Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080204811 | Detection of differential gloss images - An apparatus and method are provided for processing a digital image to determine whether the image includes a region of differential gloss (which would yield a differential gloss when that digital image is printed into hardcopy). The method includes identifying whether an input digital image has a periodic characteristic which is indicative of a cluster screen halftoned digital image and, if so, determining a correlation between first and second filters and halftone structures of the identified digital image. The second filter has a different polarization from the first filter. The first and second filters are selected to enable a region of differential gloss in the identified digital image to be identified, based on the determined correlations. Where such a region or regions are detected, a representation of the differential gloss image may be displayed and/or another action automatically initiated, such as restricting printing of the image. | 08-28-2008 |
20080239344 | COLOR PRINTER CHARACTERIZATION OR CALIBRATION TO CORRECT FOR SPATIAL NON-UNIFORMITY - Methods and systems are presented for calibrating or characterizing a color printer or determining the color response of a color printer to combat spatial non-uniformity, in which color patches are printed on a test page according to an input matrix of input color in a printer-dependent-color space and the test page is measured to provide a corresponding output matrix of output color in a printer-independent-color space. Initial forward and inverse color transforms between the input and the output colors are generated based on the input and the output matrices. The output values are mapped to the input color space based on the initial inverse transform to form a feedback matrix, and spatial non-uniformities present in the printed test page are estimated according to noise values derived from the input matrix and the feedback matrix. The input matrix is modified according to the estimated spatial non-uniformity to form a modified input matrix of input color, and final forward and inverse transforms are generated for the color printer according to the modified input matrix and the output matrix. | 10-02-2008 |
20080278735 | Registration method using sensed image marks and digital realignment - A method of registering a print between print stages in a printing system is provided. The method comprises: printing a first part of a digital image on a substrate with a first print engine, wherein the first part of the digital image includes a plurality of reference features; scanning image content on the substrate as it is readied for the second print engine; determining the actual positions of the reference features; using the actual positions of the reference features to determine desired adjustments for the second part of the digital image; applying electronic registration according to the desired adjustments to modify image content of the second print to be aligned with content already on the substrate; and printing a second part of the digital image on the substrate. | 11-13-2008 |
20080297851 | METHODOLOGY FOR SUBSTRATE FLUORESCENT NON-OVERLAPPING DOT DESIGN PATTERNS FOR EMBEDDING INFORMATION IN PRINTED DOCUMENTS - The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image, and methodology for same, that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light, and yet decipherable under UV light. This fluorescent mark comprises a substrate containing optical brightening agents, and a first dot design printed as an image upon the substrate. The first dot design has as a characteristic, the property of strongly suppressing substrate fluorescence. A second dot design having a property of providing a differing level of substrate fluorescence suppression from that of the first dot design such that when rendered in close spatial proximity with the first dot design image print, the resultant image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an ultra-violet light source, will yield a discernable image evident as a fluorescent mark. | 12-04-2008 |
20080299333 | SUBSTRATE FLUORESCENT NON-OVERLAPPING DOT PATTERNS FOR EMBEDDING INFORMATION IN PRINTED DOCUMENTS - The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light, and yet decipherable under UV light. This fluorescent mark comprises a substrate containing optical brightening agents, and a first dot design printed as an image upon the substrate. The first dot design has as a characteristic the property of strongly suppressing substrate fluorescence. A second dot design having a property of providing a differing level of substrate fluorescence suppression from that of the first dot design such that when rendered in close spatial proximity with the first dot design image print, the resultant image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an ultra-violet light source, will yield a discernable image evident as a fluorescent mark. | 12-04-2008 |
