US6095425A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine-readable security document and method of preparing the same
Assignee: Sr Acquisition Corp
•
Filing: 1998-10-26
•
Granted: 2000-08-01
•
Expires: 2018-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A security document and its method of preparation are provided wherein a security image area on the face of the document is designated. The security image area comprises a two-dimensional array of security image blocks. Security image elements and the complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that the security image element and the complementary security image element portions occupy respective first and second percentages of each of the security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values (CROVs) for each security image block. The respective CROVs are substantially equivalent among a plurality of the security image blocks. A target CROV is established. Respective security image element portions and respective complementary security image element portions are established such that the respective security image element portions occupy a first percentage of a selected security image block and the respective complementary security image element portions occupy a second percentage of the selected security image block. A relative value of the first and second occupation percentages is determined and compared with the target CROV. At least one of the complementary security image element portion and the security image element portion is adjusted, if the comparison indicates a significant disparity between the first and second occupation percentages and the target CROV, such that the relative value of the first and second occupation percentages substantially corresponds to the target CROV. Finally, a security document including the two-dimensional array of security image blocks is generated, wherein each of the security image blocks is occupied by the security image elements and the complementary security image elements.
Inventors
- 👤 William H. Mowry, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00838; H04N1/00883; B; B41; B41M; B41M3/00; B41M3/14; B41M3/146; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/20; B42D25/29; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/901; Y10S283/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
337 words
A method of preparing a security document comprising the steps of: designating a security image area on the face of a document, wherein said security image area comprises a two-dimensional array of security image blocks, each of said security image blocks is occupied by a set of security image elements and a set of complementary security image elements, said security image elements occupy a security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said complementary security image elements occupy a complementary security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said security image elements and said complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that said security image element portion and said complementary security image element portion occupy respective first and second percentages of each of said security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values for each security image block, and wherein said respective characteristic relative occupation values are substantially equivalent among a plurality of said security image blocks; establishing a target characteristic relative occupation value; establishing respective security image element portions and complementary security image element portions such that said respective security image element portions and said complementary security image element portions occupy said respective first and second percentages of a selected security image block; determining a relative value of said first and second occupation percentages; comparing said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages with said target characteristic relative occupation value; adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion where said comparison indicates a significant disparity between said first and second occupation percentages and said target characteristic relative occupation value, such that said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages substantially corresponds to said target characteristic relative occupation value; and generating a security document including said two-dimensional array of security image blocks, wherein each of said security image blocks is occupied by said security image elements and said complementary security image elements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
337 words
A method of preparing a security document comprising the steps of: designating a security image area on the face of a document, wherein said security image area comprises a two-dimensional array of security image blocks, each of said security image blocks is occupied by a set of security image elements and a set of complementary security image elements, said security image elements occupy a security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said complementary security image elements occupy a complementary security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said security image elements and said complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that said security image element portion and said complementary security image element portion occupy respective first and second percentages of each of said security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values for each security image block, and wherein said respective characteristic relative occupation values are substantially equivalent among a plurality of said security image blocks; establishing a target characteristic relative occupation value; establishing respective security image element portions and complementary security image element portions such that said respective security image element portions and said complementary security image element portions occupy said respective first and second percentages of a selected security image block; determining a relative value of said first and second occupation percentages; comparing said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages with said target characteristic relative occupation value; adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion where said comparison indicates a significant disparity between said first and second occupation percentages and said target characteristic relative occupation value, such that said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages substantially corresponds to said target characteristic relative occupation value; and generating a security document including said two-dimensional array of security image blocks, wherein each of said security image blocks is occupied by said security image elements and said complementary security image elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of preparing a security document as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion comprises changing a stroke width of said security image element portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of preparing a security document as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion comprises changing the dimensions of respective security image blocks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of preparing a security document as claimed in claim 1 wherein said security image element portion comprises said security image elements and non-printed portions separating said security image elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of