Two-dimensional color code, preparing and restoring method for the code and apparatus therefor

• US 5,992,748 A
• Filed: 08/07/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RISO Kagaku Corporation
• Original Assignee: RISO Kagaku Corporation
• Inventors: Ikeda, Hiroyuki, Takahashi, Junji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Douglas X.
• Application Number:
  US08/911,372
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 235/465, 235/469
• US Class Current: 235/462.04
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06225 using wavelength selection, e.g. colour code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing a two-dimensional color code includes a reading section for reading an original image object to output to processing device; processing means having a code conversion section to output two-dimensional color codes corresponding to gradations of shades of color separately of CMY colors in original image data of one pixel read; and a printing section for printing on a printing sheet. An apparatus for restoring a two-dimensional color code reads the two-dimensional color code at the reading section to output the gradations of shades of color separately of CMY colors. The printing section prints restored image data on a printing body on the basis of the gradations of shades of color.

Claims

1. A two-dimensional color code comprising,

color areas in which data is expressed by color codes corresponding to said data, a plurality of said color areas being arranged two-dimensionally in longitudinal and lateral directions corresponding to the plurality of data, and

synchronous timing data which is a reference for synchronism when the two-dimensional color code is read, said synchronous timing data being formed from color not used as codes expressing said color areas.

2. A two-dimensional color code according to claim 1, wherein said synchronous timing data is provided every two-dimensional color code to recognize division of the two-dimensional color codes.

3. A two-dimensional color code in which one pixel data is color-coded in three color areas corresponding to three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow,

each of said color areas is constituted by a plurality of divided partial areas, and one color out of a plurality of colors obtained by a combination of said three primary colors is arranged in each partial area, and

said one pixel data is expressed by a combination of colors arranged in said partial area and a combination of three color areas.

4. A method for preparing a two-dimensional color code comprising:

a first step of inputting original image data of an original image object;

a second step of calculating gradations of shades of colors of color components when one pixel of the original image data is color-separated by three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow;

a third step of preparing color areas expressing numerical values indicative of gradations of shades of said colors to use an assembly of one pixel portion of the color areas as a color code of the pixel; and

a fourth step of recording the color code two-dimensionally in longitudinal and lateral directions of a recording medium.

5. A method for restoring a two-dimensional color code for obtaining restored image data on the basis of the two-dimensional color code prepared by the fourth step according to claim 4 comprising:

a fifth step of reading colors constituting the color areas of the one pixel recorded on the recording medium;

a sixth step of calculating the gradations of shades of colors in said color areas by a combination of colors constituting said color areas within said color code;

a seventh step of setting said gradations of shades of colors of said three primary colors in said one pixel on the basis of said gradations of shades of colors calculated separately of said colors to obtain said restored image data; and

an eighth step of recording said restored image data on the recording medium to obtain a restored image object.

6. A method for preparing a two-dimensional color code comprising:

a first step of continuously inputting input data having predetermined bits;

a second step of dividing the input data continuously input 3-bit by 3-bit;

a third step of color-coding said input data of 3-bit divided as described into one pixel using one color out of a plurality of colors obtained by a combination of three primary colors;

a fourth step of two-dimensionally arranging a plurality of color codes of said one pixel corresponding to the input data continuously input; and

a fifth step of recording the thus arranged two-dimensional color code in a recording medium.

7. A method for restoring a two-dimensional color code for obtaining restored data on the basis of the two-dimensional color code prepared by the fifth step according to claim 6 comprising:

a sixth step of sequentially reading said two-dimensional color codes recorded in said recording medium;

a seventh step of converting each color code into restored data of a plurality of bits on the basis of color thereof; and

an eighth step of sequentially outputting said restored data of a plurality of bits sequentially read.

8. An apparatus for preparing a two-dimensional color code comprising:

a recording section for performing recording by using three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow; and

processing means for converting input data into a color code to output it to said recording section;

said processing means having a code conversion section for dividing pixels of said input data into three color areas corresponding to said three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow to color-code them;

said code conversion section setting colors obtained by a combination of said three primary colors in said color areas corresponding to contents of said input data whereby said input data is are color-coded by a combination of the three color areas, which is then two-dimensionally arranged corresponding to the plurality of input data to output them to the recording section.

