Product provided with a coding pattern and apparatus and method for reading the pattern

• US 8,162,220 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Original Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Inventors: Pettersson, Mats Petter, Edso, Tomas
• Primary Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US12/461,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20100096458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/487, 235/494
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06018 one-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1456 determining the orientation of the optical code with respect to the reader and correcting therefore
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/17 using hand-held instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/19 by sensing codes defining pattern positions

Abstract

A product and method for decoding information is provided. The product includes a sensor for detecting a plurality of marks on a surface to obtain associated mark location data, at least a first group of the plurality of marks being arranged on the surface so as to define an invisible raster with predetermined dimensions and marks in at least a second group of the plurality of marks are displaced from raster locations in a manner encoding information, and a processor for receiving from the sensor at least some of the mark location data, the processor determining, using the received mark location data, a position of the invisible raster on the surface, and decoding information based on positions of at least some of the marks in the second group of the plurality of marks relative to locations on the invisible raster.

Claims

1. A product for decoding information, the product comprising:

a sensor for detecting a plurality of marks on a surface to obtain associated mark location data, at least a first group of the plurality of marks being arranged on the surface so as to define an invisible raster with predetermined dimensions, and wherein marks in at least a second group of the plurality of marks are displaced from raster locations in a manner encoding information; and

a processor for receiving from the sensor at least some of the mark location data, the processor being configured to determine, using the received mark location data, a position of the invisible raster on the surface, and the processor being further configured to decode information based on positions of at least some of the marks in the second group of the plurality of marks relative to locations on the invisible raster.

2. The product of claim 1, wherein the raster is rendered invisible by virtue of an absence of printed raster lines.

3. The product of claim 1, wherein the raster is rendered invisible by virtue of an absence of marks at a plurality of raster intersection points.

4. The product of claim 1, wherein the first group of the plurality of marks and the second group of the plurality of marks constitute a same group of marks in the plurality of marks.

5. The product of claim 1, wherein each mark of the plurality of marks is displaced from a raster location in a manner encoding information.

6. The product of claim 1, wherein raster locations are nominal points, and wherein the processor is configured to decode information based on the position of at least some of the marks in the second group of the plurality of marks relative to nominal points on the invisible raster.

7. The product of claim 1, wherein each raster location is associated with a same number of displaced marks.

8. The product of claim 1, wherein the received mark location data reflects relative positions of at least some of the first group of the plurality of marks, and wherein the position of the invisible raster on the surface is determined by the processor based on the relative positions of the at least some of the first group of the plurality of marks.

9. The product of claim 1, wherein the plurality of marks are constructed to be minimally perceptible to the human eye.

10. The product of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of marks is substantially identical.

11. The product of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of marks is rotationally invariant.

12. The product of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of marks is substantially the same size.

13. The product of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of marks is circular in shape.

14. A method for decoding information, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, mark location data from a sensor, the mark location data indicative of locations of at least some of a plurality of marks on a surface, a first group of the plurality of marks being arranged on the surface so as to define an invisible raster with predetermined dimensions, and wherein marks in a second group of the plurality of marks are displaced from raster locations in a manner encoding information;

determining, by the processor, a position of the invisible raster on the surface using the received mark location data; and

decoding information based on positions of at least some of the marks in the second group of the plurality of marks relative to locations on the invisible raster.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the raster is rendered invisible by virtue of an absence of printed raster lines.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the raster is rendered invisible by virtue of an absence of marks at a plurality of raster intersection points.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first group of the plurality of marks and the second group of the plurality of marks constitute a same group of marks in the plurality of marks.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein each mark of the plurality of marks is displaced from a raster location in a manner encoding information.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising detecting a plurality of marks on the surface to obtain the mark location data using the sensor.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the raster locations are nominal points, and wherein the decoding is based on the position of at least some of the marks in the second group of the plurality of marks relative to nominal points on the invisible raster.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein each raster location is associated with a same number of displaced marks.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the received mark location data reflects relative positions of at least some of the first group of the plurality of marks, and wherein the determining of the position of the invisible raster on the surface is based on the relative positions of the at least some of the first group of the plurality of marks.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of marks are constructed to be minimally perceptible to the human eye.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of marks is substantially identical.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of marks is rotationally invariant.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of marks is substantially the same size.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of marks is circular in shape.

28. A computer-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed in a processor, perform a method for decoding information, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, mark location data from a sensor, the mark location data indicative of locations of at least some of a plurality of marks on a surface, a first group of the plurality of marks being arranged on the surface so as to define an invisible raster with predetermined dimensions, and wherein marks in a second group of the plurality of marks are displaced from raster locations in a manner encoding information;

determining, by the processor, a position of the invisible raster on the surface using the received mark location data; and

decoding information based on positions of at least some of the marks in the second group of the plurality of marks relative to locations on the invisible raster.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the raster is rendered invisible by virtue of an absence of printed raster lines.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the raster is rendered invisible by virtue of an absence of marks at a plurality of raster intersection points.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the first group of the plurality of marks and the second group of the plurality of marks constitute a same group of marks in the plurality of marks.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein each mark of the plurality of marks is displaced from a raster location in a manner encoding information.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, the method further comprising detecting a plurality of marks on the surface to obtain the mark location data using the sensor.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the raster locations are nominal points, and wherein the decoding is based on the position of at least some of the marks in the second group of the plurality of marks relative to nominal points on the invisible raster.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein each raster location is associated with a same number of displaced marks.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the received mark location data reflects relative positions of at least some of the first group of the plurality of marks, and wherein the determining of the position of the invisible raster on the surface is based on the relative positions of the at least some of the first group of the plurality of marks.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the plurality of marks are constructed to be minimally perceptible to the human eye.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein each of the plurality of marks is substantially identical.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein each of the plurality of marks is rotationally invariant.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein each of the plurality of marks is substantially the same size.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein each of the plurality of marks is circular in shape.

42. A product for decoding information, the product comprising:

a sensor for detecting a plurality of marks on a surface to obtain associated mark location data, the plurality of marks being arranged on the surface so as to define an invisible raster with predetermined dimensions, wherein each mark is displaced from a raster location in a manner encoding information; and

a processor for receiving from the sensor mark location data indicative of locations of at least a subset of the marks on the surface, the processor being configured to determine, using the received mark location data, a position of the invisible raster on the surface, and the processor being further configured to decode information based on a position of at least some of the plurality of marks relative to locations on the invisible raster.