WO2004019267A9

WO2004019267A9 - Machine-readable patterns for reading out positions and other information

Info

Publication number: WO2004019267A9
Application number: PCT/EP2003/009192
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Bock
Original assignee: Anitra Medienprojekte Gmbh; Wolfgang Bock
Priority date: 2002-08-20
Filing date: 2003-08-20
Publication date: 2004-04-15
Also published as: DE10304846A1; WO2004019267A1; AU2003264071A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine-readable pattern (3) that can be applied in any size to a stationary or freely moving surface (1). This pattern (3) is supplied with a temporally variable signal and can be read out and decoded by means of a number of test probes (5) that scan the signal each time at a point on the pattern. The invention also relates to a method for reading out a machine-readable pattern (3) that can be applied in any size to a stationary or freely moving surface(1). This pattern (3) is supplied with a temporally variable signal and can be read out and decoded by means of a number of test probes (5) that scan the signal each time at a point on the pattern. The inventive method comprises the following steps: measuring a local portion of the pattern; processing the data extracted therefrom, and; decoding the data.

Description

Machine readable patterns for reading positions and other information

The invention relates to machine-readable patterns which are suitable for covering an area with information e.g. in the manner of a conventional industrial barcode and / or position information e.g. to be provided in the manner of a printable graphics tablet; a method for applying and reading out such patterns; and associated readers.

State of the art

1. The underlying prior art includes one- and two-dimensional barcodes, preferably those that are applied with conductive ink, and graphics tablets.

1.1 Barcodes that encode information that can be directly evaluated, in the manner of a product key, are known. Such codes are henceforth called "speaking" or "semantic" codes. Bar codes are also known which, as part of a pattern which covers an area, make it possible to find a position in this area, preferably by only locally measuring the surroundings only a little, or one The position thus found can be assigned information — preferably the address of an information resource or a computer process to be started — preferably via corresponding tables. Such barcodes are henceforth called “position codes.” In contrast to speaking codes, position codes allow any number to equip many areas of an area with information or assigned computer processes, moreover such "hot spots" can be set not only by the editor, but also, after the print product has been created, by the end user.

1.2 State of the art are also simple point readers, which e.g. Detect speaking barcode printed with conductive ink by ohmic contact measurement using two or more electrodes. Patent applications 101 33 259.9 and 00920557.6 also describe how such contact readers can read position codes. Advantages are the low effort, the small space requirement of the sensor and the potentially very high resolution; it is disadvantageous that it is a contact method in which, firstly, the patterns applied are damaged by repeated reading, and secondly, the electrodes can be short-circuited in an uncontrollable manner by scraped-off ink particles or other contaminants.

1.3 Optical reading processes, in which a reader is only placed on the template to be measured, avoid the disadvantages of the contact reading process: eg the Xerox glyphs. Glyphs are very small, two-dimensional barcodes that can be inserted into the print template at the prepress stage and printed with it in a single operation. Glyphs are optically recorded and evaluated with a kind of mouse, so that the position of this mouse is determined. Glyphs are designed as position codes, but the corresponding technologies can also read speaking codes. The process involves extensive sample processing, it is therefore comparatively expensive, and they cannot be used for all types of templates: Glyphs, for example, interfere on a monochrome surface. 1.4 Graphics tablets provide a universal position determination that is completely independent of the content of the visual template in which it is created. Another advantage is that the template placed on the tray can be coated, labeled or corrected as desired by the user. Finally, the function of the pen is hardly or not at all disturbed by dirt. Disadvantages are: firstly, a comparatively complicated and voluminous sensor system; secondly, the template must be set up again on the tray for each measurement campaign; thirdly, the surface to be measured must lie completely and approximately flat on the tray, which limits its shape and size. Blueprints and large maps are difficult to edit with graphics tablets, for example; curved surfaces not at all: their measurement requires state-of-the-art 3-D position measuring devices. After all, big graphics tablets are expensive,

1.5 Recent advances have been made in printing processes for applying conductive and semi-conductive components, preferably with polymeric inks and on plastic films. Although there are still many problems to be solved, e.g. In terms of service life, chemical stability, and component density, these processes can be classified as state of the art.

description

2. The aim of the invention is to provide a technology which can be implemented cheaply and which would make it possible to print a pattern on the underside of a printed, completely mobile usable and occasionally also soft template, which allows both reading out of speaking bar codes and position codes, without damaging it or interfering with the reading process due to contamination of the reading head; and which can also be applied to simple curved surfaces, that is to say to broad classes of three-dimensional objects. Alternatively, the invention allows graphics tablets to be simply printed out, etched from a PCB, or produced using near-pressure processes. The pattern is preferably printed using special inks according to the prior art, "ink" hereinafter referring to each formulation which can be printed or applied to a surface.

The invention achieves the above-mentioned objectives by a pattern according to claim 1, a readout method according to claim 14, and a reading device according to claim 30. Further preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the respective dependent claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are discussed below.

2.1 Simple pattern like a barcode

1 preferably shows a pattern (3) according to the invention, which is derived from a pulse-width-modulated, one-dimensional barcode, a common web (9) connecting all code strips (10) of the barcode to one another. This pattern is supplied by a control electronics (2) with a signal which is emitted by (3). A test probe (5) which is guided along a line (11) over (3) measures the emitted signal; (5) has no oh contact with (3). The signal measured in this way is sent to a further processing unit (7), which decodes it. The code determined by (7) 80 is received by an auxiliary device (8), this code initiating a program process in (8) or in a computer connected to (8). (8) can be, for example, a PC, a PDA, or a mobile device.

One of the known barcode methods is preferably used in the decoding, for example by the information is encoded by a variable width of the code strips of the bar code. The web only has the function of connecting the code strips 85 to one another without interfering with their reading, and is otherwise freely configurable. The web is preferably applied in one operation with the coding elements, e.g. printed with conductive ink.

The pattern (3) is "geometrically closed" in that each point A of (3) can be connected to every other point B of (3) along a path that runs completely within the pattern. (3) is preferably also designed to be electrically conductive 90 and does not contain any switching elements in the manner of a transistor or relay. (3) can thus be supplied by a single feeder line (9) with an alternating signal which is emitted from all points of (3). Such a pattern is now referred to as "electrically closed".

Patterns according to the invention preferably contain one or more electrically closed partial patterns. Furthermore, (3) in Fig. 95 is 1 planar because all of its elements can be arranged in one plane, e.g. (3) is printable in a single print and with an ink. Other patterns according to the invention can be planar, e.g. the toothed near-field antennas discussed below with an earthed auxiliary electrode; however, they can also have a plurality of levels which are electrically insulated from one another, e.g. when lines have to cross each other.

100

The pattern in (3) can also be read and decoded along a line (11), with (11) preferably being part of a straight line. In general, one-dimensional bar codes according to the invention or combinations of such bar codes along a single such line, and two-dimensional codes along a grid from a number of such lines can be read and decoded.

[05 Further preferred embodiments of the invention will now be discussed in more detail. This includes:

a) at least one machine-readable, flat, conductive, electrically closed and designed as a two-dimensional near-field antenna pattern (3), which is preferably applied with conductive ink to the surface (1) of an object of any size, which can also be movable and soft, and the can preferably be printed conventionally 110 - for example like a map, a book, magazine or newspaper page, or a product label.

