Abstract: A method is provided for applying a watermark pattern along a length of photosensitive medium, the photosensitive medium having a frame pitch in the length direction that is the sum of an image frame height plus an interframe distance. The method exposes watermark tiles contiguously along the length of the photosensitive medium, wherein each watermark tile has a height dimension that is an integral divisor of the frame pitch.

Abstract: A system for permitting insertion or replacement of electronic cards, the system includes a scanner for scanning hardcopy elements, the scanner including an electronic component for performing at least one processing function on an electronic representation of the hardcopy element; a first processor for directing operations of the scanner and for receiving directions that are passed to other components; a field-installed electronic card that performs additional processing on the electronic representation of the hardcopy element; a second processor electrically connected to the scanner for sending directions to the scanner processor which processor includes field-installed control code for directing the field-installed electronic card.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of correcting for dark current in a solid state image sensor, include capturing an image with the image sensor to produce a digital image having pixel values; correcting the pixel values with a dark level correction value; employing a control system to adjust the dark level correction value to drive the number of pixels having values lower than a predetermined value chosen to represent dark scene content to a predetermined range.

Abstract: An array of active pixel sensor cells is operated to substantially reduce the gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) current component of the dark current. In addition, the array is tested to determine the number of cells in the array that are bad, and discards the array of active pixel sensor cells when the number of bad cells exceeds a predefined limit.

Abstract: An automatic exposure system is arranged to dynamically adjust the exposure time of a pixel array in an imaging system. A selected group of pixels from the pixel array are evaluated using a non-destructive readout procedure to determine the proper exposure time for the pixel array, while the pixel array is exposed to light that is reflected from a scene. Threshold detectors are employed to compare the signals from the selected group of pixels to a peak level that corresponds to a threshold limit for the pixels. The exposure of the pixel array is terminated when at least one pixel from the selected group of pixels exceeds the threshold limit. The threshold limit may be set to a level that is below total saturation for the pixels such that an overexposure margin is provided. Enhanced image contrast is achieved using automatic exposure time adjustment.

Abstract: A method for preventing abduction of a person, the method includes the steps of capturing a first image of a first adult and a first person upon entering a premises; inputting the captured first image in a database; capturing a second image of a second adult and a second person upon exiting the premises; and comparing the first and second images for predetermined characteristics for validating that the first adult associated with the first person in the first image is the same as the second adult associated with the second person in the second image.

Abstract: A method for securely transacting a transaction based on a transaction document having an image contained within the document, the method includes the steps of compressing an image on the document; scrambling the structure of the compressed image according to a permutation; obtaining the inverse permutation; applying the inverse permutation to the scrambled image for obtaining an unscrambled image; and decompressing the unscrambled image.

Abstract: A method for creating one or more ink jet chambers, the method includes the steps of providing a substrate having a thermal element covered with substantially one type of uncured photo-imageable material; providing a first mask spanning the thermal element which creates both masked and unmasked uncured photo-imageable regions; exposing the unmasked photo-imageable region; providing a second mask covering at least a portion of the thermal element; exposing a portion of the remaining unexposed photo-imageable region for forming an output nozzle; curing the exposed portions of the photo-imageable material; and removing all the remaining uncured photo-imageable material for creating the ink jet chamber.

Abstract: A camera includes a charge-coupled device having a substrate or well of a first conductivity type; a buried channel of a second conductivity type; a dielectric disposed on the substrate; six gates disposed on the dielectric that are space oriented sequentially 1 through 6 in which six gates, in a first mode, receives signals in which alternating gates receive substantially complimentary clock cycles, and in a second mode the gates receive signals in which gates 1 and 4 receive complimentary clock cycles and gates 2 and 5 are approximately held at a first constant voltage and gates 3 and 6 are approximately held at a second constant voltage.

Abstract: A charge-coupled device for forming an electronic representation of an image from incident light, the charge-coupled device includes a substrate of a first type; a photosensitive area of a second type disposed in the substrate for receiving the incident light which is converted to a charge packet; a transfer mechanism for activating transfer of the charge packet through the charge-coupled device; an output mechanism for receiving the transferred charge packet; a reset operator for resetting the output mechanism to a charge voltage; and a logical element disposed on the substrate that inputs a gate waveform to the reset operator for activating the resetting operation of the reset operator.

