Abstract: A substrate having a coding pattern disposed thereon or therein. The coding pattern comprises a tiling of contiguous grid cells, each grid cell being demarcated by t target elements and having t-fold rotational symmetry, each grid cell containing nt registration symbols, each registration symbol being encoded by a set of macrodots; and a tiling of contiguous tags, each tag consisting of an array of c grid cells, each tag containing a plurality of data symbols. There are ct possible registrations between a physical layout of the coding pattern and a logical layout of the coding pattern and any contiguous tag-shaped array of c grid cells contains cnt registration symbols. The registration symbols, taken in a defined sequence relative to the physical layout of the tag-shaped array, form a registration codeword of length r. There are v distinct registration codewords, each corresponding to a distinct one of the ct possible registrations.

Abstract: A pen-shaped printing device having a pen-shaped body, a plurality of intersecting ribs longitudinally extending along the body to define internal chambers for printing fluid, and a printhead having ejection nozzles configured to eject the printing fluid from the chambers onto a surface.

Abstract: A sensing device is provided for sensing data encoded on a surface. The device has a region identity sensor and a transmitter. The region identity sensor senses region identity data of the coded data when the sensing device is positioned or moved relative to a region of the surface. The region identity data is indicative of an identity of the region. The transmitter transmits the sensed region identity data to a computer system.

Abstract: A method of using a mobile device to authenticate a print medium online before completing printing onto the print medium, the mobile device including processing means, a printhead, a sensor, a transmitter and a receiver, the print medium comprising a laminar substrate, the method comprising the steps of: using the sensor to sense coded data provided on a surface of the substrate; using the processing means to determine, from the sensed coded data: an identity of the print medium; and at least part of a signature, the signature being a digital signature of at least part of the identity; using the transmitter to send first data to a remote computer system, the first data being indicative of the identity and the at least part of the signature; using the receiver to receive second data from the remote computer system in reply to the first data, the second data being indicative of whether the print medium is authentic based on the identity and the at least part of the signature; and in the event the print medium i

Abstract: A telephone is provided having an input at which a print medium is loaded, a sensor for sensing an identifier of the loaded print medium, and a printer for determining whether or not the loaded print medium is a valid print medium on which printing can be performed. If the loaded print medium is determined to be valid, the printer prints on the loaded print medium. If the loaded print medium is determined to not be valid, the loaded print medium is ejected at the input.

Abstract: A method of sending a message using a business card with data encoded on a surface, and a mobile phone. The data includes an identifier which uniquely identifies the surface and the mobile telephone senses the coded data to determine the identifier. Using the identifier, the phone retrieves a representation of the business card, which has a plurality of fields, one of which being a messaging field. The business card is displayed on the phone such that the messaging field can be user selected, a message generated and transmitted to a communications address retrieved from a database.

Abstract: A substrate having a coding pattern disposed on a surface thereof. The coding pattern encodes a plurality of Reed-Solomon symbols. Each Reed-Solomon symbol has a respective Reed-Solomon symbol value represented by a set of m macrodots. Each of the m macrodots occupies a respective position from a plurality p of predetermined possible positions. The positions of the m macrodots represents one of a plurality of different Reed-Solomon symbol values, wherein each of the different Reed-Solomon symbol values is represented by the same number of macrodots.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications device for printing a webpage and retrieving content via a printed webpage. The device includes a media feed for receiving an encoded print medium; a printer positioned in the media feed path; an optical encoder for reading a linear pattern on the print medium during printing; a processor configured for determining a print media identifier by decoding the read linear pattern; a transceiver for communicating the print media identifier to a computer system; and a sensor module for sensing a two-dimensional pattern on the print medium.

Abstract: An electronic pen comprises a user-replaceable cartridge having a nib, a force sensor for sensing a nib force transmitted axially through the cartridge from the nib and a retraction mechanism for retracting the cartridge. The retraction mechanism comprises a barrel adapted for seating the cartridge in either an extended position or a retracted position, and a first biasing mechanism for biasing the cartridge towards the extended or retracted positions. A second biasing mechanism biases the barrel towards engagement with the force sensor.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which produces a second interactive document. A processor receives indicating data identifying a page identity of a first interactive document and locations on the first interactive document. The processor uses the page identity to identify a network address of a server storing a first page description which describes a relationship between visual elements and positions on the first interactive document. The processor then retrieves from the network address, using the locations on the first interactive document, a second page description which describes a relationship between visual elements and positions on the second interactive document. Finally a print engine is controlled to print visible elements and invisible coded data tags to provide the second interactive document. Each coded data tag encodes a page identity of the second interactive document and location of the coded data tag on the second interactive document.

