2D Marker Using Periodic Waveform Line Segments for High Data Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marking technologies, such as barcodes and dot codes, are inadequate for uniquely identifying large quantities of products due to limited data capacity and increased size or complexity when attempting to add additional data, which can obscure the background and increase the footprint of the marker.
Innovation Solution
A two-dimensional marker comprising a plurality of line segments, where at least one segment has a shape of a periodic waveform, allowing for increased data storage without increasing the number of line segments, thus maintaining optical contrast and size efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If additional data is added to the existing vector-based code by adding lines to the pattern, then the data capacity is improved, but the size of the pattern increases and optical contrast is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the properties of existing line segments rather than adding more lines. Specifically, it changes parameters such as line segment position, length, orientation, and curvature to encode additional data. This allows increasing data capacity while maintaining the same pattern size and optical contrast, as the encoding information is embedded within the modified parameters of the original line segments.
2Loss of information
If additional data is added by adding lines to the pattern, then the data capacity is improved, but the optical contrast is reduced by obscuring more of the background
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies parameters of existing line segments (position, length, orientation, curvature) to encode additional data without adding more lines. This approach maintains optical contrast because the total line coverage remains constant, preventing background obscuration while still embedding additional information within the modified segment parameters.
3Loss of information
If several two-dimensional patterns are stacked to add data, then the data capacity is improved, but the footprint of the marker increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds multiple layers of information within the same physical pattern structure by nesting data encoding methods. Instead of stacking separate patterns, it nests additional data within the parameters of existing line segments, creating a hierarchical encoding structure where multiple data elements are contained within the same spatial footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from encoding data only through the presence/absence of lines to encoding data through multiple dimensions of line segment parameters (position, length, orientation, curvature). This dimensional expansion allows significantly more data to be stored within the same two-dimensional space without increasing the marker footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
A two-dimensional marker for marking an object comprises a plurality of line segments each extending between a first end point and a second end point thereof, wherein at least one of the line segments comprises a shape of at least one period of a periodic waveform.