INFORMATION CODE MEDIUM, AND SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR READING INFORMATION CODE PROVIDED BY THE SAME

• US 20140084069A1
• Filed: 03/26/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso PS Corporation (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso PS Corporation (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: MIZUKOSHI, Hiroaki
• Granted Patent: US 10,303,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/468
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks

Abstract

An information code is provided as a light transmissive object in which an information code is formed. When visible light is radiated to the object, the object maintains its light transmissive state, with no presentation from an information code in the object. Light of a first wavelength band, which differs from the visible light, is radiated to the object, the information code produces an image on light of a second wavelength band which differs from the first wavelength band. From an information code reader, the light of the first wavelength band is radiated to the information code medium, during which the light of the second wavelength band from the code is received by the reader. Based on reception results of the light of the second wavelength band, the information code is decoded. By way of example, decoded results are used to determine if the information code is authentic.

Claims

1. An information code reading system comprising:

an information code medium provided as a light transmissive object, wherein an information code is formed in the object, the information code maintaining a light transmissive state of the object without being presented when visible light is radiated to the object but producing an image in response to radiation of light of a first wavelength band to the object, the image being produced on light of a second wavelength band differing from the first wavelength band, the light of the first wavelength band being different from the visible right; and

an information code reader that reads the information code produced by the information code medium,

wherein the information code reader comprises;

an illumination source that radiates the light of the first wavelength band to the information code medium;

a light-receiving sensor that receives the light of the second wavelength band emanated from the information code when the light of the first wavelength band is radiated to the information code medium; and

decoding means for decoding the information code based on information indicative of the light received by the light-receiving sensor.

2. The information code reading system of claim 1, wherein

the information code reader comprises a wavelength-selective filter configured to provide the light of the second wavelength band with a transmittance lager than a transmittance for light of a predetermined wavelength band other than the second wavelength band,

the light-receiving sensor is configured to receive the light of the second wavelength band filtered by the wavelength-selective filter, and

the decoding means is configured to decode the information code based on the information indicative of the light of the second wavelength band received by the light-receiving sensor.

3. The information code reading system of claim 2, wherein

the information code medium is configured to produce the image of the information code based on predetermined-color visible light of a wavelength band when the light of the first wavelength band is radiated to the object,

the wavelength-selective filter is configured to provide the predetermined-color visible light with a transmittance larger than a transmittance for visible light of other colors different in wavelengths from the predetermined color, and

the decoding means for decoding the information code based on the information indicative of the light of the predetermined color received by the light-receiving sensor.

4. The information code reading system of claim 3, wherein

the light-receiving sensor is composed of a color sensor provided with a plurality of pixels and a plurality of small filters arranged at the pixels respectively,

the small filters include a first filter that allows at least light of a wavelength band assigned to a first color to pass therethrough and suppresses light of a first predetermined wavelength band other than the wavelength band assigned to the first color, a second filter that allows light of a wavelength band assigned to a second color to pass therethrough and suppresses light of a second predetermined wavelength band other than the wavelength band assigned to the second color, and a third filter that allows light of a wavelength band assigned to a third color to pass therethrough and suppresses light of a third predetermined wavelength band other than the wavelength band assigned to the third color, wherein the first, second and third filters are arranged in a scattered state,

the information code medium is configured to produce the image of the information code based on the visible light of the wavelength band assigned to the first color when the light of the first wavelength band is radiated to the object,

the wavelength-selective filter is composed of a plurality of the first filters arranged in a scattered state, and

the decoding means for decoding the information code based on the information indicative of the light of the first color received by the light-receiving sensor.

5. The information code reading system of claim 2, wherein

the light-receiving sensor comprises a predetermined-size light-receiving area all of which receives the light filtered by the wavelength-selective filter, and

the decoding means is configured to decode the information code based on results of the light received by the light receiving area.

6. The information code reading system of claim 1, wherein

the information code medium is configured to produce the image of the information code based on reflection of visible light when the light of the first wavelength band is radiated to the object, and

the light-receiving sensor is configured to receive the reflection of the visible light, the reflection composing the image of the information code.

7. The information code reading system of claim 1, wherein

the information code medium is configured to produce the image of the information code based on reflection of light which differs in wavelengths from ultraviolet light when the ultraviolet light is radiated to the object, and

the illumination source is configured to radiate, as illumination light, the ultraviolet light.