"Near-field antenna" here means a conductive surface that emits an electric field, which is detected with one or more test probes from a distance to the surface that is much smaller than the wavelength corresponding to the emitted frequency. For example, the near-field antenna is supplied with a signal in the audio range - with a wavelength in the kilometer range - in such a way that all points of (3) emit a near field corresponding to this signal, which is transmitted from 15 to a reader (6) with evaluation unit (7) at a distance from Fraction of a millimeter is detected and decoded.

The near-field antenna according to the invention remains machine-readable even if it is covered by an insulating layer, for example if the print template covers it with insulating ink, or if it is attached to the underside of a printed film or paper surface (35) and through (35) is read. 120 near-field antennas can speak barcodes or position codes acc. Realize point 1.1.

b) control electronics (2) which supply the near-field antennas (3) with an electrical signal. The control electronics is preferably an external device which is connected to the near-field antennas (3) by direct electrical contact 125, e.g. by attaching the control electronics to (1). In a further preferred embodiment, the control electronics are integrated directly in (1), e.g. by applying it with polymeric semiconductors and supplying it internally or externally (e.g. by inductive coupling in accordance with section 7.2 below).

130 c) a reading device (6) which has a number of test probes (5) which detect the above near field without (5) having ohmic contact with the near field antenna (3), the above near field being coupled into (5), and wherein (5) is moved by the user along the line (11) over the near field antenna (3).

Preferably includes (5) acc. 4 shows an inner conductor (16), a shield (17), and an active end face (20), preferably designed as a hemisphere. the latter can be protected from abrasion by an insulating layer (18).

135 An evaluation unit (7) connected to or integrated in the reading device (6) decodes the signals measured by (5).

d) an auxiliary device (8) for displaying data or for general execution of digital processes to which (3) refers, 140 the auxiliary device preferably being a PC, a PDA or a cell phone.

3. Further preferred refinements of the invention using near-field antennas and “toothed near-field antennas” formed from near-field antennas or are now being detailed.

145

3.1 The surface (1) is preferably provided with a plurality of near-field antennas, each of which realizes a speaking bar code, and is supplied with a single input signal which is synchronous over all near-field antennas via corresponding feeder lines. The near-field antennas must not touch or overlap each other in the area, and each of these near-field antennas is controlled by the same control electronics (2)

150 supplied. This family of near-field antennas in turn forms a near-field antenna.

3.2 A near field antenna consists of coding elements, preferably code strips (10) acc. Fig. 2, the latter encoding the actual information; and ridges in the manner of (9) in Figure 2, which connect the ^'belonging to a near-field antenna coding elements together. these bridges acc. Fig. 7 from vertical and horizontal web elements

155 can exist.

FIGS. 2 and 3 preferably show near-field antennas, each of which includes a. realize two-dimensional industrial barcode. In Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 7 these elements and webs are shown in shades of gray only for clarification; for the same reason alone in Figs. 5, 7, 8 and 14 different interlocking near-field antennas shown in shades of gray. The near-field antenna (3) is preferably planar and homogeneous, so that near-field antennas (3) including those below

160 described auxiliary electrode (12) with a single conductive ink and e.g. Offset printing plate can be printed.

3.3 As shown in FIG. 2, an auxiliary electrode (12) is preferably added to a near-field antenna (3), which separates successive code strips (10) from one another and is preferably grounded, so that (5) detects the code strips (10) more cleanly , 165

Near-field antennas that implement a one-dimensional barcode are first discussed below. Fig. 2 shows how such a near-field antenna is preferably measured with a single test probe (5) by placing it at a point (13) and guiding it along the line segment (1) over the near-field antenna.

3.4 This is preferred by convention

a) Assumes a certain orientation of the surface (1) standardized over all usage situations, in the manner of a conventionally used book page, map, or a product label. b) starting from a point (13) along the line (11), the test probe is always guided from left to right.

175 c) the test probe is guided in such a way that its active surface touches approximately at a constant angle to the local one

Area is held in (1).

3.5 Active area (18), (20) of (5) - the tip of the spherical cap - is preferably dimensioned smaller than the features to be measured - for example smaller than the width of the strips (10).

180

3.6 The guidance of (5) along the line (11) is preferably facilitated by a graphic, visible feature (77) in the print template. Preferably, (5) can sit on (1) while it is being guided along (11).

The reading process can be carried out almost error-free in the immediate vicinity of the near-field antenna. For example, With 1 mm wide and 1 mm apart code strips (10) the near-field signals are clearly detected when a plastic film (1) from

185 0.1 mm thickness separates a spherical cap in (5) of approx. 1 mm diameter from the near-field antenna (3).

Now e.g. the pattern in FIG. 2 is applied according to known industrial standards, read out with the test probe (5) and decoded using likewise known algorithms. However, the latter would have to compensate for the fluctuations in probe speed and height due to the pulse width modulation used in this industry code and the freely guided test probes, which is only the case with the small dimensions and rough surfaces according to the invention (e.g. a paper sheet)

190 works conditionally.

3.7 In a first preferred variant, the test probe (5) is therefore guided through a device along a straight segment. This device preferably allows a continuous path measurement along (11) so that the respective linear speed at which (5) drives over (3) can be determined and thus e.g. the width of a measured

195 code strip can be determined more precisely. 3.8 In a second preferred variant, a guide device according to 3.7 is dispensed with; the 'influence above

Instead, fluctuations in pen speed are minimized by the very robust binary barcode variant described below with the associated control and evaluation electronics.

200

3.8.1 For this purpose, two near-field antennas (22) and (23) are first interlinked according to FIG. Fig. 5B) a group of q parallel strips (10) by

each strip (10) physically and electrically 205 contacts either only the web (31) of (22) or only the web (32) of (23). according to a preferred convention, each stripe in (10) encodes a "1" in a bit string when connected to (32); and a "0" if it is connected to (31), preferably the near-field antennas (22) and (23) are each supplied with different electrical signals in such a way that the readout electronics recognize whether the probe crossing a strip is currently driving over a "1" strip or a "0" strip. 210

The combination (21) of two toothed near-field antennas (22) and (23) as described above is referred to below as a toothed near-field antenna or also a toothed bar code pattern.

According to 3.3 above, the toothed near-field antennas can have a common, preferably ground 215 auxiliary electrode (12) which shields the code strips (10) from one another and minimizes the signal present at (5) between two code strips (10).

3.8.2 The code strips (10) are preferably also of equal width and equidistant from one another, so that the entirety of all strips (10) is spanned by a one-dimensional grid of the grid constant w. Now the measured runs through

220 near-field signal a maximum if a tip (5), preferably designed as a hemisphere, whose diameter is approximately as large as the width of a code strip, is guided over it; when properly interpreted, this effect dominates the fluctuations described under 3.7. Now, even when traversing a toothed near-field antenna, a local absolute value of the speed of the test tip can be determined along (11).

225 3.8.3 Toothed near-field antennas can be applied together with the electrode (12) with a single pressure plate and ink.

3.8.4 FIG. 6 preferably shows in part 6A) and 6B) an embodiment of the control electronics belonging to (21). FIG. 6B) shows how signals (27) and (28) are formed from a clock (25) and a carrier (26), respectively adjacent to (22) and 230 (23).

