Device that reads data encoded as dots

• US 20040032505A1
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Walmsley, Simon Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,557,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00795 Reading arrangements details of scanning heads H04N1/024; scanning arrangements therefor H04N1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0096 Portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3266 of text or character information, e.g. text accompanying an image H04N2201/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display

Abstract

A system is disclosed for reading data encoded as a series of invisible dots carried on a substrate. The system has a detector that detects the dots on the substrate and outputs a first signal; a decoder interconnected to the detector that decodes the first signal to produce an output signal; and an output device interconnected to the processor that receives the output signal and creates a corresponding human readable output. The dots may be infrared absorbing and the encoding can include Reed-Solomon encoding of the prerecorded audio. The system can include a wand-like arm having a slot through which the photograph is inserted.

Claims

1. A device for reading data encoded as an array of dots carried on a substrate, the array being substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye, the device comprising:

a detector that detects the array of dots and outputs a first signal representative thereof;

a decoder interconnected to said detector that receives and decodes said first signal to produce a second signal corresponding to the first signal; and

an output device interconnected to said decoder that receives said second signal and creates a human readable output corresponding to the second signal.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein detector detects the array of dots optically.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the dots are dots of ink.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the ink is infrared absorbing ink with little absorption in the visible spectrum.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said data is encoded using Reed-Solomon encoding.

6. The device of claim 1 including a slot through which said substrate is inserted.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the output device is a display.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the substrate also carries an image and wherein a substrate carrying an image and including an array being substantially identical, to an average unaided human eye, to the same substrate and image not including an array,

8. A method of creating a human readable output from an array of dots carried by a substrate, the array encoding data and being substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye, said method comprising the steps of:

(d) detecting the array on the substrate and outputting a first signal corresponding thereto;

(e) decoding said first signal and outputting a second signal

(f) receiving the second signal in an output device and generating a human readable output corresponding to the second signal.

9. The method of claim 8 including detecting the array of dots optically.

10. The method of claim 8 including detecting the dots using at least the infrared spectrum.

11. The method of claim 8 including providing the dots using an infrared absorbing ink with little absorption in the visible spectrum.

12. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said data is Reed-Solomon encoded prior to creation of the array of dots.

14. The method of claim 14 wherein the substrate also carries an image and wherein a substrate carrying an image and including an array being substantially identical, to an average unaided human eye, to the same substrate and image not including an array,