Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Attribute control
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-27
2001-12-18
Gabriel, Garcia (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Attribute control
C358S462000, C382S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331898
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to encoded data printing apparatus and method capable of printing an image in unit of dots on a recording medium.
It is known to print encoded data (symbol) obtained by coding characters or numbers by a printer which prints an image by dots on a recording medium. Among such codes, there is a one-dimensional bar code or a two-dimensional bar code. The one-dimensional bar code has a plurality of vertical lines whose widths and intervals are changed to correspond to coded characters or numbers. The two-dimensional bar code is printed so as to blacken the unit area or to form a white area in accordance with coded characters and numbers.
As described above, in the conventional technique, bar codes are printed in a black/white pattern. Accordingly, if such a bar code is printed on various cards having artistic value in their designs such as a membership's card, the original design can be disfigured by the black/white bar code.
Furthermore, since the bar code can be visually discriminated, any person can easily recognize that the bar code is printed, and there is a problem in that the bar-coded information may be decoded and used for an incorrect purpose.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the above problems of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a code printing apparatus and method capable of printing an image and a code without deterioration of the image quality.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a code printing apparatus and method capable of printing a code without deterioration of the image quality, and improving the confidentiality of the information represented by a code, when an image whose tone is expressed by using a pixel including a plurality of dots is printed with a code, by selecting a density pattern representing the tone based on the code, and inlaying the code into the image.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a code printing apparatus and method capable of developing and printing a code in a color image without deterioration of the quality of an original color image, in a case where the color image is printed.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a code printing apparatus and method capable of printing a code without deterioration of the originality and artistic value of an image, and improving the confidentiality of the information represented by a code.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a code printing apparatus and method capable of printing a code having a large amount of information without deterioration of the image quality by printing a code by using the pixels whose color most often appears in the image.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a code printing apparatus and method capable of printing a code by inlaying into an image, in the case where there is not enough space to print the code.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a code printing apparatus and method capable of improving confidentiality of information represented by a code and avoiding deterioration of image quality by printing the code in an image so that it cannot be visually distinguished.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
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Y. Nakamura et al., “A Unified Coding Method of Dithered Image and Text Data Using Micro-Patterns”, The Trans. Of the Institute Of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, vol. J70-B, No. 12, Dec. 1987, pp. 1475-1481.
Arai Atsushi
Nakata Kazuhiro
Yanagi Haruyuki
Yokoi Katsuyuki
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Gabriel Garcia
LandOfFree
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