Anti-photocopy Patents (Class 283/902)
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Patent number: 12138948Abstract: A substrate is printed with front side and back side markings. The front side when viewed with reflected light includes: a first marking printed with a first gradient of two colors; a second marking printed with a second gradient of two colors; a first symbol printed with a third gradient of two colors; a second symbol printed with a fourth gradient of two colors; a third symbol printed with a fifth gradient of two colors; and a fourth symbol printed with a sixth gradient of two colors. The back side when viewed with reflected light includes: a third marking printed with the fourth gradient; a fourth marking printed with the third gradient; a fifth symbol printed with the second gradient; a sixth symbol printed with the first gradient; a seventh symbol printed with the sixth gradient; and an eighth symbol printed with the fifth gradient.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2023Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, represented by the Secretary of Homeland SecurityInventors: Joel Zlotnick, Jordan Brough, Troy Eberhardt, Tyra McConnell, Elizabeth Gil, Traci Moran
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Patent number: 12043055Abstract: A retroreflective element, for example a retroreflector or a retroreflective film, includes a regular arrangement of multiple reflective triples, each having three side surfaces that form an angle between 88° and 92°, preferably between 89° 50? and 90° 10? relative to one another, and particularly preferably stand perpendicularly on one another. At least one selected triple in the arrangement has a security element having at least one diffractive structure on at least one first side surface. A modulation depth of the security element is selected in such a manner that the security element cannot be perceived when the retroreflective element is illuminated at an illumination angle <10°.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2021Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Inventor: Hans-Erich Gubela, Jr.
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Patent number: 11850878Abstract: A substrate is printed with front side and back side markings. The front side when viewed with reflected light includes: a first marking printed with a first gradient of two colors; a second marking printed with a second gradient of two colors; a first symbol printed with a third gradient of two colors; a second symbol printed with a fourth gradient of two colors; a third symbol printed with a fifth gradient of two colors; and a fourth symbol printed with a sixth gradient of two colors. The back side when viewed with reflected light includes: a third marking printed with the fourth gradient; a fourth marking printed with the third gradient; a fifth symbol printed with the second gradient; a sixth symbol printed with the first gradient; a seventh symbol printed with the sixth gradient; and an eighth symbol printed with the fifth gradient.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, represented by the Secretary of Homeland SecurityInventors: Joel Zlotnick, Jordan Brough, Troy Eberhardt, Tyra McConnell, Elizabeth Gil, Traci Moran
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Patent number: 11314996Abstract: Methods and systems, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are used for generating an identification document comprising an image of an individual, personal information associated with the individual, and line patterns that include multiple distinct square-wave lines. The square-wave lines enable credential data about a person assigned to the identification document to be securely stored at the identification document. A first portion of distinct square-wave lines are used to encode a first item of credential data and to determine whether the image of the individual corresponds to the first item of credential data. A second portion of distinct square-wave lines are used to encode a second item of credential data and to determine whether the personal information corresponds to the second item of credential data.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Idemia Identity & Security USA LLCInventors: Rein-Lien Hsu, Brian K. Martin, Yecheng Wu
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Patent number: 11032441Abstract: A marking color of a marking material (e.g., ink, toner, etc.) within a printer has a marking spectral reflectance property. Print media that has a media color approximately matching the marking color, but a different media spectral reflectance property, is identified (to form a geometric metameric pair). Differently colored calibration patches of the marking material are printed on a test sheet of the print media. A calibration patch, in which the printed color of the marking material most closely visually matches the media color, is used to identify a revised marking color. A watermark is printed on the print media using the revised marking color. The difference between the marking spectral reflectance property and the media spectral reflectance property causes the watermark to be visibly observable on the print media from one angle but prevents the watermark from being visibly observable from a different angle.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Edward N. Chapman
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Patent number: 10948657Abstract: A bichromatic grating coupler comprises a two-dimensional diffraction grating structure, including a first sub-grating having a first periodic structure and a second sub-grating having a second periodic structure. The first and second sub-gratings are superimposed with respect to each other in the diffraction grating structure. A first optical port is coupled to the diffraction grating structure along a first direction, and a second optical port is coupled to the diffraction grating structure along a second direction. The first optical port is configured to direct a first light beam having a first wavelength to the diffraction grating structure, such that the first light beam is diffracted in a first direction by the first sub-grating. The second optical port is configured to direct a second light beam having a second wavelength to the diffraction grating structure, such that the second light beam is diffracted in a second direction by the second sub-grating.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Matthew Wade Puckett, Chad Hoyt, Chad Fertig
