Visual Code with Image Pattern for Product Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional barcodes and QR codes cannot visually convey messages to humans, limiting their appeal and design impact on products, and are difficult to incorporate images or illustrations due to their grid-based symbol patterns.
Innovation Solution
A visual code system that includes a frame pattern, a symbol pattern placing area, an internal information pattern, and a guide pattern, allowing for the use of images, illustrations, or photographs to convey messages visually while still being readable by optical scanners, with a visual code reading apparatus to recognize and output associated or non-associated information based on the presence or absence of symbol patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a grid-based symbol pattern (barcode or QR code) is used to enable optical reading, then information can be accurately read by scanners, but humans cannot visually recognize or read the message from it
Solution Approach 1:
The code is divided into multiple independent symbol patterns arranged in a grid, where each symbol can be independently recognized. This segmentation allows the code to function both as machine-readable data and as human-readable visual message when the symbols form recognizable patterns or images.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from one-dimensional barcodes to two-dimensional arrangements of symbols, enabling the formation of images, illustrations, or photographs within the code structure. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous machine reading and human visual recognition of meaningful content.
2Adaptability or versatility
If images, illustrations or photographs are included in the visual code to increase design and appeal, then product attractiveness is enhanced, but the grid-based symbol pattern structure becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The symbol patterns serve dual functions: they maintain the grid-based structure necessary for machine reading while simultaneously forming images or illustrations that convey visual messages to humans. This multi-functionality resolves the conflict between structural integrity and design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the data encoding function with the visual messaging function by using the same symbol patterns for both purposes. The symbols that encode information for scanners also arrange to form recognizable images for human viewers, combining multiple functions into a single unified structure.
3Loss of information
If conventional barcodes or QR codes are attached to products for information conveyance, then information can be transmitted to scanners, but the design of the products is deteriorated and appeal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The code uses varied symbol patterns with different visual characteristics that can be arranged to form aesthetically pleasing images or illustrations. This allows the code to blend with product design rather than detract from it, maintaining design quality while transmitting information.
Data Source
AI summary
An article to which a visual code is attached, wherein the visual code includes: a frame pattern which is formed in the shape of a polygonal or round ring by arranging multiple pattern elements; a symbol pattern placing area which is formed inside the frame pattern, and in which a symbol pattern can be placed; an internal information pattern which is formed as a part of the frame pattern and indicates the presence or the absence of the symbol pattern in the symbol pattern placing area; and a guide pattern which is placed on, inside or near the frame pattern, and is used for a visual code reading apparatus having an optical reading function to recognize a positional relationship between the frame pattern and the visual code reading apparatus.