WO2002013126A2

WO2002013126A2 - Support and method for producing position transmitting models with a corresponding reading device

Info

Publication number: WO2002013126A2
Application number: PCT/EP2001/009181
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Bock
Original assignee: Anitra Medienprojekte Gmbh
Priority date: 2001-08-08
Filing date: 2001-08-08
Publication date: 2002-02-14
Also published as: AU2001291753A1; WO2002013126A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and method for placing position information, e.g. on paper models imprinted with visible information, and for carrying out the future evaluation of the position information using a reading device. According to the invention, a programming process, which calls up data pertaining to a found position can be assigned to said found position. To this end, a support is used in order to be able, during printing, to print the visible information and the position information on two different surfaces, however, such that in each case, the position information overlaps the visible information while precisely fitting the same so that the position of each point designated by the reading device can be obtained in the visible information.

Description

Carrier and method for creating positional templates with associated reader.

The invention relates to a device and a method for applying position information, e.g. on paper templates, and later finding them with a reading device, whereby a position can be associated with a program process that calls up data for this position.

1. State of the art

1.1 DE 196 12 406 discloses a method for superimposing visible "primary information" in the manner of a printed template - with an invisible information which

- e.g. in the manner of an invisible barcode printed in the template - is not perceptible with the sensory organs, but can be evaluated with a sensor, so that according to this

Evaluation a process is called, which provides "additional information" for primary information. The invisible information is preferably applied with transparent special inks (see 2.3.5 below) above or below the primary information (e.g. hidden by the visible imprint), also with special inks, which can be detected by a reader and through the printed ink.

Similar goals are pursued by processes which provide existing areas with information which is clearly visible, but which does not interfere with the use of the primary information “functionally”, that is to say “invisible” information, which likewise has a reading after evaluation by a reading device

Calls program process. Such methods have the advantage that a visible - e.g. standard black - printing ink can be used, ideally working with standard colors and only slightly modified original templates.

The "Glyphs" suggested by Xerox are a simple variant: they are two-dimensional barcodes that are clearly visible, but are so small that they can be found in most of the

Practice existing printed surfaces without significant change in their print layouts, and hardly interfere with reading; the glyphs e.g. contain a database address that is used by the program process to display data.

1.2 In even more ambitious processes, the invisible or barely visible patterns are applied in the same way as in 1.1, ie with special inks; However, they are not applied and read directly as a code - that is, as information in the manner of a product number - but rather as "position information" from which an absolute position on a surface can be determined, with this latter position being able to be assigned additional information as in 1.1 , So it happens a reference (with two coordinates on the surface as an argument) to such additional information, whereby a process is called or corresponds to the two coordinates. evaluates them. For example, a music score can be printed in such a way that when a certain position in the score is determined, a sound is played from the corresponding point. According to the state of the art, there are several variants of this, e.g. the Anoto pen introduced by the company C Technologies, which uses machine-readable dot patterns, which are visibly printed in black with infrared inks over the entire surface, whereby the individual dots are so small that they not or only slightly disturb the usage or reading process. Now, for example, the Anoto pen can gain a position from such dot patterns, and so quickly that writing movements are recognized. Unfortunately, the Anoto pen is fundamentally technically complex and expensive; therefore it can only be marketed with considerable upfront investments and risks.

The applications PCT 00/2586 and DE 199 21 778.5 propose an alternative method for determining the position by using crossed barcode patterns which are printed on a map in the manner of longitudes and latitudes, at regular intervals and over the entire area, whereby each of these meridians is structured as a kind of one-dimensional barcode, which encodes its own position on the surface ("length" or "width"). Now the absolute position of a measuring point P on the map can be determined with a suitable reader to the nearest "length" and "width". For this purpose, the respective horizontal and vertical distances from P to the nearest length and width are determined (by convention, starting from P, each to the right and down). At the same time, the respective value of this length and width is determined on the basis of their structure, so that the absolute coordinates of P result from this position pattern (according to PCT 00/2856) through its purely local measurement. This measurement can be performed by an area or line reader; in principle, it also works with a very simple and inexpensive point reader. With these methods, areas can also be realized which, in the manner of a diary or a notebook, only have a form or a ruling, and of course, in special cases, completely "empty" templates are feasible, which only carry position information so that the primary information is provided by the user is painted in or printed.