If the tip (5) now stands over a strip (10), as shown in FIG. 6A), the evaluation electronics can use the clock (25) to assign the signals measured by the pen (22) or (23) and consequently to the strip (10 ) assign a "1" or a "0", the clock frequency preferably being selected so that this process is repeated several times while crossing a 235 determined code strip (10). The near-field signal emitted over a strip (10) is preferably passed on from the receiving test probe (5) to a buffer amplifier (29), which directly connects the sound card of a PC can feed. A suitable software now determines, preferably according to 3.8.2 and using the clock that is transmitted through the 2nd channel of the sound card - the value assigned to the code strip (10).

For further illustration, assume that (5) during the reading along line (11) on each

240 code strips (10) dwell for at least 6 msec: then a frequency (25) of 1 kHz is sufficient to query a strip several times during reading whether it is to be assigned to (22) or (23).

In this example, the frequency of the signal (26) is preferably chosen to be 16 times the frequency of (25). The resulting frequency (26) of 16 kHz can still be measured with the sound card.

245

3.8.5 The preferred arrangement described above is characterized in that it can be implemented with a few C-MOS gates, as a peripheral device of a PC or PDA (8). Similar preferred arrangements can be implemented with very simple, inexpensive microcontrollers, which can also relieve or completely replace the PC and / or its sound card when evaluating and decoding the signal from (6).

250

3.8.6 In very general terms, the near-field antennas (22) and (23) can each be supplied with different signals S1 and SO if it is only possible to reliably differentiate between S1 and SO. S1 and SO can preferably supply the near-field sequences as periodic, but temporally discriminatable sequences of individual pulses; in another 255 preferred alternative, S1 and SO differ in frequency.

3.9 Advantages of the invention in the implementation of speaking barcodes with near-field antennas and toothed near-field antennas

260

3.9.1 The above preferred arrangement is very inexpensive because

■ Near field antennas can be printed with any, especially with non-transparent conductive inks.

The electronics are simple and cheap, and e.g. together with a battery acc. 16 could be integrated into a book cover. 265 ■ the reading pen in the fully functional minimal version described above only contains a simple buffer amplifier that either feeds a sound card directly or a cheap microcontroller.

The low costs improve the scope for dividing the functionality, e.g. by assigning a separate reading device to each object equipped with near-field antennas according to the invention. Furthermore, the 270 reading device (6), the evaluation unit, the control electronics (2) and the auxiliary device (8) can be combined with one another as required.

Finally, the reading pen and evaluation electronics can preferably be integrated into a cell phone or PDA if this technology has been used in a wide variety of applications.

275 3.9.2 The near-field antennas can be read as often as required and are protected against dirt and damage. 3.9.3 Pattern and reader are protected from one another: the protective layer (35) described above is preferably electrically insulating. In other variants of the pattern according to the invention, for example according to Point 8.1 below, it can also be electrically conductive.

280

3.9.4 The near-field antenna according to the invention can be read out without contact.

3.9.5 The toothed near-field antenna can preferably exchange additional information with the reading device (point 5 below).

285

4. One- and two-dimensional position detection with one-dimensional barcodes:

290 However, the above advantages are most evident when the reader is used to decode a position code, as has now been explained. 4.1 describes a process that is particularly suitable for print templates that have a visible line structure, in the manner of a form or contract. 4.2 describes a more complicated structure of superimposed, preferably toothed, near-field antennas, which provides improved position detection.

295

4.1 Line-oriented position measurement with toothed near-field antennas

The following show:

300 - FIG. 7A) for clarification only the substrate (35) with the surface (1), which is provided with a print template (37) - here preferably implemented as text - with (37) being delimited by a frame (30) , and wherein in this text a position is to be found for the measuring point (13) - here preferably corresponding to a keyword in the text (37); Adjacent to (30) is a right edge (33), which is necessary according to the invention in order to be able to measure points (13) on the right edge of (30).

305 - FIG. 7B) shows only the toothed near-field antenna which can be used for line-based position determination and which is formed from the near-field antennas (22) and (23) and the common auxiliary electrode (12).

7C) preferably the position determination for a point (13), the pin being placed on a point (13) of the surface (1) and being drawn along a line (11), at least n code strips (10) having to be crossed; and 310 where n is given by the pattern as described below. The toothed near-field antenna from FIG. 7B) is applied under (35).

The pattern shown in FIG. 7B) is preferably formed as follows: first, according to 3.8.1, the value "1" is assigned to a near-field antenna (22) and (23). Assigned "0". The near-field antennas (22) and (23) each contain a web that

315 preferably consists of a vertical web element and a number of horizontal web elements, the latter transversely run over the printed template, preferably under the space between two successive lines of text of a visibly printed text.

Now a group of code strips (10), which are preferably equidistant, parallel to one another, and all of the same width, are each attached within two horizontal web elements in such a way that a specific code strip (10) each has exactly 320 a web of (22) or (23) is connected so that it encodes the binary value assigned to this near-field antenna. The pattern in FIG. 7B) thus encodes a one-dimensional bit sequence which corresponds to the strips (10) read from left to right and from top to bottom. These bit sequences are preferably calculated according to the methods described below.

The preferably attached, preferably grounded common auxiliary electrode (12) is also shown in FIG. 7B). 325

4.1.2 One-dimensional barcodes structured as a tile pattern

330

Patent application DE 101 37 145 describes a bit pattern which divides each line in the same way into an integer number of one-dimensional tiles, each tile containing a barcode which codes the number of this tile. Lined up in series, the binary values of these barcodes result in a bit sequence in accordance with. 4.1.1. Accordingly, starting from point (13), n successive code strips (10) can be measured along (11), n corresponding to at least one tile width 335. The line containing (13) is determined on the basis of the tile number determined in this way and, approximately, based on the code strips crossed by (5) before reaching the tile, the position of (13) within this line.

4.1.3 Chain code pattern

340 In addition to the prior art described in 101 33 259.9, so-called "chain codes of order n" can preferably be used for line-oriented position measurement. The latter are binary sequences, such that a specific key S, which is formed from n successive bits in such a chain code, occurs exactly once in this chain code, so that S corresponds exactly to a specific position in the chain code. According to the prior art, such codes are used in position sensors and certain position patterns.

345 According to 7B) a rectangular artwork, delimited by a frame (30), divided into p + r narrow columns of width w, where w is the lattice constant mentioned in 3.8.2, p * w is the width of the artwork (30), and r * w is equal to the width of (33); where r> n. Finally, let z be the number of lines in the template. A chain code of order n, which is K bits long, is assumed, whereby K ~ 2 ** n with K> z * (p + r). This chain code therefore begins with z bit sequences of length p + r, so that each line m, the m-th of the preceding

350 bit strings can be assigned.

Now, starting from a point (13) in the frame (30), by guiding the test probe along a segment (11), a key S can be obtained, whose position can be found in the chain code and the position of the point (13) can thus be determined.

4.1.4 The method described above has the disadvantage that the area over a horizontal web element and in its vicinity cannot be measured according to the invention, so that the position can only be measured within a line, and that the test pin also only measures correctly if the line segment (11) remains within a line. Furthermore, the maximum possible vertical resolution corresponds to the line spacing, in practice a few millimeters.

360 4.2 Pattern for reading out any x-y positions on the surface

The disadvantages listed under 4.1.4 can preferably be avoided with crossed barcodes, which each cover the entire template to be measured.