preparing a security document as claimed in claim 1 wherein said complementary security image element portion comprises said complementary security image elements and non-printed portions separating said complementary security image elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of preparing a security document as claimed in claim 1 wherein said security image elements are selected from a group consisting of circles, lines, squares, ovals, triangles, dots, and clusters thereof, in various combinations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of preparing a security document as claimed in claim 1 wherein said security image area includes a camouflage image superimposed over said security image element portion and said complementary security image element portion, wherein said camouflage image comprises camouflage image elements selected from a group consisting of printed elements and non-printed elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of preparing a security document as claimed in claim 1 wherein the relative value of said first and second occupation percentages is determined through a mathematical comparison selected from a group consisting of a ratio, a product, a difference, a sum, and combinations thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of preparing a security document as claimed in claim 1 wherein the relative value of said first and second occupation percentages is compared with said target characteristic relative occupation value through a mathematical comparison selected from a group consisting of a ratio, a product, a difference, a sum, and combinations thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method of preparing a security document as claimed in claim 2 wherein said indication of the number of pixels in said first pixel portion relative to the number of pixels in said second pixel portion is generated through a mathematical function selected from a group consisting of a ratio, a product, a difference, a sum, and combinations thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method of preparing a security document as claimed in claim 2 wherein said indication of the number of pixels in said first pixel portion relative to the number of pixels in said second pixel portion is generated by comparing a total pixel count to one of said number of pixels in said first pixel portion and said number of pixels in said second pixel portion.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
349 words
A method of preparing a security document comprising the steps of: designating a security image area on the face of a document, wherein said security image area comprises a two-dimensional array of security image blocks, each of said security image blocks defines an image block pixel array and is occupied by a set of security image elements and a set of complementary security image elements, said security image elements occupy a security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said complementary security image elements occupy a complementary security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said security image elements and said complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion occupy respective first and second pixel portions of each of said security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values for each security image block, and wherein said respective characteristic relative occupation values are substantially equivalent among a plurality of security image blocks; establishing a target characteristic relative occupation value; establishing respective security image element portions and complementary security image element portions such that said respective security image element portions and said respective complementary security image element portions occupy said first and second pixel portions of a selected security image block pixel array; generating an indication of the number of pixels in said first pixel portion relative to the number of pixels in said second pixel portion; comparing said relative pixel number indication with said target characteristic relative occupation value; adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion where said comparison indicates a significant disparity between said relative pixel number indication and said target characteristic relative occupation value, such that said relative pixel number indication substantially corresponds to said target characteristic relative occupation value; and generating a security document including said two-dimensional array of security image blocks, wherein each of said security image blocks is occupied by said security image elements and said complementary security image elements.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
349 words
A method of preparing a security document comprising the steps of: designating a security image area on the face of a document, wherein said security image area comprises a two-dimensional array of security image blocks, each of said security image blocks defines an image block pixel array and is occupied by a set of security image elements and a set of complementary security image elements, said security image elements occupy a security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said complementary security image elements occupy a complementary security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said security image elements and said complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion occupy respective first and second pixel portions of each of said security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values for each security image block, and wherein said respective characteristic relative occupation values are substantially equivalent among a plurality of security image blocks; establishing a target characteristic relative occupation value; establishing respective security image element portions and complementary security image element portions such that said respective security image element portions and said respective complementary security image element portions occupy said first and second pixel portions of a selected security image block pixel array; generating an indication of the number of pixels in said first pixel portion relative to the number of pixels in said second pixel portion; comparing said relative pixel number indication with said target characteristic relative occupation value; adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion where said comparison indicates a significant disparity between said relative pixel number indication and said target characteristic relative occupation value, such that said relative pixel number indication substantially corresponds to said target characteristic relative occupation value; and generating a security document including said two-dimensional array of security image blocks, wherein each of said security image blocks is occupied by said security image elements and said complementary security image elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
355 words
