JPH03149683A - Dot code - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to record much information in a compact space and to prevent the generation of a reading error by forming plural dot mark formation parts in a londitudinal square-like area like a matrix and using a part of the dot mark formation parts as error checking parts. CONSTITUTION:A dot strip 2 forming plural dot mark formation parts 3 like a matrix is formed in the longitudinal square-like area and is constituted so that 1-bit information is recorded in accordance with the existence of a dot mark in each dot mark formation part 3 and a part of dot part formation parts 3 is used as error checking parts 8. Thereby, the 1-bit information can be recorded in each dot mark formation part 3. Consequently, much information can be recorded in the compact space, the generation of misreading can be detected and the generation of a reading error can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a dot code that transmits information by optically reading dot marks.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, barcodes have been widely used in product management and the like. In other words, a barcode is printed directly on the product or its packaging, or a sticker with the barcode printed on it is affixed to the product or its packaging, and it is read by a barcode reader at the time of receiving, shipping, or selling the product for product management and sales. It is used for management, etc.

Furthermore, in various cards such as cash cards and commuter passes, magnetic cards equipped with magnetic recording sections are widely used, and IC cards with even larger storage capacities are also being put into practical use.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, since the amount of information that can be recorded with barcodes is small, there is a problem that more precise product management cannot be performed. Expanding the scope was difficult.

Another problem is that barcodes cannot be easily used and cannot be easily changed because they must be drawn using a special device.

In addition, magnetic cards and IC cards require expensive writing and reading devices, making them difficult to use for customer cards for small stores, patient tickets for hospitals and clinics, business cards that can be automatically read, etc. There was a problem.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dot code that can be used simply and inexpensively using an optical reading method, has a large amount of information that can be recorded and has a large information density, and is designed to prevent reading errors. do.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The dot code of the present invention is provided with a dot strip in which dot mark formation parts are formed in a matrix in an elongated rectangular area, and one bit of information can be read depending on the presence or absence of a dot mark in each dot mark formation part. In the tokokutoku, which is configured to record and is characterized in that a part of the dot mark forming part is an error check part, leading marks in the width direction are formed at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction of the dot strip. , an information recording section of a predetermined number of bits and an error checking section thereof are provided between adjacent reading marks.

Further, it is preferable that the error check section is provided with parity bits for horizontal and vertical dot mark rows of dot marks arranged in a matrix in the information recording section.

(Function) According to the dot code of the present invention, 1 bit of information can be recorded in one dot mark forming part, and since the dot mark forming parts are arranged in a matrix on the dot strip, it is compared to a bar code. It is possible to record a large amount of information in a small space, and it can also be read using a simple optical reading device that simply reads the arrangement of dot marks. Furthermore, since an error check section is provided during reading, it is possible to detect when a reading error occurs, thereby preventing reading errors.

Further, by dividing the dot strip into predetermined bit units using reading marks and providing an information recording section and an error checking section between each reading mark, more reliable reading can be achieved.

Furthermore, by providing parity bits for the horizontal and vertical directions of the information recording section in the error check section, it is possible to identify the dot mark where a reading error has occurred through the parity check, so that the error can be corrected and read correctly.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example in which the dot code of the present invention is applied to a card will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the card l of this embodiment is applied to a hospital ticket, and a dot strip 2 displaying a dot code is arranged along one long side of the card l. . In this dot strip 2, the information to be recorded by the dot code may include information such as the patient's name and address, information regarding the health card, and information regarding the medical record. Further, the card l is also displayed with characters, etc., and the information content to be displayed in characters may include the display of a medical examination ticket, the name of a hospital, etc.

The dot strip 2, as shown in FIG. 3, is formed by printing with a 24-dot printer. On the dot strip 2, dot mark forming parts 3 consisting of two dots in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, a total of four dots, are formed in a matrix shape, and one bit of information is recorded depending on the presence or absence of a dot mark in each dot mark forming part 3. is configured to do so. In addition, each dot mark forming portion 3.3.
- An identification space 4 is formed in the shape of a base grid with a width of one dot. As a result, eight dot mark forming portions 3 are formed in one row along the width direction of the dot strip 2,
This one line of dot mark forming section 3 is configured so that 1 byte of information can be recorded. dot strip 2
Leading marks 5 with a width of two dots are formed over the entire width of the dot strip 2 at appropriate intervals at both ends in the longitudinal direction and in the middle thereof as will be described later, and are configured to provide reading reference positions for each dot mark. .

Further, an identification space 4 is also formed between these leading marks 5 and the adjacent dot mark forming portions 3. Further, the top and bottom of the dot strip 2 can be identified by a blank space 6 corresponding to one dot formed along one side of the dot strip 2 over the entire length in the longitudinal direction except for the reading mark 5.

