible to determine 256 unique positions in the Y direction.

The following is an example of the beginning and end of a series of numbers Y that contain the numbers 0-3: TABLE 2 0 0000 1 0001 2 0010 3 0100 4 1000 5 0002 6 0020 7 0200 8 2000 9 0003 10 0030 251 2333 252 3333 253 3330 254 3300 255 3000 The following is a description of how position determination is carried out. Suppose you have a sheet as described above, which through its surface has a pattern formed of a first symbol that represents a one and a second symbol which represents a 0. The symbols are arranged in rows and columns and in series of 32 bits and 31 bits as described above. In addition, suppose you want to determine the position on the sheet where a device equipped with a sensor is placed which can register an image containing 5x5 symbols. Suppose that the image recorded by the sensor is seen as follows: 11111 11111 01010 00101 00101 In a first step, the device translates these groups of five bits into positions with the help of table 1. The following positions are obtained: 26 (11010) 26 (11010) 11 (01011) 10 (01010) 05 (00101) Then, the magnitude of the displacement between the number of positions in the different rows is determined by taking the difference module 32. The two most significant numbers of the differences determined in this way, expressed as five-bit binary numbers, are 0, 1.0, 0. According to Table 2, this number of differences is equal to position 3 in the direction Y. In this way, the coordinate of the second dimension on the sheet is 3. A third table stores the starting position of each row, that is, the position in the series of numbers X, where each row begins. In this case, with the help of the coordinate y 3, it is possible to find the starting positions of the rows from which the groups of five registered bits have been taken. Knowing the starting positions of the rows from which the two groups of five higher bits have been taken and the positions of X to which these groups of five bits correspond, that is, positions 26 and 26, is possible determine the x coordinate, or the position in the first dimension, of the recorded image. For example, suppose that the starting positions of the two highest rows are 21 and 20, respectively. In this case, the two rows from which the two groups of five higher bits in the recorded image are taken, will be seen as follows: Row 3: 21 22 23.. . . 29 30 31 0 1 2. . . 25 26 27. . Row 4: 20 21 22. . . . 28 29 30 0 1 2. . . 25 26 27.. It follows from the fact that the y coordinate is 3, that the first two groups of five bits are taken from rows 3 and 4. It follows from the fact that the odd rows are formed from the series of 32-bit numbers and the Equal swaths are formed from the 31-bit series of numbers, that row 3 is formed from a series of 32-bit numbers, while row 4 is formed from a series of 31-bit numbers.

Based on this information, it can be determined that the x coordinate is 35. This can be verified by repeating the previous steps for the remaining pairs of groups of five bits in the recorded image. There is a certain degree of error tolerance in this way. The accuracy of the determination of the positions can be further increased by determining the position of the midpoint in the group of 5 5 with respect to the center of the image. The resolution of the position can thus be better than the distance between two symbols. Naturally, the previous steps are carried out by software, which in this example gives the coordinates 3 and 35 as their output signal. The position coding pattern can also be used to determine the position in a third dimension relative to the surface, ie in the Z direction. This is achieved by determining the size of the symbols in the recorded image, and comparing it with a reference value representing the size of the symbols when they are represented by an image by means of an information recording device, which is kept close to the surface on which the position coding pattern is located. In this way, the device can automatically determine if the device is close to the surface, in which case the images must be registered, or separated from the surface, in which case the images should not be registered, and triggers the registration of images depending from this.