In the following, all printing templates equipped in this way are also called "positioning templates".

1.3 Also known are transparent labels and stickers which are applied in a reproducible manner so that the underlying surface can still be seen. 1.4 Finally, machine-readable, multi-layer information carriers are known - e.g.

CDs - on which a sensitive, data-bearing layer is protected by a preferably transparent, insensitive outer layer.

2. Description of the invention

The invention relates to the production and use of positional templates 1.2 or 1.2. Patent applications DE 199 21 778.5 and PCT 00/2586.

2.1 Problem

2.1.1 According to the prior art described above, both the primary information and the s-jtz ~ Mu® er are preferred during the same production process, that is to say promptly

2.1.2 If, in a preferred situation, the print template provided with the primary information is available as a sheet or as a paper roll, DE 199 21 778.5 describes two preferred procedures in the event that position patterns (printed with "special inks") and primary information (with " Printing inks "printed) must overlap each other so that both patterns can be evaluated, both mechanically and visually:

a) the corresponding printing and special inks are applied nested together in the manner of a screened color print so that they do not overlap at the microscopic level. This method is feasible, but complex and it only works if the sheets are available in large quantities, so that the colors can be adjusted for primary information and position patterns on the running printing press; or b) the corresponding printing and special inks are designed in such a way that they can be read out separately even when physically overlapping, i.e. when two inks come into direct contact with one another. The production of the positioning template, however, now presupposes that the ink on top in each case uniformly wets the print pattern underneath, adheres reliably to it and to the surface, and runs nowhere during printing. Otherwise disturbance patterns arise.

2.1.3 In general, it is not at all possible to retrofit books, photos or maps that have already been produced and assembled - for example for the purpose of experimenting with associated data services to provide position information: this is practically impossible if, for example, these patterns are to be applied preferably by gravure, offset or flexographic printing; Even with more flexible screen printing, subsequent printing is only possible with single sheets.

110 The invention relates primarily to experimental situations according to 2.1.3 in which the print templates are already finished or the corresponding sheets are only available in very small editions; it can also help in situations where difficulties acc. 2.1.2 occur.

115 2.2 Invention

The invention achieves the above object by a carrier according to claim 1, a method according to claim 14 and a reading device according to claim 15. Further preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the respective dependent claims.

The invention includes a further development of the subject matter of patent application DE 199 21 778.5, the content of which by reference belongs to the disclosure of the present application and which essentially represents an extension of conventional printing methods.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments in connection with the attached drawing. In it shows

125 schematically

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a carrier (2) according to the invention which is patterned with a position pattern (1).

130 FIG. 2 shows how the carrier (2) patterned according to the invention is applied to a surface (4) provided with primary information (3), and consequently separates the primary information from the position information.

3 shows how the carrier (2) 135 provided with a position pattern (1) on one side according to the invention has primary information (3) printed on the other side, and thus likewise separates the primary information from the position information.

As stated above, this separation is particularly relevant in the sense of the invention when printing and drying the respective printing and special inks. 2.2.1 carrier

The invention therefore relates to a carrier and a method for creating position-providing templates, a position pattern (1) and primary information (3) being initially printed on surfaces separated from one another, and the carrier then firmly connecting the position pattern and primary information to one another. The carrier (2) according to the invention is therefore always applied to a surface (4) so that it has an “inside” (namely that which lies on the surface) and an “outside”. The following cases can now be distinguished:

150 a) the carrier is only provided with position information in the first production step. Here aa) is printed on the outside of the carrier, acc. Fig. 2 or from) on the inside

155 b) in the first production step, the carrier is provided with both primary information (3) and position information (1). Here ba) acc. Fig. 3 printed the position information on the outside of the carrier (2), or bb) the position information is attached to the inside of the carrier (2).

160 bc) in both ba) and bb), the primary information is applied to the opposite side of the carrier, the information applied to the inside being printed in reverse.

