Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090237682 | PRINTER CHARACTERIZATION FOR UV ENCRYPTION APPLICATIONS - The appearance of a color print viewed under UV illumination is predicted using a target comprising color patches each printed using a known coverage of printer colorant(s). In one case, the target is illuminated using a UV light source and an electronic image of the target is captured using a digital camera or the like. In another case, a spectrophotometer is used both with and without a UV cutoff filter to measure the target. The captured image data or the spectrophotometric measurements are used to derive a UV printer characterization model that relates any arbitrary combination of printer colorants to a predicted UV color appearance value. Metameric colorant mixture pairs for visible light and UV light viewing can be determined using the UV model together with a conventional visible light printer characterization model. A visual matching task is used to determine a correction factor for the UV printer characterization model. | 09-24-2009 |
20100040282 | DECODING OF UV MARKS USING A DIGITAL IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE - A method and system for identifying a fluorescence mark in a printed document includes using an image acquisition device to derive an input digital image that represents a printed document including a background and a fluorescence mark adjacent the background. The input digital image includes multiple color channel digital images, with each color channel digital image comprising a plurality of pixels each defined by a gray value. For each pixel of at least one of the color channel digital images, the gray value is adjusted based upon a variance of adjacent pixel gray values to define a filtered digital image including a plurality of pixels each defined by an adjusted gray value. Some pixels of the filtered digital image correspond to low variance regions of the input digital image and other pixels of the filtered digital image correspond to high variance regions of the input digital image. A binary image is derived that represents the filtered digital image by mapping each adjusted gray value of the filtered image to either a first or second possible binary pixel value. The binary image includes a binary representation of the fluorescence mark and a binary representation of the background. At least one morphological operation is performed on the binary image to adjust the pixel values of the binary representation of the background so that all pixel values of the binary representation of the background are opposite the binary pixel value used for the binary representation of the fluorescence mark. An ASCII character for the binary representation of the fluorescence mark (or each constituent character thereof) can be derived and compared to a known security code to authenticate the printed document. | 02-18-2010 |
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 |
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 |
20110038010 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BUILDING A COLOR LOOKUP TABLE FOR A PRINTER - Color separation systems and methods improve color constancy and smoothness of a color lookup table (LUT) for a printer. A plurality of nodes of the LUT may be defined in calorimetric space, and the nodes out of the printer gamut may be mapped to the printer gamut surface. All possible colorant combinations are then determined that produce each node in the LUT in a device independent color space based on an inversion of the spectral based printer model. Next, a specific image quality metric combination based on a color inconstancy index (CII) and a gray component replacement (CGR) strategy is defined. And a colorant combination is determined for each and every node in the LUT based on this metric. A smoothing filter may be used to smooth the lookup table. | 02-17-2011 |
20110052888 | MAGNETIC WATERMARKING OF A PRINTED SUBSTRATE BY METAMERIC RENDERING - A document may include a non-magnetic substrate, a first colorant mixture printed as a first image upon the substrate, the first colorant mixture including a magnetic ink, and a second colorant mixture printed as a second image upon the substrate in substantially close spatial proximity to the printed first colorant mixture. The second colorant mixture may consist essentially of one or more non-magnetic inks and exhibit properties of both low visual contrast and high magnetic contrast against the first colorant mixture, such that the resultant printed substrate does not reveal the first image to the human eye, but will reveal the first image to a magnetic image reader. | 03-03-2011 |
20110069077 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OUT-OF-GAMUT SPOT COLOR REPRODUCTION - A gamut mapping method and system for implementing out-of-gamut spot color reproduction, including a memory for electronically storing information related to at least one color gamut and a gamut mapping editor including a processor communicating with the memory, the processor of the gamut mapping editor (i) causing a user to be apprised that a target spot color is outside the at least one color gamut and (ii) facilitating the user's employment of one or more of a plurality of gamut mapping methodologies to select a preferred color from a plurality of mapped colors when the target spot color is outside the at least one color gamut. | 03-24-2011 |
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 |
20110149311 | COLOR INCONSTANCY GUIDE FOR SPOT COLOR PRINT APPLICATIONS - What is disclosed is a novel system and method for generating a color inconstancy guide for use in spot color print applications. In a manner more fully disclosed herein, color inconstancy values are calculated for selected spot colors of interest using a color inconstancy metric. A color inconstancy guide is generated from the calculated color inconstancy values and their respective spot colors. Thereafter, when a user desires to render a job in a particular spot color, the associated color inconstancy value for that color can be obtained from the guide. In various embodiments, recommendations in the form of a suggested printer to use, a media type, a halftone screen, and other meaningful assistance can be provided for spot color selection that are less sensitive to varying illuminations for a given print/copy job. The present color inconstancy guide provides meaningful extensions in color quality and color reproduction in print/copy job environments. | 06-23-2011 |