The above description refers to an example, and in this way can be generalized. There need not be 32 numbers in the first series of numbers x. The number depends on how many different symbols will be used in the pattern in combination with the number of symbols that are recorded in the X direction in relation to the determination of the position. For example, if the number of different symbols is 3 and the number of symbols recorded is 3, the maximum number of numbers in the series of numbers X will be 3 x 3 x 3 = 27 instead of 32. The same type of reasoning will be applies to the series of numbers Y. The base of this series of numbers can be this way different, and the number of symbols that encode a position, and consequently also the number of positions coded by the series of numbers, can vary. In addition, the series can be based on symbols rather than numbers, and can therefore be described as strings of symbols. As mentioned earlier, the symbols can be of many different types. They can also be numbers, but in this case OCR software is required to carry out the determination of the positions, which makes the device for the registration of images more expensive and more complicated. It also leads to greater error sensitivity. The above method of coding positions on a surface and carrying out the determination of the position on the surface is advantageous because it requires only very small amounts of memory and processor capacity. In the previous example, it is only necessary to store table 1 with 32 rows, table 2 with 256 rows and table 3 with 256 rows. The determination of the position can be carried out by looking at the three tables and doing a simple calculation. In addition, the method of coding positions on the surface is also advantageous because the image on which the determination of the position is based can be captured in any rotation with respect to the surface on which the position is to be determined. . First, an image contains a number of rows that will be horizontal. This means that there are only four possible orientations. In 98% of the cases, only one of the four orientations gives a position. In cases where there is doubt, it can be eliminated by registering two adjacent images and determining the positions based on these images in all possible orientations of the symbols in the images, being the criterion that the determination of the position must produce two adjacent positions. Based on the aforementioned code, the determination of the positions can also be carried out in ways different from those described above. The registered image of a partial surface of the position coding pattern can be coupled with an image of the complete position coding pattern. However, this requires a large amount of processor capacity.

Alternatively, the symbols in the image can be translated in one direction in a box in which the coordinates are stored. However, this requires a large amount of memory capacity.

EXAMPLE 2 Position coding pattern A second example of a position coding pattern is described below. It has substantially the same properties as the pattern described above. This second position coding pattern comprises a virtual frame which in this way is neither visible to the human eye nor can be directly detected by a device that determines positions on the surface, as well as a plurality of symbols 104, each of which is able to assume one of four values "1" - "4", as described below. Figures 2a-d show a modality of a symbol that can be used in the position coding pattern according to the invention. The symbol comprises a virtual frame point 106, which is represented by the intersection between the lines of the frame, and a mark 107 having the shape of a point. The value of the symbol depends on where the brand is located. In the example of figure 2, there are four possible positions, one in each of the lines of the frame that extend from the points of the frame. The displacement from the point of the frame is equal to all the values. In the following, the symbol in figure 2a has the value of 1, in figure 2b the value of 2, in figure 2c the value of 3, and in the figure 2d the value of 4. In other words, there are four different types of symbols. Each symbol can represent four "1 -4" values in this way. This means that the position coding pattern can be divided into a first position code for the x coordinate, and a second position code for the y coordinate. The division is carried out in the following way: In this way, the value of each symbol is translated into a first digit, in this case bit, for the code x, and a second digit, in this case bit, for the code y. In this way, two completely independent bit patterns are obtained. The patterns can be combined with a common pattern, which is graphically encoded by means of a plurality of symbols according to Figure 2. Each position is coded by means of a plurality of symbols. In this example, 4 x 4 symbols are used to encode a position in two dimensions, that is, an x coordinate and a y coordinate. The position code is formed by means of a series of numbers of ones and zeros, which have the characteristic that no sequence of four bits appears more than once in the series. The series of numbers is cyclical, which means that the characteristic is also applied when the end of the series is joined at the beginning of the series. In this way, a sequence of four bits always has a determined position in unambiguous form in the series of numbers. The series can have a maximum of 16 bits in length if it will have the characteristic described above for four-bit sequences. In this example, however, use is made of a series that has only a length of seven bits in the following manner: "0 0 0 1 0 1 0". This series contains seven unique four-bit sequences that encode a position in the series as follows: Position in the series Sequence 0 0001 1 0010 2 0101 3 1010 4 0100 5 1000 6 0000 To encode the x coordinate, the series of numbers is written sequentially in columns across the entire surface to be encoded. The coding is based on the difference or displacement of position between numbers in adjacent columns. The size of the difference is determined by the position (ie, with what sequence) in the series of numbers in which the column is allowed to begin. More specifically, if you take the module 7 of differences, on the one hand, between a number that is encoded by a sequence of four bits in a first column and which can have in this way the value (position) of 0-6 and, on the other hand, a corresponding number (ie , the sequence at the same "level") in an adjacent column, the result will be the same regardless of where the comparison is made along the two columns. By means of the difference between two columns, it is in this way possible to encode a coordinate x that is constant for all the y coordinates. Since each position on the surface is coded with 4 x 4 symbols in this example, three differences (having the value 0-6) as described above, are available to encode the x coordinate. Then, the coding is carried out in such a way that of the three differences, one will always have the value of 1 or 2, and the other two will have values in the scale of 3 to 6. Consequently, no difference is allowed to be zero in the code x. In other words, the code x is structured so that the differences are as follows: (3-6) (3-6) (1-2) (3-6) (3-6) (1-2) (3 -6) (3-6) (1-2) ... Each x coordinate is coded that way with two numbers between 3 and 6 and a subsequent number that is 1 or 2. If three of the high numbers are subtracted and one of the low numbers, you will get a number in the mixed base, which directly produces a position in the x direction, from which the x coordinate can then be determined directly, as shown in the following example. Using the principle described above, it is possible to encode x 0,1, 2 ... coordinates in this way, with the help of numbers that represent three differences. These differences are encoded with a bit pattern that is based on the previous series of numbers. The bit pattern can finally be encoded in graphic form by means of the symbols in Figure 2.

