Consumer product package with visible code, system comprising package and method for framing visible code
By designing two visible codes in consumer product packaging, the second visible code provides the location information of the first visible code, which solves the problem that users are difficult to identify the high information density code in the packaging, and realize the convenience of identifying code from a long distance.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380037555.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-04-08
- Filing Date
- 2023-04-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-28
AI Technical Summary
Codes in existing consumer product packaging are difficult to quickly identify when users are approached, especially for problems with visual impairment or inability to see users and finding codes.
Design a packaging contains two visible codes: First, the code has a smaller reading distance and high information density, and the second shows that the code has a larger maximum reading distance and low information density. Through the second visible code provides the location information of the first visible code, users can detect the second visible code from a long distance, and then locate and focus on the first visible code.
The high information density code in the packaging of consumer products from long -distance recognition is realized, and the problem of difficulty in identifying the code of vision damage to users is solved, and the user experience and convenience is improved.
Smart Images
Figure CN119384669A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging for a consumer product provided with a code containing information related to the product, in particular to a code with high information density or difficult to read, which needs to be focused by at least an optical device in order to be read or scanned. Background Art
[0002] Consumer products comprising an outer packaging are known, the outer packaging being provided with a first visible code, the first visible code being associated with a first maximum reading distance of a camera and a first information density. In other words, for a given camera with a given focal length, the camera must be located at a distance from the code that is less than or equal to a given distance in order to be able to extract the information contained in the code.
[0003] Therefore, if a user approaches a supermarket display shelf and wants to obtain information about a product displayed on the shelf, he must first find the code for the information and focus his camera on the code before he can obtain its content.
[0004] However, if the person has impaired vision or cannot see at all, it will be difficult or impossible for him / her to find the code even with the product at hand.
[0005] The present invention proposes a solution to this significant drawback.
[0006] Here, a consumer product is understood to be any physical product accessible to consumers, in particular products that may be displayed or stored in a store, on a shelf, display stand or counter. It thus includes, among others, foods, pharmacy products, personal hygiene products or pharmaceuticals, and in general any product with a visible surface that can support a printed code or a code affixed by means of an adhesive. In this sense, consumer products may also include clothing, leisure products, sports goods, etc. Summary of the invention
[0007] In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, a first aspect of the present invention proposes a packaging for a consumer product, the outer packaging being provided with a first visible code having a first maximum reading distance of a camera associated therewith and a first information density, the packaging also comprising a second visible code having a second maximum reading distance of the camera and a second information density, wherein:
[0008] - the first maximum distance is less than the second maximum distance; and
[0009] - The first information density is greater than the second information density.
[0010] Thus, the product has a visible code that can be seen from a great distance, which contains information about the location of the other code, which is not visible from a distance because the other code contains far more information than the second code. Once the device has the information to locate the first code, it can now focus on the first code by the same camera, either by optical focusing or by using another camera with a longer range and a smaller field of view.
[0011] The first code, which contains information about the product itself, can be of various types:
[0012] In some embodiments, the first visible code is a QR code or a data matrix code or a barcode.
[0013] In some embodiments, the first visible code is a date.
[0014] In some embodiments, the second visible code is a multi-color code.
[0015] In some embodiments, the second visible code is a long-range code.
[0016] In some embodiments, the second visible code is a square matrix framed in one or two frames.
[0017] In some embodiments, one of the boxes is black.
[0018] The invention also relates to a system comprising a product according to any of the preceding variants and a camera.
[0019] In some embodiments of the system, the device is configured to perform the following steps:
[0020] a) detecting and reading the second visible code, wherein the camera is arranged at a distance greater than the first maximum distance and less than the second maximum distance;
[0021] b) extracting from the second visible code information related to the relative position of the first visible code with respect to the second visible code;
[0022] c) framing an image region where the first visible code is located based on the information.
[0023] In some embodiments of the system, step c) is performed by focusing on a region of the image where the first visible code is located.
[0024] In some embodiments of the system, the device is configured to perform an additional step of extracting information contained in the first visible code based on the box selection.
[0025] In some embodiments of the system, the device is configured to perform subsequent steps including displaying an enlarged image of the first visible code on a screen.
[0026] Finally, in some embodiments of the system, the first code and the second code are arranged on a plane inclined relative to the line of sight of the camera, and the device is configured to obtain information about the orientation of the second code after step b), infer a transformation that converts the image of the second code into a vertical representation (perpendicular to the line of sight of the camera), and after step c), apply the same transformation (OV) to the image of the first visible code (Q1).
[0027] The different aspects and embodiments of the invention defined above may be combined together as long as they are compatible with each other.