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Patent number: 10812675Abstract: To generate a security mark, a system prints first and second patterns on a first document using non-infrared absorbing colors. A print engine will receive the substrate and create a copy of the security mark onto a second document. When printing the second document the print engine may use ink of an infrared-absorbing color, such as black, to print a hidden security element of the security mark. When an infrared camera captures a digital image of the second document and the captured image is displayed, the captured image will reveal the hidden security element.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Edward N. Chapman
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Patent number: 9823608Abstract: A label forming method includes while transporting a base sheet having a print surface by a first transportation mechanism, forming a first pattern on the print surface and forming a marker at a prescribed position on the print surface; transporting the base sheet to a second transportation mechanism, the base sheet being transported by the first transportation mechanism and with the first pattern and the marker formed thereon; detecting a position of the marker on the base sheet; determining a position of the first pattern based on the prescribed position on the print surface and the detected marker position; deriving a position to form a second pattern according to the determined position of the first pattern; and while transporting the base sheet by the second transportation mechanism, forming a second pattern at the derived position.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.Inventor: Masaru Sato
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Patent number: 9367775Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes analyzing a meta-data structure corresponding to each tile of a sheetside image to detect a blank state of the sheetside image, detecting a sensing display item in a data stream and scanning the sheetside image in response to detecting the sensing display item.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Alexandru-Virgil Panek, John Thomas Varga
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Patent number: 8964231Abstract: The present invention relates to a device having a first determining unit configured to determine whether version information included in a two-dimensional code included in an input image is version information that is supported by the device and a second determining unit configured to determine to prohibit printing of the input image when the included version information is determined to be version information that is not supported by the device or to determine whether to permit or prohibit printing of the input image based on information other than the version information included in the two-dimensional code when the included version information is determined to be version information that is supported by the device. With this arrangement, it is possible to execute processing in accordance with version information included in a two-dimensional code.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naoya Kakutani
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Patent number: 8913299Abstract: An analogical mark printed on a document that includes a distribution of dots defined by a digital file, having, as a result of unanticipated unknowns in printing, an unpredictable variation, dot by dot, of at least one geometric characteristic of the printed dots where dots of the distribution of dots have, in the digital file, at least one geometric characteristic that digitally varies among dots, the geometric amplitude of the digital variation having the order of magnitude of said unpredictable variation and being less than an average dimension of the dots of the distribution of dots.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2013Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Advanced Track and TraceInventors: Justin Picard, Jean-Pierre Massicot, Alain Foucou, Zbigniew Sagan
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Patent number: 8876167Abstract: This invention relates to an anti-counterfeit printed matter, including securities such as banknotes, stock certificates, and bonds, various kinds of certificates, and important documents, which requires anti-counterfeit or anti-copy. [Solving Means] A visible image is formed by a first object group arrayed in a first direction at a predetermined pitch and a second object group arranged in the non-imaging area of the first object group. The second object group forms the negative and positive images of a first invisible image by arbitrarily arranging two kinds of objects in pairs in the on/off relationship. Addition, in the anti-counterfeit printed matter, the first object group includes object portions that are formed in at least two height levels from the surface of the printed matter so as to have a predetermined difference in height, thereby forming a second invisible image.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2009Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: National Printing Bureau, Incorporated Administrative AgencyInventors: Masato Kiuchi, Toshihiro Kimura, Yoshinobu Matsumoto, Kenichiro Yoneyama
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Patent number: 8760708Abstract: The present invention relates to a device having a first determining unit configured to determine whether version information included in a two-dimensional code included in an input image is version information that is supported by the device and a second determining unit configured to determine to prohibit printing of the input image when the included version information is determined to be version information that is not supported by the device or to determine whether to permit or prohibit printing of the input image based on information other than the version information included in the two-dimensional code when the included version information is determined to be version information that is supported by the device. With this arrangement, it is possible to execute processing in accordance with version information included in a two-dimensional code.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naoya Kakutani
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Patent number: 8681384Abstract: For image processing for printing an original, first and second ground patterns are generated. The first ground pattern can be recognized with naked eyes in the original but cannot be recognized with naked eyes in a reproduction of the original obtained by an image forming apparatus, while the second ground pattern has a latent image which cannot be recognized in the original but can be recognized in the reproduction of the original. The first ground pattern and the second ground pattern are synthesized, and print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus is created. The print data has an image of the original, and the synthesized first and second ground patterns.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2004Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Takahiro Fujii
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Patent number: 8593696Abstract: The document securization method includes: a step of printing a distribution of dots on the document, the printing, as a result of unanticipated unknowns in printing, causing an unpredictable variation, dot by dot, of at least one geometric characteristic of the printed dots and prior to the print step, a step of generating the distribution of dots so that dots of the distribution have at least one geometric characteristic that varies among dots, the geometric amplitude of the generated variation having the order of magnitude of the unpredictable variation. Preferably during the generation step, in the dot distribution: at least half the dots of the distribution are not laterally juxtaposed to four other dots of the dot distribution, and at least one dimension of at least one part of the dots of the dot distribution is of the same order of magnitude as the average for the absolute value of the unpredictable variation.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2008Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Advanced Track and TraceInventors: Justin Picard, Jean-Pierre Massicot, Alain Foucou, Zbigniew Sagan
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Patent number: 8587832Abstract: A dual color matching feedback control method, system and processor-readable medium for hiding an infrared marking in a wide range of customer selectable colors. The approach includes an inline spectrophotometer sensor to measure at least two color mixtures and a matching color feedback control unit adjusts the two mixtures to match each other in color appearance. A customized color can be selected from a smaller gamut of darker color by a customer and a sufficient difference in a black toner (k toner) between the two color mixtures can be maintained to provide sufficient contrast for the infrared detection. An initial match can be provided by incorporating a color model that is similar to a predicted color mixture. The two colors can then be rendered and adjusted for better match prior to rendering the hidden mark.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Martin Edward Hoover
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Patent number: 8526063Abstract: An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus includes a pattern detection unit to detect whether an input image includes a specific pattern as a portion of the image, a conversion unit to convert the specific pattern into data in a predetermined format, an encryption unit to encrypt the data in the predetermined format and to generate an encryption pattern from the encrypted data, and an output unit to output an image that is similar to the input image except for the portion of the image, which includes the encryption pattern rather than the specific pattern in the output image.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hae-Kee Lee, Ho-Keun Lee
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Patent number: 8526028Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for avoiding redundant printing are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An application executing in a data processing system receives a request to print a document. A determination is made whether a valid shared print of the document is available, the valid shared print being a hard-copy of the document that is currently within a validity period and is available for sharing among multiple entities. The shared valid print is requested from a current owner of the shared valid print. If the request is successful, possession of the shared valid print is changed in a prints repository from the current owner to a new owner and a new printing of the document according to the request to print the document is suspended.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Remo Freddi, Antonio Mangiacotti
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Patent number: 8508792Abstract: In prior art, there are some occasions where functions of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern are impaired when printed on a sheet after rotation because of the level difference appearing between the density level of a latent image portion and the density level of a background portion of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern. To cope with the problem, the image processing apparatus which has a generating unit for generating copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data and a rotation unit for rotating the generated copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data, wherein the generating unit generates the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data to be rotated by the rotation unit in accordance with a rotation angle in the rotation unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2008Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Junya Arakawa
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Patent number: 8498022Abstract: A process for securing a document including a step of printing a distribution of dots on said document, said printing, as a result of unanticipated unknowns in printing, causing an unpredictable variation, dot by dot, of at least one geometric characteristic of the printed dots and prior to said print step, a step generating said distribution of dots so that at least half the dots of said distribution are not laterally juxtaposed to four other dots of said dot distribution, and at least one dimension of at least one part of the dots of said distribution of dots is of the same order of magnitude as the average for the absolute value of said unpredictable variation. In embodiments, during the step generating the dot distribution, more than half the dots do not touch any other dot of said distribution.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2012Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Advanced Track and TraceInventors: Jean-Pierre Massicot, Alain Foucou, Zbigniew Sagan
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Patent number: 8444181Abstract: A verifiable/copy-protected document features a combination of nearly identical line-screen patterns for embedding latent images within visually integrated settings. The latent images can be detected for purposes of verification with a matching viewer but are indistinguishable from their visually integrated settings under ordinary viewing conditions. The line-screen patterns, which can be incorporated into document artwork, are printed at certain combinations of line frequencies and print densities so that the line-screen patterns digitally reproduce as a largely undifferentiated solid tint.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2007Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Document Security Systems, Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Wicker, David M. Wicker, Michael Scott Caton