365

4.2.1 Crossed toothed near-field antennas

According to Fig. 8 provide an insulating separating film (34) with two superimposed, crossed toothed near-field antennas (39) and (40), each corresponding to a surface coordinate x and y, with (34) being attached to the 370 underside of a print template (35) can; so that (34) the toothed near-field antennas (40) and (39) from each other, and (35) separates the artwork (37) from (40). An auxiliary electrode (12) according to. Fig. 5 are added; this is not shown in FIG. 8.

Instead of a separating film (34), an insulating varnish can preferably be used by printing (35) from below first with 375 (40), then with this varnish, then with (39).

FIG. 8 preferably shows how a further printed side (36) is applied to the underside of (34), so that it also separates a printing template (38) from (39), with (38) being at the very bottom in FIG. 8. In this way e.g. a single pair of crossed toothed near-field antennas (39), (40) provide a double-sided printed or writable print page with 380 position information.

Blank paper pages can also be equipped in this way; so that the user can edit them and assign information and / or a process to any position on the respective page.

385 The two toothed near-field antennas (39) and (40) are preferably crossed perpendicularly and the line (11) intersects both at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, so that the tip (5) has both coordinates x and y starting from (13) in one Missing run along (11). The temporal multiplex described in 4.1 is preferably expanded in such a way that, in chronological succession, first the first near-field antenna in (39), then the second near-field antenna in (39), then the first near-field antenna in (40), and then the second near-field antenna in ( 40) can be scanned. Each of these is preferred

390 near-field antennas are connected to a tristate bus driver output, which either pulls them to ground, applies a signal, or keeps them at a "floating" potential.

Preference is given furthermore, by a suitable choice of printing inks and ^'printing processes, the surface conductivity of the toothed near-field antennas (39) and (40) is adjusted so that the outgoing (39) and (40) signals, respectively (40) and (39) for Test tip (5) can be passed.

395 4.2.2 Crossed chain code patterns

Here, too, chain codes can preferably be used to determine a position in the respective toothed near-field antenna (39) and (40). For this purpose, chain codes Cx and Cy 400 (each in the order nx, ny) for the coordinates x and y to be measured are first defined in accordance with the template size. Starting from the measuring point (13), two sequences of at least q bits with q = Max (nx, ny) are detected along the line (11) inclined by approximately 45 degrees with the test probe (5), one in (39) and one in (40); a key Sx, Sy of length nx and ny is then formed and its position is determined in the corresponding chain code Cx and Cx; thus the x, y position of (13) follows.

405

If a pair of pages according to FIG. 8 is to be read out on both sides, preference is given to 4.3.2 checked below whether the stylus is missing a front or a back and adjusted the coordinate calculation.

410 4.3 Advantages of chain codes for position measurement

Chaincodes have certain advantages: first, the keys required to find the position are very compact - a 12-bit key is sufficient to use a toothed near-field antenna with 4096 code strips in accordance with. 5 shows a one-dimensional position to be determined precisely on 1 code strip; secondly, chain codes enable simple error correction; thirdly, 415 they can also be used for simplified position measurement on both sides of a printed template.

4.3.1 Error detection with chain codes

First, it must be ensured that at least q x code strips or y code strips have been read out, preferably 420 by simply counting up the strips crossed.

Now, as shown in Fig. 8, with the test probe (5), starting from the measuring point (13) and along the line segment (11), n + o bits had been detected, corresponding to o + 1 immediately successive bit sequences of length n. If the latter are keys shifted by 1 bit in the corresponding chain code Cx or Cy, no readout error 425 has occurred. Normally, o will be small (preferably o = 1), because two keys that have been correctly offset in this way indicate correct reading, and several bit sequences of length nx and ny are generated with each reading according to 4.2.2.

4.3.2 Reading out a toothed near-field antenna on both sides

430

For this purpose, preference is given to reading on both sides, according to 4.3.1 detected above n + o bits, corresponding to o + 1 sequences of length n offset by one bit each. Each of these sequences is a key in the chain code. Now every key is mirrored. If two non-mirrored successive keys now correspond to successively increasing values of x, the decoding process assumes that a toothed near-field antenna has just been read from its front; 435, on the other hand, correspond to two mirrored keys descending values of x offset by 1 bit, the reader recognizes that it reads the back of a toothed near-field antenna. Exceptions are made by preprocessing the

Chain codes and appropriate tables are covered.

The front and back can preferably also be characterized in that the intermediate carrier (34) is designed 440 so that it shields the lowest-lying toothed near-field antenna, so that (39) and (40) are discriminated from one another on the basis of the levels measured by (5) can, and it is concluded whether the crossed toothed near-field antennas are read from their front or back. This can preferably be done by forming (34) as a heterostructure from two isolates and an intermediate conductive layer.

445 4.3.3 Two-dimensional tile pattern for general position determination on the surface

In a further preferred variant, it is avoided that the patterns for x and y position information are mutually shielded. For example, can acc. 20 A) and 20 B) patterns (97) and (98) are printed, which break up the surface like a checkerboard into square tiles, with (98) analogous to the same-colored fields

450 chessboards arranged, so-called x-tiles contains, e.g. (102), which contain position information in the x direction, and (98) corresponding to y tiles, e.g. (101), which contain position information in the y direction. According to the invention, all elements of the x-tiles form a geometrically (preferably also electrically) closed pattern; the same applies to all y-tiles. In this way, a test probe can recognize whether it is currently missing an x or a y tile.

455

20 A) shows, preferably and schematically, how the y-tiles in such a pattern contain a chain code of the order ny in the y-direction, preferably implemented as a number of parallel pulse-width-modulated code strips, each bit of this y-Cha code preferably having a number corresponds to code strips, each of which lies on a straight line which preferably runs parallel to the x coordinate. Each of these code strips is applied in a y-tile, with at least

460 ny code strips per tile, so that reading out all code strips in a tile determines their position in the chain code, and thus in the y direction. 20 B) shows an analog pattern in the x direction, a chain code of the order nx being explained in the x direction, with at least nx code strips per tile.

20C) preferably shows how this pattern is measured with a number of test probes (5a), (5b), (5c), (5d), (5e) which each along a straight line segment (11a), (11b ), (11c), (11d), (11e). It is assumed

465 that the path covered by the test probes is continuously determined either from a guiding device for the test probes or from the sample. Furthermore, the distance and number of test probes are selected such that at least ny consecutive code strips are read out in one crossed test strip by one of the test probes, or can be read out by combining the measurements of several test probes. So crosses e.g. the test probe (5c) all code strips in the tile (101), so that a chain code key and thus the position of the

470 tile in the y direction is obtained. The angle and position of the line segment (11c) relative to this tile can be determined from an analysis of the measurements made on all code strips. Since, as described above, the path covered by (5c) before reaching the tile (101) is known, the position and starting position of the line segment (11c) in relation to (101) are known, and only the x position of is missing (101). This preferably results from the evaluation of an adjacent y-tile, e.g. (102), which is preferably read out by (5d). So that is the position of (11b), and thus

475 the position of a measuring point in the pattern, fully determinable. Preferably, an auxiliary electrode (12) (not shown in FIG. 20) can be added to the pattern (97), which separates the individual code strips from one another. This pattern is preferably first applied to the surface (1). Then an insulating intermediate layer is applied, and then the pattern (98), also with an auxiliary electrode.

480

In the pattern thus realized, neither the code strips nor the auxiliary electrodes are mutually shielded.

4.4 Toothed near-field antennas embedded in a book page

485

According to the invention, toothed near-field antennas according to. Fig. 7 or 8 can be embedded in the sheets of a book.