Although FIG. 3 schematically shows the relationship between the dot positions of the printer and each dot mark forming section 3, in the actual printing state of dot marks, the dots that are adjacent to each other are printed so as to partially overlap with each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the leading marks 5 are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the dot strip 2 with 10 rows of dot mark forming portions 3 interposed therebetween. and,
Of the ten lines of the dot mark forming section 3, eight lines are used as an 8-byte information recording section 7, and the remaining two lines are used as a parity check section 8. Also, parity check for two lines,
Parity bits 9 for each vertical row of the information recording section 7 are arranged in the first row 8a of the storage section 8, and parity bits 9 for each horizontal column are arranged in the second row. There is.

As is well known, the parity check is performed by checking the dot mark and parity of the target row or column in the information recording section 7.
A dot mark as a parity bit 9 is added to the parity check unit 8 as necessary, and the number of dot marks in each row or column is checked so that the sum of the dot marks in the check unit 8 is an even or odd number. By performing a parity check in the horizontal and vertical directions as described above, it is possible to identify the dot mark where a reading error has occurred, and as a result, the reading error can be corrected. It becomes possible to read the data.

The card I having the above configuration can be easily created using predetermined software by using, for example, a personal computer equipped with a computer main body, a printer, an input keyboard, and a display device. That is, when information is entered from the input keyboard into the computer while checking it on the display device, the computer converts the information into a dot code, and the printer prints the dot strip 2 along with the character information on the card. It can be made so that

Further, this card 1 can read the dot strip 2 with a card reading device, convert it into information, and perform appropriate information processing. When reading the card, the relative position of the dot mark forming part 3 can be recognized by the reading mark 5, and even if the card 1 is tilted or unscrewed, it can be read accurately without causing a reading error. Even if there is an error, it is detected by the parity check section 8 as described above, and the read error can be corrected and read, so that highly reliable reading is possible.

As the card reading device, for example, one configured to read the dot strip 2 with a line image sensor and input the read signal to a personal computer etc. can be used. Information processing can be performed and the results can be displayed on a display device or printed on a printer. In addition, the normal line image sensor 1
2 has a resolution of 16 dots/mm, which is sufficient for reading the dot strip.

Furthermore, instead of using a personal computer, a dedicated machine in which a writing device and a reading device are integrated into a unit may be used.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the printer has 24 dots, but it can be similarly implemented in cases where the printer has 32 dots, 48 dots, or 64 dots.

Furthermore, as in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, when a 9-dot printer is used or when 9 columns of dot mark forming portions 3 are formed in the width direction of the dot strip 2, 9 rows of dot marks are formed. Leading marks 5 are formed at intervals with the forming parts in between, and the dot mark forming parts 3 in the first column and the ninth row are used as vertical and horizontal parity check parts 8a and 8b, respectively, and the remaining 8 rows x The 8-row dot mark forming section 3 can also be used as an 8-byte information recording section 7.

Further, as the error check method, any method other than the above-mentioned parity check can be adopted.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the dot code of the present invention, 1 bit of information can be recorded in one dot mark forming part, and since the dot mark forming parts are arranged in a matrix on the dot strip, it is possible to record one bit of information in one dot mark forming part. A large amount of information can be recorded in a relatively small space, and it can be read using a simple optical reader that simply reads the arrangement of dot marks. Furthermore, since an error check section is provided during reading, it is possible to detect when a reading error occurs, thereby preventing reading errors.

Further, by dividing the dot strip into predetermined bit units using reading marks and providing an information recording section and an error checking section between each reading mark, more reliable reading can be achieved.

Furthermore, by providing parity pits in the horizontal and vertical directions of the information recording section, dot marks with reading errors can be identified during parity check.
It has great effects, such as being able to correct errors and read correctly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the dot strip, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the card, and FIG. 3 is a dot mark forming part and a reading in the dot strip. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of marks, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a dot strip in a second embodiment of the present invention. 2−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
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---Information recording section 8-----
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Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A dot strip in which dot mark formation parts are formed in a matrix is provided in a long and narrow rectangular area, and the number of
1. A dot code configured to record bit information, and comprising a part of the dot mark forming part as an error check part. (2) A claim characterized in that leading marks in the width direction are formed at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction of the dot strip, and an information recording section of a predetermined number of bits and an error checking section thereof are provided between adjacent leading marks. Item 1
Dot code listed. (3) The error check section is provided with parity bits for horizontal and vertical dot mark rows of dot marks arranged in a matrix in the information recording section. dot code.