In many cases, when 4 x 4 symbols are read, it will not be possible to produce a complete number that encodes the x coordinate, but parts of two numbers. Since the least significant part of the numbers is always 1 or 2, a complete number can nevertheless easily be reconstructed. The y coordinates are coded according to the same principle used for the x coordinates. The cyclic series of numbers is written repeatedly in horizontal rows across the surface which will be coded in their positions. As in the case of the x-coordinates, the rows are allowed to start in different positions, that is, with different sequences, in the series of numbers. However, for the y coordinates, no differences are used, but the coordinates are coded with numbers that are based on the starting position of the series of numbers in each row. When the x coordinate has been determined for 4 x 4 symbols, it is indeed possible to determine the starting positions in the series of numbers for the rows that are included in the code in the 4 x 4 symbols. In the code y, the most significant digit is determined by letting it be only one that has a value on a specific scale. In this example, a row of four is allowed to start at position 0-1 in the series of numbers indicating that this row is related to the least significant digit on one y-coordinate, and the other three begin at position 2- 6 In the y-direction, there is a series of numbers as follows: (2-6) (2-6) (2-6) (0-1) (2-6) (2-6) ( 2-6) (0-1) (2-6) .... Each y coordinate is coded in this way with three numbers between 2 and 6 and a subsequent number between 0 and 1. If 1 is subtracted from the low number and 2 of the high number, it is obtained in the same way as for the direction x, a position in the direction and in the mixed base from which it is possible to directly determine the y coordinate. With the above method, it is possible to code 4 x 4 x 2 = 32 positions in the x direction. Each of these positions corresponds to three differences, which gives 3 x 32 = 96 positions. In addition, it is possible to code 5 x 5 x 5 x 2 = 250 positions in the y direction. Each of these positions corresponds to 4 rows, which gives 4 x 250 = 1000 positions. Altogether, it is possible to encode 96000 positions in this way. Since the coding of x is based on differences, it is nevertheless possible to select in which position the first series of numbers begins. If you take into account that this first series of numbers can start in seven different positions, it is possible to code 7 x 96000 = 672000 positions. The starting position of the first series of numbers in the first column can be calculated when the x coordinate has been determined. The seven different starting positions mentioned above for the first series can encode different sheets of paper or writing surfaces on a product.