A security document comprising, a document face, security data printed on said document face, and a security image printed on said document face, wherein said security image is generated by: designating a security image area on said document face, wherein said security image area comprises a two-dimensional array of security image blocks, each of said security image blocks is occupied by a set of security image elements and a set of complementary security image elements, said security image elements occupy a security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said complementary security image elements occupy a complementary security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said security image elements and said complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that said security image element portion and said complementary security image element portion occupy respective first and second percentages of each of said security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values for each security image block, and wherein said respective characteristic relative occupation values are substantially equivalent among a plurality of said security image blocks; establishing a target characteristic relative occupation value; establishing respective security image element portions and respective complementary security image element portions such that said respective security image element portions and said respective complementary security image element portions occupy said first and second percentages of a selected security image block; determining a relative value of said first and second occupation percentages; comparing said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages with said target characteristic relative occupation value; adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion where said comparison indicates a significant disparity between said first and second occupation percentages and said target characteristic relative occupation value, such that said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages substantially corresponds to said target characteristic relative occupation value; and generating said security document including said two-dimensional array of security image blocks, wherein each of said security image blocks is occupied by said security image elements and said complementary security image elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
355 words
A security document comprising, a document face, security data printed on said document face, and a security image printed on said document face, wherein said security image is generated by: designating a security image area on said document face, wherein said security image area comprises a two-dimensional array of security image blocks, each of said security image blocks is occupied by a set of security image elements and a set of complementary security image elements, said security image elements occupy a security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said complementary security image elements occupy a complementary security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said security image elements and said complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that said security image element portion and said complementary security image element portion occupy respective first and second percentages of each of said security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values for each security image block, and wherein said respective characteristic relative occupation values are substantially equivalent among a plurality of said security image blocks; establishing a target characteristic relative occupation value; establishing respective security image element portions and respective complementary security image element portions such that said respective security image element portions and said respective complementary security image element portions occupy said first and second percentages of a selected security image block; determining a relative value of said first and second occupation percentages; comparing said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages with said target characteristic relative occupation value; adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion where said comparison indicates a significant disparity between said first and second occupation percentages and said target characteristic relative occupation value, such that said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages substantially corresponds to said target characteristic relative occupation value; and generating said security document including said two-dimensional array of security image blocks, wherein each of said security image blocks is occupied by said security image elements and said complementary security image elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A security document as claimed in claim 13 wherein said security image area includes a camouflage image superimposed over said security image element portion and said complementary security image element portion, wherein said camouflage image comprises camouflage image elements selected from a group consisting of printed elements and non-printed elements.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
407 words
A method of preparing a security document comprising the steps of: designating a security image area on the face of a document, wherein said security image area comprises a plurality of security image blocks, each of said security image blocks is occupied by a set of security image elements and a set of complementary security image elements, said security image elements occupy a security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said complementary security image elements occupy a complementary security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said security image elements and said complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that said security image element portion and said complementary security image element portion occupy respective first and second percentages of each of said security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values for each security image block, at least one of said plurality of security image blocks defines a first security image and at least one of said plurality of security image blocks defines a second security image such that said first security image is dimensionally distinct from said second security image, and wherein said respective characteristic relative occupation values of said first security image and said second security image are substantially equivalent; establishing a target characteristic relative occupation value for said first security image and said second security image; establishing respective security image element portions and respective complementary security image element portions within said first security image and said second security image such that said respective security image element portions and said respective complementary security image element portions occupy said first and second percentages of each of said first and second security image blocks; determining a relative value of said first and second occupation percentages; comparing said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages with said target characteristic relative occupation value; adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion where said comparison indicates a significant disparity between said first and second occupation percentages and said target characteristic relative occupation value, such that said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages substantially corresponds to said target characteristic relative occupation value; and generating a security document including said plurality of security image blocks, wherein each of said security image blocks is occupied by said security image elements and said complementary security image elements.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
407 words