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Patent number: 8363284Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an identifying unit configured to identify a printing capability of an apparatus that is a transmission destination of first image data, and a converting unit configured to convert the first image data, which has been instructed to be printed with a transparent recording material, into second image data that can be printed by the transmission destination apparatus, on the basis of the identification result of the identifying unit and information attached to the first image data.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2008Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshitake Mizuno
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Patent number: 8355179Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a printed multi-tonal document with enhanced copy evident distortions security features and a method of printing such document. The document may include a multi-tonal background screen image area including a first set of halftone elements and a multi-tonal foreground hidden warning text and/or graphic screen image area including a second set of halftone elements, wherein the first set of halftone elements may be smaller in size than the second set of halftone elements. The multi-tonal foreground hidden warning text and/or graphic image area, when electronically copied, may appear different from the background of the copy of the document.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Inventor: Judy Wailing Wu
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Patent number: 8355180Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a methodology, apparatus and product, of combining a void pantograph security feature with a faux watermark feature creating a resilient void pantograph digitally manipulated in an electronic format and printed through any digital platform from high resolution output devices such as but not limited to film/plate image setters used in standard offset printing, high speed commercial digital ink or toner based presses and printers, and low resolution output devices such as all ink/toner based desktop printers, multifunction printers, in which the amalgamation of the two features authenticate the other feature to produce a document security feature which is self authenticable. Such electronic format can conveniently be issued on-demand onto plain paper using any digital output device driven by an executable software, print driver and/or printer firmware application.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Inventors: Judy Wailing Wu, Robert Andrew McTaggart
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Patent number: 8289579Abstract: A variable guilloche includes at least two guilloche curves, printed in a common space and having at least one point of overlap. The at least two curves are plotted from equations having variables corresponding to a specified data string of steganographic information.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2007Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Steven J. Simske, Henry Sang, Philippe Mucher
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Patent number: 8248661Abstract: A method for creating a differential gloss image includes providing first and second anisotropic halftone structures. The first and second anisotropic structures have different orientations. One of the first and second anisotropic structures is applied to image data in a first region of an image to be halftoned. The other of the first and second anisotropic structures may be applied to image data in a second region of an image to be halftoned. A mixture of the first and second anisotropic structures is applied to image data in a third region of the image to be halftoned, whereby when printed, the three regions each have a gloss characteristic which differs from that of the other two regions.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2007Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Shen-Ge Wang, Reiner Eschbach, William A. Fuss
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Patent number: 8203728Abstract: A print device includes a print data acquisition unit that acquires print data having a plurality of signature attachment areas defined thereon, each signature attachment area having electronic signature data produced therefor and attached thereto, a range data acquisition unit that acquires data indicative of a range of a print target area defined on the print data, and a verification unit that verifies, before completion of acquisition of the print data by the print data acquisition unit, the electronic signature data attached to the signature attachment area containing at least a part of the print target area.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2007Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takashi Komatsu
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Patent number: 8155376Abstract: The image processor includes: an acquisition unit acquiring a read-out image read out by an image reading apparatus; a detection unit detecting, from the read-out image, an embedded image including a first specified image having a first shape and a second specified image having a second shape; an adding unit adding attribute information to a specified region in the embedded image, in accordance with an appearance ratio of the first specified image in the specified region, and adding attribute information to other region surrounding the specified region, in accordance with an appearance ratio of the first specified image in the other region; and a determination unit determining whether or not the specified region is to be subjected to a predetermined processing using the first specified image based on whether or not the attribute information added to the specified region corresponds to the attribute information added to the other region.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Mitsugu Kamio
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Patent number: 8130951Abstract: A network device includes a content processing module that is configured to perform intelligent document content processing, such as confidential information processing, content optimization and workflow optimization. The network device authenticates a user and determines electronic document data that is to be processed. The electronic document data may be created at the network device, e.g., by a scanning module on the network device, or at a client device, e.g., by a word processing application executing on the client device. The content processing module retrieves particular user preference data based upon the user authentication. The particular user preference data may specify confidential information preferences, content optimization preferences and/or workflow preferences. The content processing module performs intelligent document content processing on the electronic document data based upon the particular user preference data and generates processed electronic document data.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2007Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Lifen Tian
