Abstract: A card records data as an optically readable code. A non-interference area is provided around the code to inhibit presence of only an interference image having an attribute causing an error during reading of the code. The code reader's CPU provides a code detection area to be used when a restoration section detects a code image from an image pickup area as a frame image stored in memory. This code detection area is determined based on an alignment error between the image pickup element and the code, and a specification of the code. The alignment error may result from the bottom of a slit which specifies a positional relationship between the code and the image pickup element to pick up the code.

Abstract: A code comprises data patterns recorded according to a piece of information and markers arranged at predetermined respective positions relative to the data, patterns and used to determine the position for reading each of the data patterns. The data patterns and the markers are optically readably recorded in different modes. An image memory section stores the optically readable image of the code picked up by an imaging section. An attribute determining section determines the attribute of the image stored in the image memory section on the basis of a unit of a plurality of adjacently arranged pixels selected as a function of the size of the markers and a marker detecting section detects the markers on the basis of the attribute determined by the attribute determining section. A data reading section determines the position for reading the data pattern on the basis of the detected positions of the markers and actually read the data.

Abstract: A dot code contains a plurality of data dots arranged according to the data to be recorded and markers providing data dot read reference points for reading the data dots and showing a predetermined relationship relative to the data dots in terms of a predetermined physical characteristic quantity, the data dots and the markers being arranged to show a predetermined positional relationship according a predetermined format. The parameter setting section determines parameters necessary for the marker detecting section to detect markers from the dot code image stored in the image data storage section. The parameters are determined on the basis of the relationship between the markers and the data dots in terms of the predetermined physical characteristic quantity in such a way that markers are detected firstly without detecting data dots.

Abstract: A reading unit optically reads a code including a plurality of blocks arranged in accordance with a predetermined block layout format by sensing the code to include a plurality of blocks within one image sensing frame. A block detection unit detects the blocks from the code read by the reading unit. An address data acquisition unit acquires address data of the blocks detected by the block detection unit. A block data decoding unit decodes block data from the data patterns of the blocks detected by the block detection unit. An information data reproduction unit reproduces original information data by coupling the block data decoded by the block data decoding unit in accordance with the address data acquired by the address data acquisition unit. An image sensing state discrimination unit discriminates the image sensing state of the code read by the reading unit.

Abstract: A binarizing section generates binarized data from an image signal of a dot code on an information recording medium read by a code reading section. The binarizing section has a reference dot detection section, a dot area measuring section, a threshold value modifying section and a threshold value determining section. The reference dot detection section binarizes the image signal with a predetermined threshold value prior to generating binarized data to detect a reference dot from a binarized code image. The dot area measuring section measures the area of the reference dot detected by the reference dot detection section. The threshold value modifying section modifies the threshold value for binarization in such a manner that the area measured by the dot area measuring section approaches a predetermined target value. The threshold value determining section binarizes the image signal with the threshold value modified by the threshold value modifying section.

Abstract: The address data acquiring section causes the format information storage section to store the format information concerning the allocation of addresses to the blocks of a code to be read out and the plural addresses provisionally determining section restores the address data from each of two or more than two blocks found in a picked up image and detected by the block detecting section. Then, it causes the address determining section to determine the correct address of each of the blocks according to the provisionally determined address data for the two or more than two blocks and the format information stored in the format information storage section. The information data reproducing section rearranges and reproduces the block data restored from the blocks detected by the block detecting section and restored by the block data restoring section according to the address information determined by the address determining section.

Abstract: A dot code recorded on an information recording medium consists of a data code corresponding to the contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, and a pattern code for determining a read reference point for the data code. The pattern code consists of pattern dots arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the data code, and markers arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the pattern dots and used to detect the pattern dots. In an information reproduction system for optically reading and reproducing a dot code from an information recording medium on which such a dot code is recorded, the dot code is imaged by an image input section. A data read reference point determining section then recognizes the pattern code from the picked-up image, and determines a data read reference point for reading the data code. A data reading section reads the data code on the basis of the data read reference point determined by the data read reference point determining section.

Abstract: A dot code recorded on an information recording medium consists of a data code corresponding to the contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, and a pattern code for determining a read reference point for the data code. The pattern code consists of pattern dots arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the data code, and markers arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the pattern dots and used to detect the pattern dots. In an information reproduction system for optically reading and reproducing a dot code from an information recording medium on which such a dot code is recorded, the dot code is imaged by an image input section. A data read reference point determining section then recognizes the pattern code from the picked-up image, and determines a data read reference point for reading the data code. A data reading section reads the data code on the basis of the data read reference point determined by thus data read reference point determining section.

