Coding and Decoding Methods and Apparatuses
First Claim
1. A method for generating a combined position and information code to be applied on base, comprisinggenerating an electronic representation of a position code, which comprises a plurality of coding marks and which codes a plurality of positions, each position being coded by a first predetermined number of coding marks,defining groups of coding marks in the position code, each group including a larger number of coding marks than said predetermined number of coding marks, andcoding an information item in said groups of coding marks by using at least some of the coding marks in each group of coding marks.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combined position and information code, which could be applied on a base, comprises a position code, which comprises a plurality of coding marks and which codes a plurality of positions. Each position in the position code is coded by a predetermined number of coding marks. Groups of coding marks are defined in the position code. The number of coding marks in each group is larger than the predetermined number of coding marks. At least some of the coding marks in each group are used for coding an information item. When decoding the combined code, part areas of the combined code are imaged. A position is decoded from each imaged part area, whereas the information item has to be decoded from at least two part areas.
67 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for generating a combined position and information code to be applied on base, comprising
generating an electronic representation of a position code, which comprises a plurality of coding marks and which codes a plurality of positions, each position being coded by a first predetermined number of coding marks, defining groups of coding marks in the position code, each group including a larger number of coding marks than said predetermined number of coding marks, and coding an information item in said groups of coding marks by using at least some of the coding marks in each group of coding marks.
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10. An apparatus for generating a combined position and information code to be applied on base, comprising a coding module having
means for generating an electronic representation of a position code, which comprises a plurality of coding marks and which codes a plurality of positions, each position being coded by a predetermined number of coding marks, and means for defining groups of coding marks in the position code, each group including a larger number of coding marks than said predetermined number of coding marks, and means for coding an information item in said groups of coding marks by using at least some of the coding marks in each group of coding marks.
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11. A method for decoding a combined position and information code, which comprises a plurality of coding marks, which code a plurality of positions, each position being coded by a predetermined number of coding marks, and an information item, said method comprising
receiving a series of electronic representations of different parts of the combined code, each representation comprising at least said predetermined number of coding marks but only a subset of the coding marks coding said information item, determining a position from each one of the electronic representations, and decoding the information item using coding marks from at least two of the electronic representations.
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18. An apparatus for decoding a combined position and information code, which comprises a plurality of coding marks, which code a plurality of positions, each position being coded by a predetermined number of coding marks, and an information item, comprising a decoding module having
means for receiving a series of electronic representations of different parts of the combined code, each representation comprising at least said predetermined number of coding marks but only a subset of the coding marks coding said information item, means for determining a position from each one of the electronic representations, and means for decoding the information item using coding marks from at least two of the electronic representations.
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19. A method for generating a combined position and information code to be applied on base, comprising
generating an electronic representation of a position code, which codes a plurality of positions, each position being coded by a first predetermined number of coding marks, overlaying an electronic representation of an information code on the position code to create the combined code, said information code coding at least one information item by using a second predetermined number of coding marks, wherein both the positions and the information item are coded by displacing the coding marks from respective nominal positions defined by a grid.
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21. An apparatus for generating a combined position and information code to be applied on base, comprising a coding module having
means for generating an electronic representation of a position code, which codes a plurality of positions, each position being coded by a first predetermined number of coding marks, means for overlaying an electronic representation of an information code on the position code to create the combined code, said information code coding at least one information item by using a second predetermined number of coding marks, wherein both the positions and the information item are coded by displacing the coding marks from respective nominal positions defined by a grid.
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22. A method for decoding a combined position and information code, comprising
receiving an electronic representation of a part of said combined position and information code, localizing at least one position-coding mark, which contributes to the coding of a position, in said electronic representation, determining a direction of displacement from a nominal position of said at least one position-coding mark localizing at least one information-coding mark, which contributes to the coding of an information item, in said electronic representation, and determining an amount of displacement from a nominal position of said at least one information-coding mark.
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23. An apparatus for decoding a combined position and information code, comprising a decoding module having
means for receiving an electronic representation of a part of said combined position and information code, means for localizing at least one position-coding mark, which contributes to the coding of a position, in said electronic representation, means for determining a direction of displacement from a nominal position of said at least one position-coding mark means for localizing at least one information-coding mark, which contributes to the coding of an information item, in said electronic representation, and means for determining an amount of displacement from a nominal position of said at least one information-coding mark.
Specification