In order to better illustrate the pattern of coding positions according to this embodiment, a specific example is given below which is based on the described mode of the position code. Figure 3 shows an example of an image with 4 x 4 symbols that are read by a device for determining positions. These 4x4 symbols have the following values: 4442 3234 4424 1324 These values represent the following binary code of x and y: code x: code y: 0000 0001 1010 0100 0000 0010 1100 1010 The vertical x sequences encode the following positions in the series of numbers: 2046. The differences between the columns will be -24 2, whose module 7 gives: 542, which in the mixed base codes the position (5-3) x 8 + (4-3) x 2 + (2-1) = 16 + 2 + 1 = 19. Since the first position x coded is the position 0, the difference that is on the scale of 1 to 2 and which will be seen in the 4 x 4 symbols, is the twentieth of said difference. Since there is also a total of three columns for each of these differences, and there is a starting column, the vertical sequence further to the right in the x code of 4 x 4 belongs to column 61 in the x code (3 x 20 + 1 = 61), and the one that is closest to the left belongs to column 58. Sequences and horizontals code positions 0 4 1 3 in the series of numbers. Since these series start in column 58, the starting position of the rows are these numbers minus the module 7 57, which gives the starting positions 6 3 0 2. Translated into digits in the mixed base, this will be 6- 2, 3-2, 0-0, 2-2 = 4 1 0 0, where the third digit is the least significant digit in the number under discussion. The fourth digit is then the most significant digit in the next number. In this case, it must be equal to the number under discussion (an exceptional case is when the number in discussion consists of the highest possible digits in all positions.) Then, it is known that the beginning of the next number is one greater than the beginning of the number under discussion). The position of the four-digit number will then be in the mixed base of O x 50 + 4 x 10 + 1 x 2 + 0 x 1 = 42. The third row in the code and is thus the 43, which has the starting position 0 or 1, and since there are four rows in each of these rows, the third row has the number 43 x 4 = 172. In this way, in this example, the position of the upper left corner for the group of 4 x 4 symbols is (58,170). Since the sequences x in the group 4 x 4 start in row 170, the x columns of the whole pattern start at the positions of the series of numbers ((2 0 4 6) - 169) modulo 7 = 1 6 3 5. Between the last starting position (5) and the first starting position, the numbers 0-19 are coded in the mixed base, and adding the representations of the numbers 0-19 in the mixed base, you get the total difference between these columns A natural algorithm to do this is to generate these twenty numbers and add their digits directly. The resulting sum is called s. The sheet of paper or the writing surface will then be given by (5-s) module 7. In the previous example, a modality has been described in which each position is coded with 4 x 4 symbols and a series of numbers is used with 7 bits. In effect, this is just an example. The positions can be coded with a greater or lesser number of symbols. The number of symbols does not need to be the same in both directions. The series of numbers can be of different length, and does not need to be binary, but can be based on another basis. Different series of numbers can be used for coding in the x direction and coding in the y direction. The symbols can have different numbers of values. In the previous example, the brand is a point, but it may, in fact, have a different appearance. For example, it may consist of a line starting at the virtual screen point and extending therefrom to a predetermined position. Preferably, it may consist of the point described above with an inner circle filled with a first color, and an outer circle filled with a second contrasting color up to the edge of the inner circle.

In the previous example, symbols within a square partial surface are used to encode a position. The partial surface may have a different shape, such as a hexagon. The symbols do not need to be arranged in coolers and columns at an angle of 90 ° to each other, but may also be arranged in some other way. For the position code to be detected, the virtual frame must be determined. This can be done by calculating the distance between different brands. The shortest distance between two marks must be derived from two neighboring symbols that have the value of 1 and 3, so that the marks are located on the same line of the frame between two points in the frame. When said pair of marks has been detected, the associated raster points can be determined by knowing the distance between the raster points and the movement of the marks from the raster points. When two raster points have been located once, additional raster points can be determined by means of measured distances to other marks and knowing the relative distance of the raster points. In a real implementation of the second position coding pattern, a nominal separation of 0.3 mm between the frame lines has been used. If each position is coded by 6 x 6 symbols, an area of 1.8 mm x 1.8 mm is required for each position. When determining the position of the 6 x 6 symbols in a sensor of a recording device that is used for information recording, a position with a resolution of 0.03 mm can be calculated.

Device for the registration of information A mode of a device for recording information is shown schematically in Figure 4. It comprises a case 1 1 which has almost the same shape as a pen. On a short side of the case, there is an opening 12. The short side is intended to terminate at, or be placed, a short distance from the information carrier, from which the information is to be recorded. The case essentially contains an optical part, a part of electronic circuitry and a power source. The optical part comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED) 13 that illuminates the surface to be represented by an image, and a light-sensitive area sensor 14, such as a CCD or CMOS sensor, for the registration of a two-dimensional image, in color, black and white or grayscale. The device may also comprise an optical system such as a mirror system or a lens system. It should be noted that the sensor 14 must be desi in such a way that it can capture an image of the information carrier and the overlap position coding pattern at the same time. The light emitting diode may be an IR diode emitting light of approximately 880 nm. The power source for the device is obtained from a battery 15, which is mounted in a separate compartment in the case.