Abstract: A marker detecting section detects markers formed at four corners of a block using binary image data of a two-dimensional code stored in a data memory. A marker's approximate center calculating section calculates the approximate centers of the detected markers. A pattern code detecting means detects a pattern code in accordance with format information of the two-dimensional code stored in a format memory. A marker's real center calculating section calculates the real centers of the markers from the detected pattern code and the format information using the error minimizing method. Based on the calculated real centers of the markers, a data code reading coordinate calculating section calculates reading coordinates for reading data dots of address code and data code areas from the data memory.

Abstract: A binarizing section generates binarized data from an image signal of a dot code on an information recording medium read by a code reading section. The binarizing section has a reference dot detection section, a dot area measuring section, a threshold value modifying section and a threshold value determining section. The reference dot detection section binarizes the image signal with a predetermined threshold value prior to generating binarized data to detect a reference dot from a binarized code image. The dot area measuring section measures the area of the reference dot detected by the reference dot detection section. The threshold value modifying section modifies the threshold value for binarization in such a manner that the area measured by the dot area measuring section approaches a predetermined target value. The threshold value determining section binarizes the image signal with the threshold value modified by the threshold value modifying section.

Abstract: A sensing section reads the dot codes by optically scanning a recording medium on which multimedia information has been recorded in the form of optically readable dot codes. The thus obtained dot codes are processed and restored to the original multimedia information by a scanning conversion section, a data string adjusting section, an error correction section, a reproducing section and a controller. An output unit reproduces each piece of information and outputs them. In this case, on the basis of the dot codes thus read, the scanning conversion section and controller sense information reproduction parameters, such as the dot size. The sensed parameters are then stored in a parameter memory. According to the parameters stored in the parameter memory, the dot codes are then subjected to a reproducing process.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image input section, a color image/monochrome image converting section for performing image area division, a binarization circuit for binarizing a converted monochrome image, a reducing section for reducing a binary image, a boundary extracting section for extracting the boundaries between the areas of constituent elements constituting an input image, e.g., a binary image and a continuous gradation image, and a kind-of-image determining section for determining the kinds of images in partial areas defined by the extracted boundaries. For example, the image processing apparatus further includes a data compressing section.

Abstract: A dot code recorded on an information recording medium consists of a data code corresponding to the contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, and a pattern code for determining a read reference point for the data code. The pattern code consists of pattern dots arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the data code, and markers arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the pattern dots and used to detect the pattern dots. In an information reproduction system for optically reading and reproducing a dot code from an information recording medium on which such a dot code is recorded, the dot code is imaged by an image input section. A data read reference point determining section then recognizes the pattern code from the picked-up image, and determines a data read reference point for reading the data code. A data reading section reads the data code on the basis of the data read reference point determined by the data read reference point determining section.

Abstract: An image region dividing apparatus includes a same-kind image region extraction unit for dividing a digital image into blocks by extracting boundaries, from the background, of regions where same kinds of images are present, from the digital image; horizontal and vertical difference detectors for obtaining the difference values of the luminance levels of adjacent pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions from a discrimination target block; a feature pattern discrimination unit for performing recognition processing on the basis of a correlation between the shapes of a calculated corrected luminance level histogram ys and a calculated gradient vector direction histogram .theta.r; and an image kind determination unit for determining image kinds. The apparatus performs image kind discrimination of each discrimination target block.

Abstract: A marker detecting section detects markers formed at four corners of a block using binary image data of a two-dimensional code stored in a data memory. A marker's approximate center calculating section calculates the approximate centers of the detected markers. A pattern code detecting means detects a pattern code in accordance with format information of the two-dimensional code stored in a format memory. A marker's real center calculating section calculates the real centers of the markers from the detected pattern code and the format information using the error minimizing method. Based on the calculated real centers of the markers, a data code reading coordinate calculating section calculates reading coordinates for reading data dots of address code and data code areas from the data memory.

Abstract: In the data identification device in the data reproduction device, contents of decoded data for respective sub-sets are identified by the dot reader. Based upon the identification result, the printer controller controls the printer and then data is printed out. The printer controller stores, in advance, suitable printing methods depending on identification results of the data identification device. If a certain identification result is inputted, the control information generation device outputs printer control information in accordance with the corresponding printing method,. and the data process device processes and outputs data.

Abstract: An inclination detecting device includes a variable density image memory section for storing at least part of a variable density image obtained as a result of optically scanning a document image, a density varying direction detecting section for detecting density varying directions from the variable density image stored in the variable density image memory, and an inclination detecting section for detecting the inclination of an image constituting element from the distribution of density varying directions detected by the density varying direction detecting.