8. The information code reading system of claim 1, wherein

the object is shaped into a plate form or a sheet form and is provided as a seal member one of which two surfaces has an adhesive medium, the object having a thickness direction being across the two surfaces.

9. The information code reading system of claim 1, wherein

the object is shaped into a plate form and is configured such that one of two surfaces of the object is fixed to an outer surface of an article.

10. The information code reading system of claim 1, comprising determining means for determining whether or not the information code is an authentic information code, based on results decoded by the decoding means.

11. The information code reading system of claim 10, wherein the determining means is configured to compare data decoded by the decoding means with predetermined information when the decoding means has decoded the information code successfully, and determines if the authentic information code is decoded, based on results of the comparison.

12. The information code reading system of claim 11, wherein

the information code reader comprises information storing means for storing therein the predetermined information, and

the determining means is configured to compare the decoded data with the predetermined information stored in the information storing means when the decoding means has decoded the information code successfully, and determines if the authentic information code is decoded, based on results of the comparison.

13. The information code reading system of claim 11, comprising a management device communicable with the information code reader,

wherein the management device comprises

information storing means for storing therein the predetermined information, and

communication control means configured to read the predetermined information from the information storing means and transmit the read predetermined information to the information code reader responsively to a request for the predetermined information from the information code reader,

wherein the determining means is configured to submit the request for the predetermined information to the management device, compare data decoded by the decoding means with the predetermined information responsively to reception of the predetermined information from the management device, and determine whether or not the information code is a predetermined authentic information code, based on results of the comparison.

14. The information code reading system of claim 10, wherein the determining means is configured to determine that the information code medium is inauthentic when the decoding means fail to decode the information code and determine that the information code medium is authentic when conditions are met, the conditions including a condition that the decoding means decodes the information code successfully.

15. The information code reading system of claim 10, wherein

the information code includes authentication data encoded based on a predetermined encryption key and a predetermined encryption technique,

the information code reader comprises either key storing means for storing therein a decryption key to the encryption key or key acquiring means for acquiring the decryption key,

the decoding means is configured to try to decrypt the encrypted data according to the encryption technique and the decryption key stored in the key storing means or acquired by the acquiring means, and

the determining means is configured to determine that the information code decoded by the decoding means is an authentic information code when the decoding means successfully decrypts the encrypted data.

16. An information code reader comprising:

an illumination source that radiates light of a first wavelength band to an information code medium provided as a light transmissive object, wherein an information code is formed in the object, the information code maintaining a light transmissive state of the object without being presented when visible light is radiated to the object but producing an image in response to radiation of light of the first wavelength band to the object, the image being produced on light of a second wavelength band differing from the first wavelength band, the light of the first wavelength band being different from the visible light; and

a light-receiving sensor that receives the light of the second wavelength band emanated from the information code when the light of the first wavelength band is radiated to the information code medium; and

decoding means for decoding the information code based on information indicative of the light received by the light-receiving sensor.

17. The information code reader of claim 16, comprising determining means for determining whether or not the information code is a predetermined authentic information code, based on results decoded by the decoding means.

18. An information code medium provided as a sheet-shaped light-transmissive object,

wherein an information code is formed in the object, the information code maintaining a light transmissive state of the object without being presented when visible light is radiated to the object but producing an image in response to radiation of light of a first wavelength band to the object, the image being produced on light of a second wavelength band differing from the first wavelength band, the light of the first wavelength band being different from the visible light;

and

an adhesive medium is formed on one of two surfaces of the object, the object having a thickness direction being across the two surfaces.

19. A method of reading an information code, including steps of:

radiating light of a first wavelength band to an information code medium provided as a light transmissive object, wherein an information code is formed in the object, the information code maintaining a light transmissive state of the object without being presented when visible light is radiated to the object but producing an image in response to radiation of light of a first wavelength band to the object, the image being produced on light of a second wavelength band differing from the first wavelength band, the light of the first wavelength band being different from the visible light;

receiving the light of the second wavelength band emanated from the information code when the light of the first wavelength band is radiated to the information code medium; and

decoding the information code based on results of reception of the reflected light of the second wavelength band.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising a step of determining so whether or not the information code is a predetermined authentic information code based on results of the decoding.