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US6128401A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image reading or processing with ability to prevent copying of certain originals

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1996-11-18
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Granted: 2000-10-03
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Expires: 2016-11-18
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Abstract

Abstract There is disclosed an apparatus for image reading or processing, that can precisely identify a particular pattern, such as of banknotes or securities of faithful copying of which is to be prohibited. The apparatus is provided with a detecting unit for detecting positional information of an original image, and a discriminating unit for extracting the pattern data of a certain part of the original image and discriminating whether the original image is the predetermined image, based on the similarity between the pattern data and the predetermined pattern.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshiyuki Suzuki
  • 👤 Masahiro Funada
  • 👤 Kenichi Outa
  • 👤 Michio Kawase

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 12:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00838; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/50; G03G15/5066; G03G15/507; G03G21/00; G03G21/04; G03G21/046; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/003; G07D7/0034; G07D7/17; H04N1/0084; H04N1/00843; H04N1/00846; H04N1/00848; H04N1/00856; H04N1/00859; H04N1/00864; H04N1/00872

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim 154 words
An image processing device for discriminating whether a color input image is a predetermined color image and generating a discrimination signal which is used for controlling a color image forming apparatus forming a color image in accordance with first image data including plural color component signals according to said color input image, comprising: input means for inputting said first image data having a first number of pixels, said first image data being processed by said color image forming apparatus for an image output; conversion means for converting said first image data into second image data having a second number of pixels less than the first number of pixels by using said first image data; and discrimination means for discriminating whether an image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image so as to prevent accurate image formation if the image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 154 words
An image processing device for discriminating whether a color input image is a predetermined color image and generating a discrimination signal which is used for controlling a color image forming apparatus forming a color image in accordance with first image data including plural color component signals according to said color input image, comprising: input means for inputting said first image data having a first number of pixels, said first image data being processed by said color image forming apparatus for an image output; conversion means for converting said first image data into second image data having a second number of pixels less than the first number of pixels by using said first image data; and discrimination means for discriminating whether an image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image so as to prevent accurate image formation if the image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said conversion means comprises delay means for delaying the first image data for an arithmetic operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein said conversion means further comprises adding means for adding a plurality of pixels of the first image data for the arithmetic operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising extraction means for extracting a pattern having a predetermined color.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined color is extracted before the conversion by said resolution conversion means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said conversion means reduces the number of bits of the first image data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said input means comprises reading means for scanning an original and generating the first image data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said image processing apparatus comprises image forming means for forming an image on a medium based on the first image data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein said image forming means is a laser beam printer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 156 words
An image processing method for discriminating whether a color input image is a predetermined color image and generating a discrimination signal which is used for controlling a color image forming apparatus forming a color image in accordance with first image data including plural color component signals according to said color input image, comprising: an input step of inputting said first image data having a first number of pixels, said first image data being processed by the image forming apparatus for an image output; a conversion step of converting said first image data into second image data having a second number of pixels less than the first number of pixels by using said first image data; and a discrimination step of discrimination whether an image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image so as to prevent accurate image formation if the image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 156 words
An image processing method for discriminating whether a color input image is a predetermined color image and generating a discrimination signal which is used for controlling a color image forming apparatus forming a color image in accordance with first image data including plural color component signals according to said color input image, comprising: an input step of inputting said first image data having a first number of pixels, said first image data being processed by the image forming apparatus for an image output; a conversion step of converting said first image data into second image data having a second number of pixels less than the first number of pixels by using said first image data; and a discrimination step of discrimination whether an image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image so as to prevent accurate image formation if the image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said conversion step delays the first image data for an arithmetic operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said conversion step adds a plurality of pixels of the first image data for the arithmetic operation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 10, further comprising an extraction step of extracting a pattern having a predetermined color.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined color is extracted before the conversion step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said conversion step reduces the number of bits of the first image data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said image processing method is performed by reading means for scanning an original and generating the first image data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said image processing method is performed by image forming means for forming an image on a medium based on the first image data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said image forming means is a laser beam printer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 179 words