20090027730 | Halftone independent correction of spatial non-uniformities - A method and apparatus are provided for compensating for spatial non-uniformities in a printer by deriving a true spatial non-uniformity tone response curve (TRC) that characterizes the printer in terms of color output variation for each addressable pixel location in a spatial range. In a one-time offline process, the “true average” tone response curve is determined for a color channel and stored. The “true average” tone response curve defines an average true response for the printer across the printed output spatial range. A prediction of the true response as a function of the spatial location is derived by printing and scanning a specially designed halftone-independent target of binary patterns. The predicted tone response curve for each color channel and halftone is predicted using a binary printer model and stored, wherein the “predicted tone response curve” provides a model based approximation of the actual response for the printer for each addressable pixel location in the spatial range. Also stored is an “average predicted tone response” by averaging the “predicted tone response curve” over the spatial range of the printer. With the “true average” tone response curve, the “predicted tone response curve”, and the “average predicted tone response curve”, an estimate of the true tone response curve for the color channel can then be mathematically obtained, wherein the true tone response curve defines a predicted actual response for the printer for each addressable print location in the spatial range. The “predicted” and “average” tone response curves are obtained using the 2×2 binary printer model. | 01-29-2009 |
20090060258 | System and Method for the Generation of Multiple Angle Correlation-Based Digital Watermarks - Disclosed are systems and methods directed to the generation of digitally watermarked grayscale images having a watermark embedded at different arbitrary Rotation Angles. A single public key can be used to retrieve the otherwise invisible watermarks from the watermarked images when overlaid atop the images at Orientation Angles corresponding to the Rotation Angles. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060261 | System and method for the generation of correlation-based digital watermarks - Disclosed are systems and methods directed to digital watermarks, and more particularly, the generation of invisible correlation-based digital watermarks embedded in halftone images. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060262 | System and method for the generation of multi-layer correlation-based digital watermarks - Disclosed are systems and methods directed to the generation of multi-layer digital watermarks, including the generation of distinct watermarks on each of at least two color layers or channels within an image such that each may be retrieved or viewed independently of the other in the output image. | 03-05-2009 |
20090091795 | MOIRE-FREE COLOR HALFTONE CONFIGURATION - Disclosed herein is a Moiré-free color halftone configuration for clustered dots. Unlike conventional methods, the disclosed method produces periodic hexagon rosettes of identical shapes. These exemplary hexagon rosettes have three fundamental spatial frequencies exactly equal to half of the fundamental frequency of the three halftone screens. The resultant halftone outputs are truly Moiré free, as all the fundamentals and harmonic frequencies are multiples of and thus higher in frequency than the rosette fundamental frequency. The halftone outputs resulting from the employment of the exemplary rosette design methodology provided herein, are also robust to the typical misregistration among color separations commonly found in color systems. | 04-09-2009 |
20090122349 | FLUORESCENCE-BASED CORRELATION MARK FOR ENHANCED SECURITY IN PRINTED DOCUMENTS - A fluorescence-based correlation mark is included in a printed document by encoding the correlation mark as phase shifts in the yellow halftone image only of a printed color document. The correlation mark transparency key is likewise printed using only yellow colorant or can be printed in black or with another colorant or mixture of colorants that will appear dark or black when subjected to UV illumination. UV illumination of the document without use of the transparency key, and use of the transparency key without UV illumination of the document are insufficient to reveal the fluorescence-based correlation mark. UV illumination of the document while the transparency key is overlaid with the document will allow the correlation mark to be perceived. | 05-14-2009 |
20090207433 | VARIABLE DATA DIGITAL PANTOGRAPHS - 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. | 08-20-2009 |
20090213430 | System and Method for the Generation of Correlation-Based Digital Watermarks Using Uniform-Rosette Color Halftoning - Systems and method for digitally reproducing a moiré-free color halftone output image having an embedded correlation-based digital watermark are provided using an enhanced halftone screen set consisting of a halftone screen for each of N colorants forming N color separations (where N≧3). The N different uniform rosette halftone screen configurations are generated such that each meets uniform rosette halftone screen conditions. A corresponding three-dimensional threshold array is generated for each halftone screen configuration having a phase shift value as an input. The color input image is halftoned, halftoning each one of the N different color separations using a corresponding halftone screen configuration and three-dimensional threshold array to form a moiré-free color output image having the correlation-based digital watermark embedded therein. A single key can be used to produce a full color image of the output image having the watermark image visible therein. | 08-27-2009 |