Abstract: A printing unit includes a support structure having a body portion with a tray positioned at one end of the body portion and a power and data connector positioned at an opposite end of the body portion; a media supply cartridge located between the connector and the tray, the media supply cartridge storing a stack of print media; a feed arrangement including a primary feed roller on an in-feed side of the tray for feeding a sheet of print media from the stack of print media towards the tray, and a secondary feed roller on an out-feed side of the tray for feeding the sheet of print media out of the tray; and a print head assembly mounted on the tray, the print head assembly for printing on the sheet of print media fed by the feed arrangement.

Abstract: An electronic pen for interacting with a substrate having a pattern of coded data printed thereon. The pen includes an infrared light source for illuminating an area of the substrate; an image sensor for imaging the coded data illuminated in the area; a force sensor for sensing an interaction between the pen and the substrate; a processing system configured for: determining digital ink from the imaged coded data; storing the digital ink in a memory buffer; determining whether the pen is positioned within a predetermined functional zone of the substrate; and initiating a response in the pen in the event that the pen is positioned within the predetermined functional zone. The response is initiated without reference to a remote computer system.

Abstract: A printer driver for printing a document at a printer. The printer driver is configured to: (i) receive a visual description for the document from a first memory, the visual description describing a graphic impression for printing; (ii) send print data corresponding to the graphic impression to the printer; and (iii) archive the visual description for a page of the document in a second memory.

Abstract: A digital camera system includes a print medium having a first surface delimiting an area in which images are printed, and a second surface pre-treated to be magnetically sensitive; a photo-width printhead integrated with a digital camera, the photo-width printhead for printing digital images on the first surface of the print medium; and a magnetic recorder for recording information associated with said digital images on the second surface of the print medium at the same time the printhead prints the digital images onto the printing area.

Abstract: A method of dispensing a product is disclosed. The product has associated packaging. The packaging has disposed thereon coded data. The coded data is indicative of an identity of the product. The coded data is sensed by a sensing device and indicating data indicative of the identity of the product is generated based on the sensed coded data. The coded data is arranged in accordance with a layout having n-fold rotational symmetry. The layout including n sub-layouts rotated 1/n revolutions apart about a center of rotation. A processor receives the indicating data from the sensing device and determines at least one criterion for dispensing the product. The processor causes the product to be dispensed when the at least one criterion is satisfied.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a pharmaceutical product, the pharmaceutical product being associated with packaging having disposed thereon or therein coded data including a number of coded data portions, each coded data portion being indicative of an identity of the pharmaceutical product and at least part of a digital signature of at least part of the identity. The method includes, using a sensing device to sense at least one coded data portion. A processor then determines the identity at least one determined signature part, and uses these to authenticate the pharmaceutical product. The coded data is arranged in accordance with at least one layout having n-fold rotational symmetry, where n is at least two. The layout includes n identical sub-layouts rotated 1/n revolutions apart about a centre of rotation.

Abstract: A scanner for scanning items marked with tags is disclosed. The scanner has a laser for producing a beam, a mirror assembly to re-direct the beam, a deflecting arrangement to receive the re-directed beam, the deflecting arrangement including a horizontal deflector, a vertical deflector and a pair of synchronized drivers to drive the deflectors, a steering mirror to steer the deflected beam, a scanning mirror to direct the beam onto the tag to be scanned, and a light collection system to collect light reflected by the tags.

Abstract: A method of classifying a character string formed from a known number of hand-written characters is disclosed. The method starts by determining character probabilities for each hand-written character in the character string. Each character probability represents a likelihood of the respective hand-written character being a respective one of a plurality of predetermined characters. Each predetermined character has a respective character type. Character templates having the known number of characters are next identified. Each character template has a respective predetermined probability and represents a respective combination of character types. Character sequence probabilities corresponding to each of the character templates having the known number of characters are next determined. The character sequence probabilities are a function of the predetermined probability of the respective character template and the character probabilities of the hand-written character in the character string.

Abstract: A sulfonated dye salt of formula (II): wherein M is Ga(A1); A1 is an axial ligand selected from the group consisting of: —OH and halogen; and Z1+, Z2+, Z3+ and Z4+ are independently selected from the group consisting of: H and an ammonium cation including 3 or more hydroxyl groups. At least one of Z1+, Z2+, Z3+ and Z4+ is the ammonium cation. Such salts exhibit reduced kogation in thermal bubble-forming inkjet printheads.

Abstract: A substrate having a position-coding pattern disposed on a surface thereof. The position-coding pattern comprises a plurality of tags, each tag encoding a w-bit subsequence of a cyclic code sequence having a length n and a dimension k. The w-bit subsequence maps to a corresponding coordinate codeword for the tag. Adjacent tags contain successive w-bit subsequences in the cyclic code sequence and n>w>k.