Data Recording Medium and Game Device

Abstract

A data recording medium for use in a game device comprises a first printed layer in which a first code pattern, which is detected by a first code pattern detecting unit of the game device, is printed and a second printed layer in which a second code pattern, which is detected by a second code pattern detecting unit of the game device, is printed. The second printed layer is overlaid on the first printed layer. Data based on a combination of the first and second code patterns is recorded in the first and second printed layers so that the data is recognizable to the game device as data intrinsic to the data recording medium. The game device detects the first and second code patterns by the first and second code pattern detecting units to make progress of a game according to the data.

1 . A data recording medium for use in a game device, comprising:
 a first printed layer in which a first code pattern, which is detected by a first code pattern detecting unit of the game device, is printed; and   a second printed layer in which a second code pattern, which is detected by a second code pattern detecting unit of the game device, is printed;   wherein the first and second printed layers are formed so that the second printed layer is overlaid on the first printed layer,   wherein data based on a combination of the first and second code patterns is recorded in the first and second printed layers so that the data is recognizable to the game device as data intrinsic to the data recording medium, and the game device detects the first and second code patterns by the first and second code pattern detecting units to make progress of a game according to the data.   
   
   
       2 . The data recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the first code pattern and the second code pattern are printed so that each content of the first code pattern and the second code pattern is respectively detectable to a code pattern reading unit using a corresponding one of light beams having different wavelengths. 
   
   
       3 . The data recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the data intrinsic to the data recording medium is an ID information identifying the data recording medium which is used for the game device to make progress of the game. 
   
   
       4 . The data recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the data recording medium is a card, and the first and second code patterns are printed on a side face part of the card so that the second code pattern is overlaid on the first code pattern. 
   
   
       5 . The data recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the data recording medium is a card, and the first and second code patterns are printed on a side face part of the card so that the second code pattern is overlaid on the first code pattern,
 wherein the data recording medium further comprises a third printed layer which is printed with an visible ink and overlaid on the first and second code patterns.   
   
   
       6 . The data recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the data recording medium is a game piece which is used for performing the game, and the game device is provided with a play field in which the game piece is placed,
 wherein the first and second code patterns are printed and overlaid on a surface of the game piece which faces the play field.   
   
   
       7 . The data recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the first printed layer and the second printed layer which are printed and overlaid are made into a group of printed layers, and a plurality of said groups of printed layers are provided at a plurality of locations of the data recording medium. 
   
   
       8 . The data recording medium according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more third printed layers in which a code pattern is printed so that the one or more third printed layers are overlaid on the first printed layer and the second printed layer, and code pattern detecting methods for the one or more third printed layers are different from each other. 
   
   
       9 . The data recording medium according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second code patterns is generated based on conversion processing of the other code pattern. 
   
   
       10 . A game device comprising:
 a first code pattern detecting unit detecting a first code pattern from among a plurality of code patterns recorded in a detection area of a data recording medium;   a second code pattern detecting unit detecting a second code pattern containing information different from information contained in the first code pattern among the plurality of code patterns recorded in the data recording medium, a printed layer in which the second code pattern is printed being overlaid on a printed layer in which the first code pattern is printed in the detection area of the data recording medium;   a memory unit in which a combination of the first and second code patterns is stored as being data intrinsic to the data recording medium, and game data corresponding to the combination of the first and second code patterns is stored; and   a control unit adapted to detect a combination of the first and second code patterns based on detection signals from the first and second code pattern detecting units, adapted to compare the detected combination of the first and second code patterns with the code pattern combination stored in the memory unit, adapted to read, when a match occurs, game data corresponding to the detected combination from the memory unit, and adapted to execute a game program based on the read game data to makes progress of the game.   
   
   
       11 . The game device according to  claim 10 , wherein the first code pattern is printed with an ultraviolet-light emission ink on a detection surface of the data recording medium and the second code pattern is printed with an infrared-light absorption ink by overlaying the second code pattern on the first code pattern,
 wherein the first code pattern detecting unit is provided to emit ultraviolet light to the detection surface of the data recording medium, and the second code pattern detecting unit is provided to emit infrared light to the detection surface, so that an image of the detection surface of the data recording medium is captured to detect a corresponding one of the first and second code patterns respectively.