20100039657 | CLUSTER-BASED PRINTER MODEL FOR TONE REPRODUCTION CURVE ESTIMATION - What is disclosed is a system and method for efficiently and accurately estimating the complete TRC for a color marking device equipped with a multi-center cluster halftone screen which has a similar halftone tiling geometry and a similar growth specified by a corresponding single-center cluster halftone screen. The present method introduces a cluster-based printer model which establishes a relationship between a color output of a single-center cluster halftone screen and a color output of a multi-center cluster halftone screen. The present cluster-based printer model determines the complete TRC for the multi-center cluster halftone screen using the measurements for the single-center cluster halftone screen. Results of halftone dot linearization with different printing devices demonstrates that high accuracy can be achieved using the reduced measurements from the single-center cluster halftone screen. The present method finds its uses in characterization processes for a wide variety of color marking devices known in the arts, | 02-18-2010 |
20100071590 | SOLID PHASE CHANGE FLUORESCENT INK AND INK SETS - An ink set includes a plurality of inks, at least one ink but less than all inks of the ink set including an ink vehicle, colorant and fluorescence agent and remaining additional inks including an ink vehicle, colorant and free of fluorescence agent. At least a first ink grouping and a second ink grouping of the ink set form a combination, the first and second groupings of the combination exhibiting a substantially same color under ambient light conditions upon image formation. The first ink grouping and the second ink grouping of the combination contain a different amount of the fluorescence agent, wherein upon exposure to activating energy, the fluorescence agent fluoresces to cause a visible change in the color of a pattern formed in an image by the first ink grouping as compared to the second ink grouping. | 03-25-2010 |
20100075241 | TONERS WITH FLUORESCENCE AGENT AND TONER SETS INCLUDING THE TONERS - A toner set includes a plurality of toners, at least one toner but less than all toners of the toner set including binder, colorant and fluorescence agent and remaining additional toners including binder, colorant and free of fluorescence agent. At least a first toner grouping and a second toner grouping of the toner set form a combination, the first and second groupings of the combination exhibiting a substantially same color under ambient light conditions upon image formation. The first toner grouping and the second toner grouping of the combination contain a different amount of the fluorescence agent, wherein upon exposure to activating energy, the fluorescence agent fluoresces to cause a visible change in the color of a pattern formed in an image by the first toner grouping as compared to the second toner grouping. | 03-25-2010 |
20100079812 | CONTENT-AWARE RESIZING OF UNIFORM ROSETTE COLOR HALFTONE IMAGES - As provided herein, there are supplied teachings to systems and methods for resizing a digital uniform rosette halftone image composed of multiple colorant separations, by using uniform rosette halftone tile parameters. One approach entails receiving into a digital imaging system, a digital uniform rosette halftone image and a desired resizing factor for that digital uniform rosette halftone image. Subsequently the system will define uniform rosette cells within the color uniform rosette digital halftone image. From the defined uniform rosette cells, a number of uniform rosette halftone tile seams are determined for manipulation. The orientation of the number of uniform rosette halftone tile seams is dictated by the received desired resizing factor. An energy map of the digital uniform rosette halftone image is determined according to an energy metric derived from the multiple colorant separations. The energy of the number of uniform rosette halftone tile seams within the energy map is determined so as to provide indication of at least one low energy determined uniform rosette halftone tile seam. A resizing of the uniform rosette halftone image by manipulating the at least one low energy determined uniform rosette halftone tile seam is performed so as to obtain a resized uniform rosette halftone image. The resized uniform rosette halftone image may then be printed on a printer. | 04-01-2010 |
20100079813 | CONTENT-AWARE UNIFORM ROSETTE COLOR HALFTONE IMAGE RESIZING USING ITERATIVE DETERMINATION OF ENERGY METRICS - As provided herein, there are supplied teachings to systems and methods for resizing a digital uniform rosette halftone image composed of multiple colorant separations, by using uniform rosette halftone tile parameters and iterative determination of energy metrics. One approach entails receiving into a digital imaging system, a digital uniform rosette halftone image and a desired resizing factor for that digital uniform rosette halftone image. Subsequently the system will define uniform rosette screen parameters to define uniform rosette Holladay halftone tiles within the color uniform rosette digital halftone image. From the defined uniform rosette cells, a number of uniform rosette halftone tile seams are determined for manipulation. The orientation of the number of uniform rosette halftone tile seams is dictated by the received desired resizing factor. The energy of the number of uniform rosette halftone tile seams is determined according to an energy metric so as to provide indication of low energy determined uniform rosette halftone tile seams. A resizing of the uniform rosette halftone image by iteratively deleting a number of the low energy determined uniform rosette halftone tile seam is performed so as to obtain a resized uniform rosette halftone image. The resized uniform rosette halftone image may then be printed on a printer. | 04-01-2010 |