9. An apparatus for preparing a two-dimensional color code, comprising:

a reading section for reading and outputting original image data on an original image object;

means for calculating gradations of shades of colors of cyan, magenta and yellow occupied by one pixel of said original image data;

color code preparation means for preparing color areas expressing numerical values indicative of gradations of shades of said colors by a combination of corresponding colors and using an assembly of one pixel portion of said color areas as color codes of said pixel; and

a recording section for recording the color codes prepared by said color code preparation means two-dimensionally in longitudinal and lateral directions of a recording medium.

10. An apparatus for restoring a two-dimensional color code for obtaining restored image data on the basis of the two-dimensional color codes prepared by the apparatus according claim 9, comprising:

a reading section for reading colors constituting the color areas of said one pixel recorded in said recording medium;

means for calculating said gradations of shades of colors in said colors areas by a combination of colors constituting said color areas in said color codes;

means for setting said gradations of shades of colors of said three primary colors in said one pixel on the basis of said gradations of shades of color calculated separately of said colors; and

a recording section for recording said restored image data in the recording medium to obtain a restored image object.

11. An apparatus for preparing and restoring a two-dimensional color code comprising:

an apparatus for preparing a two-dimensional color code including a reading section for reading and outputting original image data on an original image object;

means for calculating gradations of shades of colors of cyan, magenta and yellow occupied by one pixel of said original image data;

color code preparation means for preparing color areas expressing numerical values indicative of gradations of shades of said colors by a combination of corresponding colors and using an assembly of one pixel portion of said color areas as color codes of said pixel; and

a recording section for recording the color codes prepared by said code preparation means two-dimensionally in longitudinal and lateral directions of a recording medium, and

an apparatus for restoring a two-dimensional color code including a reading section for reading colors constituting the color areas of said one pixel recorded in said recording medium;

means for calculating said gradations of shades of colors in said color areas by a combination of colors constituting said color areas in said color codes;

means for setting said gradations of shades of colors of said three primary colors in said one pixel on the basis of said gradations of shades of colors calculated separately of said colors; and

a recording section for recording said restored image data in the recording medium to obtain a restored image object.

12. An apparatus for preparing and restoring a two dimensional color code in which color areas expressing input data by colors corresponding to the input data are arranged two-dimensionally, comprising:

a recording section for recording in a recording medium by using three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow;

a reading section for reading said three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow recorded in the recording medium;

processing means in which when said two dimensional color code is prepared, three color areas corresponding to the three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow, of the input data are divided and set, and colors obtained by a combination of said three primary colors are arranged in said color areas corresponding to contents of said input data whereby said input data is color-coded by the combination of the three color areas to prepare two-dimensional color codes to output them to the recording section; and

when said input data on the basis of the two-dimensional color codes is restored, the contents of the data are restored on the basis of the combination of the three color areas read by said reading section to output them; and

a synchronous timing producing section in which one color except colors used for said two-dimensional color codes is preset, and when said two-dimensional color code is prepared, synchronous timing data is arranged, said reading section being provided with a synchronous section for taking a synchronism on the basis of said synchronous timing data provided in said two-dimensional color codes.

13. An apparatus for preparing and restoring a two-dimensional color code according to claim 12, wherein in the synchronous timing producing section, said synchronous timing data is provided every two-dimensional color code to recognize division of the two-dimensional color codes.

14. An apparatus for preparing and restoring a two dimensional color code in which color areas expressing in put data by colors corresponding to the input data are arranged two-dimensionally, comprising:

a recording section for recording in a recording medium by using three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow;

a reading section for reading said three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow recorded in the recording medium;

processing means in which when said two dimensional color code is prepared, three color areas corresponding to the three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow, of the input data are divided and set, and colors obtained by a combination of said three primary colors are arranged in said color areas corresponding to contents of said input data whereby said input data is color-coded by the combination of the three color areas to prepare two-dimensional color codes to output them to the recording section; and

when said input data on the basis of the two-dimensional color codes is restored, the contents of data are restored on the basis of the combination of the three color areas read by said reading section to output them; and

a synchronous timing producing section in which one color except colors used for said two-dimensional color codes is preset, and synchronous timing data is arranged every two-dimensional color code of a predetermined number of pixels, said reading section being provided with a synchronous section for taking a synchronism on the basis of the synchronous timing data recorded every predetermined number of pixels when said two-dimensional color code is read.