20110149312 | SPECTRAL MATCHING GUIDE FOR SPOT COLOR PRINT APPLICATIONS - What is disclosed is a novel system and method for generating a spectral matching guide for spot color print applications. Spectral matching values are determined for spot colors obtained from a library of spot colors. A spectral matching guide is created from the spot colors and their respective spectral matching values in a manner more fully disclosed herein. Thereafter, when a user desires to render a job in a particular spot color, the associated spectral matching value for that spot color can be obtained from the spectral matching guide. In other embodiments, recommendations in the form of a suggested printer to use, a media type, a halftone screen, and other meaningful assistance can be provided for selection of spot colors for a given print/copy job that are less sensitive to varying illuminations. The present spectral matching guide provides meaningful extensions in spectral color reproduction in print/copy job environments. | 06-23-2011 |
20110149313 | REFERENCE COLOR DIFFERENCE QUANTITY GUIDE FOR SPOT COLOR APPLICATIONS - What is disclosed is a novel system and method for generating a reference color difference quantity guide for spot color print applications. RCDQ values are determined for spot colors obtained from a library of spot colors. A reference color difference quantity guide is created from the spot colors and their respective RCDQ values in a manner more fully disclosed herein. Thereafter, when a user desires to render a job in a particular spot color, the associated RCDQ value for that spot color can be obtained from the reference color difference quantity guide. In various embodiments, recommendations in the form of a suggested printer to use, a media type, a halftone screen, and other meaningful assistance can be provided for selection of spot colors for a given print/copy job that are less sensitive to varying illuminations. The present RCDQ guide provides meaningful extensions in color reproduction in diverse print/copy job environments. | 06-23-2011 |
20110286015 | FINDING A LOCUS OF COLORANT FORMULATIONS THAT PRODUCES A DESIRED COLOR - What is disclosed is a novel system and method for converting a set of L*a*b* values to CMYK color space in which all CMYK formulations that produce each L*a*b* value are found and enumerated. The CMYK formulations are found through a search algorithm starting with the lightest L*a*b* values then visiting neighboring L*a*b* values until the entire L*a*b* color set has been processed. The CMYK space is tessellated into a set of pentahedrons, and for each L*a*b* value, an enclosing pentahedron is found and the CMYK values corresponding to where the locus of this point penetrates each surface is recorded. Adjacent pentahedrons are then visited and this process continues until the gamut boundary is reached. The result is a piecewise linear representation of the CMYK locus containing all values that will give the target L*a*b* value. The present method provides a flexible and powerful approach for solving color management problems. | 11-24-2011 |
20120001934 | LANGUAGE-BASED COLOR EDITING FOR MOBILE DEVICES - Methods and a system for a natural language control interface are provided to enable a user to modify colors in a digital image. A textual interface is provided to select a color to be modified within the image and a direction of change for the modification. A swipe interface is provided to select a magnitude and polarity for the modification. Actions on the textual and swipe interface are converted to natural language commands which are in turn used to derive a color transformation that is applied to relevant portions of the image to yield a modified image. The modifications are displayed in real time for a user to observe as they are inputted. | 01-05-2012 |
20120147391 | METHOD FOR DYNAMIC OPTIMIZATION OF REFINEMENT PATCHES FOR COLOR PRINTER CHARACTERIZATION - A method generates a set of color patches that can be used to characterize a color printer. An accurate reference printer model is selected. A base set of calibration patches is printed and measured. The measurements are used to generate a model that can be used to predict the color produced by the reference printer for any combination of its colorants. The base set of patches is supplemented by a set of patches chosen to reduce the maximum color error produced by using the model compared to the predictions of a reference printer model. The supplemented set of patches is used to generate a more accurate model of the printer. The supplemented set of patches is used to recalibrate other instances of the printer. | 06-14-2012 |
20120301023 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EDITING COLOR CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTRONIC IMAGE - A method of editing color characteristics of an electronic image includes: a) receiving an original electronic image at a color editing subsystem; b) analyzing the original electronic image to identify original color characteristics and to identify a recommended set of color editing options, the recommended set of color editing options being less than a complete set of color editing options provided by the color editing subsystem; c) presenting the recommended set to a user via a user interface device; d) receiving a color editing instruction from the user interface device in response to the user selecting a corresponding color editing option from the recommended set; and e) adjusting the original color characteristics to form an adjusted electronic image having adjusted color characteristics based at least in part on the color editing instruction. An apparatus for editing color characteristics of an electronic image is also provided. | 11-29-2012 |
20120308211 | Asynchronous personalization of records using dynamic scripting - The present disclosure provides a personalized record/video, and method to produce the record/video, that combines stock tutorial record/video information with personalized information. Personalized information can include data that is, for example, inserted, overlaid, or parameterized information (still images, video, audio, text or graphics, etc.); sorted sequence of images and sorted differences from one personalized script to another personalized script; and/or a personalized framework for creating a personalized script that generates an asynchronous video. | 12-06-2012 |
