Object, image data, image data transmission method, card, game mat, card game system, image analysis apparatus, and image analysis method

• US 8,066,195 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Hirofumi, Takano, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US12/534,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20090321521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 235/494, 235/454, 235/487, 235/462.1, 235/462.09, 235/462.08
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/02 Cards; Special shapes of cards card-printing methods B41K, B41M
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/06 Card games appurtenances
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/067 Tables or similar supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2419 Optical
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image

Abstract

There is provided a two-dimensional code capable of performing accurate recognition. The two-dimensional code includes: a code data portion (102) where a plurality of square cells (106) are two-dimensionally arranged to constitute code data; and a plurality of corner cells (104) arranged so as to surround the code data portion (102). The corner cells (104) are configured with a greater area than the square cells (106). When the two-dimensional code is imaged by an imaging device, the corner cells (104) can be recognized in a large scale, thereby improving the two-dimensional code read accuracy.

Claims

1. A card comprising:

a reference cell having a predetermined shape;

a plurality of polygonal cells forming code data; and

a plurality of corner cells having an identical shape, wherein

each of the plurality of corner cells occupies a larger area than any of the polygonal cells, and

all of the polygonal cells are provided outside an area surrounded by the plurality of corner cells.

2. The card according to claim 1, wherein the corner cells are assigned a color different from that of the reference cell and the polygonal cells.

3. The card according to claim 1, wherein the corner cells are triangular.

4. The card according to claim 1, wherein the corner cells are aligned to the respective edges of the card and are assigned a color other than black.

5. A rectangular card comprising:

a reference cell having a predetermined shape;

a plurality of polygonal cells forming code data; and

a plurality of corner cells having an identical shape, wherein

each of the plurality of corner cells occupies a larger area than any of the polygonal cells,

all of the polygonal cells are provided outside an area surrounded by the plurality of corner cells,

the plurality of corner cells are provided at a first edge and a second edge of the card opposite to each other, and

at least some of the plurality of polygonal cells are provided in the neighborhood of a third edge different from the first edge and the second edge and are arranged parallel with the third edge.

6. The card according to claim 5, wherein some of the plurality of polygonal cells are provided in the neighborhood of a fourth edge opposite to the third edge and are arranged parallel with the fourth edge, and wherein the plurality of polygonal cells provided parallel with the third edge and the fourth edge form a single two-dimensional code.

7. The card according to claim 5, wherein the polygonal cells and the reference cell are not formed in an area surrounded by the plurality of corner cells.

8. The card according to claim 6, wherein the polygonal cells and the reference cell are provided outside an area surrounded by the plurality of corner cells.

9. A rectangular card comprising:

a reference cell having a predetermined shape;

a plurality of polygonal cells forming code data; and

four corner cells, wherein

each of the four corner cells occupies a larger area than any of the polygonal cells,

all of the polygonal cells are provided outside an area surrounded by the plurality of corner cells,

two of the corner cells are provided in the neighborhood of a first edge, and the other two corner cells are provided in the neighborhood of a second edge opposite to the first edge, and

some of the plurality of polygonal cells are provided in the neighborhood of a third edge different from the first edge and the second edge and are arranged parallel with the third edge, and the other polygonal cells are provided in the neighborhood of a fourth edge opposite to the third edge and are arranged parallel with the fourth edge.

10. The card according to claim 9, wherein

the reference cell is rectangular, and

the reference cell is provided in the neighborhood of the third edge such that the longer side lies in the direction of length of the third edge.

11. The card according to claim 10, wherein

some of the plurality of polygonal cells are provided between the third edge and the reference cell arranged such that the longer side lies in the direction of length of the third edge.

12. The card according to claim 9, wherein

the corner cells are triangular,

two of the corner cells are arranged such that one of the sides of the triangle is parallel with the first edge, and the other two corner cells are arranged such that one of the sides of the triangle is parallel with the second edge, and

the other polygonal cells are provided between the fourth edge and a line connecting the vertices of the triangles of the two corner cells respectively provided in the first edge and the second edge so as to be opposite to each other.

13. The card according to claim 9, wherein

the corner cells are assigned a color different from that of the reference cell and the polygonal cells.

14. The card according to claim 9, wherein the number of the plurality of polygonal cells arranged in sequence is limited.

15. The card according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of polygonal cells are provided outside an area surrounded by the four corner cells.

16. A card comprising:

a rectangular reference cell;

a plurality of square cells forming code data; and

four corner cells assigned a color different from the color of the reference cell, wherein

the card is imaged by an imaging apparatus so that an image analysis apparatus acquires the code data from a frame image thus captured,

the reference cell is detected from binary data produced by allowing a binarization processor of the image analysis apparatus to set up a range of pixel values in the RGB format and translate the frame image into a binary representation,

the corner cells are detected from binary data produced by allowing the binarization processor to set up a range of pixel values in the RGB format different from the range set up for detection of the reference cell and translate the frame image into a binary representation, and

the code data is acquired from the plurality of square cells by allowing the image analysis apparatus to read the layout of the plurality of square cells using the corner cells thus detected.

17. The card according to claim 16, wherein the corner cells are assigned a color different from the color of the square cells.

18. Image data generated in accordance with a data format for displaying a two-dimensional code on a display, comprising:

data for displaying a rectangular reference cell at a predetermined first coordinate position on the display;

data for displaying a plurality of square cells forming code data on a predetermined second coordinate position on the display; and

data for displaying four corner cells, occupying a larger area than the square cells and assigned a color different from the color of the reference cell, at a predetermined third coordinate position on the display, wherein

the reference cell, the square cells, and the corner cells displayed at predetermined positions on the display are imaged by an imaging apparatus so that an image analysis apparatus acquires the code data from a frame image thus captured,

the reference cell is detected from binary data produced by allowing a binarization processor of the image analysis apparatus to set up a range of pixel values in the RGB format and translate the frame image into a binary representation,

the corner cells are detected from binary data produced by allowing the binarization processor to set up a range of pixel values in the RGB format different from the range set up for detection of the reference cell and translate the frame image into a binary representation, and

the code data is acquired from the plurality of square cells by allowing the image analysis apparatus to read the layout of the plurality of square cells using the corner cells thus detected.

19. A method for transmitting image data generated in accordance with a data format for displaying a two-dimensional code on a display, the image data transmitted comprising:

data for displaying a rectangular reference cell at a predetermined first coordinate position on the display;

data for displaying a plurality of square cells forming code data on a predetermined second coordinate position on the display; and

data for displaying four corner cells, occupying a larger area than the square cells and assigned a color different from the color of the reference cell, at a predetermined third coordinate position on the display, wherein

the reference cell, the square cells, and the corner cells displayed at predetermined positions on the display are imaged by an imaging apparatus so that an image analysis apparatus acquires the code data from a frame image thus captured,

the reference cell is detected from binary data produced by allowing a binarization processor of the image analysis apparatus to set up a range of pixel values in the RGB format and translate the frame image into a binary representation,

the corner cells are detected from binary data produced by allowing the binarization processor to set up a range of pixel values in the RGB format different from the range set up for detection of the reference cell and translate the frame image into a binary representation, and

the code data is acquired from the plurality of square cells by allowing the image analysis apparatus to read the layout of the plurality of square cells using the corner cells thus detected.