Interface surface having coded data with predetermined pattern

• US 6,938,826 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Diane I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Seung H
• Application Number:
  US10/917,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20050011944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 235/494, 235/462.03, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting transparent or white coloured liquids, e.g. processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/02 starting with single sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0006 by applying adhesive to a stack of sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2261/04 Producing books by printing sheets in following order, e.g. for ordering via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/34 from supports slid from under the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/04 for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18
• 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: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 : resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1265 : Printing by reference, e.g. retrieving document/image data for a job from a source mentioned in the job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 : Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 : Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 : Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 : multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 : Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 : Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 : the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• 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 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• 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 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• 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 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• 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 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• 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 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3247 : Data linking a set of images to one another, e.g. sequence, burst or continuous capture mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

An interface surface for enabling interaction between a user and a computer system via a sensing device, the interface including visible graphical information and substantially invisible coded data readable by the sensing device, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a predetermined pattern, wherein each mark has a minimum radius and a maximum radius and wherein the length of a mark'"'"'s minimum radius is greater than 40% of the length of that mark'"'"'s maximum radius.

Claims

1. An interface surface for enabling interaction between a user and a computer system via a sensing device, the interface including visible graphical information and substantially invisible coded data readable by the sensing device, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a predetermined pattern, wherein each mark has a minimum radius and a maximum radius and wherein the length of a mark'"'"'s minimum radius is greater than 40% of the length of that mark'"'"'s maximum radius, the predetermined pattern includes a target structure extending radially outwardly from a centre of the pattern for allowing relative rotation of the predetermined pattern to be determined.

2. The interface surface according to claim 1 wherein the graphical information designated by the user is at least partially indicative, to the user, of an operation.

3. The interface surface according to claim 2, wherein the graphical information is adjacent, or substantially coincident with, coded data.

4. The interface surface according to claim 3, wherein the graphical information takes the form of any combination of:

text;

graphics;

images;

buttons;

icons; and

hypertext links.

5. The interface surface according to claim 2, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter area of the coded data indicative of the operation includes sufficient information to identify the operation.

6. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein each mark has a plurality of possible values.

7. The interface surface according to claim 6, wherein the value of a mark is at least partially determined by the mark'"'"'s position relative to the predetermined pattern.

8. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern includes a plurality of lines.

9. The interface surface according to claim 8, wherein the lines are not visible.

10. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein the marks have centers and wherein the relative spacing of the centers of at least one pair of adjacent marks is less than 12 mm.

11. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein the coded data identifies remotely stored information defining a position of the coded data relative to the interface surface.

12. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein the coded data includes region identification information that identifies the region within which the respective coded data is disposed.

13. The interface surface according to claim 12, wherein the region encompasses substantially the entire surface.

14. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein the coded data includes data identification information that identifies data associated with the region within which the respective coded data is disposed.

15. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern defines a plurality of symbol regions, the coded data defining at least one codeword formed from marks disposed in different symbol regions.

16. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced target structures for allowing perspective distortion the predetermined pattern to be determined.

17. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern includes:

a ring target structure for allowing the predetermined pattern to be located; and

,

a target structure for allowing relative rotation of the predetermined pattern to be determined, the target structure being positioned radially inwardly of the detection ring.

18. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern includes:

a ring target structure for allowing the predetermined pattern to be located; and

,

a plurality of circumferentially spaced target structures for allowing perspective distortion of the predetermined pattern to be determined, the circumferentially spaced target structures being positioned radially outwardly of the detection ring.

19. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein the marks within each predetermined pattern define a plurality of codewords, the marks of different codewords being interleaved.

20. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein the marks are disposed in a plurality of symbol rings, the marks defining a plurality of codewords, and the marks of different codewords being interleaved within at least one symbol ring.

21. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein the coded data includes a plurality of symbols, each symbol being formed from a plurality of marks.

22. The interface surface according to claim 1, wherein each mark is formed from an area bounded by two radial lines and two concentric circular arcs.

23. The interface surface according to claim 22, wherein each radial line defines a minimum dimension, a shorter one of the two concentric arcs being at least equal to the minimum dimension.

24. The interface surface according to claim 22, wherein each area includes at least 8 dots when the coded data is printed at a resolution of 1600 dpi.