15. An apparatus for preparing and restoring a two dimensional color code in which color areas expressing input data by colors corresponding to the input data are arranged two-dimensionally, comprising:

a recording section for recording in a recording medium by using three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow;

a reading section for reading said three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow recorded in the recording medium;

processing means in which when said two dimensional color code is prepared, three color areas corresponding to the three primary colors, cyan, magenta and yellow, of the input data are divided and set, and colors obtained by a combination of said three primary colors are arranged in said color areas corresponding to contents of said input data whereby said input data is color-coded by the combination of the three color areas to prepare two-dimensional color codes to output them to the recording section;

when said input data on the basis of the two-dimensional color codes is restored, the contents of data are restored on the basis of the combination of the three color areas read by said reading section to output them; and

when said two-dimensional color code is prepared, error correcting computation on the basis of the two-dimensional color code of a predetermined number of pixels is performed every preparation of the two-dimensional color code of a predetermined number of pixels, and an error correcting code corresponding to the results of computation is arranged, and

an error correcting section in which when said two-dimensional color code is read, an error correcting computation on the basis of the two-dimensional color code of a predetermined number of pixels read is performed, and judgement is made whether or not a result of the computation coincides with said error correcting code, and when not coincided, corresponding error processing is performed.

16. An apparatus for preparing a two-dimensional color code, comprising:

a reading section for reading and outputting gradations of shades of color of RGB components occupied by one pixel of original image data on an original image object;

a color coordinate conversion section for color-coordinate converting said gradations of shades of color in a RGB color coordinate system output from said reading section into a color coordinate system of cyan, magenta and yellow (CMY);

a conversion table in which color codes corresponding to gradations of shades of color separately of CMY colors are stored in advance;

a code conversion section for converting said gradations of shades of color into corresponding color codes referring to said conversion table to arrange them in color areas separately of CMY colors; and

a recording section for two-dimensionally arranging the color codes arranged in the color areas to record them in a recording medium.

17. An apparatus for preparing a two-dimensional color code according to claim 16, wherein

plural colors of color codes obtained by a combination of the three primary colors, CMY, are stored in said conversion table in the form of a combination of two longitudinal and lateral rows, and

said code conversion section is arranged with two color codes output from said conversion table divided into two within the corresponding color areas.

18. An apparatus for restoring a two-dimensional color code recorded by an apparatus according to claim 16 of the two-dimensional color code, wherein sections when the apparatus is used for restoration operate as follows:

said reading section reads colors in the color areas by the RGB coordinate system to output them;

said conversion table obtains gradations of shades of color separately of CMY colors on the basis of color data of said color areas;

said code conversion section refers to said conversion table to output gradations of shades of color separately of CMY colors corresponding to the two-dimensional color codes; and

said recording section records said restored image data in the recording medium on the basis of gradations of shades of color separately of CMY colors.

19. An apparatus for preparing a two-dimensional color code, comprising:

processing means for dividing input data having predetermined bits continuously input by plural bits, sequentially color-coding the thus divided input data of plural bits pixel by pixel using one color out of plural colors obtained by a combination of the three primary colors to two-dimensionally arrange a plurality of pixels; and

a recording section for recording the two-dimensional color codes of a row of pixels arranged by said processing means in the recording medium.

20. An apparatus for restoring a two-dimensional color code for obtaining restored data on the basis of the two-dimensional color codes prepared by the preparation apparatus according to claim 19, comprising:

a reading section for sequentially reading said two-dimensional color codes recorded in said recording medium; and

processing means for sequentially converting colors of said color codes read by said reading section into corresponding restored data of plural bits obtained by a combination of the three primary colors to continuously output them in order of conversion.

21. An apparatus for preparing a two-dimensional color code, comprising:

a data input section for sampling voice data input at a predetermined sampling frequency;

a conversion table in which color codes corresponding to data values of sampling data are stored in advance;

a code conversion section for converting said sampling data into corresponding color codes referring to said conversion table;

a synchronous timing producing section in which one color except colors used for the two-dimensional color codes is preset, and when the two-dimensional color code is prepared, synchronous timing data is arranged; and

a recording section for recording said color codes arranged in the color areas in a recording medium.

22. An apparatus for restoring a two-dimensional color code, comprising:

the apparatus for preparing a two-dimensional color code according to claim 21 to obtain restored voice data on the basis of the two-dimensional color codes;

a reading section having a synchronous section for taking a synchronism on the basis of said synchronous timing data provided in the two-dimensional color codes, said reading section reading the thus prepared two-dimensional color codes by an RGB coordinate system to output them; and

a color conversion section for converting data of the two-dimensional color codes output from said reading section into a color coordinate system of cyan, magenta and yellow,

said code conversion section outputting sampling data corresponding to the two-dimensional color codes referring to said conversion table.