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Patent number: 8064102Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for generating an infrared mark indicator comprised of security information in a printed image. Image data is rendered to a CMYK image. A black plane of the CMYK image is separated and transformed to a frequency domain wherein the frequency components are alternated to encode the watermarking message. The CMY values are selected based on the encoded black value in order to maintain a same color appearance image for the printed image under a normal visual light illuminant. The image data is printed on the substrate in accordance with the transformed planes wherein upon the resultant printed image being exposed to infrared illuminant, a print pattern is detectable as an infrared mark when scanned with an infrared sensing device.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Yonghui Zhao, Zhigang Fan, Martin E. Hoover, Danield A. Robbins
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Patent number: 8064100Abstract: A system is employed to reveal a watermark in a document. A watermark generator is utilized to select the placement and at least one colorant combination of an image and at least one colorant combination for a watermark on a document, where the at least one colorant combination of the image and the watermark form a metameric pair. A printing system receives data from the watermark generator and places the image and the watermark on the document. A decoder comprising a narrow band illumination element is selected or tuned to a wavelength corresponding to the colorant combinations utilized by the printing system to reveal the watermark placed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Karen M. Braun, Raja Bala, Robert P. Loce
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Patent number: 8055180Abstract: A primary test printing process of a plurality of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern images generated by changing one or both of print densities of the latent-image and background-image parts in a first pattern on the basis of a predetermined parameter is performed. The user selects one copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image which has the latent-image and background-image parts with approximate print densities from the plurality of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern images generated by the primary test printing process. A secondary test printing process of a plurality of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern images generated by changing one or both of print densities of the latent-image and background-image parts in a second pattern on the basis of the parameter used to determine the print densities of the latent-image and background-image parts of the selected copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is performed.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2009Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomochika Murakami
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Patent number: 8049933Abstract: A combination of a latent-image pattern which forms a latent-image part and a background pattern that forms a background-image part is determined so that the latent-image part and background-image part have equal print densities. The determined latent-image pattern and background pattern, color information used to determine a color of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, input image information as an image to be processed, copy-forgery-inhibited pattern basic information used to designate the latent-image part and background-image part, and camouflage region designation image information used to designate a camouflage region are input. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated on the basis of the input information.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2004Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomochika Murakami
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Patent number: 8009893Abstract: The present invention relates generally to security documents (e.g., banknotes, ID documents, certificates, packaging, etc.). One claim recites a security document including a security pattern provided thereon. The security pattern includes a line structure in which lines width or line spacing is adjusted to convey a predefined, machine-readable pattern in a frequency transform domain. Another claim recites a security document including a security pattern provided thereon. The security pattern is provided in the security document through modifications to a color provided on the security document. The security pattern conveys a predefined, machine-readable pattern in a frequency transform domain. Of course, additional combinations and claims are provided as well.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2009Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Tony F. Rodriguez
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Patent number: 7984926Abstract: The present invention relates to a security document and/or document of value comprising: at least one information vector; and at least one masking element in the form of a strip having at least one semi-reflecting region covering the information vector at least in part, the masking element being of a width that is less than the width of the document.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Arjowiggins SecurityInventors: Stephane Mallol, Ivan Thierry
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Patent number: 7982917Abstract: A document comprising a latent security image that is visible when the document is reproduced after being scanned by a standard commercial bank scanner. The security image comprises a plurality of lines, dots, or spots having a frequency and a density such that the image is reproduced after being scanned by the standard commercial bank scanner. A method of making a reproducible document comprising a security device comprises generating the document by creating an original containing the security device, scanning the original to a digital computer using a conventional scanner, and converting the scanned original to a digital image file which is printable via a digital press, a color copier, etc. A document comprises a security image that is not visible under ordinary light, and is visible when the document is exposed to a predetermined type of light. The security image is printed with an ink visible under one of UV light, infrared light, X-rays, of Gamma rays.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2007Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Document Security Systems, Inc.Inventor: Thomas M. Wicker