[0028] Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] As a supplement to the description, and in order to help make the features of the invention more easily understood, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings, according to practical exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are illustrative and not limiting, and which are represented as follows:
[0030] Figure 1 A consumer product according to the invention is shown, wherein the first code is a QR code.
[0031] Figure 2 A consumer product according to the invention is shown, wherein the first code is a barcode.
[0032] Figure 3 A consumer product according to the invention is shown, in this example the consumer product is a bottle, wherein the first code is a date.
[0033] Figure 4 is a plan view of the system of the present invention.
[0034] Figure 5 shows how a camera would view a code at a great distance from the product.
[0035] Figure 6 It shows how the camera sees the code at a small distance from the product or when focusing on the code containing the information.
[0036] Figure 7 shows how the camera views the code.
[0037] Figure 8 A system of the present invention is shown.
[0038] Fig. 9One way of implementing the second code is shown.
[0039] Figure 10-12 Other examples of low density codes are shown.
[0040] Fig.13 A possible embodiment of the product according to the invention is shown, wherein the code Q1 and the code Q2 can also be arranged on another part of the product.
[0041] Fig.14 Shows how a camera views a code laid out on a horizontal surface.
[0042] Fig.15 A plan view of a system according to the invention is shown in a configuration where the code is located on the upper surface of the product.
[0043] Fig.16 and Fig.17 Depicted is the transformation performed in the reading device when the reading device detects that a second code visible from a distance is focused obliquely. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0044] In the description of possible preferred embodiments of the present invention, many details must be provided in order to better understand the present invention. Even so, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented without these specific details. On the other hand, well-known features are not described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.
[0045] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the present invention relates to a package 2 for a consumer product 1, the package 2 being provided with a first visible code Q1, the first visible code Q1 being associated with a first maximum reading distance L1 of a camera CA and a first information density D1, characterised in that the package comprises a second visible code Q2, the second visible code Q2 having a second maximum reading distance L2 of the camera CA and a second information density D2, wherein:
[0046] - the first maximum distance L1 is smaller than the second maximum distance L2; and
[0047] The first information density D1 is greater than the second information density D2.
[0048] In all embodiments, each pair of first code Q1 and second code Q2 is arranged adjacent to each other and in the same plane, wherein several pairs of first code Q1 and second code Q2 can exist on the same product at the same time. Therefore, the product can be placed in different ways but still be positioned.
[0049] The first visible code Q1 is a QR code, for example Figure 1As shown in , it may be a data matrix code, a large capacity postal code (MaxCode) or a PDF417 code, or an Aztec code or a barcode, such as Figure 2 as shown in .
[0050] like Figure 3 As shown in , the application of the present invention can also be applied to the case where the first visible code Q1 is text (such as a date).
[0051] like Fig.13 As shown in , the first code Q1 and the second code Q2 can be arranged on the upper part of the product, or they can be present together on each surface of the product in different orientations. As discussed below, this will involve additional steps in the method of the present invention.
[0052] like Fig. 9 As shown, the second visible code Q2 is a multi-color code, wherein the square matrix Q21 is framed in one or two frames Q22, and preferably, the pixels of the matrix Q21 are cyan, magenta, yellow or black. In particular, one of the frames Q22 is a light frame and the other is a dark frame.
[0053] like Figure 4 , Figure 6 or Figure 8 As shown, the present invention also relates to a system comprising a packaging 2 of a product 1 according to any of the above embodiments and a camera CA.
[0054] Figure 4 and Figure 5 shows how the system works. First, the user points the camera of his / her mobile phone TM at a sector in which the code of the consumer product 1 may be located. The figure schematically shows that the camera CA has a wide field of view and is able to detect at a distance L2 a code Q2 which has a low information density but can be detected at a large distance. At a distance L2, as Figure 5 As shown, the camera cannot distinguish it from Q1 because the first maximum distance L1 is smaller than the second maximum distance L2.
[0055] Therefore, the system performs the following steps:
[0056] a) detecting and reading a second visible code Q2, wherein the camera CA is arranged at a distance greater than the first maximum distance L1 and less than the second maximum distance L2;
[0057] b) extracting information related to the relative position of the first visible code Q1 with respect to the second visible code Q2 from the second visible code Q2;
[0058] c) Based on the information, select the image area where the first visible code Q1 is located.
[0059] From this moment on, the system can extract the information contained in the first visible code Q1 based on the box selection. The information can be stored, processed by the device TM itself or sent to the user through a voice message.
[0060] According to another embodiment of the system, the device can display an enlarged image of the first visible code Q1 on the screen, so that the device works as a smart magnifying glass, that is, only relevant information, such as the date, is statically displayed on the screen so that the user can see that the date is appropriately enlarged.
