Reading Device Digital Watermark Code Discount Seal Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing reading devices, especially those used in POS systems, the dense printing of digital watermarks on commodity packages can lead to the discount information being overlooked, as the reading device may not recognize the discount seal if it is not aligned correctly with the code symbol, resulting in forgotten discount information.
Innovation Solution
A reading device with an imaging unit that captures images of both the commodity code and discount information symbols printed with digital watermarks, using distinct colors to differentiate between them, allowing for separate processing and recognition, thereby ensuring the reading of both commodity codes and discount information without impairing the appearance of the commodity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a large number of code symbols are printed on the entire surface of the commodity package using digital watermark, then the commodity information can be read no matter how the commodity is held, but the discount seal may be forgotten to be read when the code symbol is imaged at a position away from the discount seal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the code symbol and discount seal into a single integrated imaging process. The reading device captures both the code symbol printed with digital watermark and the discount seal in one captured image, merging their detection functions. This ensures that when the code symbol is read, the discount seal is simultaneously detected and recorded, preventing loss of discount information while maintaining ease of operation.
2Productivity
If the reading device images only the code symbol to read commodity information, then the reading process is simple and fast, but the discount seal is not recognized leading to forgotten discount information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by capturing the discount seal information in advance along with the code symbol in a single imaging operation. The captured image contains both the code symbol for commodity identification and the discount seal for discount information. This preliminary capture of discount information ensures it is available for processing without requiring separate imaging actions, thus maintaining reading speed while preventing information loss.
3Ease of manufacture
If digital watermark is used to print code symbols imperceptible to humans, then the appearance of the commodity is not impaired, but the discount seal attached nearby may be overlooked due to dense printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information reading process into two distinct processing paths within the same imaging system: code symbol recognition for commodity identification and discount seal recognition for discount information. The imaging unit captures the entire area containing both elements, then the processing unit separately analyzes each element type. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the imperceptible digital watermark appearance while ensuring discount seal information is not overlooked through dedicated detection processing.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a reading device and a method capable of improving operability of an operator without impairing an appearance of a commodity and preventing forgetting to read privilege information such as discount information are provided. A reading device according to an embodiment includes: an imaging unit configured to image a reading target; a reading unit configured to read, from an image captured by the imaging unit, first information by first processing and second information by second processing different from the first processing, the first information being indicated by a symbol printed with a digital watermark and the second information being indicated by a symbol printed with a digital watermark and different from the first information; and an output unit configured to output information read by the reading unit.