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Patent number: 7979019Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of restricting copying using, as a master copy, a copy of a produced work such as a book. An MFP is provided with a printing permission/prohibition judging section and an output paper sheet selection section. The printing permission/prohibition judging section judges whether or not restriction information for restricting image formation is contained in either (i) an information tag provided in a document, or (ii) image data acquired by an image scanning section. The output paper sheet selection section selects a regulatory-information-containing recording paper sheet (i.e.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2006Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroki Yoshino
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Patent number: 7976068Abstract: A compound security feature is formed by printing latent images together with visually integrated settings using an invisible ink. Even if illuminated by a wavelength capable of rendering the inks visible, the latent images remain visually indistinguishable from their visually integrated settings. However, the latent images and visually integrated settings differ in one or more less obvious ways so that the latent images can be distinguished by using a visual aid.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Document Security Systems, Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Wicker, David M. Wicker, Michael Scott Caton
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Patent number: 7920817Abstract: An information processing apparatus generates printing image data of a printing image and copy-forgery-inhibited-pattern-image data of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to be added to the printing image. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image includes a latent image and a background image. The apparatus includes a selecting unit and a printing-data generating unit. The selecting unit selects either the transparent-printing designation or overlay-printing designation, the transparent-printing designation is used for generating printing data so that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is superimposed on the printing image, and the overlay-printing designation is used for generating printing data so that the printing image is superimposed on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. The printing-data generating unit generates printing data based on the printing designation selected by the selecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Oomura, Yasuhiro Kujirai, Yoshihiro Takagi, Tatsuro Uchida, Masanori Aritomi
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Patent number: 7916343Abstract: There is disclosed a method of encoding a latent image. The method comprises providing a latent image to be encoded, the latent image having a plurality of latent image elements, each latent image element having a visual characteristic which takes one of a predetermined set of values, providing a secondary pattern having a plurality of secondary image elements, the secondary pattern being capable of decoding the latent image once the latent image has been encoded, relating the latent image elements to the secondary image elements, and forming a primary pattern comprising a plurality of primary image elements which correspond to the secondary image elements displaced in accordance with the value of the visual characteristic of the latent image elements to which said secondary image elements are related.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2004Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationInventors: Lawrence David McCarthy, Gerhard Frederick Swiegers
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Patent number: 7894103Abstract: A variable data pantograph is formed by receiving a variable data string and retrieving at least one character representation from a vocabulary of character representations stored in memory. The retrieved at least one character representation corresponds to the variable data string. Each of the character representations in the vocabulary include a foreground region including a character shape and a background region suitably sized and arranged for encompassing the foreground region. The background region incorporates a first pattern of elements and the foreground region incorporates a second pattern of elements. The retrieved at least one character representation is assembled to form a variable data pantograph, whereby when the variable data pantograph is rendered in an original document, the foreground and background regions are similar in tone, the foreground and background regions being substantially less similar in tone in a copy of the original document to render the character visible.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2008Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Shen-Ge Wang, Reiner Eschbach, Peter Stanley Fisher
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Patent number: 7847958Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reading section for reading an image of a book, to which an information tag is added, so as to acquire image data. Based on information stored in the information tag, the image forming apparatus controls an image forming section. The image forming apparatus further includes a tag addition determining section, an added information determining section, and a control section. The tag addition determining section determines whether or not the information tag is added to the book, and the added information determining section determines whether or not the image data contains added information indicating that the information tag is added to the book. Further, the control section controls the image forming section not to carry out image forming, both when the added information determining section determines that the added information is contained and the tag addition determining section determines that the information tag is not added to the book.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2006Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoya Ishikura