The electronic circuitry part comprises image processing means 16 comprising a processor unit with a processor which is programmed to read a partial image from the sensor, identify the pattern of coding of positions in the partial image, determine a position on the basis of the identified position coding pattern, and storing the partial image on a site in a memory that is part of the image processing means that is indicated by the position determined from the position coding pattern. In addition, the device comprises buttons 18 by which the user activates and controls the device. It also comprises a transceiver 19 for wireless transfer, for example, using IR light or radio waves, of information to and from the device. The device may also comprise a visual display 20 for displaying the recorded information. The Swedish patent No. 9604008-4 of the applicant, describes a device for text registration. This device can be used for the registration of information using the method according to the invention, if it is programmed appropriately. As mentioned above, the device can be divided into different physical cases, a first case containing components that are required to capture images of the information carrier with the overlapped position coding pattern, and to transfer them to components that are located in a second case and carry out the determination of the positions and storage of the images in the memory.

Operation Assume that a user has an information support in the form of a sheet of paper with text and an image that he wishes to send in an email message to another person. In this case, place the transparent sheet 1 mentioned above with the first position coding pattern 3 (example 1) on top of the sheet of paper. Then, turn on the aforementioned device for recording information, place the device so that the opening 12 rests against the information carrier, and passes the device back and forth through the area on the information carrier that contains the text and the image you want to register. It is important that the user "scan" the entire area that is of interest, so that the partial images recorded by the device cover the entire area as a whole. However, as will be seen below, it does not matter if several partial images cover the same area. Figure 5 schematically shows an example of how partial images can be recorded from an information medium. For reasons of clarity, the position coding pattern is not shown. The information about the information support is shown as a sun and a cloud in interrupted lines. Partial images 30-33 are recorded in such a way that they overlap using a movement from left to right. Then, the user lifts the device, and places it down slightly to the right of the partial image 33, after which the partial images 34-39 are recorded using a backward and forward movement. The user continues to pass the device through the information support, until the entire area he wishes to register has been scanned. During scanning, the device records images of a predetermined frequency, and the LED 13 generates selection pulses at the same frequency, for example, 100 Hz. When the sensor has recorded a partial image, it is read by the image processing means 16, and it is processed immediately or after buffering it in memory. Partial images are preferably recorded at such a frequency that they partially overlap, making it easier to scan the area from which the information is to be recorded. Each registered image is processed as follows by the software on the device; see the flow diagram of figure 6. First, a partial image is searched, step 40. This image is scanned, step 41, in a first step where the processor looks for symbols 4a having a black center point with a white ring around it. When you have found the first of these points, the search becomes easier, because the distance between the points in the position coding pattern is known. Then, the partial image is scanned again, step 42, in a second step where the processor looks for symbols that have a white center point with a black ring around it. An identified position of a black dot can be used as a starting point for this search, the processor using again the known distance between the points. When the part of the position coding pattern that is located in the partial image has been identified in this way, the processor determines, in the previous manner, which position represents the pattern of coding positions in the partial image, step 43. position can be indicated as a pair of coordinates. The rotation of the partial image relative to the information carrier can be determined based on the knowledge of the arrangement of symbols in the position coding pattern. In addition, the position of the partial image can be determined more accurately by determining the position of the position coding pattern on the sensor. In the next step, step 44, the position coding pattern of the partial image is filtered. This is effected by the processor that determines, for each point that is part of the position coding pattern, the value of the pixels closest to the periphery of the point. The processor then restores the image by replacing, for each symbol, that is, point, all the pixels in the partial image that constitute the point with the average of the pixel values of the pixels adjacent to the periphery of the point. Alternatively, the processor can replace sectors at the point with pixels with the average of the pixel values of the pixels adjacent to the arc of the sector. When the position coding pattern has been filtered, the partial image is stored, step 45, at a location in the memory that is determined by the coordinates of the positions. In this regard, it may happen that the partial image overlaps a partially or partially partially previously stored image. In such a case, the average value of the overlapping pixels is calculated, and the average value is stored in the position for each pair of overlapping pixels. The position in the memory where the partial image is stored does not need to be determined exclusively based on the coordinates of the positions. More particularly, the coordinates of the positions can be used to carry out a general positioning, while a fine positioning is carried out by registering (aligning) the partial image with previously stored partial images using the overlapping content of the partial images. When all the partial images have been stored, the memory contains a mixed digital image of the area on the information carrier that has been scanned using the device. This digital image can be incorporated into a fax, a document, a mail message 4 electronic, or similar. The image could also be used as an input signal to the OCR or ICR software, which interprets the text in an image, and stores it in an encoded character format. In addition, the stored partial images can be displayed in the visual presentation 20, to help the user see the areas on the information support he has not covered. For this purpose, a pixel in the display 20 may correspond to a certain area on the transparent sheet, and be activated as soon as the corresponding area has been covered. As another alternative, the information recorded from the information support can be presented visually on a screen of a stationary computer to which the partial images are sent successively, so that the user can see how the mixed image of the information is formed about the information support.

