Coded image recording device and method

A coded image recording device which, in recording data on a recording medium as an optically readable coded image in which the contents of the data are imaged, interleaves the data, divides the interleaved data into equal amounts of data to produce a plurality of items of block data each having a predetermined amount of data, and arranges a plurality of blocks each having imaged contents of each block data in a given area to thereby record the coded image, comprising:

• first block producing means for producing a plurality of first blocks each containing a first predetermined amount of first block data, the first block data being obtained by dividing the data into equal amounts of data;
• dummy data inserting means for inserting dummy data whose amount is less than the first predetermined amount of data and which is not associated with the data to be recorded into a block, of the plurality of first blocks produced by the first block producing means, in which its block data amount is less than the first predetermined amount of data;
• second block producing means for producing a plurality of second blocks each containing a second predetermined amount of second bock data, the first block data being obtained by dividing each first block data into equal amounts of data;
• block decision means for making a valid/invalid decision for each of the second blocks produced by the second block producing means, a second block whose second block data are all the dummy data being decided as invalid block;
• and
• control means for keeping a second block or blocks for which the valid/invalid decision is invalid from being recorded and imaging the other second blocks for recording.

A coded image recording method which, in recording data on a recording medium as an optically readable coded image in which the contents of the data are imaged, interleaves the data, divides the interleaved data into equal amounts of data to produce a plurality of items of block data each having a predetermined amount of data, and arranges a plurality of blocks each having imaged contents of each block data in a given area to thereby record the coded image, comprising:

• a first step of producing a plurality of first blocks each containing a first predetermined amount of first block data, the first block data being obtained by dividing the data into equal amounts of data;
• a second step of inserting dummy data whose amount is less than the first predetermined amount of data and which is not associated with the data to be recorded into a block, of the plurality of first blocks produced by the first step, in which its block data amount is less than the first predetermined amount of data;
• a third step of producing a plurality of second blocks each containing a second predetermined amount of second block data, the first block data being obtained by dividing each first block data into equal amounts of data;
• a fourth step of making a valid/invalid decision for each of the second blocks produced by the second step, a second block whose second block data are all the dummy data being decided as an invalid block;
• and
• a fifth step of keeping a second block or blocks for which the valid/invalid decision is invalid from being recorded and imaging the other second blocks for recording.