Camera system comprising color display and processor for decoding data blocks in printed coding pattern

• US 9,185,246 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2012
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Menberu, Beniyam
• Application Number:
  US13/620,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,151 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/044 Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14 Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16 Production of nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1601 Production of bubble jet print heads B41J2/1606, B41J2/162 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1626 etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1629 wet etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1632 machining
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• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1643 thin film formation by plating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1645 thin film formation by spincoating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1646 thin film formation by sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 : Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 : Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 : Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 : electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 : Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 : Electromagnetic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14491 : Electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2202/21 : Line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 : Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/02 : Postcards; Greeting, menu, business or like cards; Letter cards or letter-sheets B42D25/00 takes precedence; envelopes B65D27/00
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/08 : Alphanumerical data
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/34 : Markings visible under particular conditions or containing coded information
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/50 : Corresponding markings appearing in different shapes or at different places
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 : Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/20 : characterised by a particular use or purpose
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/23 : Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 : Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/00 : Photographic printing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/02 : Exposure apparatus for contact printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 : with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0866 : for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 : in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 : Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/2022 : Flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 : Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/12 : Digital output to print unit , e.g. line printer, chain printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 : by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 : multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 : Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• 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: G06T 1/20 : Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/02 : Affine transformations for image registration G06T3/147; for image mosaicing G06T3/4038
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 : by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 : by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 : Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/026 : Video wall, i.e. juxtaposition of a plurality of screens to create a display screen of bigger dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0281 : Arrangement of scan or data electrode driver circuits at the periphery of a panel not inherent to a split matrix structure
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/56 : using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/22 : Safety or protection circuits preventing unauthorised or accidental access to memory cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/576 : using active circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 : Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 : with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00355 : Mark-sheet input sensing record carriers G06K7/00; character recognition G06V30/10; document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 : for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 : using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 : by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/04 : Scanning arrangements , i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versaH04N1/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 : using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2154 : the still video camera incorporating a hardcopy reproducing device, e.g. a printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2307 : Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device, according to a measured quantity H04N1/27, H04N1/29 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 : on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0008 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 : of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 : of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 : of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/843 : Demosaicing, e.g. interpolating colour pixel values
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 : Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 : Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 : Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 : characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/9091 : Electronic still camera or scene reproducer

Abstract

A camera system including: a substrate having a coding pattern printed thereon and

a handheld digital camera device. The camera device includes: a digital camera unit having a first image sensor for capturing images and a color display for displaying captured images to a user; and an integral processor configured for: controlling operation of the first image sensor and color display; decoding an imaged coding pattern printed on a substrate; and performing an action in the handheld digital camera device based on the decoded coding pattern. The decoding includes the steps of: identifying a data block in the imaged coding pattern; decoding a control block to determine the size of data to be extracted from a data area; and decoding the coding pattern contained in ae data area of the data block.

Claims

1. A camera system comprising:

a coded media displaying a coded pattern, said coded pattern including a data block, wherein the data block contains a data area containing encoded information regarding a size of data encoded in the data area; and

a portable camera device comprising;

an image sensor configured to capture an image of the coded pattern and generate data representing a digital representation of said image;

a color display; and

an integral processor configured for;

controlling operation of the image sensor and the color display;

collecting the data representing the digital representation of said image directly from the image sensor;

processing the data representing the digital representation of said image to decode the coded pattern;

generating decoded information decoded from the coded pattern; and

performing an action in said portable camera device based on the decoded information, wherein said processing includes;

identifying the data block in the image of the coded pattern;

determining the size of data encoded in the data area; and

decoding the data area of the data block;

wherein said portable camera device further comprises a second image sensor; and

wherein the second image sensor is configured for capturing an image to display on the color display.

2. The camera system of claim 1, wherein said image sensor and said second image sensor are configured for capturing stereoscopic digital images.

3. The camera system of claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to perform said decoding in less than 0.32 seconds.

4. The camera system of claim 1, wherein said data block comprises a plurality of target structures defining an extent of the data area.

5. The camera system of claim 4, wherein said decoding comprises the step of:

determining the extent of the data area using the target structures.

6. The camera system of claim 1, wherein said coded pattern is encoded by Reed-Solomon encoding.

7. The camera system of claim 1, wherein said decoding corrects for one or more errors in the image of the coded pattern.

8. The camera system of claim 7, wherein said error is due to image blurring.

9. The camera system of claim 7, wherein said error is due to physical damage of the coded media.

10. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the coded pattern is comprised of black and white dots.

11. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the action performed in said device is an image-warping effect.

12. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is a CCD or CMOS image sensor.

13. A camera system comprising:

a substrate having a coding pattern printed thereon, said coding pattern having at least one data block, wherein each data block contains a data area having an encoded control block, said control block containing encoded information regarding a size of data encoded in the data area; and

a handheld digital camera device comprising;

a digital camera unit comprising a first image sensor for capturing images and a color display for displaying captured images to a user; and

an integral processor configured for;

controlling operation of the first image sensor and color display;

decoding an imaged coding pattern printed on a substrate; and

performing an action in said handheld digital camera device based on the decoded coding pattern, wherein said decoding comprises the steps of;

identifying the data block in the imaged coding pattern;

decoding the control block to determine the size of data to be extracted from the data area; and

decoding the coding pattern contained in the data area of the data block, and

wherein the action performed in said device is an image-warping effect.

14. The camera system of claim 13, wherein said data block comprises a plurality of target structures defining an extent of the data area.

15. The camera system of claim 14, wherein said decoding comprises the step of:

determining the extent of the data area using the target structures.

16. The camera system of claim 13, wherein said coding pattern is encoded by Reed-Solomon encoding.

17. The camera system of claim 16, wherein said decoding corrects for one or more errors in the imaged coding pattern.

18. The camera system of claim 16, wherein said error is due to image blurring.