Alternative modes In the previous example, the information and the pattern of position coding are recorded simultaneously with the help of the electromagnetic radiation of one or more LEDs. As an alternative, the pattern and information can be recorded in an alternate form, so that every second partial image comprises the pattern, and every second partial image the information. In this case, the information and the pattern must be recorded by electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths. This modality has the advantage that the position coding pattern can be placed under the information support, and thus does not need to be transparent. Another advantage is that there is no pattern of coding positions in the partial images of the information that needs to be filtered. In addition, Figure 7 shows a modality according to which information can be registered with different resolution. The sheet 70 in Figure 7 has a large image registration area 71 covered by a similar position coding pattern in Figure 1 (for ease of illustration, the coding pattern is only shown by some points), and two small ones 72,73 resolution indicator compartments, which are also covered by a position coding pattern. The pattern in the compartments codes specific coordinates, which have been dedicated to indicate different degrees of resolution. When the user wishes to record information with a resolution of 100 dpi, he places the recording device in the compartment 71. The device recognizes the coordinates coded by the pattern in compartment 71, which indicates a resolution of 100 dpi, and then performs the record with this resolution. Fig. 8 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of the device for recording information, wherein the sensor for registration of partial images is accommodated in a first case 80, and the image processing means is accommodated in a second case 81. The first case may be the same as that shown in Figure 4, and includes substantially the same components. However, the registered partial images are not processed in the first case 80, but transferred to the second case 81, for example, a stationary personal computer, which has means of image processing 82, shown schematically with interrupted lines, to carry out the processing of the registered partial images.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A method of electronic record of information from an information support, characterized in that it comprises the steps of placing a pattern of coding positions and the information support, so that one overlaps the other; representing by an image information about the information carrier and the pattern of position coding, with the help of a plurality of partial images; and using the position coding pattern to gather the partial images into a mixed image of the information represented by an image.

2. - The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the placement step comprises placing a sheet with the coding pattern of positions above or below the information carrier.

3. - The method according to claim 2, further characterized in that the sheet with the position coding pattern is transparent except for the position coding pattern, and is placed on top of the information carrier.

4. - The method according to claims 1, 2 or 3, further characterized in that the information on the information carrier and the position coding pattern are represented by an image in each partial image.

5. - The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, further characterized in that it comprises the step of filtering the position coding pattern.

6. - The method according to claim 5, further characterized in that the step of filtering the pattern of coding positions involves replacing values in pixels that represent the pattern of coding positions with values in pixels that are obtained by averaging the values in pixels which represent the information.

7. - The method according to claim 5 or 6, further characterized in that the position coding pattern is formed of symbols, and wherein the step of filtering the position coding pattern comprises, for each symbol, averaging the values in pixel pixels adjacent to the periphery of the symbol, and replace pixels in the symbol with that average of the values in pixels.

8. - The method according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the step of using the position coding pattern to gather the images in a mixed image of the information, comprises the substeps of determining a position for each partial image of the information based on the pattern of coding positions in the same partial image or adjacent partial image, and determining where the partial image of the information should be stored in a memory area based on the determined position.

9. - The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, further characterized in that the step of using the position coding pattern to gather the partial images into a mixed image of the information, comprises the substeps of identifying the pattern of coding of positions in each partial image; determining, with the help of the position coding pattern, a position representing the position of the information represented by an image in the partial image on the information carrier; filter the pattern of position coding from the partial image; and storing the partial image in a position in a memory area that is determined by the determined position with the help of the position coding pattern.