An image processing device for discriminating whether a color input image is a predetermined color image and generating a discrimination signal which is used for controlling a color image forming apparatus forming a color image in accordance with first image data including plural color component signals according to said color input image, comprising: input means for inputting said first image data having a first number of pixels, said first image data being processed by said color image forming apparatus for an image output; conversion means for converting said first image data into second image data having a second number of pixels less than the first number of pixels by using said first image data; and discrimination means for discriminating whether an image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image so as to prevent accurate image formation if the image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image, wherein the discrimination by said discrimination means is performed by comparing said second image data to previously stored data corresponding to the predetermined color image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 179 words
An image processing device for discriminating whether a color input image is a predetermined color image and generating a discrimination signal which is used for controlling a color image forming apparatus forming a color image in accordance with first image data including plural color component signals according to said color input image, comprising: input means for inputting said first image data having a first number of pixels, said first image data being processed by said color image forming apparatus for an image output; conversion means for converting said first image data into second image data having a second number of pixels less than the first number of pixels by using said first image data; and discrimination means for discriminating whether an image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image so as to prevent accurate image formation if the image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image, wherein the discrimination by said discrimination means is performed by comparing said second image data to previously stored data corresponding to the predetermined color image.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 23 words
A device according to claim 19, wherein said conversion means comprises delay means for delaying the first image data for an arithmetic operation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 29 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein said conversion means further comprises adding means for adding a plurality of pixels of the first image data for the arithmetic operation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 18 words
A device according to claim 19 further comprising extraction means for extracting a pattern having a predetermined color.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 19 words
A device according to claim 22, wherein said predetermined color is extracted before the conversion by said conversion means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 20 words
A device according to claim 19, wherein said conversion means reduces the number of bits of the first image data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 24 words
A device according to claim 19, wherein said image processing apparatus comprises reading means for scanning an original and generating the first image data.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 28 words
A device according to claim 19, wherein said image processing apparatus comprises image forming means for forming an image on a medium based on the first image data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 16 words
A device according to claim 26, wherein said image forming means is a laser beam printer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 30, wherein said conversion step delays the first image data for an arithmetic operation.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method according to claim 28, wherein said conversion step adds a plurality of pixels of the first image data for the arithmetic operation.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 182 words
An image processing method for discriminating whether a color input image is a predetermined color image and generating a discrimination signal which is used for controlling a color image forming apparatus forming a color image in accordance with first image data including plural color component signals according to said color input image, comprising: an input step of inputting said first image data having a first number of pixels, said first image data being processed by the color image forming apparatus for an image output; a conversion step of converting said first image data into second image data having a second number of pixels less than the first number of pixels by using said first image data; and a discrimination step of discriminating whether an image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image so as to prevent accurate image formation if the image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image, wherein the discrimination in said discrimination step is performed by using said second image data and previously stored data corresponding to said predetermined color image.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 182 words
An image processing method for discriminating whether a color input image is a predetermined color image and generating a discrimination signal which is used for controlling a color image forming apparatus forming a color image in accordance with first image data including plural color component signals according to said color input image, comprising: an input step of inputting said first image data having a first number of pixels, said first image data being processed by the color image forming apparatus for an image output; a conversion step of converting said first image data into second image data having a second number of pixels less than the first number of pixels by using said first image data; and a discrimination step of discriminating whether an image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image so as to prevent accurate image formation if the image represented by said second image data is the predetermined color image, wherein the discrimination in said discrimination step is performed by using said second image data and previously stored data corresponding to said predetermined color image.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 30, further comprising an extraction step of extracting a pattern having a predetermined color.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method according to claim 31, wherein said predetermined color is extracted before the conversion step is performed.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method according to claim 32, wherein said conversion step reduces the number of bits of the first image data.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method according to claim 32, wherein said image processing is performed by reading means for scanning an original and generating the first image data.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method according to claim 32, wherein said image processing method is performed by image forming means for forming an image on a medium based on the first image data.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 16 words
A device according to claim 35, wherein said image forming means is a laser beam printer.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-10-03 2004-04-03 2004-10-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-10-03 2008-04-03 2008-10-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-10-03 2012-04-03 2012-10-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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