Identification of QR Code Perspective Distortion Based on Edge Directions and Edge Projections Analysis

J Imaging. 2020 Jul 10;6(7):67. doi: 10.3390/jimaging6070067.

Abstract

QR (quick response) Codes are one of the most popular types of two-dimensional (2D) matrix codes currently used in a wide variety of fields. Two-dimensional matrix codes, compared to 1D bar codes, can encode significantly more data in the same area. We have compared algorithms capable of localizing multiple QR Codes in an image using typical finder patterns, which are present in three corners of a QR Code. Finally, we present a novel approach to identify perspective distortion by analyzing the direction of horizontal and vertical edges and by maximizing the standard deviation of horizontal and vertical projections of these edges. This algorithm is computationally efficient, works well for low-resolution images, and is also suited to real-time processing.

Keywords: QR Code recognition; Quick Response Code localization; adaptive thresholding; edge projections; finder pattern; perspective distortion.