US5863075A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated image scrambling and descrambling
Assignee: Dittler Brothers Inc
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Filing: 1996-12-16
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Granted: 1999-01-26
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Expires: 2016-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A method for printing a scrambled image and decoding mechanism in registration one on top of the other. The decoding mechanism is not immediately apparent upon inspection. A person decodes the scrambled image by exposing the decoding mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Benny R. Rich
- 👤 James J. Carides
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:58
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/06; A63F3/065; A63F3/0665; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/901; Y10S283/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A unit comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a scrambled image printed onto the substrate, wherein the image has been scrambled by suppressing from view at least part of the image, by introducing to the image meaningless background imagery, or by a combination of both; and (c) a decoding mechanism printed onto the substrate, wherein the decoding mechanism at least partially fills in the part of the image suppressed from view, at least partially suppresses from view the meaningless background imagery, or does both, wherein the decoding mechanism is not initially apparent but which subsequently can be exposed to decode the scrambled image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A unit comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a scrambled image printed onto the substrate, wherein the image has been scrambled by suppressing from view at least part of the image, by introducing to the image meaningless background imagery, or by a combination of both; and (c) a decoding mechanism printed onto the substrate, wherein the decoding mechanism at least partially fills in the part of the image suppressed from view, at least partially suppresses from view the meaningless background imagery, or does both, wherein the decoding mechanism is not initially apparent but which subsequently can be exposed to decode the scrambled image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein the at least part of the image has been suppressed from view by a series of bars.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The unit of claim 2 wherein the series of bars are parallel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The unit of claim 2 wherein the series of bars are ordered in a somewhat random fashion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein at least part of the image has been suppressed from view by a plurality of forms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of forms are ordered in a somewhat random fashion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein the decoding mechanism is at least partly selectively printed onto the suppressed part of the image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein the decoding mechanism is at least partly selectively printed onto the background imagery.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein a plurality of pixels are introduced as the meaningless background imagery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The unit of claim 9 wherein the plurality of pixels comprise both clear and opaque pixels, wherein the clear pixels are inserted into the unsuppresed part of the image, and the opaque pixels are inserted around the image and into the suppressed part of the image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein the decoding mechanism is transparent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein the decoding mechanism mimics the color of the substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein the decoding mechanism is printed onto the substrate using an ink selected from the group consisting of: reversible inks, irreversible inks, reactive inks, photo-reactive inks, thermochromes, and encapsulated inks.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of encoding information in a substrate comprising: (a) printing a scrambled image onto a substrate, wherein the image has been scrambled by suppressing from view at least part of the image, by introducing to the image meaningless background imagery, or by a combination of both; and (b) printing onto the substrate a decoding mechanism that at least partially fills in the part of the image suppressed from view, that at least partially suppresses from view the meaningless background imagery, or that does both, wherein the decoding mechanism is not initially apparent but which subsequently can be exposed to decode the scrambled image.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of encoding information in a substrate comprising: (a) printing a scrambled image onto a substrate, wherein the image has been scrambled by suppressing from view at least part of the image, by introducing to the image meaningless background imagery, or by a combination of both; and (b) printing onto the substrate a decoding mechanism that at least partially fills in the part of the image suppressed from view, that at least partially suppresses from view the meaningless background imagery, or that does both, wherein the decoding mechanism is not initially apparent but which subsequently can be exposed to decode the scrambled image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-25 | 2002-07-27 | 2003-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-25 | 2006-07-27 | 2007-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-25 | 2010-07-27 | 2011-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |