Graphic Code Application Apparatus and Method

• US 20080240430A1
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Essentra Packaging & Security Limited (Essentra Plc)
• Original Assignee: Fracture Code Corporation
• Inventors: Pinchen, Stephen Paul, Rasmussen, Jens Jacob Juul, Boras, Drago
• Application Number:
  US12/024,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20080240430A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/55
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/14 Dot or raster patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/44 Miniaturised markings
• 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 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/086 with markings consisting of randomly placed or oriented elements, the randomness of the elements being useable for generating a unique identifying signature of the record carrier, e.g. randomly placed magnetic fibers or magnetic particles in the body of a credit card
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/2041 Matching statistical distributions, e.g. of particle sizes orientations
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/00 Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0297 including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code digitally marked record carriers in general G06K19/00

Abstract

A machine readable code comprises at least a portion of a graphical indicium, the graphical indicium comprising a random arrangement of spots. At least some of the spots comprising the graphical indicium may have a dimension of less than one micrometre. The spots comprising the graphical indicium may vary in size and/or shape. The portion of the graphical indicium comprising the code may be delimited by a boundary, the boundary may be a temporary boundary which may be generated by a reading machine relative to a fixed trigger point only when the code is being read. Alternatively, the portion of the graphical indicium comprising the code may be delimited by a graphically represented boundary.

Claims

1. A machine readable code comprising at least a portion of a graphical indicium, the graphical indicium comprising a random arrangement of spots.

2. A code according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the spots comprising the graphical indicium have a dimension of less than one micrometre.

3. A code according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spots comprising the graphical indicium vary in size and/or shape.

4. A code according to any preceding claim, wherein the portion of the graphical indicium comprising the code is delimited by a temporary boundary that is generated by a reading machine relative to a fixed trigger point only when the code is being read.

5. A code according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the portion of the graphical indicium comprising the code is delimited by a graphically represented boundary.

6. A method of associating data with an article comprising the steps of:

applying a graphical indicium comprising a random arrangement of spots to the article;

acquiring electronically an image of at least a portion of the graphical indicium;

processing the acquired image to produce a descriptor;

assigning data to the descriptor; and

,

storing the association in a storage means.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the graphical indicium is applied by spraying.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the graphical indicium is applied directly to the surface of the article.

9. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the graphical indicium is applied to a substrate which is applied to the surface of the article.

10. A method according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein a portion of the acquired image of the graphical indicium is processed to produce the descriptor.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the portion is delimited by a temporary boundary that is generated by the machine relative to a fixed trigger point only when the graphical indicium is being processed.

12. An apparatus for associating data with an article comprising:

an application unit for applying a graphical indicium comprising a random arrangement of spots to the article;

a camera for acquiring electronically an image of at least a portion of the graphical indicium;

a processor for processing the acquired image to produce a descriptor;

an assignment means for assigning data to the descriptor; and

,

a storage means for storing the association.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the application unit comprises a spray nozzle.

14. An apparatus according to claims 12 or 13, further including a window calculation unit for defining a portion of the graphical indicium to be processed by the processor.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, further including a detection unit for detecting a fixed trigger point for defining the position of the portion of the graphical indicium relative to it.