Abstract: In an image display device adapted to display an image to viewers, the CPU detects the operating state of given application software and causes the display control unit to control whether to permit the first display unit to display the image or not in accordance with the detected operating state of the application software.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus comprise a light control member configured to perform changing the path of light from light emitters to be directed to an illuminated area and/or moving of the light emitters, a movement unit configured to allow the light control member to operate, and a light selector control unit configured to control the movement unit and/or a lighting unit, which is configured to cause the light emitters to emit light so that the intensities of light emitted by them can be adjusted, so as to select light to be directed to the illuminated area from light of the emitters. The light selector control unit controls the lighting unit to cause an emitter to emit light when it is positioned in the vicinity of a light concentration area of an optical system by the operation of the light control member.

Abstract: A long time optical recording and repeated reproduction of multimedia information is possible. Using a printer system or printing process system, on a recording medium such as a sheet, the so-caled multimedia information in the form of dot codes (36) together with images (32) and characters (34) is recorded. The multimedia information includes audio information such as voices, image information obtainable from a camera and others, and digitally coded data obtainable from a personal computer and other. A pen-like information reproducing device (40) is manually moved to scan the dot codes (36) and to take in the dot codes. The original sound is generated by a voice output device (42) such as an earphone, the original image information is outputted on a display such as a CRT, and the digitally coded original data to a page printer or the like.

Abstract: A code image quality checker us provided which reduces the time required to check the quality of a code image having dots printed at high density. The code image quality checker includes a code image reader that captures the code image, performs binarization, detects the dots of the code image, and allocates a value of either 1 or 0 for each dot to provide dot arrangement data. In addition, the code image quality checker includes a parameter information output unit for outputting parameter information used to control adaptively the operation of each component of the code image reader in accordance with the quality of the code image.

Abstract: An information recording (transmission) medium (30) has code pattern printed and recorded thereon, containing processing information necessary to subject data to edit processing in accordance with a reproduction process for reproducing, to original multimedia information, a dot pattern which is read out from the information recording medium. A multimedia paper (MMP) reproduction apparatus (28) as the information reproducing apparatus performs data processing based on the processing information.

Abstract: Input information including a button is input from a storage section or a communication section according to an operation of an input section. The input information is stored as information to be printed in RAM. A CPU detects the button from the information to be printed. Information corresponding to the detected button is coded, thereby generating a coded image. The coded image is arranged near the detected button in the information to be printed, and then output for printing to a printing medium through a printing engine.

Abstract: A long time optical recording and repeated reproduction of multimedia information is possible. Using a printer system or printing process system, on a recording medium such as a sheet, the so-caled multimedia information in the form of dot codes (36) together with images (32) and characters (34) is recorded. The multimedia information includes audio information such as voices, image information obtainable from a camera and others, and digitally coded data obtainable from a personal computer and other. A pen-like information reproducing device (40) is manually moved to scan the dot codes (36) and to take in the dot codes. The original sound is generated by a voice output device (42) such as an earphone, the original image information is outputted on a display such as a CRT, and the digitally coded original data to a page printer or the like.

Abstract: A code image recorder controls the quantity of heat for printing the part of a pattern to be printed to a high definition level so as to reduce the area of each of the dots of the printed pattern, while printing many identical dots in an overlapping fashion to solidly print the remaining part of the pattern within a short period of time by use of a single pulse of an energization signal. In order to achieve this objective, the number of columns of a code image data area is doubled and an all “0” column data is inserted into every other column of the code image data to double the level of resolution only in the column direction. Thereafter, the portion of the code image data to be solidly printed is transformed in such a way that it is filled with “1s”.

Abstract: A second set of information that is detailed information is printed as an optically readable coded image near a visually readable first set of information that is basic information. As the coded image is read by an access device, the second set of information is restored and output in a perceptible form. The coded image is made to additionally contain output control information for outputting information necessary for inputting instructions for causing the access device to operate for accessing an external information resource providing site, obtaining a third set of information that is updating information and outputting the third set of information in a perceivable format, when the second set of information restored by the access device is output. The person who wants to acquire information can acquire the third set of information on an on line basis by utilizing the information necessary for inputting instructions for the operation.

Abstract: An information recording medium (30) has a recorded system control file (SCF) (96) representing processing parameters necessary for reproduction processing for reading out a print-recorded code pattern and reproducing original multimedia information. With an SCF readout switch (88) operated, an initially determined SCF read-out parameter is input from a parameter memory (92) to a controller (66). The controller (66) controls each part in accordance with the input parameter and outputs read-out image data as a 1-SDU1 to an overlying layer and a state signal, that is, a signal showing that the SCF is being read out, as a 1-SDU2 to the overlying layer. The overlying layer decodes the contents of the SCF (96) and a parameter setting signal is input as the 1-SDU3 from the overlying layer and it is stored in the layer 1 parameter memory (92). At a time of reading out an actual dot code (10) corresponding to the operation of a scanning start switch (86) the parameter memory (92) utilizes its stored contents.

Abstract: A long time optical recording and repeated reproduction of multimedia information is possible. Using a printer system or printing process system, on a recording medium such as a sheet, the so-called multimedia information in the form of dot codes (36) together with images (32) and characters (34) is recorded. The multimedia information includes audio information such as voices, image information obtainable from a camera and others, and digitally coded data obtainable from a personal computer and other. A pen-like information reproducing device (40) is manually moved to scan the dot codes (36) and to take in the dot codes. The original sound is generated by a voice output device (42) such as an earphone, the original image information is outputted on a display such as a CRT, and the digitally coded original data to a page printer or the like.

Abstract: A coded data output apparatus comprises an image data input or generation section, a resolution parameter specifying section, a resolution parameter modifying section and an image data output section. The image data input or generation section inputs or generates data for a dot code image to be printed. The resolution parameter specifying section specifies parameter data relating to the resolution of the image data input or generated by the image data input or generation section. The resolution parameter modifying section modifies the parameter data relating to the resolution specified by the resolution parameter specifying section according to the characteristic specific to the applied plate making apparatus. The image data output section outputs the input or generated image data according to the parameter data relating to the resolution and modified by the resolution parameter modifying section.

Abstract: A coded data output apparatus comprises an image data input or generation section, a resolution parameter specifying section, a resolution parameter modifying section and an image data output section. The image data input or generation section inputs or generates data for a dot code image to be printed. The resolution parameter specifying section specifies parameter data relating to the resolution of the image data input or generated by the image data input or generation section. The resolution parameter modifying section modifies the parameter data relating to the resolution specified by the resolution parameter specifying section according to the characteristic specific to the applied plate making apparatus. The image data output section outputs the input or generated image data according to the parameter data relating to the resolution and modified by the resolution parameter modifying section.

Abstract: An information recording transmitting medium (30) has a code pattern printed and recorded thereon, containing processing information necessary to subject data to edit processing in accordance with a reproduction process for reproducing, to original multimedia information, a dot pattern which is read out from the information recording medium. A multimedia paper MMP reproduction apparatus (28) as the information reproducing apparatus performs data processing based on the processing information.

Abstract: A code pattern of an information recording medium contains processing information necessary for editing data according to a restoration processing procedure for restoring multimedia information. The restoration processing procedure has a hierarchical structure of layers 1 to 5. The layer 5 has a file management function. The layer 4 has a function of collecting subset elements to create a subset and converting the same to create a data transfer unit or sector which the layer 5 deals with. The layer 3 or lower layer has a function of reading the code pattern from the information recording medium, subjecting the code pattern to a preset restoration process and outputting the subset elements.

Abstract: In a system for printing and recording multimedia information on an information recording medium in the form of an optically readable code pattern, reading the code pattern and restoring the original multimedia information, the code pattern of the information recording medium includes processing information necessary for editing and processing data according to the restoration processing procedure for restoring the multimedia information. Further, the restoration processing procedure includes a hierarchical structure of layers 1 to 5 and an application process. In the layer 5 and application process, a set specification identifier determining section selects the decoding section, selects the reproducing output section and sets parameters according to the set specification name identifier and SDCH supplied as header information prior to user data of the subset from the layer 4.

Abstract: A CPU converts multimedia information, which has been input from a multimedia information input unit, to an optically readable dot code, and prints the dot code on an information recording medium by means of a recording head. In this case, a control unit moves the recording head in a first direction of the information recording medium, and moves the information recording medium and recording head relative to each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. When the dot code, which is spatially independent, is to be recorded on the information recording medium, the CPU controls the control unit such that the dot code is recorded only by a single one-way scan operation of the recording head unit in the first direction, without moving the information recording medium and the recording head unit relative to each other in the second direction.

Abstract: A dot code consists of a group of plurality of blocks arranged in a matrix manner, and each block has markers, an array direction detecting code, a block address, and block recorded data. A dot code in which two rows and (N/2) columns of N blocks having block addresses 1 to N are arranged and which has an effective code width CEW is doubly provided, i.e., two such dot codes are recorded parallel on an information recording medium. A recording code width CRW in this case is twice the effective code width CEW.

Abstract: A code pattern of an information recording medium contains processing information necessary for editing data according to a restoration processing procedure for restoring multimedia information. The restoration processing procedure has a hierarchical structure of layers 1 to 5. The layer 5 has a file management function. The layer 4 has a function of collecting subset elements to create a subset and converting the same to create a data transfer unit or sector which the layer 5 deals with. The layer 3 or lower layer has a function of reading the code pattern from the information recording medium, subjecting the code pattern to a preset restoration process and outputting the subset elements.

Abstract: A code pattern of an information recording medium contains processing information necessary for editing data according to a restoration processing procedure for restoring multimedia information. The restoration processing procedure has a hierarchical structure of layers 1 to 5. The layer 5 has a file management function. The layer 4 has a function of collecting subset elements to create a subset and converting the same to create a data transfer unit or sector which the layer 5 deals with. The layer 3 or lower layer has a function of reading the code pattern from the information recording medium, subjecting the code pattern to a preset restoration process and outputting the subset elements.