20100091334 | DIGITAL COMPENSATION METHOD AND APPARATUS - A digital image processing method. The method includes printing a first set of reference marks on one side of a substrate with a first print engine; printing a second set of reference marks on the same side of the substrate as the first set of reference marks with a second print engine; sensing both sets of reference marks on the substrate with an image sensing unit and generating a digital image of the reference marks; performing image analysis on the digital image to obtain an image-to-image distortion map where the image-to-image distortion map is a local measure of difference between the first set of reference marks and the second set of reference marks; and generating a compensated customer image by using the image-to-image distortion map to reduce registration errors when using the first and second print engines. | 04-15-2010 |
20100123912 | PANTOGRAPH METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS BASED ON UCR/GCR - The disclosure provides pantograph methods, apparatus and systems. Specifically disclosed is a method of rendering a pantograph including defining a foreground region associated with a pantograph, defining a background region associated with the pantograph, and applying a first UCR/GCR strategy to the background region and a second UCR/GCR strategy to the foreground region, whereby the foreground region is less discernable after the pantograph is rendered with a printing device relative to a reproduction of the rendered pantograph. | 05-20-2010 |
20100128321 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO EMBED GLOSSMARK DIGITAL WATERMARKS INTO CONTINUOUS-TONE IMAGES - Disclosed are methods/systems to embed a watermark into a contone image. Specifically, the disclosed methods and systems spatially modulate a contone image substantially adjacent a watermark area according to a first polarization and spatially modulate the contone image substantially within the watermark area according to a second polarization. These spatially modulated images may then be subsequently processed, stored, communicated and/or rendered. | 05-27-2010 |
20100150433 | VARIABLE DATA DIGITAL PANTOGRAPHS - 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 is associated with 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 is controlled to render a target color using a first set of color separation control data and the foreground region incorporates a second pattern of elements and is controlled to render the target color using a second set of color separation control data. 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. | 06-17-2010 |
20100157377 | UV FLUORESCENCE ENCODED BACKGROUND IMAGES USING ADAPTIVE HALFTONING INTO DISJOINT SETS - Systems and methods are described that facilitate generating a background image with a UV-fluorescent watermark for printing on a document. A binary watermark mask is generated to separate the background image into the UV-active and the UV-dull regions. Based on the assigned binary value of the watermark mask, each pixel is assigned a UV-active or UV-dull color using an adaptive halftoning technique, in order to generate a binary UV-active image and a binary UV-dull image. A binary watermarked background image is generated by combining the binary UV-active and UV-dull images, and is printed on a document. The UV-active and UV-dull colors have different UV intensities under UV light, but are indistinguishable under normal lighting conditions. In this manner, the background image is visible when exposed to visible light, and the UV-fluorescent watermark is visible when exposed to UV light. | 06-24-2010 |
20100182616 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HALFTONE INDEPENDENT TEMPORAL COLOR DRIFT CORRECTION IN HI-ADDRESSABILITY XEROGRAPHIC PRINTERS - Disclosed are systems and methods for halftone independent temporal color drift correction, particularly for correction in hi-addressability xerographic printers | 07-22-2010 |
20100182649 | Halftone independent device characterization accounting for colorant interactions - A model-based halftone independent method for characterizing a printer equipped with a plural of halftone screens comprises: printing a target set of basic patches comprised of a fundamental binary pattern independent of a halftone screen; measuring true color printer response from the target set; modeling a halftone independent characterization of the printer with the mathematical transformation using the measured response; modeling a first halftone dependent characterization of the printer with the mathematical transformer to generate a first predicted result using a selected halftone screen; comparing a measured response of the printer using the halftone screen with the predicted result to define a correction factor corresponding to the halftone screen; and modeling a halftone dependent characterization of the printer using a predicted response of the fundamental binary pattern and the correction factor. | 07-22-2010 |
20100231980 | HIGH RESOLUTION SCALABLE GLOSS EFFECT - A method for defining a gloss effect in a printed document includes printing a document region with first and second colorant combinations. The first colorant combination defines a first colorant stack height and said second colorant combination defines a second colorant stack height that differs from the first colorant stack height. As such, the document region has a first appearance when viewed straight-on and a second appearance when viewed at an angle. In one example, the first colorant combination is black (K) colorant that results in a one-level stack height and the second colorant combination is cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY) colorants that result in a three-level stack height. In another example, the second colorant combination can be cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) colorants that define a four-level stack height. In such case, both colorant combinations appear as black in straight-on viewing or scanning, while the average color and/or luminance of the colorant combinations will differ from each other when the document region is viewed at an oblique angle. The desired gloss font or other gloss effect is defined by selective placement of the first and second colorant combinations relative to each other. Font sizes of 3 points or less can be defined. | 09-16-2010 |