20130129151 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVED LICENSE PLATE SIGNATURE MATCHING BY SIMILARITY LEARNING ON SYNTHETIC IMAGES - Methods and systems for improved license plate signature matching by similarity learning on synthetic images comprise generating a plurality of synthetic license plate images; applying one or more transformations to the synthetic license plate images to cause the synthetic license plate images to more closely resemble authentic license plate image captures; and providing the synthetic license plate images as inputs to a machine distance learning algorithm in which weighted similarity scores are calculated between signatures of analogous and non-analogous license plate images and one or more sets of signature weights are iteratively adjusted to increase the likelihood that comparing analogous license plate images results in high weighted signature similarity scores and comparing non-analogous license plate images results in low weighted signature similarity scores. | 05-23-2013 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
20130228629 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDING MACHINE-READABLE CODES IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER IMAGES SUCH AS LOGOS - A process for embedding a barcode into an image generates an extended barcode that includes a number of copies of the barcode. The extended barcode is embedded into the original image and a textured image is generated. A barcode region is selected that includes a machine-readable copy of the barcode. A transition region is selected that includes a set of pixels that are within a predetermined distance from the barcode region. The textured image is combined with the original image to produce the output image based on the barcode and transition regions. | 09-05-2013 |
20130228630 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDING MACHINE-READABLE CODES IN A DOCUMENT BACKGROUND - A method and apparatus are disclosed for embedding a two-dimensional machine-readable code into the background of a document in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The objects (picture, graphics, text, etc.) in a document image are first segmented from the background. A location for embedding the barcode is determined. A texture image is created by replicating the barcode to a size that covers the entire image. A modulation index map is generated from the segmentation results. The original image is modulated to produce the output image based on the texture image and the modulation index map. | 09-05-2013 |
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 |
20130294652 | License plate character segmentation using likelihood maximization - A method determines a license plate layout configuration. The method includes generating at least one model representing a license plate layout configuration. The generating includes segmenting training images each defining a license plate to extract characters and logos from the training images. The segmenting includes calculating values corresponding to parameters of the license plate and features of the characters and logos. The segmenting includes estimating a likelihood function specified by the features using the values. The likelihood function measures deviations between an observed plate and the model. The method includes storing a layout structure and the distributions for each of the at least one model. The method includes receiving as input an observed image including a plate region. The method includes segmenting the plate region and determining a license plate layout configuration of the observed plate by comparing the segmented plate region to the at least one model. | 11-07-2013 |
20130294653 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMIZED PARAMETER SELECTION IN AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION - A system and method for automatically recognizing license plate information, the method comprising receiving an image of a license plate, and generating a plurality of image processing data sets, wherein each image processing data set of the plurality of image processing data sets is associated with a score of a plurality of scores by a scoring process comprising determining one or more image processing parameters, generating the image processing data set by processing the image using the one or more image processing parameters, generating the score based on the image processing data, and associating the image processing data set with the score. | 11-07-2013 |
20130307932 | 3D IMAGING USING STRUCTURED LIGHT FOR ACCURATE VEHICLE OCCUPANCY DETECTION - What is disclosed is a method which combines structured illumination in the SWIR wavelength range with the detection capabilities of NIR to generate a 3D image of a scene for accurate vehicle occupancy determination. In one embodiment, structured light is projected through a customized optical element comprising a patterned grid. Wavelengths of the received structured pattern are shifted to a CCD detectable range. The shifted light comprises an image in a structured pattern. The wavelength-shifted light is detected using an infrared detector operating in the NIR. For each pixel in the detected patterned image, an amount of distortion caused by 3D surface variation at this pixel location is determined. The distortion is converted to a depth value. The process repeats for all pixels. A 3D image is constructed using each pixel's depth value. The number of occupants in the vehicle is determined from the constructed 3D image. | 11-21-2013 |
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 |
20130335445 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REALISTIC RENDERING OF DIGITAL OBJECTS IN AUGMENTED REALITY - A system and method of rendering in real time a virtual object onto a viewfinder display, the method comprising determining one or more scene properties of a scene on a viewfinder display of a device, receiving a virtual object for insertion into the scene, determining a location for placing the virtual object within the scene, determining a first appearance of the virtual object based on the one or more scene properties, and inserting the virtual object with the first appearance into the scene depicted on the viewfinder display of the device based on the location. | 12-19-2013 |