Compression and obfuscation of three-dimensional coding

• US 9,135,543 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lancaster-Larocque, Simon Regis Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Paik, Steven S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Habib, Asifa
• Application Number:
  US13/528,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20130341400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/375, 235/462.01, 372/26, 704/7, 382/135
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/007 Marking tablets or the like apparatus for printing on tablets or the like B41F17/36
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/26 Thermography B41M5/20, B41M5/24 take precedence; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used B23K takes precedence; thermographic or photothermographic systems using noble metal compounds G03C1/494
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06159 the marking being relief type, e.g. three-dimensional bar codes engraved in a support
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06178 the marking having a feature size being smaller than can be seen by the unaided human eye
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking

Abstract

Systems and methods related to three-dimensional coding are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for encoding data is described that includes generating a pattern in a substrate. The pattern includes elements and each element has one of an aperture or a protrusion. The aperture or protrusion has unique x, y coordinates within the pattern. The method also includes varying a depth of at least one element. The varied depth encodes data.

Claims

1. A 3-D code comprising:

a plurality of apertures formed within a substrate, wherein;

each aperture comprises a unique position in the 3-D code relative to each of the other apertures;

each aperture comprises a depth, wherein at least one aperture has a depth that is different from at least one other aperture'"'"'s depth;

at least one of said plurality of apertures includes a first geometric shape; and

said at least one of said plurality of apertures includes an encoding geometric shape formed on a bottom surface of said at least one aperture; and

the encoding geometric shape encodes information.

2. The 3-D code of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures represent at least two different geometric shapes.

3. The 3-D code of claim 1, wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of apertures is approximately 20 micrometers or less.

4. The 3-D code of claim 1, wherein a depth of at least one of the apertures is approximately less than 10 micrometers.

5. The 3-D code of claim 1, wherein the code is a pin-stamped code and the pin-stamped code comprises at least one aperture having an encoded feature on its bottom surface.

6. The 3-D code of claim 5, wherein the encoded feature comprises a secondary 3-D code.

7. The 3-D code of claim 1, wherein the code is too small to be seen by a naked eye.

8. The 3-D code of claim 1, wherein the code forms part of a microperforated portion of a housing.

9. The 3-D code of claim 1, wherein at least one aperture comprise a through-hole.

10. The 3-D coding of claim 1, wherein the code is obscured within one of a printed logo and a printed letter.

11. A method of reading a 3-D code in a substrate, the substrate including a surface, said method comprising:

determining a relative location of a reader and a device having a 3-D code;

orienting the reader relative to the device to enable reading of the 3-D code;

obtaining an image of the 3-D code;

processing the image to determine a relative location of each element of the 3-D code; and

determining a depth of each element of the 3-D code, said depth extending into said substrate below said surface, at least one element of the 3-D code including a different depth from a second element of the 3-D code, said different depth comprising encoded data;

wherein

the 3-D code forms part of a microperforated portion of a housing on an electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of determining a relative location of the reader and the device comprises utilizing an image recognition software to discern features of the device.

13. A 3-D code comprising:

a plurality of apertures formed within a substrate wherein the code forms part of a microperforated portion of a housing on an electronic device, and wherein;

each aperture comprises a unique position in the 3-D code relative to each of the other apertures; and

each aperture comprises a depth, wherein at least one aperture has a depth that is different from at least one other aperture'"'"'s depth, said different depth comprising encoded data.

14. The 3-D code of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures has a first geometric shape and a second geometric shape is formed on a bottom surface of the aperture.

15. The 3-D code of claim 13, wherein the code is a pin-stamped code and the pin-stamped code comprises at least one aperture having an encoded feature on its bottom surface.

16. The 3-D code of claim 15 wherein the encoded feature comprises a secondary 3-D code.

17. The 3-D code of claim 13, wherein at least one aperture comprises a through-hole.