20100238508 | Halftone-independent scanner profiling - A method and system is disclosed for characterizing a color scanner comprising generating a halftone-independent target of color patches, printing the target on a color hardcopy device, measuring the target to obtain device-independent color values, scanning the target to obtain scanner color values, and building a scanner profile that relates scanned color values to device-independent color values. | 09-23-2010 |
20100245928 | METHODS OF WATERMARKING DOCUMENTS - Methods are provided for creating a fluorescent watermark within an image on a substrate, such as paper. The method involves creating a halftone image using two different halftone strategies. The halftone method is combined with a binary watermark mask to form two color patterns (e.g., one in a background region of the image and one in a watermark region of the image) and two successive-filling halftone algorithms, such that the ink droplets deposited by one color pattern cover more of the substrate than the ink droplets deposited by the other color pattern, with the two color patterns having approximately the same reflectance under normal light. However, under UV illumination, a visible difference (e.g., the watermark) is seen in the two patterns. | 09-30-2010 |
20110038007 | MOIRE-FREE COLOR HALFTONING METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS - Disclosed are moiré-free color halftoning methods, apparatus and systems to digitally reproduce an original color image. The disclosed embodiments are particularly useful for rendering a color image with a color printing device. According to one exemplary embodiment, an image forming method utilizes three or four rotated hexagonal screens which can include regular shaped hexagon screens or convex tessellated hexagon screens. | 02-17-2011 |
20110038008 | MOIRE-FREE COLOR HALFTONING METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS - Disclosed are moiré-free color halftoning methods, apparatus and systems to digitally reproduce an original color image. The disclosed embodiments are particularly useful for rendering a color image with a color printing device. According to one exemplary embodiment, an image forming method utilizes three or four rotated hexagonal screens which can include regular shaped hexagon screens or convex tessellated hexagon screens. | 02-17-2011 |
20110102847 | ROTATED HALFTONE SCREEN GEOMETRY THAT AVOIDS BEAT-BASED BANDING - Disclosed are methods and apparatus for reproducing an image using one or more halftone screens for one or more respective colorants in the methods and apparatus reducing the beating of one or more excitation frequencies with one or more harmonic frequencies associated with the halftone screens. According to an exemplary method, one or more halftone screens are selected such that the fundamental frequency of an excitation frequency coincides with a harmonic frequency of a halftone screen. | 05-05-2011 |
20110127331 | PHASE LOCKED IR ENCODING FOR PEENED 2D BARCODES - A system reveals a 2D barcode in a document. A 2D barcode generator selects the placement and at least one colorant combination of an image and at least one colorant combination for a 2D barcode on a document, where the at least one colorant combination of the image and the 2D barcode form a metameric pair. A print system receives data from the 2D barcode generator and places the image and the 2D barcode on the document. A light source selected or tuned to a wavelength corresponding to the colorant combinations utilized by the print system reveals the 2D barcode placed thereon. A decoding element decodes and extracts data from the revealed 2D barcode. | 06-02-2011 |
20110150347 | Substrate media distortion analysis - Embodiments described herein are directed to detecting and/or measuring distortions of substrate media that can occur during a printing process. The distortion can be detected and/or measured using a composite image generated from a reference image having a first periodic pattern and print image, disposed on a test substrate media, having a second periodic pattern. The first and second periodic patterns are specified so that the composite image includes a moiré pattern having moiré fringes resulting from interference between the first periodic pattern associated with the reference image and the second periodic pattern associated with the print image. The moiré fringes can be used to detect and calculate an amount of distortion of the test substrate media. | 06-23-2011 |
20110157654 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HALFTONING USING A PARAMETRICALLY CONTROLLED HEXAGONAL HALFTONE DOT SHAPE THRESHOLD FUNCTION - Methods and apparatuses for halftoning an image are provided using a parametrically controlled hexagonal halftone dot shape threshold function that reduces tone reproduction irregularities in the halftoned image which can occur at darker gray levels. The halftoning transforms image data representing contone image pixels into halftoned image data in the form of clustered-dot hexagonal halftone screens for representing halftone dots of a halftoned image. Weight parameters can be used to control the rate at which a respective vertex of a halftone dot approaches a vertex of a neighboring halftone dot in relation to gray level. The hexagonal halftone dot shape threshold function can also control the shape of the sides of the halftone dots. | 06-30-2011 |