However, the interdigitated near-field antennas, which lie under an open sheet of the book, may

Do not interfere with the reading process for this sheet.

This can preferably be achieved in that only the toothed near-field antennas in the opened sheet are supplied with ^' 490 signals, that is to say these signals are switched off for all other sheets; can preferably be opened

Sheet pairs can be found from a photo cell embedded in the respective sheet, or from a mechanical sensor, so that these switching processes can be controlled automatically.

In another preferred alternative, all toothed near-field antennas are included in a book by the control electronics

Signals supplied. The book is designed so that by choosing the layer thicknesses of (35) and (36) and by 495 shielding measures as in 4.3.2. described above, the interference signals from sheets, which lie under the opened sheet, are kept small and can thus preferably be suppressed by a window comparator.

4.5 Reading out along smooth lines

500

Line (11) can preferably deviate from a straight line if only it is ensured that firstly for the x and y coordinates at least nx and ny strips in (39) and (39) are read, and secondly none of these Streak is visited twice. For example, FIG. 9 shows the reading along an arc (41), the orientation of which is determined as described above.

505

4.6 Code strips rotated by an angle

A scan along a horizontal line (11) would be more intuitive for the user than the scan along a line inclined by 45 degrees (11) shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 18, simply because a large number of conventional print templates contain 510 horizontal elements which guide the (5 ) along an approximately straight segment (11). This can preferably be done e.g. achieve by e.g. 10 so that the code strips are rotated by 45 degrees.

515 5. Exchange of additional information using the sample The acc. 3.9.3 additional information which can be transmitted is preferably transported by a separate carrier frequency or by modulation of (26). This additional information can be repeated cyclically and sufficiently often so that the test probe (5) reliably detects it during a measurement process; it can preferably use an identification number

520 (e.g. the ISBN number of a publication or a product number) which uniquely identifies the sample product, it can also contain certain properties of the sample, e.g. Transfer it to the evaluation electronics via its coding elements (line widths, line spacing, etc.)

The control electronics can have this information stored permanently, e.g. if is embedded in a book cover. If, on the other hand, the control electronics are mobile and can preferably be attached to the patterned object, they can

525 Get information from the sample object.

6. Multipolar readers for edge and motion detection

530 The reader (6) can preferably 11 have two or more probes; e.g. 11 two such peaks (46), (47) close to each other and simultaneously on the line (11), the edges of the near-field antennas can be measured more precisely by differential evaluation of the respectively measured signals (48), (49). Furthermore, irrespective of point 4 above, by correlation of (48) and (49) the respectively applicable speed of movement of the test probes can be determined.

535

7. Supply the toothed near-field antenna with a signal:

540 7.1 This is preferably done, as shown in FIG. 1, by direct contact with control electronics (2) which are attached to the surface (1) provided with the toothed near-field antenna. In the arrangement acc. Fig. 7, all corresponding contact surfaces can be in one plane. When using crossed toothed near-field antennas, the respective carriers, e.g. (34), (35), (36) can be contacted in the manner of a printed circuit board.

545 7.2 The simple control electronics described above are preferably printed directly on the film (34) and the corresponding energy supply can:

- Inductively, via an antenna attached to (1), (34), (35) or (36), in the manner of an HF transponder.

- done by printing on (1), (34), (35) or (36) with an extremely flat battery, as e.g. 550 was presented by the Israeli company Power Paper.

- Are done by applying a polymeric solar cell to (1), (34), (35) or (36).

7.3 A near field antenna can be wireless, e.g. inductive, can be supplied with a signal, e.g. the bridge of which is connected to a resonance circuit which receives a signal specific to this near-field antenna.

555 8. Other readers and patterns

8.1 Samples according to the invention are preferably buildable from any material and any two-dimensional structure that can be created therefrom, provided that they can be assigned signals that can be measured with one or more test probes: e.g. The patterns in (3) can also be designed as luminous structures, the test probe (5) preferably consisting of an optical system which images the point to be measured in each case from (11) on a photodetector. By using multi-layer patterns in the manner of a multi-layer circuit board, k sub-patterns with k> 2 can each be supplied with discriminatable signals, and multi-level bar codes can thus be realized. , 565

8.2 In points 2 to 7 above, preferred exemplary embodiments were described in which on the one hand the pattern acts as a transmitter or exciter, and on the other hand the test probe acts as a receiver.

In a reversal of the above, the test probe can preferably function as a transmitter or exciter, and the barcode can work as a receiver, in that the latter is connected to an evaluation unit, this connection being wired

570 or wireless. Here, too, the barcode pattern according to the invention is detected line by line. For example, The probe tip can capacitively couple a signal into a conductive near-field antenna according to Fig. 2, this coupling being at a maximum if the tip is directly above the near-field antenna - e.g. drives over a code strip (10). In another variant, a luminous test probe can excite a pattern designed as a photo receiver. In a third variant, the barcode can function as a piezoelectric pattern that can be excited by a vibrating tip.

575 The excitation is preferably pattern-specific, e.g. in a toothed near-field antenna, the near-field antenna corresponding to a binary "1" or "0" is connected to an oscillating circuit which resonates with a frequency specific for each "1" or "0"; while the probe emits its excitation signals on both frequencies. The barcode pattern preferably includes an electrically closed surface which connects the coding elements of the pattern to one another.

580

8.3 The samples are preferably verified according to 8.1 and 8.2 above using electromagnetic, optical, piezoelectric, magnetostrictive, mechanical, or thermal sensors, whereby, as described above, the pattern can either function as a transmitter and the probe as a receiver / sensor, or vice versa.

585 8.4 The reading device can include a device which guides the test probe (5) along (11) via (3), line (11) need not be straight. The user places the reader on the template in the manner of a graphics tablet mouse, FIG. 9 preferably shows how (5) is guided in the reader by means of a swivel arm (42) so that the test probe traverses an arc (41).

590 8.5 According to 12 the toothed near-field antenna is read out along a straight line segment (51) by using a comb reader, preferably provided with a measuring cross (50), which contains a multiplexer (64) which contains a number of test probes (5) lying next to one another reads along the segment (51) and starting from point (13). It is preferably assumed that reading is carried out in accordance with the conventions of point 3.4, and consequently the measuring cross above reading point (13) is set up so that (51) lies horizontally and from the left

595 is read to the right. The measuring head and circuit board of such a comb reader can preferably be implemented with a series of printing and / or etching steps. .

Each tip (5) can now advantageously be provided with its own amplifier, so that (54) can be a purely digital multiplexer which feeds the microcontroller (55) evaluating the measured signal directly; wherein the associated amplifier may be printed as polymeric electronics on the circuit board 600 ^• field.

However, (54) can also preferably be an analog multiplexer, the peaks (5) now being read out sequentially and the respectively resulting signal being amplified and decoded by (55). With such a comb of, for example, 100 peaks and correspondingly high frequencies (25) and (26), the serial evaluation ^{1 of} the pattern is so fast that, for example, position and font recognition can take place simultaneously.

605

8.6 The individual tips of a comb can preferably be retracted and / or flexibly suspended according to 8.5, in such a way that the measuring line (51) is adapted to a curved surface; the degree of deformation of the measuring line (51) can be verified, preferably by an arrangement of expansion elements, in order to adjust the measuring process to the changed line (51). '

610

Variants 8.4 to 8.6 allow the reader to be simply placed on it instead of having to draw it along a line (13). For this, the reader is complex and to bring the read-out process because of the need, all the peaks (5) in ^'contact with or in close proximity to (1), more delicate.

