Patent US5557412A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5557412A
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US
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Image forming method and apparatus for counterfeit protection using image synthesis accounting for forming conditions
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1993-09-24
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Granted: 1996-09-17
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Expires: 2013-09-24
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus includes an input unit for inputting image data representing an image, a synthesizing unit for synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data, a forming unit for forming an image in accordance with the image data, a detecting unit for detecting a condition relating to an image forming by the forming unit, and a controlling unit for controlling the synthesis by the synthesizing unit based on the detection result of the detecting unit. An image forming method is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Rie Saito
- 👤 Nobuatsu Sasanuma
- 👤 Tetsuya Atsumi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00838; H04N1/00856; H04N1/00864; H04N1/00867; H04N1/0087; H04N1/23; H04N1/2307; H04N1/2323; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32203; H04N1/32208; H04N1/32251; H04N1/32288; H04N1/32293; H04N1/32309; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0077; H04N2201/0091; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3204; H04N2201/3205; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327; H04N2201/3271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data representing an image; synthesizing means for synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; forming means for forming an image in accordance with the image synthesized data; detecting means for detecting a condition relating to an image forming by said forming means; and controlling means for controlling the synthesis by said synthesizing means based on the detection result of said detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data representing an image; synthesizing means for synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; forming means for forming an image in accordance with the image synthesized data; detecting means for detecting a condition relating to an image forming by said forming means; and controlling means for controlling the synthesis by said synthesizing means based on the detection result of said detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information to be unnoticeable with respect to human eyes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information as a yellow pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined pattern is information unique to the apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined information is a manufacturing number of the apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said condition is an environmental state of the apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said environmental state is a temperature or a humidity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said condition is an image forming characteristic of said forming means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said image forming characteristic is a γ characteristic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising reference pattern generating means for causing said forming means to form a reference pattern.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, for further comprising means for controlling at least one of a charge quantity of a charger, a developing bias of a developing unit, and a light quantity and an emission time of an exposure unit, said charger, said developing unit, and said exposure unit being included in said forming means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said condition is a use condition of the apparatus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said detecting means detects image reproducibility of said forming means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said use condition is a cumulative rotation amount of an image carrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said use condition is a cumulative copy count.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said use condition is a cumulative use count of a developing unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said use condition is a cumulative power-ON time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
An image forming method comprising steps of: input step of inputting image data representing an image; synthesizing step of synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; forming step of forming an image in accordance with the image data; detecting step of detecting a condition relating to an image forming in said forming step; and controlling step of controlling the synthesis in said synthesizing step based on the detection result of said detecting step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
78 words
An image forming method comprising steps of: input step of inputting image data representing an image; synthesizing step of synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; forming step of forming an image in accordance with the image data; detecting step of detecting a condition relating to an image forming in said forming step; and controlling step of controlling the synthesis in said synthesizing step based on the detection result of said detecting step.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-17 | 2000-03-18 | 2000-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-17 | 2004-03-18 | 2004-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-17 | 2008-03-18 | 2008-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |