Compression and Obfuscation of Three-Dimensional Coding

• US 20130341400A1
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lancaster-Larocque, Simon Regis Louis
• Granted Patent: US 9,135,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/007 Marking tablets or the like apparatus for printing on tablets or the like B41F17/36
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/26 Thermography B41M5/20, B41M5/24 take precedence; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used B23K takes precedence; thermographic or photothermographic systems using noble metal compounds G03C1/494
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06159 the marking being relief type, e.g. three-dimensional bar codes engraved in a support
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06178 the marking having a feature size being smaller than can be seen by the unaided human eye
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking

Abstract

Systems and methods related to three-dimensional coding are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for encoding data is described that includes generating a pattern in a substrate. The pattern includes elements and each element has one of an aperture or a protrusion. The aperture or protrusion has unique x, y coordinates within the pattern. The method also includes varying a depth of at least one element. The varied depth encodes data.

Claims

1. A method for encoding data comprising:

generating a pattern in a substrate, the pattern including elements, each element comprising one of an aperture or a protrusion and having unique x, y coordinates within the pattern; and

varying a depth of at least one element, wherein the varied depth comprises encoded data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each element of the pattern has one of a plurality of geometric shapes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more elements comprise a feature encoded on its base.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising operating a laser to laser ablate the substrate to form the pattern.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the elements have a diameter of approximately 10 micrometers or less.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the pattern is formed within a textual indicator printed on the substrate.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising varying at least one of an intensity and exposure time of the laser to vary the depth of the at least one pattern element.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising operating a pin stamp to form the pattern in the substrate.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the pin stamp is operated with varying force to achieve a desired depth for each element.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising covering the generated pattern with at least one of a glass, plastic or ceramic member.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern is located under an obscuring member.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the obscuring member comprises a material that is transmissive in at least one region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

21. The 3-D code of claim 12, wherein the code forms part of a microperferated portion of a housing.

13. A 3-D code comprising:

a plurality of apertures formed within a substrate, wherein;

each aperture comprises a unique position in the 3-D code relative to each of the other apertures; and

each aperture comprises a depth, wherein at least one aperture has a depth that is different from at least one other aperture'"'"'s depth.

14. The 3-D code of claim 13, wherein the plurality of apertures represent at least two different geometric shapes.

15. The 3-D code of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures has a first geometric shape and a second geometric shape is formed on a bottom surface of the aperture.

16. The 3-D code of claim 13, wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of apertures is approximately 20 micrometers or less.

17. The 3-D code of claim 13, wherein a depth of at least one of the apertures is approximately less than 10 micrometers.

18. The 3-D code of claim 13, wherein the code is a pin-stamped code and the pin-stamped code comprises at least one aperture having an encoded feature on its base.

19. The 3-D code of claim 18, wherein the encoded feature comprises a secondary 3-D code.

20. The 3-D code of claim 13, wherein the code is too small to be seen by a naked eye.

22. The 3-D code of claim 13, wherein at least one aperture comprise a through-hole.

23. The 3-D coding of claim 13, wherein the code is obscured within one of a printed logo and a printed letter.

24. A method of reading a 3-D code comprising:

determining a relative location of a reader and a device having a 3-D code;

orienting the reader relative to the device to enable reading of the 3-D code;

obtaining an image of the 3-D code;

processing the image to determine a relative location of each element of the 3-D code; and

determining a depth of each element of the 3-D code.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of determining a relative location of the reader and the device comprises utilizing an image recognition software to discern features of the device.