20120024953 | DETECTION OF SECURITY MARKS SIMULATING NATURAL DEFECTS FOR EMBEDDING INFORMATION IN DOCUMENTS - A system for generating a security mark includes a data reception component that receives information. A security mark generation component in communication with the data reception component generates at least one security mark configuration based at least in part upon the received information. The at least one security mark configuration includes at least one simulation mark which resembles a natural feature. An application component applies one configuration of the at least one security mark configurations to a recipient. The applied security mark configuration obeys at least one rule whereby the security mark is distinguishable from the natural feature which it resembles by a system for detection of security marks. | 02-02-2012 |
20120081755 | COST-EFFECTIVE BINARY PRINTER MODELS FOR MULTI-COLOR PRINTERS BY IMPROVED REFLECTANCE MODELING AND PATCH CLUSTERING - Systems and methods are described that facilitate reducing a number of patches used in characterizing a color halftone printer via a binary color printer model. A binary printer model involves printing of a fundamental set of color binary patterns that encompass all possible halftone outputs. A k-center clustering technique is employed to automatically find and eliminate redundancies in the initial set of binary color patterns. Once the number of patches is reduced to an acceptable number, a multiplicative reflectance model is applied that better approximates the physical process and therefore improves accuracy. | 04-05-2012 |
20120107007 | SIMULATED PAPER TEXTURE USING CLEAR TONER ON UNIFORM SUBSTRATE - A system is adapted for simulating a textured pattern on a non-textured substrate. The system includes generating at least a first textured description in a controller unit operatively associated with at least one image forming apparatus. The first textured description is combined with at least one image of an original print job to generate a first print job. The first textured description is printed on at least one face of a substrate to provide a perceived first textured substrate. The at least one image is then printed on the perceived first textured substrate. | 05-03-2012 |
20120133990 | 3-COLORANT DOT-OFF-DOT (DOD) PERIODIC HALFTONE GEOMETRY - Provided is a 3-colorant DOD (dot-off-dot) periodic halftone geometry used to render an image. The DOD 3-colorant halftone geometry includes a base colorant halftone screen with hexagonally tiled halftone dots arranged in a hexagonal pattern, the hexagonally tiled halftone dots having a first fundamental frequency vector V | 05-31-2012 |
20120133991 | HALFTONE INDEPENDENT CORRECTION OF SPATIAL NON-UNIFORMITIES - A method and apparatus are provided for compensating for spatial non-uniformities in a printer by deriving a true spatial non-uniformity tone response curve (TRC) that characterizes the printer in terms of color output variation for each addressable pixel location in a spatial range. The “true average” tone response curve is determined for a color channel. A prediction of the true response as a function of the spatial location is derived by printing and scanning a specially designed halftone-independent target of binary patterns. The predicted tone response curve for each color channel and halftone is predicted using a binary printer model, wherein the “predicted tone response curve” provides a model based approximation of the actual response for each addressable pixel location in the spatial range. Also stored is an “average predicted tone response” by averaging the “predicted tone response curve” over the spatial range of the printer. | 05-31-2012 |
20120147429 | WATERMARK ENCODING VIA PIXEL SPACING MODULATION - Provided are methods, apparatus and systems related to watermark encoding via pixel spacing modulation. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method modulates the pixel spacing associated with an image to encode a watermark. | 06-14-2012 |
20120148087 | WATERMARK DECODING VIA SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF PIXEL SPACING - Provided are methods, apparatus and systems related to watermark decoding via spectral analysis of an image. According to one exemplary method, spectral analysis is performed to decode a watermark within an image, where the pixel spacing associated with the image was modulated to encode the watermark. | 06-14-2012 |
20120212753 | SIMULATED PAPER TEXTURE USING GLOSSMARK ON TEXTURE-LESS STOCK - A method for simulating a textured appearance on a uniform substrate includes using variable halftone dot orientations. A texture description is provided for generating electronic data representing a three-dimensional texture. Texture regions of the texture description are identified using pixel cells in the electronic data. Halftone dot orientations are assigned for each pixel cell based on a value of the pixel cell. The halftone dot orientation represents a recessed or a raised surface portion. | 08-23-2012 |
20120269433 | UNAUTHORIZED TEXT ALTERATION PREVENTION WITH CONTOUR FOLLOWING BACKGROUND PATTERNS - Described herein is a level I (overt) feature for security printing intended to deter unauthorized modification of text documents. The exemplary method includes generating a textured background that follows the contour of the text it surrounds and is difficult to modify. The background patterns may be generated with a two-step procedure that first creates a smooth function and then modulates it to produce patterns with sharp contrast. Tampering will be deterred as visible artifacts will be created when text is altered. Compared to the levels II and III features, the exemplary method relies on human vision for detection and does not require any special tools and instruments. It can be used in applications where fast, simple and inexpensive inspection is essential, or combined with other technologies for enhancing overall effectiveness. | 10-25-2012 |