[0061] According to another embodiment of the system, it is envisaged that the innovative concept of the present invention is applied to a product (e.g. Fig.13 The product shown in FIG. 1 ) wherein the first code Q1 and the second code Q2 are arranged in a plane that is tilted relative to the viewing angle of the camera CA. This arrangement means that the direction perpendicular to the plane forms a non-zero angle relative to the optical axis of the camera.
[0062] In this case, if Figures 14 to 17 As shown, the camera "will look at" Fig.14 The code shown. In this case, both the maximum reading distances L1 and L2 will be smaller, but the distance L2 corresponding to the second code Q2 will still be greater. As can be seen in these figures, the acquired oblique image also allows to know which transformation to apply to the first code Q1 in order to be able to extract from this code information related to the product 1. In other words, the image of the second code not only allows to locate and focus on the first code Q1, but also allows to know the orientation of the first code Q1, since they are both arranged next to each other in the same plane.
[0063] Therefore, preferably, it is envisaged that after step b), information about the orientation of the second code Q2 is obtained, a transformation OV is deduced that converts the image of the second code Q2 into a vertical representation (perpendicular to the line of sight of the camera) and, after step c), the same transformation OV is applied to the image of the first visible code Q1.
[0064] According to this specification and the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can understand that the present invention is described according to some preferred embodiments of the present invention, but that various changes can be introduced into the preferred embodiments without departing from the purpose of the present invention as claimed.
[0065] In this document, the term "include" and its derivatives (such as "comprising", etc.) should not be understood as exclusive. That is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that the described and defined contents may include more elements, stages, etc.
Claims
1. A package (2) for a consumer product (1), the package (2) being provided with a first visible code (Q1), the first visible code (Q1) being associated with a first maximum reading distance (L1) of a camera (CA) and a first information density (D1), characterized in that The package comprises a second visible code (Q2) having a second maximum reading distance (L2) of the camera (CA) and a second information density (D2), and wherein: The first maximum distance (L1) is smaller than the second maximum distance (L2); The first information density (D1) is greater than the second information density (D2).
2. The packaging (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that The first visible code (Q1) is a high-density code, such as a QR code, a data matrix code, a barcode, a MaxCode, a PDF417 code or an Aztec code.
3. The packaging (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that The first visible code (Q1) is a date.
4. A package (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The second visible code (Q2) is a long-distance code, for example, ArUCo code, AprilTag, ARTag, ARToolKit or ddTag.
5. The packaging (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first code (Q1) and the second code (Q2) are arranged adjacent to each other on the same plane, wherein several pairs of first code (Q1) and second code (Q2) can be present together on the product (1).
6. A system comprising a package (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a camera (CA).
7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that The device (TM) is configured to perform the following steps: a) detecting and reading said second visible code (Q2), wherein said camera (CA) is arranged at a distance greater than said first maximum distance (L1) and less than said second maximum distance (L2); b) extracting from the second visible code (Q2) information related to the relative position of the first visible code (Q1) with respect to the second visible code (Q2); c) selecting the image area where the first visible code (Q1) is located based on the information.
8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that Said step c) is performed by focusing on the image area where said first visible code (Q1) is located.
9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that Include the following additional steps: d) extracting information contained in the first visible code (Q1) based on the frame selection.
10. The system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: The method comprises a subsequent step, which comprises displaying an enlarged image of the first visible code (Q1) on a screen.
11. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that The first code (Q1) and the second code (Q2) are arranged on a plane inclined relative to the line of sight of the camera (CA), wherein, after step b), information about the orientation of the second code (Q2) is obtained, a transformation (OV) is inferred for converting the image of the second code (Q2) into a vertical representation, and wherein, after step c), the same transformation (OV) is applied to the image of the first visible code (Q1).
12. A method for framing a visible code (Q1) arranged in a package (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which a device (TM) provided with a camera (CA) is used, wherein the method performs the following steps: a) detecting and reading said second visible code (Q2), wherein said camera (CA) is arranged at a distance greater than said first maximum distance (L1) and less than said second maximum distance (L2); b) extracting from the second visible code (Q2) information related to the relative position of the first visible code (Q1) with respect to the second visible code (Q2); c) selecting the image area where the first visible code (Q1) is located based on the information.
13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that Said step c) is performed by focusing on the image area where said first visible code (Q1) is located.
14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that Include the following additional steps: d) extracting information contained in the first visible code (Q1) based on the frame selection.
15. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that The method comprises a subsequent step, which comprises displaying an enlarged image of the first visible code (Q1) on a screen.
16. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first code (Q1) and the second code (Q2) are arranged on a plane inclined relative to the line of sight of the camera (CA), wherein, after step b), information about the orientation of the second code (Q2) is obtained, a transformation (OV) is inferred for converting the image of the second code (Q2) into a vertical representation, and wherein, after step c), the same transformation (OV) is applied to the image of the first visible code (Q1).