Optical Code Generation with Variable Density for Visual Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in creating optical codes that are minimally invasive, aesthetically pleasing, and robust, while maintaining high data capacity, especially on objects where color selection and high-resolution printing are limited, and where reliable reading from small spatial areas is necessary.
Innovation Solution
A method for generating optical codes that optimizes parameters such as spatial density, dot size, and dot placement to achieve visual quality and robustness, using a training set of test images to determine optimal parameters for reliable decoding, even from degraded images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If optical codes are reduced in size and confined to difficult to find locations to reduce visual impact, then aesthetic quality improves, but reliability and ease of location deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the spatial density of dots within different regions of the optical code. By creating zones of high density and zones of low density, the code achieves both visual subtlety (in low density areas) and reliable data storage (in high density areas). This regional variation allows the code to be aesthetically pleasing while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from uniform 2D barcode patterns to a 3D-like variable density structure where dot concentration varies across the code space. This dimensional variation allows the optical code to encode data more efficiently in certain regions while maintaining visual acceptability in others, effectively adding a density dimension to the traditional binary code structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If dots are spaced farther apart to improve visual quality, then aesthetic quality improves, but data capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by creating non-uniform dot spacing where certain regions have wider spacing for visual comfort while other regions have tighter spacing for data density. This allows the optical code to optimize both visual appearance and data capacity simultaneously by assigning different spacing characteristics to different functional zones within the code.
3Ease of manufacture
If optical codes are placed in difficult to find locations to reduce visual impact, then aesthetic quality improves, but ease of detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetry by creating an optical code structure that is visually asymmetric and blends with background patterns, making it difficult to locate at first glance. However, this same asymmetric structure contains inherent detection cues that guide machine vision systems to the correct locations, allowing human eyes to miss the code while machines can reliably detect it.
Data Source
AI summary
The parameters of an optical code are optimized to achieve improved signal robustness, reliability, capacity and/or visual quality. An optimization program can determine spatial density, dot distance, dot size and signal component priority to optimize robustness. An optical code generator employs these parameters to produce an optical code at the desired spatial density and robustness. The optical code is merged into a host image, such as imagery, text and graphics of a package or label, or it may be printed by itself, e.g., on an otherwise blank label or carton. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.