20120274984 | POLYGONAL-BOUNDARY-BASED HALFTONE METHOD - As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate halftoning using boundaries and centers of a polygonal tiling with a parameterized spot function that operates within the tiles. Defining the halftone structure includes defining the polygonal tiling with a specification of the polygon boundaries and center, and setting and applying parameters of the spot function, which utilizes center-to-boundary distances. The tiling can be defined explicitly, by defining a tile structure, or providing centers, one per polygon, and vertices for the polygons. The vertices and centers are used to generate the polygon boundaries. The polygonal tiling can be regular (e.g., repetitive) or irregular, and can also be varied in a manner adapted to the image content or to data that is being embedded. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274985 | PARAMETRICALLY CONTROLLED HALFTONE SPOT FUNCTION FOR AN IRREGULAR HALFTONE GRID - As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate halftoning using a parametrically controlled spot function based on triangle tessellation, which in turn facilitates dot growth control of periodic halftone using an irregular seed structure. The spot function determines the shape of the halftone dot used to reproduce a given pixel. The spot function is well suited for growing halftone dots arrayed on a non-regular grid and can also be used for grids with regular order. The spot function includes adjustable parameters for controlling its sharpness and slope. | 11-01-2012 |
20120293842 | DIRECTIONAL HALFTONE METHOD WITH ENHANCED EDGE AND DETAIL RENDITION - As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate halftoning by adapting 2 | 11-22-2012 |
20130010336 | VERSATILE MOIRE-FREE HALFTONE GEOMETRY THAT USES FREQUENCY VECTOR SHEARING - As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate the generation of halftone screens for moiré-free color halftoning. A first fundamental frequency vector and a second fundamental frequency vector of a halftone cell are sheared using a selected shearing value. The shearing value is selected as an offset in a fast scanning or slow scanning direction. The selected shearing value satisfies various moiré-free conditions associated with the identified frequency vectors and is capable of being selected for multiple halftone screens. The halftone screens generated using the sheared frequency vectors are used for moiré-free halftoning. | 01-10-2013 |
20130022753 | SIMULATED PAPER TEXTURE USING CLEAR TONER AND GLOSSMARK ON TEXTURE-LESS STOCK - A method includes receiving a primary image as input data and receiving textured image data for rendering a perceived non-uniform texture on a printed output of the primary image. The primary image input data is used for determining a low coverage portion and a high coverage portion. The method then includes applying clear toner to the low coverage portion and applying colored toner at variable anisotropic orientations to the high coverage portion. | 01-24-2013 |
20130140354 | DUAL RESOLUTION TWO-DIMENSIONAL BARCODE - A grayscale two-dimensional barcode may be converted to a two-dimensional color barcode. The color barcode includes a set of sub-regions, and the cells in each sub-region exhibits a color pattern that corresponds to pattern of binary, grayscale cells. The two-dimensional color barcode may be decoded by comparing the pattern for each sub-region to a known grayscale pattern. The two-dimensional color barcode may be used for error correction by first decoding the barcode in grayscale form based on the luminance without reference to color, then decoding the barcode based on its color and comparing the results. | 06-06-2013 |
20130140356 | CAMERA POSITIONING TOOL FOR SYMBOLOGY READING - A method and device for receiving an image of a symbology captured by an imaging device, displaying an image of the symbology, displaying a boundary indicator around the symbology, adjusting the image size to correspond with the boundary indicator, decoding the symbology, and initiating an action by device. | 06-06-2013 |
20130148168 | VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE WATERMARKING OF PRINTED IMAGES VIA 2ND GENERATION STOCHASTIC SEED FREQUENCY MODULATION - As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate watermarking documents and/or images using 2 | 06-13-2013 |
20130162862 | COLOR CORRECTION OF DIGITAL COLOR IMAGE - A software application corrects for luminance and/or color in a captured image on a device having two cameras. The first camera receives a reference image, and the second camera receives a target image. The device compares the reference image and a reference file retrieved from memory to identify one or more luminance or color differences, and it automatically actuates an optical adjustment element of the second imaging device in response to the differences. The second imaging device captures a target image, and the target image is stored in a computer-readable memory. | 06-27-2013 |
