Color Bar Code Encoding Information Capacity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bar codes are limited in the information they can convey and require a specific reader direction for accurate reading, making them inconvenient for users.
Innovation Solution
A color bar code system comprising a header region and a code region with concentric layers of color bars, where the color sequence of the bars encodes information, allowing for more data to be stored and read in any direction using a color bar code reader and determining circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional bar codes use only black bars with varying widths and gaps, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the information capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using multiple color kinds (first color, second color, third color) for code color bars instead of conventional single-color bars. The color sequence and color kinds encode additional information, significantly increasing information capacity while maintaining a similar structural framework to conventional bar codes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite coding by combining multiple attributes (color kind, color sequence, bar width, bar position) to create a multi-dimensional information encoding system. This composite approach allows the bar code to convey more information without proportionally increasing structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If conventional bar codes require a specific reader direction for accurate reading, then the reading mechanism is simple, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds the color dimension to the traditional one-dimensional bar code structure. By encoding information in color sequences and color kinds across concentric layers, the system enables reading from multiple directions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure with a header region and code region.
Solution Approach 2:
The bar code structure serves multiple functions: the header region identifies the starting point, different color kinds encode different data values, and concentric layer arrangements enable multi-directional reading. This multi-functional design improves ease of operation without excessive complexity increase.
3Loss of information
If conventional bar codes use only width and gap variations, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the information density is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the encoding parameters from solely physical dimensions (width, gap) to include optical properties (color kind, color sequence). This parameter expansion increases information density significantly while the manufacturing process remains relatively simple, requiring only color differentiation in addition to existing bar formation techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
A color bar code comprising a code block is disclosed. The code block comprises: a header region, comprising a specific color; and a code region, comprising at least two code color bars with different color kinds, wherein a color sequence of the code color bars indicates a code. The code color bars form concentric layers surrounding the header region. Such color bar code can comprise more information and the contained therein is more easily to be acquired. A code determining system which can determine the code in the color bar code is also disclosed.