A method of preparing a security document comprising the steps of: designating a security image area on the face of a document, wherein said security image area comprises a plurality of security image blocks, each of said security image blocks is occupied by a set of security image elements and a set of complementary security image elements, said security image elements occupy a security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said complementary security image elements occupy a complementary security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said security image elements and said complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that said security image element portion and said complementary security image element portion occupy respective first and second percentages of each of said security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values for each security image block, at least one of said plurality of security image blocks defines a first security image and at least one of said plurality of security image blocks defines a second security image such that said first security image is dimensionally distinct from said second security image, and wherein said respective characteristic relative occupation values of said first security image and said second security image are substantially equivalent; establishing a target characteristic relative occupation value for said first security image and said second security image; establishing respective security image element portions and respective complementary security image element portions within said first security image and said second security image such that said respective security image element portions and said respective complementary security image element portions occupy said first and second percentages of each of said first and second security image blocks; determining a relative value of said first and second occupation percentages; comparing said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages with said target characteristic relative occupation value; adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion where said comparison indicates a significant disparity between said first and second occupation percentages and said target characteristic relative occupation value, such that said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages substantially corresponds to said target characteristic relative occupation value; and generating a security document including said plurality of security image blocks, wherein each of said security image blocks is occupied by said security image elements and said complementary security image elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
435 words
A security document processing system comprising a document issuing station and at least one document receiving station, wherein said document receiving station includes a security document reader arranged to read data printed on a security document, wherein: said security document comprises a document face and a security image area defined on said document face; said security image area comprises a plurality of security image blocks; each of said security image blocks is occupied by a set of security image elements and a set of complementary security image elements; said security image elements occupy a security image element portion of each of said security image blocks; said complementary security image elements occupy a complementary security image element portion of each of said security image blocks; said security image elements and said complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that said security image element portion and said complementary security image element portion occupy respective first and second percentages of each of said security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values for each security image block; at least one of said plurality of security image blocks defines a first security image and at least one of said plurality of security image blocks defines a second security image such that said first security image is dimensionally distinct from said second security image; said respective characteristic relative occupation values of said first security image and said second security image are substantially equivalent, wherein said security document reader is arranged to determine said respective characteristic relative occupation values; and wherein said security document is prepared by establishing a target characteristic relative occupation value, establishing respective security image element portions and complementary security image element portions such that said respective security image element portions and said complementary security image element portions occupy said respective first and second percentages of a selected security image block, determining a relative value of said first and second occupation percentages, comparing said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages with said target characteristic relative occupation value, adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion where said comparison indicates a significant disparity between said first and second occupation percentages and said target characteristic relative occupation value, such that said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages substantially corresponds to said target characteristic relative occupation value, and generating a security document including said two-dimensional array of security image blocks, wherein each of said security image blocks is occupied by said security image elements and said complementary security image elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
435 words
A security document processing system comprising a document issuing station and at least one document receiving station, wherein said document receiving station includes a security document reader arranged to read data printed on a security document, wherein: said security document comprises a document face and a security image area defined on said document face; said security image area comprises a plurality of security image blocks; each of said security image blocks is occupied by a set of security image elements and a set of complementary security image elements; said security image elements occupy a security image element portion of each of said security image blocks; said complementary security image elements occupy a complementary security image element portion of each of said security image blocks; said security image elements and said complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that said security image element portion and said complementary security image element portion occupy respective first and second percentages of each of said security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values for each security image block; at least one of said plurality of security image blocks defines a first security image and at least one of said plurality of security image blocks defines a second security image such that said first security image is dimensionally distinct from said second security image; said respective characteristic relative occupation values of said first security image and said second security image are substantially equivalent, wherein said security document reader is arranged to determine said respective characteristic relative occupation values; and wherein said security document is prepared by establishing a target characteristic relative occupation value, establishing respective security image element portions and complementary security image element portions such that said respective security image element portions and said complementary security image element portions occupy said respective first and second percentages of a selected security image block, determining a relative value of said first and second occupation percentages, comparing said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages with said target characteristic relative occupation value, adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion where said comparison indicates a significant disparity between said first and second occupation percentages and said target characteristic relative occupation value, such that said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages substantially corresponds to said target characteristic relative occupation value, and generating a security document including said two-dimensional array of security image blocks, wherein each of said security image blocks is occupied by said security image elements and said complementary security image elements.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
