US6830196B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Identity-coded surface region
Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
•
Filing: 2000-05-23
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Granted: 2004-12-14
•
Expires: 2020-05-23
Abstract
Abstract A region defined in relation to a surface, and a method for defining such a region; coded data being disposed within the region, the coded data being indicative of an identity of the region; in one embodiment, the coded data comprising a plurality of tags which substantially cover the region, the tags being usable to uniquely identify the region or at least distinguish it from other regions defined in relation to the surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Kia Silverbrook
- 👤 Paul Lapstun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/14; G06V30/142; G06V30/1423; B; B41; B41J; B41J13/00; B41J13/10; B41J13/103; B41J13/106; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17513; B41J2/1752; B41J2/17523; B41J2/17543; B41J2/17546; B41J2/17553; B41J2/17556; B41J2/17563; B41J2/21; B41J2/2107; B41J2/2114; B42; B42C; B42C19/00; B42C19/02; B42C9/00; B42C9/0006; B42C9/0081; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/26; B65H29/34; B65H37/00; B65H37/04; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/016; G06F3/03; G06F3/0304; G06F3/0317; G06F3/0321; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03545; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F3/04883; G06K; G06K17/00; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/346; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q30/00; G06V30/1444; G06V30/1448; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00204; H04N1/00244; H04N1/00326; H04N1/0035; H04N1/00352; H04N1/00355; H04N1/00358; H04N1/00376; H04N1/00567; H04N1/00962; H04N1/00968; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32106; H04N1/32122; H04N1/32128; H04N1/327; H04N1/32765; H04N1/32771; H04N1/32778; B42P; B42P2261/00; B42P2261/04; G06F3/12; G06F3/1201; G06F3/1202; G06F3/1203; G06F3/1204; G06F3/1223; G06F3/1237; G06F3/1265; G06F3/1278; G06F3/1284; G06V30/1426; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0077; H04N2201/0082; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3243; H04N2201/3247; H04N2201/3249; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of producing a surface having a region, the method including the steps of: (a) defining coded data, the coded data being comprised of a plurality of codewords and being indicative of: a region identity associated with the region; and a plurality of points within the region; (b) disposing the coded data within a region on the surface in the form of a plurality of sets of symbols, each set of symbols corresponding to a one of the plurality of codewords and wherein the step of disposing includes interleaving on the surface the symbols of each set with at least one symbol of at least another set of the plurality of sets of symbols.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of producing a surface having a region, the method including the steps of: (a) defining coded data, the coded data being comprised of a plurality of codewords and being indicative of: a region identity associated with the region; and a plurality of points within the region; (b) disposing the coded data within a region on the surface in the form of a plurality of sets of symbols, each set of symbols corresponding to a one of the plurality of codewords and wherein the step of disposing includes interleaving on the surface the symbols of each set with at least one symbol of at least another set of the plurality of sets of symbols.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the region is identified with sufficient precision to distinguish the region from 1.5×10 14 other regions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the coded data includes at least one tag, each tag being indicative of the region identity and the position of the tag within the region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 , including the step of providing a substrate defining the surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is laminar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein step (b) includes the sub-step (b)(i) of disposing the tags in a regular array within the region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 6 , wherein the sub-step (b)(i) includes the sub-step of disposing the tags in a rectangular array within the region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 6 , wherein the sub-step (b)(i) includes the sub-step of disposing the tags in a triangular array within the region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 6 , wherein step (b)(i) includes the sub-step of tiling the tags over the region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 3 , further including the step of adding a common feature to the tags in addition to the identity data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 10 , wherein the common feature is configured to assist location and/or recognition of the tags by associated tag reading apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 11 , wherein the common features are represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 3 , further including the step of providing each of the tags with at least one orientation feature for enabling an orientation of the tag being read to be ascertained.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one orientation feature is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein each tag includes a plurality of tag elements, the identity data being defined by a plurality of the elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein step (b) includes the sub-step of disposing the tags on the surface such that the relative spacing of tag centres is less than about 12 mm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 16 , wherein the relative spacing is less than about 3 mm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 16 , wherein the relative spacing is less about 1 mm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein the tags are positioned stochastically within the region.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein the tags are substantially uniformly distributed within the region.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein the tags are disposed at predetermined positions on the surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein each of the tags includes at least one common feature in addition to the identity data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 22 , wherein the at least one common feature is configured to assist finding and/or recognition of the tags by associated tag reading apparatus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 22 , wherein the at least one common feature is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 22 , wherein the at least one common feature is rotationally symmetric so as to be rotationally invariant.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 22 , wherein the at least one common feature is ring-shaped.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein each of the tags includes at least one orientation feature for enabling a rotational orientation of the tag being read to be ascertained.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 27 , wherein the at least one orientation feature is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 28 , wherein the at least one orientation feature is rotationally asymmetric.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 28 , wherein the at least one orientation feature is skewed along a major axis.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein each of the tags includes at least one perspective feature for enabling a perspective distortion of the tag being read to be ascertained.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 31 , wherein the at least one perspective feature includes at least four sub-features which are not coincident.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein each tag includes a plurality of tag elements, the identity data being defined by a plurality of the elements.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 33 , wherein the tag elements are disposed in at least one arcuate band around a central region of each tag.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 34 , wherein there are a plurality of the arcuate bands disposed concentrically with respect to each other.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 35 , wherein each element takes the form of a dot having a plurality of possible values.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 36 , wherein the number of possible values is two.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 36 , wherein when representing one of the possible values, the tag elements absorb, reflect or fluoresce electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths to a predetermined greater or lesser extent than the surface.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 36 , wherein the possible values of the tag elements are defined by different relative absorption, reflection or fluorescence of electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 36 , wherein the tags are not substantially visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the tags are slightly visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 36 , wherein the tags are visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3 , wherein the tags are printed onto the surface by means of a printer.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 43 , wherein the printer is an ink printer.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 44 , wherein the tags are printed using ink that is absorbent or reflective in the ultraviolet spectrum or the infrared spectrum.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 43 , wherein the printer also prints additional information onto the surface.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 46 , wherein the additional information is printed onto the surface using colored or monochrome inks.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 47 , wherein the additional information is printed onto the surface using one of the following combinations of colored inks: CMY; CMYK; CMYRGB; and spot colour.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the region is defined as the entire surface.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the region identity is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein any 10 millimeter diameter subregion of the region includes sufficient coded data to identify the region.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 51 , wherein any 10 millimeter diameter subregion of the region includes sufficient information to identify at least one point of the region.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
36 words
A region according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or 8 , wherein the coded data is machine readable, and the information represented by the coded data is substantially inscrutable to an unaided human.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-12-14 | 2008-06-14 | 2008-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-12-14 | 2012-06-14 | 2012-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-12-14 | 2016-06-14 | 2016-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |