Systems and methods for pixel gain compensation in machine-readable graphical codes

• US 6,978,038 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Hepworth, Paul J., Zhou, Weiyang
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KANJIBHAI B
• Application Number:
  US10/121,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20020150309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 382/112, 382/162, 382/266, 382/274, 382/282, 382/299, 235/462.01, 235/462.02, 235/462.05, 235/462.16
• US Class Current: 382/112
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence

Abstract

A method for increasing the readability of a machine-readable graphical code on a printing surface is provided. The method includes receiving a graphical code image. The graphical code image is an electronic representation of a graphical code. The graphical code image includes a white region and a non-white region adjacent to the white region. The method also includes determining a size increase of the non-white region. The size increase indicates how much the size of the non-white region will increase when the graphical code image is printed on the printing surface. The method also includes creating a size compensated graphical code image by reducing the size of the non-white region by an amount that will substantially compensate for the size increase of the non-white region.

Claims

1. A method for increasing the readability of a machine-readable graphical code on a surface, comprising:

receiving a graphical code image, the graphical code image being an electronic representation of a graphical code, the graphical code image comprising;

a first region having a first color; and

a second region adjacent to the first region, the second region having a second color and a size;

determining a size increase of the second region, the size increase indicating how much the size of the second region will increase when the graphical code image is marked on the surface; and

creating a size compensated graphical code image by altering the representation of the second region within the graphical code image in order to substantially compensate for the size increase of the second region, wherein altering the representation of the second region comprises reducing the length of the second region and eliminating a first pixel of a plurality of pixels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the size comprises a width, and wherein altering the representation of the second region comprises reducing the width of the second region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the size comprises an area, and wherein altering the representation of the second region comprises reducing the area of the second region.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second region comprises a first pixel, the first pixel having a pixel size, and wherein altering the representation of the second region comprises reducing the pixel size of the first pixel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein reducing the pixel size of the first pixel comprises changing the first pixel from a first pixel color to a second pixel color.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first pixel color has a first darkness, wherein the second pixel color has a second darkness, and wherein the difference between the first darkness and the second darkness is proportional to the reduction in the pixel size of the first pixel.

7. A computing device for increasing the readability of a machine-readable graphical code on a surface, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

a graphical code generator configured to convert source data into a graphical code image, the graphical code image being an electronic representation of a graphical code, the graphical code image comprising a first region and a second region adjacent to the first region, the first region having a first color, and the second region having a second color and a size; and

a compensation module in electronic communication with the graphical code generator, the compensation module being configured to;

receive the graphical code image from the graphical code generator;

determine a size increase of the second region, the size increase indicating how much the size of the second region will increase when the graphical code image is marked on the surface; and

create a size compensated graphical code image by altering the representation of the second region within the graphical code image in order to substantially compensate for the size increase of the second region wherein altering the representation of the second region comprises reducing the length of the second region and eliminating a first pixel of a plurality of pixels.

8. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the size comprises a width, and wherein altering the representation of the second region comprises reducing the width of the second region.

9. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the size comprises an area, and wherein altering the representation of the second region comprises reducing the area of the second region.

10. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the second region comprises a first pixel, the first pixel having a pixel size, and wherein altering the representation of the second region comprises reducing the pixel size of the first pixel.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein reducing the pixel size of the first pixel comprises changing the first pixel from a first pixel color to a second pixel color.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the first pixel color has a first darkness, wherein the second pixel color has a second darkness, and wherein the difference between the first darkness and the second darkness is proportional to the reduction in the pixel size of the first pixel.

13. A computer-readable medium for storing program data, wherein the program data comprises executable instructions for implementing a method comprising:

receiving a graphical code image, the graphical code image being an electronic representation of a graphical code, the graphical code image comprising;

a first region having a first color; and

a second region adjacent to the first region, the second region having a second color and a size;

determining a size increase of the second region, the size increase indicating how much the size of the second region will increase when the graphical code image is marked on the surface; and

creating a size compensated graphical code image by altering the representation of the second region within the graphical code image in order to substantially compensate for the size increase of the second region, wherein altering the representation of the second region comprises reducing the length of the second region and eliminating a first pixel of a plurality of pixels.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein the size comprises a width, and wherein altering the representation of the second region comprises reducing the width of the second region.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein the size comprises an area, and wherein altering the representation of the second region comprises reducing the area of the second region.

16. The medium of claim 13, wherein the second region comprises a first pixel, the first pixel having a pixel size, and wherein altering the representation of the second region comprises reducing the pixel size of the first pixel.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein reducing the pixel size of the first pixel comprises changing the first pixel from a first pixel color to a second pixel color.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the first pixel color has a first darkness, wherein the second pixel color has a second darkness, and wherein the difference between the first darkness and the second darkness is proportional to the reduction in the pixel size of the first pixel.