Code reader and code reading method for color image

• US 6,976,631 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tohken Co., Ltd. (Mars Group Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tohken Co., Ltd. (Mars Group Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujita, Shinji, Kashi, Motofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US10/443,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20040035937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.04, 235/462.06, 235/462.09, 235/462.1, 235/462.11, 235/462.24, 235/469
• US Class Current: 235/469
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• 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 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes

Abstract

A code reader for color images, which can simultaneously accept a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code and data of a color image of a subject for management and which can record both the data in mapping with each other, is provided. The code reader comprises color image pickup structure for picking up the code and also a color image of a subject for management as is specified by identification information contained in the code; code-recognizing-data extraction structure for extracting luminance data from the color image data picked up by the color image pickup structure, and for writing gray scale data into a first frame memory as data for recognizing the code; and recorded-image extraction structure for extracting color data from the color image data picked up by the color image pickup structure, and for writing the color data into a second frame memory.

Claims

1. In a code reader which reads a code of one dimension or two dimensions in non-touching fashion;

a code reader for color images, comprising;

color image pickup means for picking up the code and also a color image of a subject for management as is specified by identification information contained in said code;

code-recognizing-data extraction means for extracting luminance data (Y) in accordance with operation expressions, Y=2R+3G+2B from the color image data (R, G, B data) picked up by said color image pickup means, and for writing gray scale data into a first frame memory as data for recognizing said code; and

recorded-image extraction means for extracting color data (r, g, b data) in accordance with operation expressions, r=Y−

2G−

B, g=(Y−

R−

B)/2 and b=Y−

2G−

R from said color image data picked up by said color image pickup means, and for writing the color data into a second frame memory as data for the original image of the subject for management.

2. The code reader for color images as defined in claim 1, wherein a signal processing circuit of said code-recognizing-data extraction means and a signal processing circuit of said recorded-image extraction means are connected to an output side of said color image pickup means through an A/D converter and in parallel with each other, and said color image data is concurrently processed by the signal processing circuits so as to separate and extract the luminance data and said color data.

3. The code reader for color images as defined in claim 1, comprising decode means for recognizing and decoding the information expressed by said code, from the gray scale data.

4. A code reading method for color images, characterized in that a color imaging device is employed as an imaging element of a code reader;

that

a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code which contains identification information for specifying a subject for management, and color image data which contains the subject for management, are inputted from the imaging device;

that pixel data of R, G, B constituting the color image data is concurrently processed by respective signal processing circuits for luminance extraction and for color extraction, thereby to separate and extract luminance data (Y) in accordance with operation expressions, Y=2R+3G+2B and color data (r, g, b data) in accordance with operation expressions. r=Y−

2G−

B, g=(Y−

R−

B)/2 and b=Y−

2G−

R;

that the information expressed by the code is recognized on the basis of gray scale data formed of the luminance data of each pixel; and

that said code and the original color image data of said subject for management can be recorded in mapping with each other.