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Patent number: 7742735Abstract: An information processing apparatus generates printing image data of a printing image and copy-forgery-inhibited-pattern-image data of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to be added to the printing image. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image includes a latent image and a background image. The apparatus includes a selecting unit and a printing-data generating unit. The selecting unit selects either the transparent-printing designation or overlay-printing designation, the transparent-printing designation is used for generating printing data so that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is superimposed on the printing image, and the overlay-printing designation is used for generating printing data so that the printing image is superimposed on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. The printing-data generating unit generates printing data based on the printing designation selected by the selecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Oomura, Yasuhiro Kujirai, Yoshihiro Takagi, Tatsuro Uchida, Masanori Aritomi
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Patent number: 7703809Abstract: The printed product comprises a carrier of a main image applied thereon transmitted by an ordered screen having a specified angle and lineature and at least one additional latent image which is hidden from visualization and transmitted by a deformed-structure screen. Said latent image can be visualized when it is applied to the printed product of a test pattern embodied in the form of a transparent substrate which is provided with a linear screen applied thereto and which angle and lineature are identical to specified angle and lineature. Depending on the type of the screen deformation the latent image is displayable with preserved tints or in the form of contour lines. The method for producing of the printed product consists in introducing distortions in the ordered screen by shifting the centers of the screen grid structure or by inserting modified elements into the ordered screen said elements being embodied in the form of transition between the types of said ordered screen elements.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2004Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Milimarex LimitedInventor: Alexei Vadimovich Zaitsevsky
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Patent number: 7654580Abstract: A self-authenticating article comprising a substrate having an image receiving surface and a lenticular lens is provided. The lenticular lens has a predetermined lens frequency and is configured for optically decoding encoded indicia viewed therethrough. The lens is attached to the substrate so that the lens can be selectively positioned to overlie the image receiving surface to decode encoded indicia printed thereon. The self-authenticating article further comprises an encoded image on the image receiving surface, the encoded image comprising at least one of the set consisting of printed indicia and indicia formed as variations in surface geometry of the image receiving surface. The surface geometry variations may comprise raised and non-raised areas surface areas that combine to define at least a portion of the indicia.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Graphic Security Systems CorporationInventors: Alfred V. Alasia, Alfred J. Alasia, Thomas C. Alasia
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Patent number: 7604855Abstract: An image is disclosed comprised of flakes in a carrier, such as an ink vehicle or a paint that can be aligned in a magnetic field. The flakes are aligned so as to produce one or more kinematic features such as a rolling bar that appears to move as the image is tilted. These images can provide security features on high-value documents, such as bank notes.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: JDS Uniphase CorporationInventors: Vladimir P. Raksha, Paul G. Coombs, Charles T. Markantes, Jay M. Holman, Neil Teitelbaum
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Patent number: 7517578Abstract: Apparatus and related methods align magnetic flakes in a carrier, such as an ink vehicle or a paint vehicle to create optically variable images in a high-speed, linear printing operation. Images can provide security features on high-value documents, such as bank notes. Magnetic flakes in the ink are aligned using magnets in a linear printing operation. Selected orientation of the magnetic pigment flakes can achieve a variety of illusive optical effects that are useful for decorative or security applications.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: JDS Uniphase CorporationInventors: Vladimir P. Raksha, Paul G. Coombs, Charles T. Markantes, Dishuan Chu, Jay M. Holman, Alberto Argoitia
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Patent number: 7492920Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a method for applying a special mark, that is invisible to the naked eye, on a medium. That is, the example embodiments provide a method for generating and applying on a medium a digital spatial mark of X×Y dots in accordance with a resolution of d1x by d1y dots per surface unit, provided that the ratio d1x/d2x and or d1y/d2y is more than 1. The method further includes over-sampling the digital spatial mark in X based on a factor nx=d1x/d2x and in Y based on a factor ny=d1y/d2y; eroding the dots to be applied so as to leave one dot every nx dots in X and one dot every nx dots in Y; and applying the spatial mark on the support.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2003Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Alpvision SAInventors: Frederic Jordan, Martin Kutter
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Patent number: 7489797Abstract: A method of fragile watermarking is characterized by the step of generating at least a first ill-conditioned operator, said ill-conditioned operator being related to values extracted from an image or portion thereof A.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventor: Ebroul Izquierdo
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Patent number: 7467873Abstract: The present invention pertains to privacy film that can be used with documents. The privacy film has a light transmissive, polymeric base sheet that has opposing first and second surfaces. A plurality of light directing elements protrudes from the first surface of the base sheet. The base sheet can be constructed of a first polymeric material. The light directing elements can be constructed of a second polymeric material. The first and second polymeric material may be the same material. The light directing elements are substantially constant in its cross-section dimension and disposed substantially parallel to each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2005Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Graham M. Clarke, Paul D. Graham, Brent R. Hansen, Travis B. Hoium, David F. Slama