Double barcode
The double barcode integrates a matrix and linear barcode of equal width in a single space, addressing incompatibility issues and enabling efficient reading with standard devices, reducing space and equipment needs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023013487
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-01-20
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-04
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-17
- Estimated Expiration
- 2033-12-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing barcodes, such as linear and matrix codes, require separate readers due to incompatibility, leading to space inefficiency and the need for multiple readers, especially problematic for small products.
A double barcode design combining a matrix and linear barcode of the same width in a single reading space, allowing both types to be read by existing equipment without additional hardware, with the linear barcode either inside or beside the matrix barcode.
Facilitates seamless transition between barcode types, reduces space occupation, and allows reading with standard devices, eliminating the need for multiple readers.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Double barcode
[0001] As its title indicates, the present application relates to a double barcode, suitable for the representation of strings of numeric and alphanumeric characters, comprising a matrix barcode and a linear barcode, both of the same width, in a single reading space. Field of invention
[0002] The invention relates to the field of barcodes. State of the art
[0003] Today, barcodes are widely known and used in industry and commerce to identify the product and provide information about that product. Barcodes are codes based on the representation of a set of parallel lines of different thickness and spacing that together contain certain information, that is, the bars and spaces of the code represent small character strings. In this way, the barcode allows automated reading by an optoelectronic reader or a video camera to quickly recognize and identify an item uniquely at a point in the supply chain and thus be able to carry out an inventory or consult its associated characteristics.
[0004] Barcodes are divided into two main groups: linear barcodes and matrix or two-dimensional barcodes. Linear barcodes were the first to be used, and they are still widely used, despite the fact that the information they can store is very limited, usually a numeric code with a small number of digits.
[0005] To enrich the information that can be encoded, including longer text strings, Internet addresses, product name, serial numbers, etc., matrix or two-dimensional codes are generally used, with horizontal and vertical reading. These codes appeared as a logical evolution of the one-dimensional to increase the capacity to represent content.
[0006] However, the two codes are not compatible with each other, so they usually have to be read by different devices, which complicates and makes the process of transition between one type and the other more expensive. This is particularly relevant when, in order to facilitate the transition, both codes are included in the products. This results in a large occupation of physical space in the product envelope, which, in the case of small products, is a particularly important problem, since it is advisable that the codes have minimum dimensions to be able to be read correctly. In addition, since each code contains information different to be able to access it, it is necessary to install code readers of both types.
[0007] To overcome these drawbacks, some embodiments are known, such as that described in patent US6398117B1 "Method and system for combining barcodes of different coding dimensions" which incorporates a non-standard, point-based two-dimensional code interspersed in the empty spaces of a linear barcode. This requires the use of a non-standard reader for the two-dimensional code, in addition to the reading problems and errors caused in the linear barcode by the presence of parts of the two-dimensional code in its empty spaces, which makes this product not technically viable.
[0008] Solutions are also known such as those described in P3734510A1 "Composite code model, generating device, reading device, method and program" which combines two two-dimensional codes, QR at least one of them, one inside the other, or that described in ES2718528 "Two-dimensional barcode and authentication procedure of said barcode" which claims the combination of two QR codes one inside the other. Both solutions, in addition to requiring special non-standard equipment for reading, have the problem that one of the two codes is much smaller than the other, comparatively speaking, with remarkable reading problems in the case of small products.
[0009] There is also a code, such as that presented in US2020057980A1 "System and method for tracking and managing assets" in which the combination of a QR code and a linear barcode inserted therein is expressly claimed, with a width equal to or less than half the width of the QR code, but as in the previous case, it has the problem that, since, comparatively speaking, the linear barcode is much smaller than the QR code, there are significant reading problems and when reading the linear barcode, being particularly notable in the case of small products in which the size of the code is scarce.
[0010] Description of the invention
[0011] In order to solve the problem currently existing when different barcodes must be used in the same product, to facilitate its reading and improve the current state of the art, the double barcode object of the present invention has been designed, and comprises a matrix barcode, also called two-dimensional, and a linear barcode, also called one-dimensional, both of the same width, in a single reading space.
[0012] The linear barcode may be inserted inside the matrix barcode, preferably in its middle, horizontally or vertically, or be located next to, at the top, next to one of the sides of the matrix barcode, understanding as upper the side where the parallel lines of thickness and spacing begin different ones that compose it.
[0013] The matrix barcode and the linear barcode can correspond to any known standard code.
[0014] The double barcode therefore contains both information that can be interpreted by a mobile device, such as a URL, or multimedia content, and by a supermarket cashier's code reader, such as a GTIN code, as well as a character string to be read by a linear barcode reader. If the double barcode is read by a linear barcode reader, the reader will interpret only the included linear barcode. If the double barcode is read by a matrix code reader, the reader will interpret the GTIN code, for example. If the double barcode is read by a mobile device using its camera, for example a smartphone or a tablet, it will be interpreted as a URL leading to online content via the Internet.
[0015] Advantages of the invention
[0016] This presented dual barcode offers multiple advantages over those currently available, the most important being that it facilitates the industry's transition from linear barcodes to matrix barcodes, without the need to use the two separately.
