Matching bar code colors to painted pixel filters
View Patent ↗A bar code includes a plurality of bar code elements arranged in an information-conveying arrangement. Each bar code element has a color selected from one of a group of colors in a painted pixel filter associated with a camera that will be used to read the bar code.
1. A bar code comprising:
a plurality of bar code elements arranged in an information-conveying arrangement;
each bar code element having a color selected from one of a group of colors in a painted pixel filter associated with a camera that will be used to read the bar code; and
at least one of the plurality of bar code elements having N colors, each of the colors being in one of F fractional intensity levels.
2. The bar code of claim 1 wherein:
the painted pixel filter includes a Bayer filter pattern.
3. The bar code of claim 1 wherein:
the colors of the painted pixel filter are selected from a group consisting of RGB colors, RGBE colors, and CYM colors.
4. The bar code of claim 1 wherein
the bar code elements are printed with fluorescent ink.
5. The bar code of claim 1 wherein:
a first set of bar code elements of the plurality of bar code elements is intermixed with a second set of bar code elements of the plurality of bar code elements;
the first set of bar code elements is printed in a first color of the group of colors; and
the second set of bar code elements is printed in a second color of the group of colors.
6. The bar code of claim 5 wherein:
the first set of bar code elements is readable as a complete bar code; and
the second set of bar code elements is readable as a complete bar code.
7. The bar code of claim 1 further comprising:
a finder pattern.
8. The bar code of claim 1 further comprising:
a locator pattern.
9. The bar code of claim 1 wherein the F fractional intensity levels are substantially evenly spaced between 0 and M.
10. The bar code of claim 1 wherein:
one bar code element has one of a total of F N color combinations, each color combination comprising N colors, each of the colors being in one of F fractional intensity levels; and
wherein (F−1) N color combinations of the total F N color combinations are not used.
11. The bar code of claim 1 wherein:
one bar code element has one of a total of F N color combinations, each color combination comprising N colors, each of the colors being in one of F fractional intensity levels; and
the bar code includes an intensity standard whereby the fractional intensity levels can be distinguished; and
wherein 1 color combination of the total F N color combinations are not used.
12. A method for creating bar codes comprising:
arranging bar code elements in an information-conveying arrangement;
each bar code element having a color selected from one of a group of colors in a painted pixel filter associated with a camera that will be used to read the bar code, wherein at least one of the plurality of bar code elements having N colors, each of the colors being in one of F fractional intensity levels.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the painted pixel filter includes a Bayer filter pattern.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the colors of the painted pixel filter are selected from a group consisting of RGB colors, RGBE colors, and CYM colors.
15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
printing the bar code elements with fluorescent ink.
16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
intermixing a first set of bar code elements of the plurality of bar code elements with a second set of bar code elements of the plurality of bar code elements;
printing the first set of bar code elements in a first color of the group of colors; and
printing the second set of bar code elements in a second color of the group of colors.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein:
the first set of bar code elements is readable as a complete bar code; and
the second set of bar code elements is readable as a complete bar code.
18. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
including a finder pattern.
19. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
including a locator pattern.
20. The method of claim 12 wherein
the F fractional intensity levels are substantially evenly spaced between 0 and M.
21. The method of claim 12 wherein:
one bar code element has one of a total of F N color combinations, each color combination comprising N colors, each of the colors being in one of F fractional intensity levels; and
wherein (F−1) N color combinations of the total F N color combinations are not used.
22. The method of claim 12 wherein:
one bar code element has one of a total of F N color combinations, each color combination comprising N colors, each of the colors being in one of F fractional intensity levels; and
the bar code includes an intensity standard whereby the fractional intensity levels can be distinguished; and
wherein 1 color combination of the total F N color combinations are not used.
23. A bar code reading system, comprising:
a camera system having a plurality of groups of sensors;
each group of sensors being sensitive to light in one of a plurality of colors in a painted pixel filter,
the camera system to produce a sensor group signal for each of the plurality of groups of sensors;
a processing system coupled to the camera system to receive the sensor group signals;
the processing system to detect bar code elements in each of the sensor group signals that are independent of the bar code elements in the other sensor group signals; and
at least one of the plurality of bar code elements having N colors, each of the colors being in one of F fractional intensity levels.
24. The bar code reading system of claim 23 wherein:
the painted pixel filter includes a Bayer filter pattern.
25. The bar code reading system of claim 23 wherein:
the colors of the painted pixel filter are selected from a group consisting of RGB colors, RGBE colors, and CYM colors.
26. The bar code reading system of claim 23 further comprising:
the processing system to detect a separate bar code in the bar code elements detected in one of the sensor group signals.
27. The bar code reading system of claim 23 further comprising:
the processing system to detect a finder code in the sensor group signals.
28. The bar code reading system of claim 23 further comprising:
the processing system to detect a locator code in the sensor group signals.
29. The bar code reading system of claim 23 further comprising:
a light source to cause a bar code printed using fluorescent ink to radiate in the plurality of colors in the painted pixel filter.
30. The bar code reading system of claim 23 further comprising:
a light source tunable to cause a bar code to radiate in a subset of the plurality of colors in the painted pixel filter.
31. The bar code reading system of claim 23 wherein
the F fractional intensity levels are substantially evenly spaced between 0 and M.
32. The bar code reading system of claim 23 wherein:
one bar code element has one of a total of F N color combinations, each color combination comprising N colors, each of the colors being in one of F fractional intensity levels; and
wherein (F−1) N color combinations of the total F N color combinations are not used.
33. The bar code reading system of claim 23 wherein:
one bar code element has one of a total of F N color combinations, each color combination comprising N colors, each of the colors being in one of F fractional intensity levels; and
the bar code includes an intensity standard whereby the fractional intensity levels can be distinguished; and
wherein 1 color combination of the total F N color combinations are not used.