615

8.7 As shown in FIG. 13, the above comb reader can preferably be drawn over a surface in the manner of an optical hand scanner in order to evaluate near-field antennas which correspond to a two-dimensional bar code (15). Preferably, a wheel (52) provided with an encoder, starting from (13), measures the distance traveled along a line segment (53) 620 and clocks the line-by-line reading of the pattern (15). If the barcode (15) now contains the position and orientation of the near-field antenna in the surface, the position of a measuring point (13) can be determined.

625 9. Position measurement on smooth, curved surfaces

If a positional pattern according to the invention is applied to a curved surface, preferably in the manner of a bottle label, a spherical cap, or the surface of a somewhat stretchy, soft object, the position of the measuring point (13) can be shown in FIG a two-dimensional grid

630 by pulling the pin along (65).

In the special case of a cylindrical substrate in the manner of a can label, the samples can be evaluated directly as described above.

In other curved surfaces, the pen finds the position in the crossed grids, but this must be assigned to a spatial position using a mathematical function or in a table. Such a more general one

635 grid is preferably shown in Fig. 14; it is formed from the two grids (63) and (64), which the code strips in the clamp the two toothed near-field antennas. The web of (64) is one in terms of length and width

Globusses designed as a closed curve and the associated code strips are distributed in the manner of a degree of longitude over the curved surface; for illustration (64) is drawn in black. Furthermore, the web of (63) is designed in the manner of a degree of longitude in FIG. 14, and the corresponding code strips extend in the manner of an interrupted one

640 parallel circles across the surface.

10. Procedure for applying the samples

645 The patterns are preferably printed on, a number of recipes according to Stnad of technology ^{1 being} available, for example for conductive inks, for example silver inks or carbon black. Each of these inks has special substrate and substrate requirements

Printing process, it should generally be noted that for the common mass printing processes, i.e. offset, flexographic,

Gravure printing, at least one recipe according to the invention is available. The application of insulating layers is comparatively easy because a large number of printing varnishes isolate. 650 The patterns can also be applied by ablation, e.g. a copper-coated foil is etched accordingly, or by printing on a precursor material and then metallizing this pattern.

655 applications

Three possible uses are described below in which a print template equipped with toothed near-field antennas is supplied with a signal externally or internally.

660

11. Photo albums and photos

A photo album, as shown in FIG. 15, can preferably contain control electronics according to the invention in its cover (66), which e.g. a battery (74), a controller (69), and a flash memory (68). The 665 evaluation of the signal is preferably performed by a PC (76) which is connected to the cover by a connection (75), which can be wireless or wired, and which records and reproduces data, preferably audio data, corresponding to the respective positions , In this preferred embodiment, the reader (6) is also connected to the cover by line.

Crossed toothed near-field antennas are now attached to each sheet of the album, which allow a position to be determined on this 670 sheet. All blades are preferably plated through so that their toothed near-field antennas can be supplied by the electronics (68), (69), (74), e.g. through conductive wires that hold the album together and corresponding contact surfaces on the individual sheets.

Contact pin is preferably only used to determine positions next to the respective photo, so that 675 damage to the photos is avoided. In this way, written by the user in any order, e.g. handwritten annotations (67) in the album are provided with associated electronic footnotes. This can be done when the album is created or as often afterwards, whereby the user either uses the PC for input and output, or a built-in loudspeaker (72) and a microphone (71).

The album can preferably be used by means of a printed menu (70) which is printed 680 on the book cover and the menu items of which are called up with the pen (6). The PC (76) can be used for higher demands on the operator guidance. >

In the future, scenarios are conceivable in which digital photographers will simply reprint damaged photos. In such a case, a position on a photo can also be determined with the contact pin; Likewise, with corresponding 685 advances in the state of the art, photo albums with embedded digital electronics in accordance with. Point 8 feasible.

A photo can preferably also be printed on a substrate which contains a position pattern according to the invention. In addition, a number can be printed, which uniquely identifies the photo.

690

12. Storyboards

Professional storyboards, as used in the advertising or film industry, are special cases of photo albums according to the invention. In conjunction with reusable post-its setting images, 695 storyboards according to the invention promise easier handling than computer-controlled editing stations, especially during the first design phase of a film or commercial.

13. Books

700

In contrast to a photo album, the content of a book usually consists of ready-made texts and graphics, so that speaking codes according to the invention can be used, especially when particularly simple operation is required, e.g. in a children's lexicon. 16 shows an example of a corresponding entry. This is preferably provided with a graphic feature (77) which is visibly printed on the surface and which shows the children that and how 705 they should use the stylus to read a toothed near-field antenna.

Control electronics, evaluation electronics, auxiliary device and pen are also preferably integrated here.

This concept can be expanded as desired: the respective toothed near-field antennas can preferably also implement position codes in a book; Such a book can be connected wirelessly to a PC and exchange or exchange data with it 710. use it as an input / output device.

However, all of these variants have in common that books can be produced in this way that can be used essentially exactly as normal books, and also have the same feel. Likewise, such books should use the same publishing structures and distribution channels as their conventional 715 counterparts. 14. Maps & flowcharts

720 maps and flowcharts can be equipped with position-dependent functions as required, in the manner of a website displayed on the PC screen with "hot buttons". The control electronics (2) can. 1 are attached to the card; however, it can also be integrated in this in addition to the power supply.

14.1 It is possible to create a map with position grid and built-in control and evaluation electronics 725 in such a way that the corresponding GPS data can be inferred from a position on the map, so that a target value (from the map) with an actual value (e.g. from a GPS module) can be compared. This arrangement can be cheaper and more effective than a purely electronic navigation system with a complex user interface and electronic storage of the maps.

730 14.2 Flowcharts, mind maps, maps, travel routes etc. can be produced by the end user himself, either ^: by using pre-made papers with integrated near-field antennas, or by applying the near-field antennas along with the necessary insulating layers himself, e.g. with a plotter or inkjet printer.

14.3 A map can serve as a front-end for any geographic information system, for example for a 735 room certificate or other tourist information. In particular, it is also possible to write or draw on the card and to provide these entries with electronic footnotes.

15. Printable graphics tablet

740

The surface according to the invention can also be designed as part of a graphics tablet (85) which can be labeled and printed as desired in the manner of a writing pad, both with conventional methods using purely passive, visible graphic features and with electronically or optoelectronically active inks state of the art. For example, the instructions for use can be visibly printed on the graphics tablet.

745

17 preferably shows how the graphics tablet (85) lies under a page (78) provided with a print template. During a position determination, the page can now be fixed on the graphics tablet (85), preferably according to 14.1 below, and preferably in such a way that the determination of a position according to the invention is not disturbed. For example, disturbs a magnetic stamp acc. 14.1, point d) the electrical reading of the position pattern described above is not. 750 The document and / or page number for (78) can preferably be entered in (78) before the first position determination, preferably according to 14.2. below.

Finally, the graphics tablet according to the invention can be smaller than the side to be measured. In this case, the position of the graphics tablet in relation to the page must be determined. For this purpose, a feature of the page (78) for 755 coverage is preferably brought into alignment with a corresponding physical feature of the graphics tablet (85) in order to be able to use the known position of the features on (78) and (85), and from the position of a measuring point on the graphics tablet to obtain the absolute position of this measuring point in (78). Preferred variants of this method are described in 14.3 below.