Abstract: A method for reducing dark current within an image sensor includes applying, at a first time period, a first set of voltages to the phases of gate electrodes of vertical shift registers sufficient to accumulate holes of the vertical shift register, beneath each gate electrode and applying, at a second time period, a second voltage to a first set of the gate electrodes while simultaneously applying a more positive voltage to a second set of gate electrodes, the second voltage being of sufficient potential so holes that were accumulated beneath the second set of gate electrodes during the first time are collected and stored beneath the first set of gate electrodes during the second time period.

Abstract: A method for authenticating animation, the method comprises the steps of capturing an image; converting the captured image into a wire mesh data for permitting animation of the image; providing movement data, which directs movement of the wire mesh data, and texture data indicating the covering for the wire mesh; electronically transmitting the wire mesh data, texture data and movement data; encrypting the movement data; and electronically transmitting the encryption the movement data for verifying that the animation is unaltered during transmission from its source.

Abstract: A method is provided for applying a watermark pattern along a length of photosensitive medium, the photosensitive medium having a frame pitch in the length direction that is the sum of an image frame height plus an interframe distance. The method exposes watermark tiles contiguously along the length of the photosensitive medium, wherein each watermark tile has a height dimension that is an integral divisor of the frame pitch.

Abstract: The image capture period of an imaging cell, or the total time that an imaging cell is exposed to light energy, is substantially increased by utilizing a non-volatile memory (NVM), such as an electrically-erasable, programmable, read-only-memory (EEPROM) structure. The NVM structure stores and integrates charges that are proportional to the absorbed photons over a large number of sequential integration periods.

Abstract: The integration period of an imaging cell, or the time that an imaging cell is exposed to light energy, is substantially increased by utilizing a single-poly, electrically-programmable, read-only-memory (EPROM) structure to capture the light energy. Photogenerated electrons are formed in the channel region of the EPROM structure from the light energy. The photogenerated electrons are then accelerated into having ionizing collisions which, in turn, leads to electrons being injected onto the floating gate of the EPROM structure at a rate that is proportionate to the number of photons captured by the channel region.

Abstract: A linear pixel-array processing systems uses a combination of digital and analog signal processing techniques to calibrate the gain and offset of each pixel in the analog domain. A plurality of fixed gain and offset values are applied in the analog domain to adjust the gain and offset of each pixel at high speeds (on the order of 25–50 MHz). By adjusting the gain and offset in the analog domain, the dynamic range of pixel conversion is improved such that the conversion range is fully utilized (over 90%, on the order of 95%–99%). The gain and offset values are determined with an algorithmic calibration routine that corrects for non-ideal effects in the signal path. A single processing channel can be multiplexed to process multiple pixel arrays to provide for a cost effective solution. In higher speed systems, the single processing channel can be extended to multiple processing channels for improved throughput.

Abstract: A black light shield for preventing incident light from being received by light receiving elements, the black shield includes a support structure; a first CrOx layer disposed over the support structure for absorbing the incident light in a substantially reflected transmission path; and a second CrOx layer disposed integral with the support structure for absorbing the incident light in a substantially non-reflected transmission path.

Abstract: A method for embedding a watermark signal that contains message data in a digital image represented as a two-dimensional array of pixel values, includes the steps of: providing a dispersed message image having pixel values representative of the message data; modifying each pixel value of the dispersed message image as a function of the corresponding pixel value in the digital image; and combining the modified dispersed message image with the digital image to produce a watermarked image.

Abstract: A medium for displaying information thereon, the medium includes a substrate; and visible information formed from a plurality of colors displayed on the substrate; wherein at least one of the colors includes at least one visible colorant and at least one invisible colorant which invisible colorant is imperceptible to the human eye and which is not present in a reproduction therefrom for detecting counterfeiting or forgery.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate; a photosensor having, a first photosensing region including a first stack of one or more layers of transparent materials covering the substrate, the first photosensing region having a spectral response having minima and maxima as a function of wavelength of light; a second photosensing region including a second stack of one or more layers of transparent materials covering the substrate, the second photosensing region having a spectral response having maxima and minima; and a third photosensing region including a third stack of one or more layers of transparent materials covering the substrate, the third photosensing region having a spectral response having maxima and minima; and wherein at least one maximum or minimum of the spectral response of the separate regions is matched with a minimum or maximum such that the average spectral response of the photosensor has less variation with wavelength of light than the individual spectral responses of each of the s