Polygonal information encoding article, process and system

• US 4,998,010 A
• Filed: 11/16/1989
• Issued: 03/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Batterman, Eric P., Chandler, Donald G., Shah, Govind
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US07/438,571
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/456, 235/463, 235/469, 235/487, 235/464, 250/219
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06262 with target- or other orientation-indicating feature
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1093 sensing, after transfer of the image of the data-field to an intermediate store, e.g. storage with cathode ray tube
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/901 Concealed data

Abstract

The article of the invention is an optically readable label for storing encoded information, said label comprising a data array of a multiplicity of information-encoded polygons arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern, and said polygons having at least two different optical properties.

a process for encoding information in an optically-readable data array comprised of information-encoded polygons by assigning optical properties to individual polygons in a predetermined pattern, ordering the polygons in a predetermined sequence, and printing the polygons with at least two optical properties.

A process for retrieving information by optically scanning a data array of information-encoded polygons, preferably hexagons, creating an optical replica of the digital bit stream representative of the optical properties of the information-encoded polygons, decoding that optical replica and retrieving the decoded bit stream.

A system for performing the foregoing encoding and decoding processes.

Claims

1. An optically readable label for storing encoded information comprising a multiplicity of information-encoded polygons having at least five sides, said polygons arranged with the geometric centers of adjacent polygons lying at the vertices of a predetermined two-dimensional array, said polygons having one of at least two different optical properties.

2. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said polygons are substantially in the shape of regular hexagons.

3. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said optical properties are the colors black, white and gray.

4. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said polygons are irregular polygons.

5. An article as recited in claims 1, further comprising a plurality of Concentric Rings occupying an area on said article separate from the area occupied by said information-encoded polygons, each Concentric Ring having one of at least two different optical properties in alternating sequence.

6. An article as recited in claim 5, wherein said Concentric Rings are centrally located on said article.

7. An optically readable label for storing encoded information comprising a multiplicity of information-encoded triangles, said triangles arranged with the geometric centers of adjacent triangles lying at the vertices of a predetermined two-dimensional array, and said triangles having one of at least two different optical properties.

8. An optically readable label for storing encoded information comprising a multiplicity of information-encoded polygons, said polygons noncontiguously arranged with the geometric centers of adjacent polygons lying at the vertices of a predetermined two-dimensional array, and said polygons having one of at least two different optical properties.

9. An article as recited in claims 8, wherein said polygons are regular polygons.

10. An article as recited in claims 8, wherein said polygons are irregular polygons.

11. An article as recited in claims 8, further comprising a plurality of Concentric Rings occupying an area on said article separate from the area occupied by said information-encoded polygons, each Concentric Ring having one of at least two different optical properties in alternating sequence.

12. An article as recited in claim 11, wherein said Concentric Rings are centrally located on said article.

13. A combination optical mark sensing and decoding system, comprising:

(a) an optically readable label for storing encoded information comprising a multiplicity of information-encoded polygons having at least five sides, said polygons arranged with the geometric centers of adjacent polygons lying at the vertices of a predetermined two-dimensional array, and said polygons having one of at least two different optical properties;

(b) means for illuminating a predetermined area;

(c) means for optically imaging said predetermined illuminated area through which said label is arranged to pass and generating analog electrical signals corresponding to the intensities of light reflected from said polygons and striking each pixel of said imaging means;

(d) means for converting said analog electrical signals into a sequenced digital bit stream corresponding to the intensities of light recorded by said pixels of said imaging means;

(e) means for storing said digital bit stream for subsequent decoding of said label; and

(f) means for decoding said digital bit stream, said decoding means producing an electrical output representative of the encoded information.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said optically readable label further comprises a plurality of Concentric Rings, said Concentric Rings having alternating optical properties corresponding to at least two of the optical properties of said polygons.

15. A combination optical mark sensing and decoding system, comprising:

(a) an optically readable label for storing encoded information comprising a multiplicity of information-encoded triangles, said triangles arranged with the geometric centers of adjacent triangles lying at the vertices of a predetermined two-dimensional array, and said triangles having one of at least two different optical properties;

(b) means for illuminating a predetermined area;

(c) means for optically imaging said predetermined illuminated area through which said label is arranged to pass and generating analog electrical signals corresponding to the intensities of light reflected from said triangles and striking each pixel of said imaging means;

(d) means for converting said analog electrical signals into a sequenced digital bit stream corresponding to the intensities of light recorded by said pixels of said imaging means;

(e) means for storing said digital bit stream for subsequent decoding of said label; and

(f) means for decoding said digital bit stream, said decoding means producing an electrical output representative of the encoded information.

16. A combination optical mark sensing and decoding system, comprising:

(a) an optically readable label for storing encoded information comprising a multiplicity of information-encoded polygons, said polygons noncontiguously-arranged with the geometric centers of adjacent polygons lying at the vertices of a predetermined two-dimensional array, said polygons having one of at least two different optical properties;

(b) means for illuminating a predetermined area;

(c) means for optically imaging said predetermined illuminated area through which said label is arranged to pass and generating analog electrical signals corresponding to the intensities of light reflected from said polygons and striking each pixel of said imaging means;

(d) means for converting said analog electrical signals into a sequenced digital bit stream corresponding to the intensities of light recorded by said pixels of said imaging means;

(e) means for storing said digital bit stream for subsequent decoding of said label; and

(f) means for decoding said digital bit stream, said decoding means producing an electrical output representative of the encoded information.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said optically readable label further comprises a plurality of Concentric Rings, said Concentric Rings having alternating optical properties corresponding to at least two of the optical properties of said polygons.

18. A process of storing and retrieving data, comprising the steps of:

(a) printing on a label a multiplicity of noncontiguously-arranged polygons encoded in accordance with an encoding process, said polygons defining a multiplicity of interstitial spaces among said polygons, said polygons arranged with the geometric centers of adjacent polygons lying at the vertices of a predetermined two-dimensional array, and said polygons and said interstitial spaces having one of at least two different optical properties;

(b) illuminating said label;

(c) optically sensing light reflected from said polygons with an electro-optical sensor;

(d) generating analog electrical signals corresponding to the intensities of light reflected from said optical properties as sensed by individual pixels of said sensor;

(e) converting said analog electrical signals into sequenced digital signals;

(f) storing said digital signals in a storage medium connected to a computer to form a replica of said digital signals in said storage medium;

(g) decoding said replica of said digital signals to retrieve the characteristics of the intensities, locations and orientations of the individual optical properties of said polygons; and

(h) generating a digital bit stream output from the computer representing the decoded information represented by the polygons.

19. A process as recited in claim 18, wherein said label further comprises a plurality of centrally-located Concentric Rings, said Concentric Rings having alternating optical properties corresponding to at least two of the optical properties of said polygons.