760 (85) is preferably provided with connections (86) so that one and the same reading pen (6) can be connected to different graphics tablets according to the invention.

Preferably, the very inexpensive, thin, and flexible graphics tablet (85) can also be inserted under a completely conventional design and printed on both sides of a book or magazine.

765 A correspondingly dimensioned and printed graphics tablet is preferably used per publication or per class of publications. For example, it is possible to add such a graphic tablet to a textbook, for example by attaching it to the cover in the manner of an accompanying CD-ROM. Preferably, the graphics tablet (85) now contains a visible identification which (85) assigns to the respective publication (s), e.g. by printing the title and the ISBN number. Further preferred details of this usage variant are set out in 14.4 below.

770

15.1 Fixing the page

The fixation determines the position of the artwork in relation to the graphics tablet (85). It is preferably carried out with the help of a 775 physical feature on (85), said feature being used in combination with corresponding features of the page.

This feature preferably includes a combination of the elements listed below, as shown by way of example in FIG. 18 for a) to c) below:

780 a) two guide rails (79), (80), which preferably form a right angle, so that (78) lies with a corner on both rails. b) elevations (82) or protrusions (84) on the graphics tablet, exactly matching (78) preferably includes perforations (81) or notches (83), e.g. like a drawing film for cartoons. 'c) the side (78) is preferably provided with a graphic feature, in FIG. 18 preferably as two

785 crosshair pairs (88), (87) are shown. The graphics tablet (85) preferably contains a physical feature (89), (90) corresponding to the above graphic feature (88), (87), the latter preferably being applied as an optoelectronic lighting element to (78) in order to ensure congruence with the corresponding one Feature of (78) can be easily determined. In another preferred variant, (85) is provided with a homogeneous luminous surface, on which (89) and (90) are printed.

790 d) if the page (78) is larger than the graphics tablet, for example as part of a folding card or one,

Daily newspaper, (85) can preferably be provided with ferromagnetic elements so that (78) can be fixed with magnetic stamps, in the manner of note holders for refrigerators. In more complex preferred variants, (78) can be fixed by mechanical, electrostatic or pneumatic devices. e) (78) can also be fixed with a suitable mechanical frame or angle or a ruler.

795 15.2 Identification of the side to be measured

The page (78) is preferably characterized in such a way that its visibly printed content can be clearly assigned to an electronic database according to the invention, in which the auxiliary device (8) searches for the 800 data or processes belonging to a determined position. This identification is preferably carried out using a tuple of numbers from the ISBN number and

Page Number. This number tuple is preferably obtained from a combination of the following methods:

a) a graphics tablet, which is assigned to a publication as described above, can contain its ISBN number, preferably as a separately integrated into the graphics tablet and as a semantic code

805 readable bit pattern (93) according to the invention, this information preferably being supplemented by the above-mentioned, visibly printed title together with a visible ISBN number. b) the graphics tablet preferably contains a printed keypad (94) in the manner of a pocket calculator, so that the page number can be entered after the page (78) has been set up, by preferably determining the position for each printed key according to the invention. Further printed special keys (95) can be preferred and

810 can be used to conveniently increment or decrement the page number. This keypad can also be used to enter a visible ISBN number. In addition to the corresponding evaluation process, the keypad is preferably activated and also closed again via a special keypad (96) shown in FIG. 19.

815

15.3 Determining the relative position of the graphics tablet in relation to the page

The print template is preferably covered with a virtual tile pattern consisting of the same rectangles lined up in rows and columns, preferably only the opposite corners (88) of the respective 820 rectangle being printed as crosshairs in the print template. 18 preferably shows how each of these corners has a visible line or Column number is provided so that in combination with the fixation described under 14.1 an absolute position determination of the graphics tablet on the page is possible.

825 15.4 Measurement of double-sided book or magazine pages

Bound pages printed on both sides in the manner of a book or magazine can in principle be left in the cover and measured. For this purpose, the graphics tablet is preferably removed, turned and reinserted, and preferably according to 4.3.2 evaluated above. For this purpose, the graphics tablet is preferably mirror-symmetrical to the surface according to the invention, as also shown in FIG. 18 by way of example.

Claims

Patentansprüche835

1. Machine-readable pattern (3) which can be attached to a stationary or freely movable surface (1) of any size, the pattern (3) being supplied with a time-variable signal, and (3) by means of a number of test probes (5 ), which tap the signal at a point in the pattern, can be read out and decoded.

840

2. A pattern according to claim 1, comprising a number of closed partial patterns, each point A of the partial pattern always being electrically connected to every other point B of the partial pattern, and none of these connections including a switching element in the manner of a transistor, relay or optical switch, so that the entire sub-pattern is supplied with the same time-variable signal.

845

3. Electrically closed conductive pattern according to claim 1 or 2, which is supplied with an electrical signal and emits a corresponding near field, wherein the decoding of the pattern is carried out by measuring this near field, and wherein the pattern is attachable below an electrically insulating layer.

850

4. Planar pattern according to one of claims 1 to 3, which realizes a one-dimensional barcode which can be measured and decoded by means of a test probe (5) which is guided over the pattern along a line segment (11), the pattern comprising a web ( 9), (31), (32) and parallel code strips (10), and wherein each code strip (10) is connected to 855 this web, and wherein the pattern can have an auxiliary electrode (12) which adjoins adjacent code strips (10) separates from one another along the line segment (11).

5. Pattern according to one of claims 1 to 4, which realizes a two-dimensional barcode (15).

860

6. Pattern, which is formed from a bevy of patterns according to one of claims 1 to 5, which in each case in the surface (1) neither touch nor overlap.

865

7. Patterns according to claim 6, which are applied one above the other and are such that a pattern A, which lies under another pattern B, can be read out, wherein the patterns can be separated from one another by an insulating layer.

870

8. Patterns (22) and (23) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein (22) and (23) form a toothed pattern (21) which codes a sequence of q consecutive binary bits, the k-th Bit in this sequence, and corresponds only to a k-th code strip in (21) which, according to the value of this bit, is only connected to the web (31) of (22) or only to the web (32) of (23) and wherein 875 - (22) and (23) are each provided with different, mutually discriminatory electrical signals, and wherein

(22) and (23) can be shielded from one another by an auxiliary electrode (12), and wherein by means of a test probe (5) guided along (11) over a code strip (10), these code strips are assigned to either (22) or (23), and in this way a binary value "1" or "0" is assigned to the code strip

880 so that the pattern functions as a binary barcode in which a sequence of q successive bits or one of their partial sequences can be read out by means of a test probe (5) guided along a line (11).

885 9. Interlocking pattern (21) according to claim 8, wherein the code strips (10) are equidistaπt from each other and of the same width.

10. Interlocking pattern according to claim 8 or 9, in which the code strips (10) implement a line-oriented pattern, 890, which makes it possible to determine the position of a measuring point (13) by line and position in this line by the test probe (5) starting from (13) along a line (11) over a number of code strips.

11. Toothed patterns (39) and (40) according to claim 8 or 9, each encoding a bit sequence for the coordinates in the x and y directions 895 and overlapping each other crossed, starting from a measuring point (13) the x and y-position of (13) is determined by simultaneously reading (39) and (40) along a line (11) inclined against (39) and (40) and thereby determining a position in Bx and By, and where these patterns can be inclined so that they can be read out simultaneously along a horizontal line (11).