10. - The method according to claim 8 or 9, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of, if a pixel in the partial image to be stored in the memory area overlaps with a pixel in a previously stored partial image. in the memory area, determine an average value of the pixel values of these overlapping pixels, and replace the previously stored value in pixels with that average value.

11. - The method according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized by comprising the steps of representing by an image the information on the information carrier with a first resolution if a first part of the pattern of coding positions in the sheet, and represent by an image the information on the information support with a second resolution, if a second part of the position coding pattern is detected.

12. A product that will be used in connection with the electronic record of information from an information medium, said product comprises at least one portion in the form of a sheet (1) provided with a pattern of coding of positions (3) , which extends through the sheet and encodes a plurality of positions on the sheet, characterized in that the sheet-shaped portion (1) is transparent except for the position coding pattern (3), the sheet-shaped portion being adapted to be placed above the information support for the registration of information therefrom.

13. - The product according to claim 12, further characterized in that each position of said plurality of positions is encoded by a specific part (5a, 5b) of the position coding pattern, and each of said parts of the coding pattern of positions also contributes to the coding of attached positions.

14. - The product according to claim 12 or 13, further characterized in that the position coding pattern is formed of a plurality of symbols (4a, 4b) of at least a first type.

15. - The product according to claim 14, further characterized in that the position coding pattern is formed only of a plurality of symbols (4a, 4b) a first and a second types.

16. - The product according to claim 14 or 15, further characterized in that each position of said plurality of positions is coded with the aid of a plurality of symbols (4a, 4b).

17. - The product according to any of claims 14 to 16, further characterized in that each of said symbols (4a, 4b) contributes to the coding of more than one of said plurality of positions.

18. - The product according to any of claims 12 to 17, further characterized in that the position coding pattern is based on a first chain of symbols containing a first predetermined number of symbols, and which has the characteristic that if a second predetermined number of symbols is taken from the first string of symbols, the position of these symbols in the first string of symbols is unambiguously determined, the first string of symbols being used to determine the position of the partial picture in a first dimension on the information support.

19. - The product according to any of claims 14 to 18, further characterized in that the symbols are regular, preferably rotationally symmetrical.

20. - The product according to any of claims 14 to 19, further characterized in that the symbols are formed in two colors with a contrasting effect.

21. - The product according to any of claims 14 to 18, further characterized in that each symbol comprises a screen point (5) and at least one mark (6); the raster point is included in a raster that extends across the surface; and the value of each symbol is indicated by the position of said mark in relation to a plot point.

22. - The product according to any of claims 12 to 21, further characterized in that it comprises a first area with a first part of the position coding pattern that is dedicated for recording information with a first resolution, and a second area with a second part of the position coding pattern that is dedicated to the registration of information with a second resolution.

23. - A computer readable medium, characterized in that it stores a computer program for the registration of information, whose computer program comprises instructions for having a general-purpose computer process a plurality of partial images, which together comprise the information that it will be registered and a pattern of position coding, processing comprising the step of using the pattern of position coding to gather the partial images of the information into a mixed image of the information.

24. - The computer readable medium according to claim 23, further characterized in that the processing also comprises the step of filtering the position coding pattern.

25. - The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, further characterized in that the step of filtering the position coding pattern comprises replacing values in pixels that represent the pattern of position coding, with pixel values that are obtained by averaging values in pixels that represent the information.

26. - The computer readable medium according to claim 24 or 25, further characterized in that the position coding pattern is formed of symbols, and wherein the step of filtering the position coding pattern comprises, for each symbol, averaging the pixel values of pixels adjacent to the periphery of the symbol, and replacing pixels in the symbol that hides the information, with the average of the values in pixels.

27. - A device for recording information, characterized in that it comprises at least one sensor (14) for the registration of partial images of an information carrier and a coding pattern of positions (3) that are superimposed one on top of the other; image processing means (16) for processing the partial images recorded by the sensor, whose image processing means are adapted to use the position coding pattern to determine where at least some of the partial images should be stored in an area of memory.

28. - The device according to claim 27, further characterized in that the sensor (14) for the registration of partial images is accommodated in a first case, and the image processing means for processing the partial images are accommodated in a second case.

29. - A system, characterized in that it comprises a product as claimed in any of claims 12 to 22 and a device as claimed in claims 27 or 28.