Coded label and code reader for the coded label

• US 4,286,146 A
• Filed: 01/12/1979
• Issued: 08/25/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Shinji, Ejiri, Masakazu, Uno, Takeshi, Ueda, Hirotada, Ikeda, Sadahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Kilgore, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US06/003,011
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.11 E, 235/61.12 N, 235/61.12 R, 235/456, 235/494, 340/146.3 F, 340/146.3 AC, 340/146.3 A, 340/146.3 Z, 250/568, 250/569
• US Class Current: 235/456
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding

Abstract

A coded label comprising a code pattern in which first and second segments respectively being substantially square and having reflection factors different from each other are arranged in at least four rows and two columns, and in which at least two of either of the first and second segments are arranged in each column and at least one is arranged in each of the uppermost and lowermost rows.

Claims

1. A coded label comprising at least one code pattern to be read by a code reader in which segments having a specific shape and assuming either of first and second physical characteristics different from each other are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and an area of the coded label surrounding said code pattern having said second physical characteristic, at least one segment of said first physical characteristic being arranged in each of both end rows of said code pattern.

2. The coded label according to claim 1, wherein at least one segment of said first state is arranged in each of both end columns of said code pattern.

3. The coded label according to claim 1, wherein the number of said segments of said first state arranged in either of each column and each row of said code pattern is equal to or larger than the number of said segments of said second state similarly arranged.

4. The coded label according to claim 1, wherein the number of said segments of said first state in said code pattern is either of even and odd numbers.

5. The coded label according to claim 1, wherein the number of said segments of said first state arranged in either of each column and each row of said code pattern is equal.

6. The coded label according to claim 1, wherein the shape of said each segment is a rectangle.

7. The coded label according to claim 1, wherein in constructing the code pattern by arraying said segments in m rows and n columns, the value m is at least four, and the value n is at least two.

8. The coded label according to claim 7, wherein said segments constituting said code pattern and assuming either of said first and second states are arrayed so as to represent a specific symbol.

9. The coded label according to claim 7, wherein the number of said segments of said first state arranged in either of each column and each row of said code pattern is equal to or larger than the number of said segments of said second state similarly arranged.

10. The coded label according to claim 1, wherein the numbers of said segments of said first state arranged in respective columns are equal to each other.

11. The coded label according to claim 1, wherein the coded label consists of said at least one code pattern and said area surrounding said code pattern.

12. The coded label according to claim 11, wherein the numbers of said segments of said first state arranged in respective columns are equal to each other.

13. A reader comprising image pickup means for picking up an image pattern including a coded label comprising at least one code pattern in which segments having a specific shape and assuming either of first and second states different from each other are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and an area of the coded label surrounding said code pattern assuming said second state, at least one segment of said first state being arranged in each of both end rows of said code pattern, and decision means for deciding a content of said code pattern from said image pattern picked up by said image pickup means.

14. The reader according to claim 13, wherein said decision means includes extraction means for extracting a part of said image pattern from said image pickup means, and judgement means for judging if the partial pattern extracted by said extraction means coincides with the specific pattern.

15. The reader according to claim 14, wherein said extraction means includes bi-valuing means for binary-coding said image pattern from the image means, sampling means for sampling at a predetermined period the pattern binary-coded by said bi-valuing means, and shift register means for storing outputs of said sampling means in succession.

16. A machine readable coded label comprising a label member having at least a first surface area and at least one code pattern disposed on said first surface area of said label member to be read by a reading machine, said code pattern including a plurality of segments of a predetermined shape, said plurality of segments being arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns on said first surface area of said label member, each of said segments having either first or second physical characteristics, and a region of said first surface area of said label member surrounding said code pattern having said second physical characteristic, at least one segment of said code pattern arranged in each of both end rows of said code pattern disposed on said first surface area of said label member having said first physical characteristic, said code pattern disposed on said first surface area of said label member enabling easy discrimination of the contours thereof and correct decoding by the reading machine.

17. The coded label according to claim 16, wherein said first physical characteristic is provided by predetermined ones of said plurality of segments having a first light property and said second physical characteristic is provided by other predetermined ones of said plurality of segments and said region of said first surface area of said label member surrounding said code pattern having a second light property.

18. The coded label according to claim 16, wherein at least one segment having said first physical characteristic is arranged in each of both end columns of said code pattern.

19. The coded label according to claim 16, wherein the number of said segments having said first physical characteristic arranged in either of each column and each row of said code pattern is at least equal to the number of said segments having said second physical characteristic similarly arranged.

20. The coded label according to claim 16, wherein the number of said segments having said first physical characteristic arranged in at least one of each column and each row of said code pattern is equal.

21. The coded label according to claim 16, wherein said code pattern comprises said plurality of segments arranged in at least four rows and at least two columns.

22. The coded label according to claim 16, wherein said segments arranged in said rows and columns are adjoining segments.

23. The coded label according to claim 22, wherein said segments are congruent rectangles.

24. The coded label according to claim 23, wherein said segments are congruent squares.

25. The coded label according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of said code patterns is disposed on said first surface area of said label member, each of said code patterns being representative of one of a same or different character.

26. The code label according to claim 25, wherein each of said code patterns further includes at least one segment having said first physical characteristic arranged in each of both end columns.

27. The coded label according to claim 26, wherein each code pattern is provided with two columns and four rows.

28. The coded label according to claim 16, wherein said code pattern is arranged in two columns and four rows.

29. The coded label according to claim 28, wherein said code pattern further includes at least one segment having said first physical characteristic arranged in each of said two columns thereof.

30. A reading machine comprising image pickup means for picking up an image pattern including a coded label having at least one code pattern disposed on a first surface area of said label, said code pattern having a plurality of segments of a predetermined shape with said plurality of segments being arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns on said first surface area of said label, each of said segments having either first or second physical characteristics and a region of said first surface area of said label surrounding said code pattern having said second physical characteristic, at least one segment arranged in each of both end rows of said code pattern disposed on said first surface area of said label having said first physical characteristic, decision means for determining a content of said code pattern from said image pattern picked up by said image pickup means, and means for providing an output signal in response to said decision means.

31. A reading machine according to claim 30, wherein said decision means includes extraction means for extracting a part of said image pattern from said image pickup means, and determining means for determining if the partial pattern extracted by said extraction means coincides with a predetermined pattern.

32. A reading machine according to claim 31, wherein said extraction means includes by-valuing means for binary-coding said image pattern from said image pickup means, sampling means for sampling at a predetermined period the pattern binary-coded by said by-valuing means, and shift register means for storing outputs of said sampling means in succession.