US6001516A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Copy restrictive color-negative photographic print media
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1997-06-12
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Granted: 1999-12-14
•
Expires: 2017-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A color-negative photographic print medium for restricting the copying of an image in the medium utilizing a pattern of removable color-subtractive microdots depth-wise positioned anywhere within a transparent protective overcoat and a support layer which supports at least one image-forming layer is disclosed. The microdots are undetectable by the unaided eye, but detectable by copying machines programmed to prevent copying when microdots are detected.
Inventors
- 👤 John Gasper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:32
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03C; G03C1/00; G03C1/76; G03C5/00; G03C5/08; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium comprising: a support layer; at least one image-forming layer supported by said support layer; a clear protective overcoat above said at least one image-forming layer; and a pattern of removable color-subtractive microdots, positioned between said support layer and said at least one image-forming layer, for causing the formation of resultant image microdots in a processed image; wherein said resultant image microdots are substantially undetectable by casual observation under normal viewing conditions of said processed image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium comprising: a support layer; at least one image-forming layer supported by said support layer; a clear protective overcoat above said at least one image-forming layer; and a pattern of removable color-subtractive microdots, positioned between said support layer and said at least one image-forming layer, for causing the formation of resultant image microdots in a processed image; wherein said resultant image microdots are substantially undetectable by casual observation under normal viewing conditions of said processed image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 1 and further comprising: a protective layer of transparent material positioned over said pattern of removable color-subtractive microdots and beneath said at least one image-forming layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The color-negative copy-restrictive photographic print medium according to claim 1 wherein said support layer is a reflective support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The color-negative copy-restrictive photographic print medium according to claim 1 and further comprising a light-reflective layer positioned between said support layer and said pattern of removable color-subtractive microdots.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 1 wherein said removable color-subtractive microdots are comprised of a colorant that is removed after photographic exposure of the medium to an image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 5 wherein the colorant of said removable color-subtractive microdots is a water soluble dye that is removed after exposure of the medium to an image and during photographic chemical processing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 5 wherein the colorant of said removable color-subtractive microdots is a solid particle dye that is removed after exposure of the medium to an image and during photographic chemical processing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 5 wherein the colorant of said removable color-subtractive microdots is a photobleachable dye that is removed after exposure of the medium to an image and during the subsequent exposure of the medium to ambient viewing illumination.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 5 wherein the colorant of the removable color-subtractive microdots is yellow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 1 wherein the equivalent circular diameter of the removable color-subtractive 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 maximum density of the microdot and the density of the region adjacent to the microdot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 1 wherein the spatial arrangement of the removable color-subtractive microdots is periodic with one or more periodicities.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 1 wherein the spatial arrangement of the removable color-subtractive microdots is aperiodic with one or more aperiodicities.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 1 wherein the spatial arrangement of the removable color-subtractive microdots is a combination of periodic and aperiodic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 1 wherein said pattern of removable color-subtractive microdots is unique.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 1 wherein the removable color-subtractive microdots are minimally spaced 0.5 mm center-to-center.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
A copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium comprising: a support layer; at least one image-forming layer supported by said support layer; a clear protective overcoat above said at least one image-forming layer; and a pattern of removable color-subtractive microdots, depth-wise positioned anywhere within said protective overcoat and said at least one image-forming layer, for causing the formation of resultant image microdots in a processed image; wherein said resultant image microdots are substantially undetectable by casual observation under normal viewing conditions of said processed image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
A copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium comprising: a support layer; at least one image-forming layer supported by said support layer; a clear protective overcoat above said at least one image-forming layer; and a pattern of removable color-subtractive microdots, depth-wise positioned anywhere within said protective overcoat and said at least one image-forming layer, for causing the formation of resultant image microdots in a processed image; wherein said resultant image microdots are substantially undetectable by casual observation under normal viewing conditions of said processed image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The color-negative copy-restrictive photographic print medium according to claim 16 wherein said support layer is a reflective support.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The color-negative copy-restrictive photographic print medium according to claim 16 and further comprising a light-reflective layer positioned between said support layer and said at least one image-forming layers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 16 wherein said removable color-subtractive microdots are comprised of a colorant that is removed after photographic exposure of the medium to an image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 19 wherein the colorant of said removable color-subtractive microdots is a water soluble dye that is removed after exposure of the medium to an image and during photographic chemical processing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 19 wherein the colorant of said removable color-subtractive micro dots is a solid particle dye that is removed after exposure of the medium to an image and during photographic chemical processing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 19 wherein the colorant of said removable color-subtractive micro dots is a photobleachable dye that is removed after exposure of the medium to an image and during the subsequent exposure of the medium to ambient viewing illumination.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 19 wherein the colorant of the removable color-subtractive microdots is yellow.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 16 wherein the equivalent circular diameter of the removable color-subtractive 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 maximum density of the microdot and the density of the region adjacent to the microdot.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 16 wherein the spatial arrangement of the removable color-subtractive microdots is periodic with one or more periodicities.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 16 wherein the spatial arrangement of the removable color-subtractive microdots is aperiodic with one or more aperiodicities.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 16 wherein the spatial arrangement of the removable color-subtractive microdots is a combination of periodic and aperiodic.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 16 wherein said pattern of removable color-subtractive microdots is unique.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 16 wherein the removable color-subtractive microdots are minimally spaced 0.5 mm center-to-center.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
67 words
A copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium comprising: a support layer; at least one layer containing a recorded color image supported by said support layer; a clear protective overcoat covering said at least one layer; and a pattern of resultant image microdots positioned in one recorded color image; wherein said resultant image microdots are substantially undetectable by casual observation under normal viewing conditions of said color image.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
67 words
A copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium comprising: a support layer; at least one layer containing a recorded color image supported by said support layer; a clear protective overcoat covering said at least one layer; and a pattern of resultant image microdots positioned in one recorded color image; wherein said resultant image microdots are substantially undetectable by casual observation under normal viewing conditions of said color image.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
A copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 30 wherein the resultant image microdots are formed as a result of the presence during image exposure of an identical pattern of removable color-subtractive microdots.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
42 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 30 wherein the resultant image microdots have an optical density, size, and spacing so as to not visually modify the lightness, color balance, or tone reproduction of the image in the medium.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
A copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 30 wherein the color of the resultant image microdots is minus-yellow when viewed against a yellow image background and blue in color when viewed against a neutral image background.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The copy restrictive color-negative medium according to claim 30 wherein said pattern of resultant image microdots is absent from areas of the image of minimal optical density.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The copy restrictive color-negative medium according to claim 30 wherein said resultant image microdots have a spectral character of low visual perceptibility.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
62 words
The copy restrictive color-negative medium according to claim 30 wherein the equivalent circular diameter of the resultant image 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 resultant image microdot.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 30 wherein the spatial arrangement of the resultant image microdots is periodic with one or more periodicities.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 30 wherein the spatial arrangement of the resultant image microdots is aperiodic with one or more aperiodicities.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 30 wherein the spatial arrangement of the resultant image microdots is a combination of periodic and aperiodic.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
A copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 30 wherein said pattern of resultant image microdots is unique.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
45 words
A copy restrictive color-negative photographic print medium according to claim 30 wherein said pattern of resultant image microdots can be detected by a microprocessor performing a discrete Fourier transform of the digital signal produced by a scan of the image using an electro-optical image scanner.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
20 words
The copy restrictive color-negative medium according to claim 30 wherein the resultant image microdots are minimally spaced 0.5 mm center-to-center.
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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) | 2002-12-13 | 2003-06-14 | 2003-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-13 | 2007-06-14 | 2007-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-13 | 2011-06-14 | 2011-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |