Two-dimensional code generation device, two-dimensional code generation method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium

1. A two-dimensional code generation device, comprising:

a white point determiner to determine a white point in an environment to output a two-dimensional code;

a threshold acquirer to acquire a threshold of lightness used by a reading device for reading multiple cells in binary, the threshold being represented in a device-independent color space that is based on the white point determined by the white point determiner, and the threshold varying depending on lightness that corresponds to a white color determined by the white point;

a two-dimensional code generator to generate the two-dimensional code expressing information by a distribution pattern of multiple cell dots formed by coloring the multiple cells in a color of lightness equal to or higher than the threshold acquired by the threshold acquirer and in a color of lightness lower than the threshold,

a logo image acquirer to acquire a logo image; and

a lightness acquirer to, when the logo image acquired by the logo image acquirer is represented in a device-dependent color space, convert the acquired logo image into a logo image represented in the device-independent color space and acquiring lightness of each part within the logo image represented in the device-independent color space,

wherein the two-dimensional code generator generates as the two-dimensional code a logo-included two-dimensional code on which the logo image is superimposed by

superimposing cell dots colored in a color of lightness lower than the threshold on parts of the logo image that are superimposed on cells that are to be colored in a color of lightness lower than the threshold among the multiple cells and of which the lightness acquired by the lightness acquirer is equal to or higher than the threshold, and

superimposing cell dots colored in a color of lightness equal to or higher than the threshold on parts of the logo image that are superimposed on cells that are to be colored in a color of lightness equal to or higher than the threshold among the multiple cells and of which the lightness acquired by the lightness acquirer is lower than the threshold.

2. The two-dimensional code generation device according to claim 1 , wherein

the two-dimensional code generator generates the logo-included two-dimensional code by

superimposing, on parts of the logo image that are superimposed on cells that are to be colored in a color of lightness lower than the threshold among the multiple cells and of which the lightness acquired by the lightness acquirer is equal to or higher than the threshold, the cell dots smaller than the cells and colored in a color of lightness lower than the threshold, and

superimposing, on parts of the logo image that are superimposed on cells that are to be colored in a color of lightness equal to or higher than the threshold among the multiple cells and of which the lightness acquired by the lightness acquirer is lower than the threshold, the cell dots smaller than the cells and colored in a color of lightness equal to or higher than the threshold.

3. The two-dimensional code generation device according to claim 2 , wherein

the two-dimensional code generator generates the logo-included two-dimensional code by

superimposing the cell dots smaller than the cells and colored in a color of lightness lower than the threshold at positions of centers of the cells, and

superimposing the cell dots smaller than the cells and colored in a color of lightness equal to or higher than the threshold at positions of centers of the cells.

4. The two-dimensional code generation device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a two-dimensional code converter to convert the two-dimensional code generated by the two-dimensional code generator to a two-dimensional code represented in a color space of the environment to output the two-dimensional code.

5. The two-dimensional code generation device according to claim 4 , wherein

the two-dimensional code converter converts the two-dimensional code generated by the two-dimensional code generator to a two-dimensional code represented in a color space for printing output when the two-dimensional code is output by printing, and

the two-dimensional code generation device further comprises a halftone dot data generator to generate halftone dot data expressing colors at positions within the two-dimensional code converted by the two-dimensional code converter by a size of halftone dots.

6. The two-dimensional code generation device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the two-dimensional code generator generates the logo-included two-dimensional code on which the logo image is superimposed by superimposing, on parts of the logo image that are superimposed on cells that are to be colored in a color of lightness lower than the threshold among the multiple cells and of which the lightness acquired by the lightness acquirer is equal to or higher than the threshold, cell dots smaller than the cells and colored in a color of lightness lower than the threshold at positions of centers of the cells;

the two-dimensional code converter converts the logo-included two-dimensional code generated by the two-dimensional code generator into a logo-included two-dimensional code represented in a color space for printing output when the logo-included two-dimensional code is output by printing, and

the halftone dot data generator generates the halftone dot data so that any halftone dot is positioned at a center of each cell that is to be colored in a color of lightness lower than the threshold among the multiple cells within the logo-included two-dimensional code converted by the two-dimensional code converter.

7. A two-dimensional code generation method, comprising:

a white point determination step of determining a white point in an environment to output a two-dimensional code;

a threshold acquisition step of acquiring a threshold of lightness used by a reading device for reading multiple cells in binary, the threshold being represented in a device-independent color space that is based on the white point determined by the white point determination step, and the threshold varying depending on lightness that corresponds to a white color determined by the white point;

a two-dimensional code generation step of generating the two-dimensional code expressing information by a distribution pattern of multiple cell dots formed by coloring the multiple cells in a color of lightness equal to or higher than the threshold acquired by the threshold acquisition step and in a color of lightness lower than the threshold,

a logo image acquisition step of acquiring a logo image; and

a lightness acquisition step of, when the logo image acquired by the logo image acquisition step is represented in a device-dependent color space, converting the acquired logo image into a logo image represented in the device-independent color space and acquiring lightness of each part within the logo image represented in the device-independent color space,

wherein, in the two-dimensional code generation step, as the two-dimensional code a logo-included two-dimensional code is generated on which the logo image is superimposed by

superimposing cell dots colored in a color of lightness lower than the threshold on parts of the logo image that are superimposed on cells that are to be colored in a color of lightness lower than the threshold among the multiple cells and of which the lightness acquired by the lightness acquisition step is equal to or higher than the threshold, and

superimposing cell dots colored in a color of lightness equal to or higher than the threshold on parts of the logo image that are superimposed on cells that are to be colored in a color of lightness equal to or higher than the threshold among the multiple cells and of which the lightness acquired by the lightness acquisition step is lower than the threshold.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program making a computer execute:

a white point determination procedure to determine a white point in an environment to output a two-dimensional code;

a threshold acquisition procedure to acquire a threshold of lightness used by a reading device for reading multiple cells in binary, the threshold being represented in a device-independent color space that is based on the white point determined by the white point determination procedure, and the threshold varying depending on lightness that corresponds to a white color determined by the white point;

a two-dimensional code generation procedure to generate the two-dimensional code expressing information by a distribution pattern of multiple cell dots formed by coloring the multiple cells in a color of lightness equal to or higher than the threshold acquired by the threshold acquisition procedure and in a color of lightness lower than the threshold,

a logo image acquisition procedure to acquire a logo image; and

a lightness acquisition procedure to, when the logo image acquired by the logo image acquisition procedure is represented in a device-dependent color space, convert the acquired logo image into a logo image represented in the device-independent color space and acquiring lightness of each part within the logo image represented in the device-independent color space,

wherein, in the two-dimensional code generation procedure, as the two-dimensional code a logo-included two-dimensional code is generated on which the logo image is superimposed by

superimposing cell dots colored in a color of lightness lower than the threshold on parts of the logo image that are superimposed on cells that are to be colored in a color of lightness lower than the threshold among the multiple cells and of which the lightness acquired by the lightness acquisition procedure is equal to or higher than the threshold, and

superimposing cell dots colored in a color of lightness equal to or higher than the threshold on parts of the logo image that are superimposed on cells that are to be colored in a color of lightness equal to or higher than the threshold among the multiple cells and of which the lightness acquired by the lightness acquisition procedure is lower than the threshold.