20130163053 | 2nd GENERATION DOT-OFF-DOT STOCHASTIC HALFTONE - As set forth herein, computer-implemented methods and systems facilitate employing a single stochastic screen defined up to a specified transition level. The dots at the specified level are connected to form a triangle tessellation with an associated spot function. For up to three colorants, a vector screening technique is employed, which involves a first colorant dot being grown from the vertices, second colorant dot grown from the triangle center, and a third colorant dot grown from the side midpoints. Growth in this manner ensures separation of colorants up to a certain density level. In cases where fourth colorant is to be used at a given pixel, the fourth colorant can be added using methods typically used for clustered screens, such as stochastic screening of the lightest colorant, in order to mitigate color shift sensitivity issues. | 06-27-2013 |
20130215473 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING MACHINE-READABLE CODES IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER IMAGES SUCH AS LOGOS - A process for creating a barcode with an embedded logo considers a printer gamut and divides the printer gamut into multiple regions. A virtual printer gamut is then generated with the colors in bright and dark regions. A target logo image is generated by mapping the virtual gamut to the original logo image. A logo with embedded barcode is produced using the colors specified in the target logo image. | 08-22-2013 |
20130293734 | PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION USING MOBILE DEVICE - A method and apparatus for obtaining an image and providing one or more document files to a user. The method may include capturing an image of a target object using an imaging device of an electronic device, analyzing the image to identify a plurality of features and feature locations on the target object with a processor using an image recognition application, accessing a model database to identify an appliance model having features and feature locations that match the identified features and feature locations from the image, retrieving one or more document files that correspond to the identified model from a file database, and providing the one or more document files to a user. | 11-07-2013 |
20130329961 | Geometric pre-correction for automatic license plate recognition - A method for adjusting a license plate that is detected in a captured image includes automatically determining at least one set of correction parameters corresponding to a slant-oriented license plate. The method further includes receiving an input image representing a detected license plate. In response to receiving the input image, the method includes automatically adjusting the input image to obtain a corrected image using the at least one set of correction parameters. | 12-12-2013 |
20140029073 | REPAIR OR EDITING OF DAMAGED (TORN) SCANNED HALFTONE PRINTS - When restoring a scanned halftone image of a damaged document, parameters of the halftone structure (geometry) are estimated, as is an intended contone gray level for damaged portions of the image. Locations of halftone cell tiles in the scanned image are determined based on the halftone structure, and a halftone profile model is generated using the estimated halftone parameters and contone information. Image segments are aligned using global features for coarse alignment and halftone structure for fine alignment, such as in cases where the scanned halftone image contains unconnected fragments. Missing parts of the damaged document image are filled in using the halftone profile model and estimated contone values. | 01-30-2014 |
20140056478 | PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION USING MOBILE DEVICE - A method and apparatus for obtaining an image and providing one or more document files to a user is disclosed. The method may include receiving an image of a target object using an imaging device, analyzing the image to identify one or more features, and accessing a model database to identify an object model having features that match the identified features from the image. When the system determines that more than one model may be a match, the method looks for distinguishing features of the target object and selects a model that includes the distinguishing features. The method then includes, retrieving a document file that corresponds to the identified model from a file database, and providing the document file to a user. | 02-27-2014 |
20140085392 | EMBEDDING INFRARED MARKS IN GLOSS SECURITY PRINTING - A processor controls a marking engine to print a uniform region having a visually uniform color for an observer within all areas of the uniform region. The processor also controls the marking engine to print different gloss patterns within the uniform region. The different gloss patterns have first and second gloss regions, and the gloss difference between the first and second gloss regions forms gloss marks. Additionally, the processor controls the marking engine to print different infrared patterns within the uniform region to form infrared marks. In some embodiments, the infrared patterns are only within the first gloss regions and are not within the second gloss regions. | 03-27-2014 |
20140211023 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING AN OBJECT BORDERLINE - Methods and systems for detecting an object borderline. A first image with respect to the object can be captured by an image-capturing unit without a flash light and borderlines of the object can be detected. If the detection is successful, the detected borderlines can be outputted. Otherwise, a second image with respect to the object can be captured by the image-capturing unit by applying a flash light and the borderlines can be detected in the image. A geometric transformation between the two images can then be estimated. Finally, the border lines in the first image can be determined by transforming the borderlines detected in the second image. Such an approach effectively detects the appliance borderlines and avoids artifacts caused by applying flash. | 07-31-2014 |