Coded data output apparatus

• US 6,331,901 B1
• Filed: 07/20/1999
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukuda, Hiroyuki, Matsui, Shinzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, Scott
• Application Number:
  US09/357,413
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/1.2, 358/456, 358/459, 358/298, 235/494, 382/237
• US Class Current: 358/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40068 Modification of image resolution, i.e. determining the values of picture elements at new relative positions H04N1/3935 takes precedence

Abstract

A coded data output apparatus comprises an image data input or generation section, a resolution parameter specifying section, a resolution parameter modifying section and an image data output section. The image data input or generation section inputs or generates data for a dot code image to be printed. The resolution parameter specifying section specifies parameter data relating to the resolution of the image data input or generated by the image data input or generation section. The resolution parameter modifying section modifies the parameter data relating to the resolution specified by the resolution parameter specifying section according to the characteristic specific to the applied plate making apparatus. The image data output section outputs the input or generated image data according to the parameter data relating to the resolution and modified by the resolution parameter modifying section.

Claims

1. A coded data output method used when image data of a dot is output from a computer to a recording apparatus for recording the dot code on a recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged in correspondence to data which is reproduced based on arrangement of the dots when the dot code is optically read by a reading device,

wherein an arrangement of pixels constituting each of the dots and a dot pitch at which the dots are arranged are determined in accordance with resolution-related characteristics specific to the recording apparatus, to thereby prevent image distortion which is caused by re-sampling;

and

wherein the arrangement of the pixels is determined by determining the number of the pixels in such a manner as to satisfy a condition wherein a diameter of said each dot is smaller than a distance between centers of adjacent two of the dots.

2. The coded data output method according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of said each dot is greater than a length which is half the distance between the centers of said any adjacent two of the dots.

3. The coded data output method according to claim 1, wherein an area of each said dot falls within a range of 50 to 80% of an area obtained by multiplaying the distance between the centers of said any adjacent two of the dots by the distance between the centers of any said adjacent two of the dots.

4. A coded data output method used when image data of a dot code is output from a computer to a recording apparatus for recording the dot code on a recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged in correspondence to data which is reproduced based on arrangement of the dots when the dot is optically read by a reading device,

wherein an arrangement of pixels constituting each of the dots and a dot pitch at which the dots are arranged are determined in accordance with resolution-related characteristics specific to the recording apparatus, to thereby prevent image distortion which is caused by re-sampling;

wherein a distance between centers of any adjacent two of the dots is determined such that the distance is optimal with respect to a sampling theorem when the dot code is dispersedly read at regular intervals by an image pick-up element which is provided in the reading device; and

wherein the distance between the centers of any adjacent two of the dots is determined to be equal to a pixel pitch which is an n (n=integer) number of times greater than a smallest pixel of the recording apparatus, the pixel pitch n satisfies the following relationship;

5. A coded data output method used when image data of a dot code is output from a computer to a recording apparatus for recording the dot code on a recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged in correspondence to data which is reproduced based on arrangement of the dots when the dot code is optically read by a reading device,

wherein an arrangement of pixels constituting each of the dots and a dot pitch at which the dots are arranged are determined in accordance with resolution-related characteristics specific to the recording apparatus, to thereby prevent image distortion which is caused by re-sampling;

wherein a distance between centers of any adjacent two of the dots is determined such that the distance is optimal with respect to a sampling theorem when the dot code is dispersedly read at regular intervals by an image pick-up element which is provided in the reading device; and

wherein the dot code comprises blocks which are two-dimensionally arranged, each of the blocks comprising at least a data dot pattern located in correspondence to the data and a marker which is located to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data dot pattern, and which is used for determining a reference read point for use in reading the data dot pattern, and the distance between the centers of said any adjacent two of the dots is determined such that the number of those of the blocks which are within a light receiving surface of the image pick-up element is the largest number in an area of the light receiving surface.

6. A coded data output method used when image data of a dot code is output from a computer to a recording apparatus for recording the dot code on a recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged in correspondence to data which is reproduced based on arrangement of the dots when the dot code is optically read by a reading device,

wherein an arrangement of pixels constituting each of the dots and a dot pitch at which the dots are arranged are determined in accordance with resolution-related characteristics specific to the recording apparatus, to thereby prevent image distortion which is caused by re-sampling;

and

wherein the dot code comprises blocks which are two-dimensionally arranged, each of the blocks comprising at least a data dot pattern located in correspondence to the data and a marker which the data dot pattern, and which is used for determining a reference read point for use in reading the data dot pattern, and when the image data of the dot code is output to the recording apparatus, and then when a direction of arrangement of pixels of the recording apparatus differs from a longitudinal direction of the dot code to be recorded on the recording medium, a direction of arrangement of the blocks is made to be the same as the direction of the arrangement of the pixels of the recording apparatus.

7. A coded data output method used when image data of a dot code is output from a computer to a recording apparatus for recording the dot code on a recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged in correspondence to data which is reproduced based on arrangement of the dots when the dot code is optically read by a reading device,

wherein an arrangement of pixels constituting each of the dots and a dot pitch at which the dots are arranged are determined in accordance with resolution-related characteristics specific to the recording apparatus, to thereby prevent image distortion which is caused by re-sampling;

and

wherein the dot code comprises blocks which are two-dimensionally arranged, each of the blocks comprising at least a data dot pattern located in correspondence to the data and a marker which is located to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data dot pattern, and which is used for determining a reference read point for use in reading the data dot pattern, and when the image data of the dot code is output to the recording apparatus, and then when a direction of arrangement of pixels of the recording apparatus differs from a longitudinal direction of the dot code to be recorded on the recording medium, the distance between the cetners of said any adjacent two of the dots is adjusted such that the dot code is prevented from being erroneously read even when the image data of the dot code is re-sampled at a pixel pitch of the recording apparatus.

8. The coded data output method according to claim 7, wherein when the distance between centers of any adjacent two of the dots is determined to be equal to a pixel pitch which is an n (n=integer) number of times greater than a smallest pixel of the recording apparatus, the pixel pitch n satisfies the following relationship:

9. A coded data output method used when image data of a dot code is output from a computer to a recording apparatus for recording the dot code on a recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged in correspondence to data which is reproduced based on arrangement of the dots when the dot code is optically read by a reading device,

wherein an arrangement of pixels constituting each of the dots and a dot pitch at which the dots are arranged are determined in accordance with resolution-related characteristics specific to the recording apparatus, to thereby prevent image distortion which is caused by re-sampling;

and

wherein the reading device includes an image pick-up element having a predetermined aspect ratio, and when the image data of the dot code is output to the recording apparatus, the arrangement of the pixels constituting said each dot is set such that when an image of the dot code is optically picked up by the image pick up element, a shape of an image of said each dot in the image of the dot is identical to a shape of said each dot.