900 12. Interleaved patterns (97), (98) according to one of claims 1 to 8 for simultaneous reading by a plurality of test probes (5), one of the two patterns (97) being formed from tiles which implement a position code in one dimension, and the other pattern (98) likewise realizes a position code in the other dimension, and wherein no code strip in (97) overlaps a code strip in (98), and wherein 905 - the evaluation of the signals measured by the test probes allows in to determine a position in each of the two dimensions, and thus to find a two-dimensional position in the pattern.

13. An electrically conductive pattern according to claim 12, which has an auxiliary electrode (12) which shields the code strips of the pattern from one another, the code strips being coplanar for both dimensions, and wherein (12) consists of one 910 number of electrically closed sub-patterns, which are connected to one another by lines which are in a different plane from the code strips and are electrically insulated therefrom.

14. A method for reading out a machine-readable pattern (3) which can be attached to a stationary or freely movable surface (1) 915 of any size, the pattern (3) being supplied with a time-variable signal, and (3) by means of a Number of test probes (5) which each tap the signal at a point in the pattern, can be read out and decoded, and the method comprises the following steps: measuring a local part of the pattern; Processing of the data obtained from it; Decode the data.

920

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the pattern (3) includes a number of electrically closed sub-patterns, which are implemented such that each point A of the sub-pattern is always electrically connected to every other point B of the sub-pattern, and wherein none of these connections is a switching Contains element in the manner of a transistor, relay or optical switch, and wherein the entire sub-pattern is supplied with the same time-variable signal.

925

16. The method according to any one of claims 14 or 15, wherein the pattern (3) emits a near field corresponding to the electrical signal, and wherein the decoding is carried out by measuring this near field, and wherein the pattern can be attached below an electrically insulating layer.

930

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, in which a planar pattern (3) is realized as a one-dimensional barcode, which can be measured and decoded along a line segment (11), the pattern comprising a web (9), (31), (32) and parallel code strips (10), and wherein each code strip (10) is connected to this web, and 935. Wherein an auxiliary electrode (12) can be applied in the pattern, which adjacent code strips (10) along the line segment (11 ) separates from each other.

18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, in which the pattern realizes a two-dimensional barcode (15).

940

19. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, in which additional information about the pattern is transported as a separate or on a carrier (26) modulated near field signal.

945

20. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein the surface (1) is provided with a family of patterns according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which neither touch nor overlap each other in the surface, and wherein each of the patterns in the Share of common control electronics (2) is supplied with the same signal. 950

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein groups of patterns applied one above the other and separated from one another by an insulating layer are each supplied with their own signal by control electronics (2), and wherein the conductivity of the pattern is set such that underlying patterns are read out can.

955

22. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein two patterns (22) and (23) form a toothed pattern (21) which encodes a sequence of q consecutive binary bits,

and where

960 the k-th bit in this sequence, and corresponds only to a k-th code strip in (21), which, depending on the value of this bit, only with the web (31) of (22) or only with the web (32) of (23) is connected

and where

965

(22) and (23) are each supplied with different, mutually discriminable electrical signals,

and where

970, by means of a test probe (5) guided along (11) over a code strip (10), these code strips are assigned to either (22) or (23), and in this way a binary value "1" or "0" is assigned to the code strip

so that

975 the sequence of q successive bits or one of their partial sequences is read out by a test probe (5) guided along a line (11).

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the code strips (10) are equidistant from one another and of the same width.

980

24. The method according to any one of claims 22 or 23, wherein the two associated toothed patterns have a common auxiliary electrode (12) which is preferably grounded and separates the code strips (10) from each other.

985

25. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 20, in which the code strips (10) implement a line-oriented pattern which encodes a bit sequence B, where B has a finite number of substrings of length n such that each of these substrings has a unique position in B corresponds so that the local reading of such a partial sequence allows to determine the position of a measuring point (13) by line and position in this line by using the test probe (5)

990 starting from (13) along a line (11) over at least n code strips.

26. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein v patterns (39) and (40) according to one of claims 8 to 10, each encode a bit sequence Bx and By and overlap one another in a crossed manner,

995 and the x and y position of (13) is determined on the basis of a measuring point (13),

by simultaneously reading (39) and (40) along a line (11) inclined against (39) and (40) and thereby obtaining a key Sx and Sy, so that Sx and Sy uniquely determine a position in Bx and By ,

1000

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the toothed patterns are inclined so that they can be read out simultaneously along a horizontal line (11).

1005

28. The method according to claim 14, wherein a planar pattern is formed from two partial patterns (97), (98) according to claim 12, and wherein preferably the interleaved patterns and the code strips of these patterns with a family of auxiliary electrodes (12), which in one Level with (97), (98) are attached, can be separated from each other, and these auxiliary electrodes are connected by lines which are isolated in the manner of a multilayer circuit of (97), (98).

1010

29. The method according to claim 14, wherein the partial patterns (97), (98) are each implemented as toothed near-field antennas together with their own coplanar auxiliary electrodes (12), and are separated from one another by an insulating layer.

1015

30. reading device (6) for reading out a pattern according to one of claims 1 to 14, which detects the near field of a pattern (3) with at least one test probe (5) and forwards it to evaluation electronics (7) 'which decodes the measured near field signal, without the test tip (5) having an ohmic contact with the sample (3).

1020

31. Reading device according to claim 30, wherein the test probe (5) is shielded by a conductive jacket (17) and additionally mechanically protected by an insulating layer (18), so that (5) detects the pattern (3) without having ohmic contact with it to have, wherein the reader is guided along a line (11) and can read both a speaking and a position code.

1025

32. Reading device according to claim 30 or 31, with at least 2 test probes (25), (45), the test probes being arranged in such a way that they read out a pattern one after the other, and wherein the edges of a pattern are recognized by differential measurement and, by correlating the signals measured by the respective test probes, the speed at which the test probes are guided along the line (11) can be determined 1030.

33. Reader according to claim 30 or 31, with a plurality of test probes, which is guided diagonally over the code strips of a position pattern (97), (98) and reads the information in at least one tile in each case in (97) and (98) and thus the position determined its measuring point.

1035

34. Reader according to one of claims 30 to 32 with a comb of adjacent, shielded test probes (5), the reader including a measuring cross (50), and wherein the test probe comb forms a line segment (51) along which the pattern is measured sequentially becomes. ''

1040

35. Reading device according to claim 34, in which the line segment (51) conforms to a curved surface, the curvature of (51) eating and the reading process being able to be compensated accordingly.

1045

36. Reading device according to one of claims 34 to 35, wherein the reading device is guided along a line (53) so that the comb can read out a pattern (35), formed as a two-dimensional bar code, and wherein this bar code contains its own position and orientation , so that the position of a point (13) on this surface can be determined.

1050

37. Graphics tablet (85) according to any one of claims 1 to 29, which can be labeled and printed on as desired.

38. Graphics tablet according to claim 37, which is pushed under a specific page (78) of a conventional bound print publication 1055

39. Graphics tablet according to claim 38, which is assigned to a publication and can be enclosed with this publication.

1060

40. Graphics tablet according to one of claims 37 to 39, with physical features which, together with a corresponding design of the side (78), ensure their fixing during the position measurement.

1065 41. Method for using a graphics tablet according to one of the preceding claims.