Curved 2D Barcode for Cylindrical Bottle Scanning

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Solution Overview

Problem

2D barcode decoding on non-planar surfaces, such as cylindrical surfaces like wine bottles, is challenging due to perspective transformations and physical distortions, leading to unreliable scanning with standard portable image scanners.

Innovation Solution

A method for generating a 2D barcode with curved top and bottom edges and horizontally arranged code elements, optimized for scanning from a non-zero angle, using an algorithm that calculates and applies elliptical deformation parameters to compensate for surface curvature and viewing angles, resulting in a barcode that is more readable on curved surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a standard 2D barcode is placed on a cylindrical surface, then the barcode can be applied to bottles for marketing and authentication, but the barcode becomes difficult to decode with standard portable scanners due to perspective distortion and surface curvature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebarcode placement on cylindrical surfacesVSAvoidbarcode decoding reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The barcode is pre-distorted during the design phase to compensate for the perspective distortion and surface curvature that will occur when applied to a cylindrical bottle. This preliminary action ensures that when the distorted barcode is scanned from the intended viewing angle, it appears as a standard undistorted barcode to the scanner, enabling reliable decoding with standard portable scanners without requiring modified decoding software

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the barcode is designed for optimal scanning from a non-zero angle (typical user behavior), then readability improves, but the barcode shape becomes asymmetric and more complex to generate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning ease from typical user angleVSAvoidbarcode generation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The barcode generation process incorporates specific geometric parameters including the bottle radius, intended scanning angle, and scanning distance. By adjusting these parameters, the system automatically calculates and applies the appropriate distortion transformation. This parameter-based approach simplifies the complexity by providing a systematic method rather than requiring manual design of complex asymmetric patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the barcode uses curved edges and horizontally arranged code elements to account for surface curvature, then scanning reliability on cylindrical surfaces improves, but the barcode deviates from standard rectangular formats that decoders are optimized for

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning reliability on curved surfacesVSAvoidcompatibility with standard decoders

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of trying to make the scanner adapt to the curved surface, the invention inverts the approach by pre-distorting the barcode pattern itself. The barcode is designed with curved edges and distorted code element arrangements that, when viewed from the intended scanning angle on the cylindrical surface, appear as a standard rectangular barcode to the decoder. This inversion allows standard decoders to work effectively without modification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3104306B2Two dimensional barcode

Publication Date: 2023.11.01 SCANTRUST

Figure 1~2a
Figure 2b
Figure 2c

AI summary

Two dimensional barcode (4) for placement on a portion of a neck (3) of a bottle (1), comprising a top edge (10a), a bottom edge (10b), a left edge (10c) a right edge (10d), and code elements (8) arranged along horizontal lines extending between the left edge and the right edge, wherein the horizontal lines of code elements and the top and bottom edges are curved such that the top edge has a convex shape and the bottom edge a concave shape.