449 words
A method of processing a security document in a security document processing system comprising a document issuing station and at least one document receiving station including a security document reader arranged to read data printed on a security document, wherein said security document comprises a document face and a security image area defined on said document face, said security image area comprises a plurality of security image blocks, each of said security image blocks is occupied by a set of security image elements and a set of complementary security image elements, said security image elements occupy a security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said complementary security image elements occupy a complementary security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said security image elements and said complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that said security image element portion and said complementary security image element portion occupy respective first and second percentages of each of said security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values for each security image block, at least one of said plurality of security image blocks defines a first security image and at least one of said plurality of security image blocks defines a second security image such that said first security image is dimensionally distinct from said second security image, and said respective characteristic relative occupation values of said first security image and said second security image are substantially equivalent, and wherein said method of processing said security document comprises the steps of: establishing a target characteristic relative occupation value; establishing respective security image element portions and complementary security image element portions such that said respective security image element portions and said complementary security image element portions occupy said respective first and second percentages of a selected security image block; determining a relative value of said first and second occupation percentages; comparing said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages with said target characteristic relative occupation value; adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion where said comparison indicates a significant disparity between said first and second occupation percentages and said target characteristic relative occupation value, such that said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages substantially corresponds to said target characteristic relative occupation value; generating said security document including said two-dimensional array of security image blocks, wherein each of said security image blocks is occupied by said security image elements and said complementary security image elements; and positioning said security document relative to said security document reader so as to determine said respective characteristic relative occupation values.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
449 words
A method of processing a security document in a security document processing system comprising a document issuing station and at least one document receiving station including a security document reader arranged to read data printed on a security document, wherein said security document comprises a document face and a security image area defined on said document face, said security image area comprises a plurality of security image blocks, each of said security image blocks is occupied by a set of security image elements and a set of complementary security image elements, said security image elements occupy a security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said complementary security image elements occupy a complementary security image element portion of each of said security image blocks, said security image elements and said complementary security image elements in respective security image blocks are arranged such that said security image element portion and said complementary security image element portion occupy respective first and second percentages of each of said security image blocks to define respective characteristic relative occupation values for each security image block, at least one of said plurality of security image blocks defines a first security image and at least one of said plurality of security image blocks defines a second security image such that said first security image is dimensionally distinct from said second security image, and said respective characteristic relative occupation values of said first security image and said second security image are substantially equivalent, and wherein said method of processing said security document comprises the steps of: establishing a target characteristic relative occupation value; establishing respective security image element portions and complementary security image element portions such that said respective security image element portions and said complementary security image element portions occupy said respective first and second percentages of a selected security image block; determining a relative value of said first and second occupation percentages; comparing said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages with said target characteristic relative occupation value; adjusting at least one of said complementary security image element portion and said security image element portion where said comparison indicates a significant disparity between said first and second occupation percentages and said target characteristic relative occupation value, such that said relative value of said first and second occupation percentages substantially corresponds to said target characteristic relative occupation value; generating said security document including said two-dimensional array of security image blocks, wherein each of said security image blocks is occupied by said security image elements and said complementary security image elements; and positioning said security document relative to said security document reader so as to determine said respective characteristic relative occupation values.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4351547A
Cited
US4579370A
Cited
US5021318A
Cited
US5149140A
Cited
US5340159A
Cited
US5197765A
Cited
US5297815A
Cited
US5487567A
Cited
US5735547A
Cited
US5449200A
Cited
US5479507A
Cited
US5486022A
Cited
US5853197A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-01 | 2004-01-31 | 2004-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-01 | 2008-01-31 | 2008-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-01 | 2012-01-31 | 2012-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |