Image sensor identification code

Abstract

To provide conventional identification codes that contribute to an expansion in the range of use by increasing the amount of information that can be assigned the identification codes and increasing the total number of identification codes, and to provide a reading method different from conventional reading methods.SOLUTION: Instead of conventional identification codes in which dots and lines displayed in monochrome (two colors) are arranged therein, still images (photos, pictures, designs, etc.) or video images (not printed, but displayed image without audio) displayed in monochrome (two colors) or full-color (multiple colors) are used as identification codes, and the identification codes are read by a code reader using an image sensor capable of identifying the images and videos.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an identification code and an application technology of its digital signal conversion technology.

Background Art

[0002] The technology of image sensors (imaging elements) used in imaging and transfer technologies such as cameras and scanners

[0003] The technology of image sensors (imaging elements) used in display and printing technologies such as displays and printers

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Identification codes such as barcodes and QR codes are used in many applications. However, due to the constraints on their display methods (display conditions), the amount of information that can be assigned to one code is limited. In addition to the use of identification codes displayed on printed materials and the like, in the future, it is also assumed that they will be used for optical signal applications (display on displays) in information processing in computers and the like. An increase in the amount of information that can be assigned to identification codes and an increase in the total quantity of the identification codes themselves have been demanded.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] (1) Conventional identification codes mainly use the arrangement display of monochrome (two-color) lines and dots like barcodes and QR codes. Instead, use monochrome (two-color) still images (such as photos) and video images (such as display on displays) as identification codes. When producing, displaying, and identifying these image and video identification codes, the technology of image sensors (imaging elements) is used. In an image sensor, elements called pixels for displaying colors are regularly arranged vertically and horizontally. When identifying an image or video that is an identification code, based on pixels, identify whether the color within each pixel is white or black, read in the order of the pixel arrangement, and convert it into a digital signal. (2) Use an image or video with full-color (multi-color) display instead of a monochrome (two-color) still image or video in the method described in (1). The method of converting an image or video with full-color (multi-color) display into a binary (0 and 1) digital signal is to set it to read 0 and 1 for a specific color and other colors for the colors used. Set for each color used in this method, further set an order for all colors, and set to read for each order. As a result, it becomes a form of summarizing multiple identification codes in one image, and more information can be given to the same image. (3) In the method described in (1) and (2), it is read according to the pixel arrangement, but set to read multiple times by changing the reading order. As a result, it becomes a form of summarizing multiple identification codes in one image, and more information can be given to the same image. Solve the problem using the methods of (1), (2), and (3).

Claims

1. Identification codes such as barcodes and QR codes, which use monochrome (two-color) display, have the information attached to the codes read by a dedicated device (such as an infrared sensor code reader or a smartphone camera) and converted into digital signals by the program of the device. (Apply the two-color display to binary 0 and 1 for digital conversion). Instead of the arrangement display of lines or dots in monochrome (two-color) such as barcodes and QR codes, use a monochrome (two-color) still image (photo, picture, design, etc.) or a video image (for display on a display, without sound, not a printed matter) as an identification code. Conventional identification codes have the line display of barcodes and the dot display of QR codes, where the arrangement of white and black at the placed positions is replaced by the arrangement of 0 and 1 and converted into a binary digital signal. When using a still image or a video image as an identification code, a photographing device (such as a digital camera) and an output device (such as a display or a printer) are required, and an image sensor (imaging element) is used in these devices. In an image sensor, elements for displaying colors called pixels are subdivided vertically and horizontally and arranged regularly. The larger the number of pixels in one image sensor, the higher the definition of the displayed image quality. A monochrome (two-color) image identification code photographed by an image sensor-using device and displayed (output) by an image sensor-using device identifies whether the color in each pixel is white or black (0 or 1), reads in the order of pixel arrangement, and converts it into a digital signal. (When two colors are mixed in one pixel, set it to be the same as one of the colors to establish the binary method). In this way, by using a monochrome (two-color) still image or a video image instead of a monochrome (two-color) display barcode, QR code, etc. as an identification code, more information can be attached to one identification code, and further increase the total quantity of the identification code itself. A method of reading and digitally converting an image identification code printed after being photographed by a photographing device using an image sensor or displayed by an output device using an image sensor with a photographing device using an image sensor. In conventional barcode and QR code readers (such as infrared sensor code readers), since image and video identification codes cannot be read, a reader using an image sensor (such as a smartphone camera) is used. Also, when using a video as an identification code, the video displayed (played) on the display is photographed by a camera and identified. Since a video is a continuous playback of still images, the binary data of each still image is read using the function of a high-speed camera.

2. In the method according to claim 1, when reading an image identification code in the arrangement order of pixels in the image sensor, not only one reading method but also a plurality of reading methods are set, the reading order is determined, and it is set to read in order. For example, for the first time, vertically downward from the upper right corner to the lower left corner, for the second time, horizontally leftward from the upper right corner to the lower left corner, for the third time, vertically upward from the lower left corner to the upper right corner, and for the fourth time, horizontally rightward from the lower left corner to the upper right corner, each in order. In this way, four reading methods can be performed for one identification code, so it becomes a form of combining four identification codes into one identification code, and more information can be given with the same identification code. In this way, by setting a plurality of reading methods for a monochrome (two-color) display image identification code, determining the reading order, and setting to read in order, more information can be given by one identification code, and furthermore, a method of increasing the total quantity of the identification codes themselves. (The method of setting a plurality of reading methods for one identification code is only applicable when using still images and cannot be used when using video.)

3. A method of using a still image or a video in full-color (multi-color) display, rather than a monochrome (two-color) display, as an identification code in the method according to claim 1. The method of converting an image or video in full-color (multi-color) display into a digital signal in binary (0 and 1) is set to read in binary (0 and 1) using a specific color and other colors for the colors used in the image. This is set for the number of colors used in the image, the order is determined, and it is set to read in order. For example, in the case of an image using four colors of (1) red, (2) yellow, (3) green, and (4) blue, (1) red and other colors are set in binary (0 and 1). Set four colors: (2) yellow and other colors, (3) green and other colors, (4) blue and other colors, and then set to read in order from (1) to (4). In this way, since four reading methods can be achieved with one identification code, it becomes a form of grouping four identification codes into one identification code, and more information can be assigned with the same identification code. Thus, by using the method according to claim 1 and using full-color (multi-color) displayed images and videos instead of monochrome (two-color) displayed images and videos, more information can be assigned with one identification code, and furthermore, a method for increasing the total quantity of the identification codes themselves.

4. A method of using a full-color (multi-color) displayed still image or video as an identification code instead of a monochrome (two-color) display according to the method described in claim 2. The method of converting a full-color (multi-color) displayed image or video into a binary (0 and 1) digital signal is the same as the method described in claim 3. Thus, by using the method according to claim 2 and using full-color (multi-color) displayed images and videos instead of monochrome (two-color) displayed images and videos, more information can be assigned with one identification code, and furthermore, a method for increasing the total quantity of the identification codes themselves.

5. An identification code using the methods described in claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, and claim 4, and a device for identifying the code and converting it into a digital signal.

6. An OS (program software) for controlling a device that converts the identification code described in claim 5 into a digital signal.

7. Services and undertakings using the identification code described in claim 5 and the digital signal conversion device, and the OS (program software) described in claim 6.