Coded object system and code recognition methods

A method of characterizing a coded object having a first region, the first region having a first subregion having a first color and a second subregion having second color that differs from the first color, wherein the first subregion is movable over a portion of the second subregion, the method comprising:

• when the second subregion has a white color, comparing the first regions luminosity values at a plurality of positions and defining the first subregion's position as the position of the minimum luminosity value within the first region;
• and
• when the second subregion has a black color, comparing the first regions luminosity values at a plurality of positions and defining the first subregion's position as the position of the maximum luminosity value within the first region.

A method of characterizing a coded object having a white region and a black region, the first and second regions being substantially adjacent, an object being partially within the first region and partially within the second region, the object portion within the first region being white, the object portion within the second region being black, the method comprising:

• subtracting luminosity values of the white region from luminosity values of the black region at a plurality of positions;
• and
• defining the object's position as the position of the luminosity value pair that has a minimum difference.

A coded object comprising a plurality of bit objects that each have at least a first region adjacent to a second region, the first region having a different color than the second region, and the relative positions of the first and second region's color for each of the bit object indicating an identity of the coded object.

A computer readable medium containing instructions for characterizing a coded object having a plurality of regions, the computer readable medium comprising:

• computer code for comparing a luminosity value of a first region of the coded object to a luminosity value of a second region of the coded object, wherein the second region's color is known;
• and
• computer code for determining the first region's color based on the comparison of the first and second region's luminosity values.

A computer readable medium containing instructions for characterizing a coded object having a first region, the first region having a first subregion having a first color and a second subregion having second color that differs from the first color, wherein the first subregion is movable over a portion of the second subregion, the computer readable medium comprising:

• computer code for comparing the first regions luminosity values at a plurality of positions and defining the first subregion's position as the position of the minimum luminosity value within the first region when the second subregion has a white color;
• and
• computer code for comparing the first regions luminosity values at a plurality of positions and defining the first subregion's position as the position of the maximum luminosity value within the first region when the second subregion has a black color.

A computer readable medium containing instructions for characterizing a coded object having a white region and a black region, the first and second regions being substantially adjacent, an object being partially within the first region and partially within the second region, the object portion within the first region being white, the object portion within the second region being black, the computer readable medium comprising:

• computer code for subtracting luminosity values of the white region from luminosity values of the black region at a plurality of positions;
• and
• computer code for defining the object's position as the position of the luminosity value pair that has a minimum difference.