2D code reading in presence of local inversion

    公开(公告)号:US11875218B1

    公开(公告)日:2024-01-16

    申请号:US17687247

    申请日:2022-03-04

    CPC classification number: G06K7/10861 G06K7/10851 G06K7/1447 G06K19/06131

    Abstract: In one aspect, the technology processes image data depicting a physical object to extract payload data that is encoded on the object in the form of tiled code blocks. The payload data is encoded in conjunction with an associated reference signal. To account for possible inversion of the imagery, the decoding includes determining spatial correspondence between the image data and the reference signal. A patch of the image data smaller than the block size is then selected, and correlated with a spatially-corresponding patch of the reference signal. From the correlation it may be concluded that the chosen patch exhibits inversion. In such case a subset of the image data is adjusted prior to decoding to compensate for the inversion. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

    Digital watermarking and data hiding with clear topcoats

    公开(公告)号:US11741567B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-08-29

    申请号:US17372261

    申请日:2021-07-09

    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as image processing, signal encoding, digital watermarking and data hiding. One claim recites a method including: capturing imagery corresponding to a printed object with a red or blue illumination source, the red or blue illumination source having an illumination wavelength at or around 660 nm or an illumination wavelength in the range of 60 nm centered around 460 nm, said capturing imagery yielding captured data; wherein the printed object includes a clear coat printed thereon, the clear coat including a material that has a peak absorbance at or around 660 nm or in the range of 60 nm centered around 460 nm, the clear coat printed in a manner to convey an encoded plural-bit message, the encoded plural-bit message corresponding to product information; analyzing the captured data with one or more programmed multi-core processors to decode the encoded plural-bit message, said analyzing yielding the product information; and providing the product information as an output. Of course, other claims, technology and combinations are disclosed.

    LASER MARKING OF MACHINE-READABLE CODES
    94.
    发明公开

    公开(公告)号:US20230177297A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-06-08

    申请号:US18077914

    申请日:2022-12-08

    CPC classification number: G06K19/06037

    Abstract: A surface is laser-etched to convey a 2D machine-readable code pattern. Various strategies are detailed to minimize the etching time. Some strategies include modifying the code pattern to reduce a path length traveled by the laser. Some strategies include modifying the code pattern to make it sub-optimal, i.e., making the code pattern a less-faithful approximation of an ideal code pattern. In some embodiments the etched surface is the surface of a plastic container, and the code pattern conveys information indicating the type of plastic of which the container is manufactured. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

    DECODING 1D-BARCODES IN DIGITAL CAPTURE SYSTEMS

    公开(公告)号:US20220392244A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-12-08

    申请号:US17666401

    申请日:2022-02-07

    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including: i) rapid localization for machine-readable indicia including, e.g., 1-D and 2-D barcodes; and ii) barcode reading and decoders. One claim recites: an image processing method comprising: obtaining 2-dimensional (2D) image data representing a 1-dimensional (1D) barcode within a first image area; generating a plurality of scanlines across the first image area; for each of the plurality of scanlines, synchronizing the scanline, including decoding an initial set of numerical digits represented by the scanline, in which said synchronizing provides a scale estimate for the scanline; using a path decoder to decode remaining numerical digits within the scanline, the path decoder decoding multiple numerical digits in groups; and providing decoded numerical digits as an identifier represented by the scanline. Of course, other combinations and claims are described within the present disclosure.

    MARKING METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS
    96.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20220388213A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-12-08

    申请号:US17835775

    申请日:2022-06-08

    Abstract: 2D code patterns, such as digital watermark patterns, are formed on plastic objects by injection molding. In some implementations, a marked cell of the code pattern is not formed by a single mark on the mold surface, but by multiple discrete marks. Such marks can be exceedingly small (e.g., 50 microns or less—smaller than the width of a human hair), yet the resulting code pattern on the molded object is still readable from a distance. The small scale of the marks assures that the code pattern does not detract from object aesthetics, while also speeding the mold-marking process. Style transfer networks are employed in some implementations. The detailed technologies facilitate digital marking and identification of a great number of consumer plastic objects, thereby aiding recovery of such objects for recycling. Many other features and arrangements are also detailed.

    DETECTING CONFLICTS BETWEEN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT ENCODED SIGNALS WITHIN IMAGERY, USING ONLY A SUBSET OF AVAILABLE IMAGE DATA, AND ROBUSTNESS CHECKS

    公开(公告)号:US20220343454A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-10-27

    申请号:US17671344

    申请日:2022-02-14

    Abstract: This disclosure relates to advanced signal processing technology including signal encoding and digital watermarking. Image areas are selected in an encoded digital design, and corresponding areas from a printed version of the encoded digital design are evaluated to determined signal robustness after printing. One claim recites an image processing method for selecting image areas to test for robustness of encoded signals, the method comprising: obtaining digital artwork comprising a plurality of colors, the digital artwork comprising multiple instances of an encoded signal; selecting a set encoding tiles, and for each encoding tile determining encoding detectability measure associated therewith; creating a bin for each encoding technology used to encode the encoded signal; for each bin, removing any encoding tile having a detectability measure below a predetermined threshold; for each bin, prioritizing remaining encoding tiles; selecting an encoding tile based on the prioritization per bin, and spatially locating the selected encoding tile relative to the digital artwork. Other technology is described in this patent document.

    DETECTING CONFLICTS BETWEEN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT ENCODED SIGNALS WITHIN IMAGERY, USING ONLY A SUBSET OF AVAILABLE IMAGE DATA

    公开(公告)号:US20220245371A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-08-04

    申请号:US17671431

    申请日:2022-02-14

    Abstract: This disclosure relates to advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. One combination disclosed in the description includes an image processing method. The method includes: obtaining an image comprising a plurality of color channels; for each color channel of the plurality of color channels, creating a grayscale version of the color channel and creating an inverted greyscale version of the color channel; analyzing the grayscale inverted version and the grayscale non-inverted version to locate image areas including an encoded signal, said analyzing yielding a plurality of image areas; generating one or more detectability measures corresponding to the encoded signal for each of the plurality of image areas; for each color channel selecting only one (1) image area as a validation point based on one or more generated detectability measures for that color channel; and generating information associated with a spatial location of each of the validation points in the image. Of course, other features and combinations are described as well.

    Sparse modulation for robust signaling and synchronization

    公开(公告)号:US11308571B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-04-19

    申请号:US16579667

    申请日:2019-09-23

    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to advanced image processing and encoded signal processing. One claim currently recites an image processing method comprising the acts: receiving a digital representation of artwork, the artwork having an area of uniform color; generating a two-dimensional data signal that redundantly encodes a plural-bit message, the data signal comprising plural elements, each of which has a single bit value; receiving a two-dimensional synchronization signal comprising plural elements, each of which has a plural-bit value, each element of said data signal having an element of the synchronization signal corresponding thereto; processing the two-dimensional data signal with the two-dimensional synchronization signal and with a gradient function to yield a two-dimensional gradient marking signal; and printing an ink counterpart of the gradient marking signal on a medium with the artwork, said printing comprising printing plural dithered two-dimensional blocks of at least four contiguous elements each, in which one or more elements of each block are printed to be dark. Of course, other claims and combinations are described as well.

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