In a second production step, the carrier according to the invention is applied to the surface.

165

The carrier is preferably made so transparent or translucent that the primary information remains visible even if it lies below the carrier and the position pattern.

170 Markings are preferably printed on the carrier (2) and the surface (4), which enable the carrier to be applied with a precise fit.

2.3 Other characteristics of the beam and surface

2.3.1 Multiple supports can be applied one above the other and the surface can be coated. A multi-layer structure preferably arises from the surface and the support (s). 2.3.2 Preferably, for example in the case of a newspaper or a book, the surface is provided with primary information on both sides and can be designed as a bilateral positioning template

180 that it is coated on one or both sides, completely or partially and / or provided with the carrier according to the above method.

2.3.3 To use the position measurement according to the invention, the primary information on the surface must be clearly identified: e.g. with a book page, the reading and auxiliary device should not

185 only the page number, but also the ISBN number are available, because only this identification, in combination with the position determined in this way, allows the correct supplementary information to be assigned.

For this purpose, the reading device preferably determines information that is applied to the carrier in addition to said position information. In a further preferred variant, this is

190 Information, invisible or invisible, is additionally printed on the area that bears the primary information and is read there by the reader.

2.3.4 In a further preferred embodiment, the information on the carrier is provided by a further transparent intermediate layer applied directly to the above-mentioned surface

195 possible influences protected by the material of the surface, e.g. before chemical reactions with certain types of paper or inks applied to them.

2.3.5 In a preferred embodiment, information is applied to the carrier with luminescent inks for position determination and / or identification. However, there are a number

200 of other preferred methods for applying information according to the invention on the carrier can be used. The applied patterns encode the information due to the variation of a surface parameter that can be measured locally on the surface; this variation is preferred according to a point reader. 2.4 measured below, but it can also be discovered and evaluated using a line or area reader. Especially the samples according to the PCT

205 00/2586 are designed so that, in principle, the same pattern can be evaluated with all three categories, i.e. by point, line or area reader.

Position patterns (1) can preferably use the following physical effects, so that the corresponding surface parameter is varied on the surface

210 ■ an electrical surface resistance, which is preferably implemented by printing with transparent conductive polymers and either with simple contact electrodes or is measured with inductive or capacitive methods. The latter also detect the conductive ink through a film.

■ reflection through retroreflective patterns. The corresponding "inks" are a kind of emulsion 215 made of tiny, transparent but partially metallized beads; These inks can be largely transparent, but they mainly reflect directed light in the direction of incidence, like the "cat's eyes" on a bicycle rear light. This means that a commercially available optical barcode reader can be used to read samples (1), e.g. is made up of parallel light guides (one for the light source and one for the detector) 220. These inks are sensitive to abrasion, so you can see such a pattern on the

Attach inside of a carrier (2).

A magnetization that can be detected by magnetic measuring heads, e.g. with variants of the "Datakode" from Kodak developed for the transparent coating of photo film

■ a dielectric constant, the variation of which can be detected by a capacitive probe 225 ■ a transmittance or reflectivity towards polarized and unpolarized radiation. According to the invention, this category includes luminescence phenomena in which the pattern emits a different light than the incident one; such inks are used in banknotes and other security applications.

230 Additional surface parameters can be demonstrated by appropriate thermal, mechanical or optical local excitation of the surface

I

A thermal conductivity,

■ mechanical rigidity.

235

In special cases, the patterns can go through

■ thermochromic or electrochromic properties

■ changes in the refractive index,

240 of the coatings used in each case can be detected, or

■ by absolute and / or relative height differences of individual sample elements.

