US5696594A
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US
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Image forming method and apparatus for counterfeit protection controlling image synthesis in response to forming conditions
Assignee: COSMETICS SPECIALTIES Inc
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Filing: 1996-10-07
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Granted: 1997-12-09
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Expires: 2016-10-07
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 11:30
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: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data representing an image; correcting means for correcting the image data and outputting corrected image data; forming means for forming an image in accordance with the corrected image data; detecting means for detecting the image formed by said forming means; synthesizing means for synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; and controlling means for controlling the correction by said correcting means and the synthesis by said synthesizing means in accordance with the detection result of said detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data representing an image; correcting means for correcting the image data and outputting corrected image data; forming means for forming an image in accordance with the corrected image data; detecting means for detecting the image formed by said forming means; synthesizing means for synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; and controlling means for controlling the correction by said correcting means and the synthesis by said synthesizing means in accordance with 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
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correcting means performs γ-correction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reference pattern generating means for causing said forming means to form a reference pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, 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 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
An image forming method comprising steps of: input step of inputting image data representing an image; correcting step of correcting the image data and outputting corrected image data; forming step of forming an image in accordance with the corrected image data; detecting step of detecting the image formed in said forming step; synthesizing step of synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; and controlling step of controlling the correction in said correcting step and the synthesis in said synthesizing step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
An image forming method comprising steps of: input step of inputting image data representing an image; correcting step of correcting the image data and outputting corrected image data; forming step of forming an image in accordance with the corrected image data; detecting step of detecting the image formed in said forming step; synthesizing step of synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; and controlling step of controlling the correction in said correcting step and the synthesis in said synthesizing step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 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 on a medium in accordance with the image data; detecting means for detecting characteristic of the medium; and controlling means for controlling the synthesis by said synthesizing means based on the detection result of said detecting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 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 on a medium in accordance with the image data; detecting means for detecting characteristic of the medium; and controlling means for controlling the synthesis by said synthesizing means based on the detection result of said detecting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information to be unnoticeable with respect to human eyes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information as a yellow pattern.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined pattern is information unique to the apparatus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined information is a manufacturing number of the apparatus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said characteristic of the medium is a material or physical value of the medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said characteristic of the medium is a spectral characteristic of the medium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 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 on a medium in accordance with the image data; detecting step of detecting characteristic of the medium; and controlling step of controlling the synthesis in said synthesizing step based on the detection result of said detecting step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 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 on a medium in accordance with the image data; detecting step of detecting characteristic of the medium; and controlling step of controlling the synthesis in said synthesizing step based on the detection result of said detecting step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
67 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data representing an image; synthesizing means for synthesizing predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; forming means for forming an image on a recording medium in accordance with the synthesized image data; and controlling means for controlling an image forming condition of said forming means in consideration of the synthesis by said synthesizing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
67 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data representing an image; synthesizing means for synthesizing predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; forming means for forming an image on a recording medium in accordance with the synthesized image data; and controlling means for controlling an image forming condition of said forming means in consideration of the synthesis by said synthesizing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said control means includes generating means for generating pattern data for forming a reference pattern by said image forming means and reading means for reading the reference pattern.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information with the reference pattern.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said controlling means controls a characteristic of gamma correction.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information to be unnoticeable with respect to human eyes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information as a yellow pattern.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said predetermined pattern is information unique to the apparatus.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said predetermined information is a manufacturing number of the apparatus.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
71 words
An image forming method comprising: an input step of inputting image data representing an image; a synthesizing step of synthesizing predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; a forming step of forming an image on a recording medium in accordance with the synthesized image data; and a controlling step of controlling an image forming condition of said forming step in consideration of the synthesis by said synthesizing step.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
71 words
An image forming method comprising: an input step of inputting image data representing an image; a synthesizing step of synthesizing predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; a forming step of forming an image on a recording medium in accordance with the synthesized image data; and a controlling step of controlling an image forming condition of said forming step in consideration of the synthesis by said synthesizing step.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein said control step includes a generating step of generating pattern data for forming a reference pattern by said image forming step and a reading step of reading the reference pattern.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 27, wherein said synthesizing step synthesizes the predetermined information with the reference pattern.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein said controlling step controls a characteristic of gamma correction.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein said synthesizing step synthesizes the predetermined information to by unnoticeable with respect to human eyes.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 30, wherein said synthesizing step synthesizes the predetermined information as a yellow pattern.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein said predetermined pattern is information unique to an apparatus.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 32, wherein said predetermined information is a manufacturing number of the apparatus.
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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) | 2000-12-08 | 2001-06-09 | 2001-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-08 | 2005-06-09 | 2005-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-08 | 2009-06-09 | 2009-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |