Abstract: A product provided with a coding pattern which comprises a plurality of marks, each of which represents one of at least two different values, and which further comprises a plurality of nominal positions, each of said plurality of marks being associated with a nominal position and the value of each mark being determined by its location relative to its nominal position. The invention also comprises use of the product.

Abstract: A method of providing a position code on a surface, which position code codes a plurality of positions on the surface. A cyclic number series is used, which has the characteristic that the position in the number series of each number sequence of a first predetermined length is determined unambiguously. The number series is printed out a plurality of times across the surface, different rotations of the first cyclic number series being used so that displacements arise between adjacent number series. The surface is divided into a plurality of code windows, which comprise at least three number series and have one number series overlapping one number series of adjacent code windows. The position of the code windows in the x-direction is coded by means of the displacements between the cyclic number series belonging to the code window. A second number series is used for coding in the y-direction.

Abstract: In a method for position coding, positions are coded in a first dimension on a surface in accordance with a primary number sequence that has the property that the place in the primary number sequence of each partial sequence of a first predetermined length is unambiguously determined. Each position in the first dimension is coded by one of the partial sequences. The primary number sequence is built up of at least two secondary number sequences that have a smaller base than the base of the primary number sequence and that are used for determination of the partial sequences of the primary number sequence which correspond to the positions in the first dimension. This makes possible, among other things, realization of the method in devices with limited memory capacity, as the secondary number sequences require less memory in total than the primary number sequence. The secondary number sequences can also be used for decoding the position code.

Abstract: A product provided with a coding pattern which comprises a plurality of marks, each of which represents one of at least two different values, and which further comprises a plurality of nominal positions, each of said plurality of marks being associated with a nominal position and the value of each mark being determined by its location relative to its nominal position. The invention also comprises use of the product.

Abstract: In a method for position decoding, a position is calculated on the basis of information determined from a partial area, imaged by a sensor, of a position-coding pattern. If the position calculation fails, the information from the partial area recorded by the sensor is matched with information about how the position-coding pattern is designed in a plurality of matching partial areas, which each define a position in the position-coding pattern. The position of the positions defined by the matching partial areas, which according to the matching step is the most probable position in the position-coding pattern for the imaged partial area is accepted as the decoded position.

Abstract: In a method for position coding, positions are coded in a first dimension on a surface in accordance with a primary number sequence that has the property that the place in the primary number sequence of each partial sequence of a first predetermined length is unambiguously determined. Each position in the first dimension is coded by one of the partial sequences. The primary number sequence is built up of at least two secondary number sequences that have a smaller base than the base of the primary number sequence and that are used for determination of the partial sequences of the primary number sequence which correspond to the positions in the first dimension. This makes possible, among other things, realization of the method in devices with limited memory capacity, as the secondary number sequences require less memory in total than the primary number sequence. The secondary number sequences can also be used for decoding the position code.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining a virtual raster of a code pattern consisting of a plurality of marks with associated coordinates mn. Each mark is located at a nominal position but displaced from the nominal position in one of a plurality of directions, depending upon the value of the mark. The nominal positions form raster points gn of the virtual raster, and the raster points are situated on raster lines, which intersect at a first angle. In addition there is a device for determining an initial vector V1,2 on the basis of the coordinates m1, m2 of one or more marks, which initial vector extends approximately between a first and a second adjacent raster point g1, g2. A calculation device determines a second vector V2,3, which forms said angle with the first vector and is the same length as the first vector and extends from the second raster point g2 approximately to a third raster point g3. The mark coordinate m3 which is associated with the third raster point g3 is determined.

Abstract: A method is provided for decoding data stored in a partial area of a coding pattern on a surface, based on a recorded image of the partial area. The coding pattern contains elements which each have at least two possible decoding values. The method identifies in the image a plurality of elements. The method further calculates, for each identified element, an associated value probability for each possible decoding value that the element has this decoding value. Additionally, the method performs the decoding of data based on the decoding values and the corresponding value probabilities. A device and a memory medium storing a computer program with instructions for performing such a data decoding technique are also provided.

Abstract: A system and a corresponding method for determining a spatial relationship between a surface having a predetermined pattern and an apparatus are disclosed. A portion of the surface may be imaged and compared with the predetermined pattern. The comparison produces at least one reference measurement that may be used to determine a spatial relationship expressed in at least parameters that define an orientation of the surface. By using knowledge of the predetermined pattern together with an algebraic model of the image formation by the apparatus, a numerical adaptation can be performed. Parameters obtained from the adaptation can then be used to calculate the spatial relationship between the apparatus and the surface in terms of, for example, a distance between the apparatus and the surface or an angle between the surface and an axis extending through the apparatus.