245 A position pattern can also consist of several patterns, which are each applied with the same or different of the special inks mentioned above. 2.3.6 The surface can be such that the side of the surface provided with carrier (s) currently evaluated by the reading device is against the back of the surface or against other parts of the surface

250 is shielded. With this e.g. achieved that when reading out the current page of a book produced according to the invention, the back side lying behind it, preferably also provided with such carrier (s), and / or other pages provided with carrier (s), are / are not read, that is, do not interfere , Here are two preferred examples: a) When using fluorescence for the detection of the position pattern (1) in a book 255 or a newspaper, the paper should be so opaque for the resulting fluorescence that it does not cause interference signals from the back of the currently measured paper comes. b) if a conductive or dielectric, transparent pattern (1) is to be read out with an alternating electrical field, then the surface (4) - preferably a paper side - can be provided with an intermediate layer of low conductivity but relatively high thickness, so that

260 Reading out a certain side the other side of the surface is shielded from the alternating field which is read out and thus a disturbance by possible conductive patterns attached to this other side is prevented.

2.3.7 A carrier can consist of several superimposed layers, each of which can carry 265 complementary position and primary information.

2.4 reader

The invention further relates to a mobile reader which said pattern locally on this carrier

270 is scanned and a two-dimensional coordinate position is ascertained and a computer process associated with the ascertained position can be called up so that corresponding supplementary information is retrieved from an auxiliary device. "Local" means that the section affected by the position evaluation preferably has a size of a few square centimeters, with an almost arbitrarily large positioning template.

275 The reading device according to the invention is preferably a point reading device which is placed on the surface and which, starting from a measuring point, the two coordinates of which are to be determined, is guided along a line over the pattern (1), a surface parameter according to. 2.3.5 missing. In the preferred case of a flat surface, this line is a straight segment, and that

Pattern (1) is such that the speed of the measuring point, and thus its position

In principle, 280 can be determined for each point of this straight line segment, in the manner of certain one-dimensional bar codes that allow this for industrial point reading pens. With such a

Reader must damage the position pattern by the measuring head, as well vice versa of the measuring head by the surface, can be minimized, and this is precisely what the invention can achieve.

285

3. Areas of application

By way of example only, some preferred areas of application of the invention are discussed.

290

3.1 Photos:

The invention enables photos to be subsequently equipped with position information, which can in particular trigger a computer process.

In preferred exemplary embodiments, such computer processes include the display of 295 information about ^{1 of} a photographed person and the playback of sound files assigned to the photo.

In principle, and in contrast to the prior art, this method allows photos of any age to be appropriately equipped.

300 3.2 Prototypes of positional templates, preferably books:

The invention considerably simplifies the prototyping of books equipped with additional electronic data and processes, which are intended to act as positional templates, e.g. for use in focus groups, for demonstration purposes etc.

305 3.3 Marking any surface: preferably with marking tools or - when using appropriately permeable supports - with inks. A visually controlled, but supported by coordinate measurement preparation of further work steps (drilling, sawing, etc.) can preferably be carried out here, the surface to be worked remains unrestrictedly visible and changes in processing - e.g. arbitrarily by the user

310 markings placed elsewhere - can be tracked centrally.

4. Other advantages over the prior art

315 According to the invention the following is achieved:

a) the carrier according to the invention ensures that position information and primary information are applied separately, so that mutual interference during printing is eliminated. b) the carrier preferably facilitates the reliable reading of the pattern (1); is for example (1) with 320 conductive ink acc. Fig. 2 applied to the outside of the carrier, the carrier can be as

(Insulating) plastic film. c) the carrier can be optimized for the physical / chemical sampling process, as well as other technical aids. For example, the carrier can be optimized for the selected machine-readable pattern by making it very smooth, so that fine patterns can be printed or embossed; or in such a way that certain inks relevant for the position pattern adhere particularly well - or at all - the maximum information density in a pressed or cast or other

According to the current state of the art, which is known from research on flat 330 information stores, the method of deformed carriers is at least one order of magnitude above the values that are possible with the best classic printing methods, in particular on paper. certain carriers - preferably made of plastic - simplify the application of others

Elements that cannot, or at least not yet, be applied 335 directly to a paper template: e.g. of polymer transistors or optoelectronic components

Processing and display of information directly on a book, a map or

Score. d) the carrier can protect the position pattern against wear and soiling caused by friction, as well as against moisture and other environmental influences. The one granted by the carrier

340 protection applies to numerous variants of the coating acc. 2.3.5 above, e.g. for certain electrically conductive but scratch-sensitive polymers, or for particularly fine and therefore mechanically or dirt-sensitive patterns. The protective function also affects chemically or photochemically sensitive inks. The carrier can e.g. filter away the UV portion of daylight.

