Patent US5864742A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5864742A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Copy restrictive system using microdots to restrict copying of color-reversal documents
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1997-04-11
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Granted: 1999-01-26
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Expires: 2017-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A system for restricting the copying of a color-reversal document having one or more microdots embedded in the color-reversal document. The system of detecting the presence of one or more of the embedded microdots and controllably disabling a copy machine to prevent it from copying the color-reversal document when at least one microdot is detected.
Inventors
- 👤 John Gasper
- 👤 Jay Stuart Schildkraut
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:36
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/04; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00838; H04N1/0084; H04N1/00843; H04N1/00846; H04N1/00856; H04N1/00875; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A system for restricting the copying of a color-reversal document comprising: means for embedding one or more microdots into a color-reversal document; detecting means for detecting the presence of one or more of the microdots in said color-reversal document; and controlling means responsive to said detecting means for restricting a copy machine from copying the color-reversal document when a microdot is detected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 words
A system for restricting the copying of a color-reversal document comprising: means for embedding one or more microdots into a color-reversal document; detecting means for detecting the presence of one or more of the microdots in said color-reversal document; and controlling means responsive to said detecting means for restricting a copy machine from copying the color-reversal document when a microdot is detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects the presence of one or more microdots in the color-reversal document based on one or more characteristics of color, color shift, optical density, size, shape, profile, orientation, geometrical arrangement, or spacing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein said microdots have a spectral character of low visual perceptibility.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the microdots are minus-yellow in hue when viewed against a yellow background and blue in hue when viewed against a neutral gray background.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system according to claim 4, wherein the equivalent circular diameter of the microdots is 300 microns or less with the edge of a microdot defined by the isodensity profile at which the yellow optical density is midway between the minimum density of the microdot and the density of the region adjacent to the microdot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the spatial arrangement of the microdots is periodic with one or more periodicities.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the spatial arrangement of the microdots is aperiodic with one or more aperiodicities.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the spatial arrangement of the microdots is a combination of periodic and aperiodic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the microdots comprise a unique pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the microdots have an optical density, size, and spacing so as to not visually modify the lightness, color balance, or tone reproduction of an image in the document.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the microdots are absent in areas of the color-reversal document of minimal optical density.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the microdots are minimally spaced 0.5 mm center-to-center.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for restricting the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of: a) embedding at least one minus-yellow microdot into a color-reversal document to be copy restricted; b) detecting the presence of said at least one minus-yellow microdot in the color-reversal document when a copy action is attempted; and c) restricting the copy action when the at least one minus-yellow microdot is detected.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for restricting the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of: a) embedding at least one minus-yellow microdot into a color-reversal document to be copy restricted; b) detecting the presence of said at least one minus-yellow microdot in the color-reversal document when a copy action is attempted; and c) restricting the copy action when the at least one minus-yellow microdot is detected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein said at least one minus-yellow microdot is selected to have a spectral character of low visual perceptibility.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein said at least one minus-yellow microdot is minus-yellow in hue when viewed against a yellow background and blue in hue when viewed against a neutral gray background.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein the equivalent circular diameter of said at least one minus-yellow microdot is 300 microns or less with the edge of a microdot defined by the isodensity profile at which the yellow optical density is midway between the minimum density of the microdot and the density of the region adjacent to the microdot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein the spatial arrangement of said at least one minus-yellow microdot is periodic with one or more periodicities.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein the spatial arrangement of said at least one minus-yellow microdot is aperiodic with one or more aperiodicities.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein the spatial arrangement of said at least one minus-yellow microdot is a combination of periodic and aperiodic.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein said said at least one minus-yellow microdot comprises a unique pattern.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein said at least one minus-yellow microdot has an optical density, size, and spacing so as to not visually modify the lightness, color balance, or tone reproduction of an image in the document.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein said at least one minus-yellow microdot is absent in areas of the color-reversal document of minimal optical density.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 13, wherein said at least one minus-yellow microdot is minimally spaced 0.5 mm center-to-center.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of: a) embedding one or more microdots into a color-reversal document; b) detecting the presence of one or more microdots in the color-reversal document when a copy action is attempted; and c) enabling or disabling the copying of the color-reversal document based on the detected presence of one or more microdots.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of: a) embedding one or more microdots into a color-reversal document; b) detecting the presence of one or more microdots in the color-reversal document when a copy action is attempted; and c) enabling or disabling the copying of the color-reversal document based on the detected presence of one or more microdots.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of: a) embedding a plurality of microdots into a color-reversal document; b) scanning the color-reversal document to obtain document pixel values; c) defining at least one metric that indicates the presence of microdots in the color-reversal document; d) comparing the value of at least one metric to a predetermined value or range of values to determine the presence of microdots; and e) authorizing the copying based on the determined presence or absence of microdots.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of: a) embedding a plurality of microdots into a color-reversal document; b) scanning the color-reversal document to obtain document pixel values; c) defining at least one metric that indicates the presence of microdots in the color-reversal document; d) comparing the value of at least one metric to a predetermined value or range of values to determine the presence of microdots; and e) authorizing the copying based on the determined presence or absence of microdots.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of: a) embedding at least one microdot into a color-reversal document; b) scanning the color-reversal document to obtain document pixel values; c) determining the closeness of color-reversal document pixel values to predetermined microdot values; d) determining the presence or the absence of at least one microdot on the color-reversal document based on the measures of closeness from step c); and e) authorizing the copying based on the presence or the absence of the at least one microdot.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of: a) embedding at least one microdot into a color-reversal document; b) scanning the color-reversal document to obtain document pixel values; c) determining the closeness of color-reversal document pixel values to predetermined microdot values; d) determining the presence or the absence of at least one microdot on the color-reversal document based on the measures of closeness from step c); and e) authorizing the copying based on the presence or the absence of the at least one microdot.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of: a) embedding at least one microdot into a color-reversal document; b) scanning the color-reversal document to obtain document pixel values; c) defining a threshold and a range metric that indicates the presence of microdots in the color-reversal document; d) comparing the value of the threshold metric to a predetermined threshold value and simultaneously comparing the value of the range metric to a predetermined range of values; and e) authorizing the copying based on the presence or the absence of the at least one microdot.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of: a) embedding at least one microdot into a color-reversal document; b) scanning the color-reversal document to obtain document pixel values; c) defining a threshold and a range metric that indicates the presence of microdots in the color-reversal document; d) comparing the value of the threshold metric to a predetermined threshold value and simultaneously comparing the value of the range metric to a predetermined range of values; and e) authorizing the copying based on the presence or the absence of the at least one microdot.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of: a) embedding one or more microdots into a color-reversal document; b) detecting the presence of one or more microdots in the color-reversal document based on one or more characteristics of color, color shift, optical density, size, shape, profile, orientation, geometrical arrangement, or spacing; and c) enabling or disabling the copying of the color-reversal document based on the detected presence of one or more microdots.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of: a) embedding one or more microdots into a color-reversal document; b) detecting the presence of one or more microdots in the color-reversal document based on one or more characteristics of color, color shift, optical density, size, shape, profile, orientation, geometrical arrangement, or spacing; and c) enabling or disabling the copying of the color-reversal document based on the detected presence of one or more microdots.
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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) | 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 |