Matrix encoding devices and methods

• US 5,128,528 A
• Filed: 10/15/1990
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dittler Brothers, Inc. (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Original Assignee: Dittler Brothers, Inc. (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Inventors: Heninger, Byrne E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US07/597,434
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/456, 235/470, 235/494, 382/61
• US Class Current: 235/470
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1092 sensing by means of TV-scanning

Abstract

Matrices, devices and processes for identifying articles. The matrices employ a pattern of dots which may be decoded by an imager such as those use in CCD cameras. A reference marker, information dots corresponding to characters in a selected symbology system and a reference cue which may be part of the reference marker or information dots, or a separate mark, are interpreted by comparing distances between the reference marker and information dots, and the angles of the information dots to the reference cue relative to the reference marker in order to produce a series of vectors. The vectors may be scaled for distance and compensated for attitude of the matrices relative to the imager, and are compared to information in a database in order to identify characters in the symbology system that correspond to the information dots. The characters may be stored and compared to database information such as, for instance, a list of names and addresses. The matrices may be placed in a far smaller area than conventional bar code symbols, may be produced using a far broader range of media and inks than conventional bar coding technology, and may appear in a far less obtrusive and conspicuous manner because of reflectance tolerances enjoyed by CCD imager technology not present in conventional bar coding technology.

Claims

1. A method of identifying an article having a matrix placed thereon and using an imager containing a plurality of optical elements for sensing images, comprising the steps of:

a. illuminating the matrix with suitable light in order to allow the optical elements of the imager to sense the matrix;

b. using the imager to obtain an image of the matrix placed on the article, which matrix comprises at least one reference marker, at least one column dot placed according to a reference frame containing at least one dimension corresponding in length to the number of characters contained in the symbology system, and at least one orientation cue;

c. producing a serial stream of data from the optical elements of the imager;

d. storing the data;

e. interpreting from the data a vector for each column dot corresponding to the distance from the reference marker to the column dot and the angle of the column dot to the orientation cue relative to the reference marker as sensed by the optical elements;

f. comparing the vectors to information stored in a database relating to the symbology system used; and

g. identifying a character corresponding to each vector.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of comparing the information relating to the identified characters to information in a database relating to addressee information comprising names and addresses.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of stroboscopically illuminating the matrix in order to produce a stationary television image while the article is in motion.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the matrix is placed on the article in invisible fluorescent ink and further comprising the step of stroboscopically illuminating the matrix in order to produce a stationary television image while the article is in motion.

5. A method of identifying an article according to a desired symbology system having a related database, using an imager containing a plurality of optical elements for sensing images and in which the article has a matrix placed thereon, comprising the steps of:

a. illuminating the matrix with suitable light in order to allow the optical elements of the imager to sense the matrix;

b. using the imager to obtain an image of the matrix placed on the article, which matrix comprises at least one reference marker, at least one column dot placed according to a reference frame containing at least one dimension corresponding in length to the number of characters contained in the symbology system, and at least one two-dimensional orientation cue;

c. producing a serial stream of data from the optical elements of the imager;

d. storing the data;

e. interpreting from the data attitude and distance information corresponding to two-dimensional information presented by the orientation cue, as sensed by the optical elements;

f. comparing the attitude and distance information to attitude and distance information stored in the database in order to determine distance scaling and vector attitude compensation information relating to the attitude and distance of the matrix with respect to the optical elements of the imager;

g. interpreting from the data a vector for each column dot corresponding to the distance from the reference dot to the column dot and the angle of the column dot to the orientation cue relative to the reference marker as sensed by the optical elements;

h. compensating the vectors using the distance scaling and vector attitude compensation information in order to generate absolute vectors;

i. comparing the absolute vectors to information stored in the database relating to the symbology system; and

j. identifying a character corresponding to each vector.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of comparing the information relating to the identified characters to information in a database relating to addressee information comprising names and addresses.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of stroboscopically illuminating the matrix in order to produce a stationary television image while the article is in motion.

8. The method of claim 5 in which the matrix is placed on the article in invisible fluorescent ink and further comprising the step of stroboscopically illuminating the matrix in order to produce a stationary television image while the article is in motion.

9. A method of identifying an article, using an imager containing a plurality of optical elements for sensing images and in which the article has a matrix placed thereon, comprising the steps of:

a. illuminating the matrix with a stroboscopic light producing source;

b. using the imager to obtain an image of the matrix placed on the article, which matrix comprises at least one reference marker, at least one column dot placed according to a reference frame containing at least one dimension corresponding in length to the number of characters contained in the symbology system, and at least one two-dimensional orientation cue;

c. producing a serial stream of data from the optical elements of the imager;

d. storing the data;

e. interpreting from the data attitude and distance information corresponding to two-dimensional information presented by the orientation cue, as sensed by the optical elements;

f. comparing the attitude and distance information to attitude and distance information stored in a database in order to determine distance scaling and vector attitude compensation information relating to the attitude and distance of the matrix with respect to the optical elements of the imager;

g. interpreting from the data a vector for each column dot corresponding to the distance from the reference dot to the column dot and the angle of the column dot to the orientation cue relative to the reference marker as sensed by the optical elements;

h. compensating the vectors using the distance scaling and vector attitude compensation information in order to generate absolute vectors;

i. comparing the absolute vectors to information stored in the database relating to the symbology system;

j. identifying a character corresponding to each vector and storing information relating to each character identified; and

k. comparing the information relating to the identified characters to information relating to addressee information comprising names and addresses.

10. Apparatus for identifying an article on which has been placed a matrix having at least one reference marker, at least one column dot placed according to a reference frame containing at least one dimension corresponding in length to the number of characters contained in the symbology system, and at least one orientation cue, comprising:

a. an imager for obtaining an image of the matrix, which imager contains a plurality of optical elements for sensing images;

b. means for producing a serial stream of data from the optical elements of the imager and storing the data;

b. means for interpreting from the data a vector for each column dot corresponding to the distance from the reference marker to the column dot and the angle of the column dot to the orientation cue relative to the reference marker;

d. a database containing information relating to the characters in the symbology system;

e. means for (1) comparing the vectors to the information stored in the database and (2) identifying a character corresponding to each vector; and

f. means for illuminating the matrix with suitable light in order to allow the optical elements of the imager to sense the matrix.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising means for comparing the information relating to the identified characters to information in a database relating to addressee information comprising names and addresses.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising means for stroboscopically illuminating the matrix in order to produce a stationary television image while the article is in motion.

13. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the matrix is placed on the article in invisible fluorescent ink and further comprising means for stroboscopically illuminating the matrix in order to produce a stationary television image while the article is in motion.

14. Apparatus for identifying an article on which has been placed a matrix having at least one reference marker, at least one column dot placed according to a reference frame containing at least one dimension corresponding in length to the number of characters contained in the symbology system, and at least one two-dimensional orientation cue, comprising:

a. an imager for obtaining an image of the matrix, which imager contains a plurality of optical elements for sensing images;

b. means for producing a serial stream of data from the optical elements of the imager and storing the data;

c. means for interpreting from the data attitude and distance information corresponding to two-dimensional information presented by the orientation cue;

d. means for comparing the attitude and distance information to attitude and distance information stored in a database in order to determine distance scaling and vector attitude compensation information relating to the attitude and distance of the matrix with respect to the optical elements of the imager;

e. means for interpreting form the data a vector for each column dot corresponding to the distance from the reference marker to the column dot and the angle of the column dot to the orientation cue relative to the reference marker as sensed by the optical elements;

f. means for compensating the vectors using the distance scaling and vector attitude compensation information in order to generate absolute vectors;

g. means for (1) comparing the absolute vectors to information contained in a database relating to the symbology system and (2) identifying a character corresponding to each vector; and

h. means for illuminating the matrix with suitable light in order to allow the optical elements of the imager to sense the matrix.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising means for comparing the information relating to the identified characters to information in a database relating to addressee information comprising names and addresses.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising means for stroboscopically illuminating the matrix in order to produce a stationary television image while the article is in motion.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which the matrix is placed on the article in invisible fluorescent ink and further comprising means for stroboscopically illuminating the matrix in order to produce a stationary television image while the article is in motion.

18. Apparatus for identifying an article on which has been placed a matrix having at least one reference marker, at least one column dot placed according to a reference frame containing at least one dimension corresponding in length to the number of characters contained in the symbology system, and at least one two-dimensional orientation cue, comprising:

a. an imager for obtaining an image of the matrix, which imager contains a plurality of optical elements for sensing images;

b. means for stroboscopically illuminating the matrix in order to allow the optical elements to sense a stationary image of the matrix while it is in motion;

c. means for producing a serial stream of data from the optical elements of the imager and storing the data;

p1 d. means for interpreting from the data attitude and distance information corresponding to two-dimensional information presented by the orientation cue;

e. means for comparing the attitude and distance information to attitude and distance information stored in a database in order to determine distance scaling and vector attitude compensation information relating to the attitude and distance of the matrix with respect to the optical elements of the imager;

f. means for interpreting from the data a vector for each column dot corresponding to the distance from the reference marker to the column dot and the angle of the column dot to the orientation cue relative to the reference marker as sensed by the optical elements;

g. means for compensating the vectors using the distance scaling and vector attitude compensation information in order to generate absolute vectors;

h. means for comparing the absolute vectors to information contained in a database relating to the symbology system in order to identify the character corresponding to each vector;

i. means for storing information relating to each character identified; and

j. means for comparing the information relating to the identified characters to information in a database relating to addressee information comprising names and addresses.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 in which the matrix is placed on the article in invisible fluorescent ink and the means for illuminating the matrix provides suitable light in order to allow the optical elements of the imager to sense the matrix.