345 e) the position patterns can be applied with materials which in the wet state react chemically disadvantageously with the inks used for impressing the primary information or would not wet them. f) the carrier can be produced generically, that is without being matched to a specific template. This works especially when the one provided with the carrier

350 primary information can be easily identified, e.g. by a code which - like an ISBN barcode - is part of the primary information; or if the identification is obtained otherwise

Claims

g) Position information can be easily and inexpensively attached to existing surfaces instead of - according to the state of the art - either having to create the corresponding print templates again, or first having to facsimile and then printing 355. that you can't or don't want to recreate

1. carrier (2), which serves to provide visually usable and two-dimensionally applied primary information (3) e.g. in the manner of a book, a map or a score, to provide at least 360 with a two-dimensional, machine-readable pattern (1) encoding position information,

in which

365 the patterned carrier (2) allows the primary information (3) and the pattern (1) to be applied to physically separate areas,

and where

370 the pattern (1) is designed such that for each measuring point P in the primary information, its absolute position can be found in the vicinity of P by local evaluation of the pattern

and where

375 a program process is assigned to one or more positions in the area to which primary information is applied, which program provides additional information for the primary information attached at this point.

380 2. Carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the pattern (1) can be read and evaluated locally by a mobile reading device.

3. Carrier according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier (2) can be applied to a surface (4) printed with the primary information (3). 385

4. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 3, which is rigidly glued or laminated onto the surface (4), which can already be provided with primary information (3).

5. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the primary information (3) 390 on one side of the carrier (2), and the position pattern (1) is applied to the other side.

6. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, made with such materials that the primary information (3) remains visible on the entire surface on which this carrier is applied.

395

7. Carrier according to claim 6, formed as a transparent film or in the manner of tracing paper.

8. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a surface can be provided on both sides with the carrier without the one on the one hand reading the one

400 on the other hand bothers.

9. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, which consists of a plurality of stacked, patterned and in each case separately readable foils, the respective patterning being possible with the same or with different special inks.

405

10. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in addition to the position information, an identification is encoded in the pattern.

11. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the pattern is attached to 410 that side of the carrier which faces the surface, so that the side of the carrier facing away from the surface protects this information from external mechanical, chemical and photochemical influences ,

12. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a transparent, 415 layer applied between the film and surface, the information on the carrier in front of a

Influenced by the material of the surface, or by the inks on the surface protects it.

13. Carrier according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the pattern attached to the carrier and read by it by the measurement of its luminescence, its

420 electrical resistance, their magnetization, their dielectric constant, their transmittance or reflexivity towards polarized and unpolarized radiation, their thermal

Conductivity, their mechanical stiffness, their refractive index, or by using their thermochromic or electrochromic properties, or by retroreflection, or by absolute and relative height differences of individual sample elements.

425

14. Method for equipping a two-dimensionally applied primary information that can be used purely visually with the naked eye, e.g. in the manner of a book, a map or a score, with position information and associated program processes according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the position information and the primary information in a first

430 production step are printed on separate areas, and only then are they superimposed on one another, and the position pattern (1) or its sub-pattern according to claim 9 is applied with a special ink, which is demonstrated by the following physical effects: luminescence, surface resistance, retroreflection, magnetization , Reflection and transmission of light, thermal conductivity, mechanical stiffness, thermochromic or electrochromic

435 effect, variation of the refractive index; or through height differences in the template.

15. Reader for use with a carrier according to one of claims 1-13, which detects a pattern (1) by detecting one or more of the following physical effects which adhere to the special ink used in each case: luminescence, surface resistance,

440 retroreflection, magnetization, reflection and transmission of light, thermal conductivity, mechanical stiffness, thermochromic or electrochromic effect, variation of the refractive index; or through height differences in the template.

16. Reading device according to claim 15, characterized in that the reading device triggers a 445 program process.