[0017] Another important advantage is that the dual barcode allows the product bearing it to be read with both a linear barcode reader and a matrix barcode reader, which allows use with existing reading equipment in stores or industry.
[0018] Another important advantage is that all the information contained in this double barcode can be easily read by a video camera, thus eliminating the need for two different readers, even if they are compatible with them.
[0019] It is important to note that this dual barcode occupies much less space in the package than the two codes would occupy separately or consecutively, being in some of the embodiments the same as in a single matrix barcode.
[0020] We must not forget to point out that the double barcode contains all the information that can be interpreted by both a mobile device, such as a URL, or multimedia content, and by a supermarket cashier's code reader, such as a GTIN code, while a linear barcode only has information that can be interpreted by barcode readers.
[0021] In other words, the invention relates to:
[0022] A double barcode, suitable for representing character strings, comprising a matrix barcode and a linear barcode, both of the same width, in a single reading space.
[0023] According to a variant, the linear barcode is inserted inside the matrix barcode.
[0024] According to another variant, the linear barcode is inserted into the matrix barcode in its central part.
[0025] According to another variant, the linear barcode is inserted into the matrix barcode in its middle part, arranged horizontally.
[0026] According to yet another variant, the linear barcode is inserted into the matrix barcode in its central part, arranged vertically.
[0027] According to a variant, the linear barcode is located adjacent, at its upper part, next to one of the sides of the matrix barcode, this side being chosen from the group formed by the top, the bottom, the left or the right, and comprising as the upper part of the linear barcode the side where the parallel lines of different thickness and spacing which compose it begin.
[0028] According to another variant, the matrix barcode is chosen from the group formed by QR, BIDI, PDF417 and Datamatrix.
[0029] According to yet another variant, the linear barcode is chosen from the group formed by EAN, EAN13, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, Codebar and UPC. Description of figures
[0030] In order to better understand the object of the present invention, some preferred practical embodiments of a double barcode have been shown in the attached drawings:
[0031] [Fig.l] In this drawing, Figure -1- shows a double barcode with the linear barcode inserted inside the matrix barcode.
[0032] [Fig.2] shows a double barcode with the linear barcode located next to it, in top, next to one side of the matrix barcode, in four different positions.
[0033] Preferred embodiment of the invention
[0034] The constitution and characteristics of the invention can be better understood with the following description made with reference to the attached figures.
[0035] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is illustrated how the double barcode, suitable for the representation of character strings, comprises a matrix barcode 1, also called two-dimensional, and a linear barcode 2, also called one-dimensional, both of the same width, in a single reading space.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in [Fig.l], the linear barcode 2 is inserted inside the matrix barcode 1, preferably in its middle part, arranged horizontally or vertically.
[0037] An alternative embodiment is presented, as shown in Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, in which the linear barcode 2 is located adjacent, at its upper part, next to one of the sides of the matrix barcode 1, this side being chosen from the group formed by the top, the bottom, the left or the right. The upper part of the linear barcode 2 is understood as the side where the parallel lines of different thickness and spacing that compose it begin.
[0038] The matrix barcode 1 is preferably chosen from the group consisting of QR, BIDI, PDF417 and Datamatrix.
[0039] The linear barcode 2 is preferably chosen from the group formed by EAN, EAN13, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, Codebar and UPC.
[0040] To obtain this double barcode, the following steps can be followed:
[0041] 1 - Matrix barcode 1 is created with the desired character string, in using the chosen code standard and appropriate error correction for its correct reading.
[0042] 2 - The linear barcode 2 is created, with the desired character string, in using the chosen standard code.
[0043] 3 - The linear barcode 2 is positioned in the chosen barcode position matrix 1, which can be inside or next to one of the sides.
[0044] 4 - Matrix barcode 1 and linear barcode 2 must be readable.
[0045] Those skilled in the art will readily understand that features of different embodiments may be combined with features of other possible embodiments whenever such a combination is technically possible.
[0046] All information referring to examples or embodiments is part of the description of the invention.
Claims
Claims
1. Double barcode, suitable for the representation of character strings, characterized in that it comprises a matrix barcode (1) and a linear barcode (2), both of the same width, in a single reading space.
2. Double barcode, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the linear barcode (2) is inserted inside the matrix barcode (1).
3. Double barcode, according to claim 2, characterized in that the linear barcode (2) is inserted into the matrix barcode (1) in its central part.
4. Double barcode, according to claim 3, characterized in that the linear barcode (2) is inserted into the matrix barcode (1) in its middle part, arranged horizontally.
5. Double barcode, according to claim 3, characterized in that the linear barcode (2) is inserted into the matrix barcode (1) in its central part, arranged vertically.
6. Double barcode, according to claim 1, characterized in that the linear barcode (2) is located adjacent, at its upper part, next to one of the sides of the matrix barcode (1), this side being chosen from the group formed by the top, the bottom, the left or the right, and comprising as the upper part of the linear barcode (2) the side where the parallel lines of different thickness and spacing which compose it begin.
7. Double barcode, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the matrix barcode (1) is chosen from the group formed by QR, BIDI, PDF417 and Datamatrix.
8. Double barcode, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the linear barcode (2) is chosen from the group formed by EAN, EAN13, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, Codebar and UPC.