Digimarc Corporation

Other

L-1 Secure Credentialing, Inc.

Digimarc Coporation

Alastair M Reed

Kristyn R Falkenstern

Tony F Rodriguez

Ravi K Sharma

Geoffrey B Rhoads

Brett Alan Bradley

Yang Bai

Tomas Filler

John F Stach

Brett T Hannigan

Trent J Brundage

Bruce L Davis

John Douglas Lord

Robert L Jones

Vojtech Holub

Robert G Lyons

Eliot Rogers

David M Berfanger

Jacob L Boles

Jeremy Leigh Cattone

William Y Conwell

Adnan M Alattar

Ammon E Gustafson

Osama M Alattar

Sean Calhoon

Donald Haaga

Robert Craig Brandis

Jerrine K Owen

Jay Kelly Sperry

Stephen A Lauer

Lou H Berkley, Jr

Kenneth Lee Levy

Hugh L Brunk

Ajith Mulki Kamath

Tyler J McKinley

Eric D Evans

Marc D Miller

William C Hein, Iii

Joshua V Aller

Aparna R Gurijala

Rebecca L Gerlach

Marc G Footen

The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as digital watermarking and other encoded signals. One claim recites a substrate comprising a plurality of first areas and a plurality of second areas, in which each of the plurality of first areas comprises a color ink printed therein with a UV topcoat layer printed over the color ink, in which the UV topcoat layer includes a material that absorbs at or around 350 nm and emits in the visible spectrum, and in which each of the plurality of second areas comprises the color ink printed therein, and in which the plurality of first areas is arranged on the substrate in a 2-dimensional pattern that is machine-readable from image data depicting the plurality of first areas, and in which the 2-dimensional pattern represents signal elements that cover only between 1-20% of an area on the substrate, and in which contrast in the image data between the plurality of first areas and the plurality second areas comprises a contrast difference in the range 75%>contrast difference>8%. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided in the specification with reference to specific implementations and related examples.

Encoding signals with fluorescing inks

A gloss value of a clear topcoat (e.g., flood of varnish) on a substrate relative to a bare substrate is an indicator of digital watermark robustness for an encoded signal carried by modulating the clear topcoat. This measurement can be used to predict encoded signal robustness prior to printing. One claim is directed to an image processing method comprising: obtaining a first gloss value corresponding to a layer comprising a matte or gloss topcoat flooded over a substrate; obtaining a second gloss value corresponding to the substrate; and determining a relationship between the first gloss value and the second gloss value to determine digital watermark signal robustness of a sparse mark pattern provided on the substrate with the matte or gloss topcoat. Of course, other claims are combinations are described as well.

Modulating surface topcoats to embed digital watermarking

Image processing technology embeds signal (e.g., digital watermarks) within imagery during a raster image process(or). One claim recites: an image processing method of embedding a signal within imagery using a raster image processing (RIP), comprising: obtaining a plurality of elements representing a signal; and modulating a plurality of print structures within the RIP according to the plurality of elements, in which said modulating varies density, and direction or angle, of the plurality of print structures, and in which said modulating introduces the signal within the imagery. Of course, other claims, combinations and technology are described too.

Embedding signals in a raster image processor

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One claim is directed to a container comprising: a 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell, the shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; a first layer of transparent ink printed on the outer surface as a flood within a first region; a second layer of the transparent ink printed over the first layer of transparent ink within the first region, in which the second layer of the transparent ink is printed to include a plurality of holes without any transparent ink printed therein; an opaque ink printed within the plurality of holes of the second layer of transparent ink on first layer of transparent ink within the first region, in which: i) the outer surface/first layer/second layer, and ii) the outer surface/first layer/opaque ink comprise a spectral reflectance difference at a machine-vision wavelength in the range of 8%-35%, and in which the plurality of holes are arranged in a 2-dimensional pattern according to a machine-readable signal, the 2-dimensional pattern being machine-readable from imagery captured of the first region. Of course, other containers, methods, packages, objects, systems, technology and apparatus are described in this disclosure.

Signal encoding for aluminum alloy containers

The present disclosure relates generally to data hiding for retail product packaging and other printed objects such as substrates. One embodiment embeds an information signal in a spot color for printing on various substrates. The spot color is screened, and overprinted with process color tint. The tint is modulated prior to overprinting with optimized signal tweaks. The optimization can include consideration of a detector spectral dependency (e.g., red and/or green illumination). Many other embodiments and combinations are described in the subject patent document.

Data hiding through optimization of color error and modulation error

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One implementation is directed to a printed object comprising: a white substrate or background comprising a first area; an ink mixture printed at a first plurality of spatial locations within the first area, the ink mixture printed such that the first area comprises a second plurality of spatial locations without the ink mixture, the ink mixture comprising extender white and Green 7 ink, the ink mixture comprising a volume or weight ratio of 97.5% to 99.75% white extender and 2.5%-0.25% Green 7 ink; in which the first plurality of spatial locations is arranged in a pattern conveying an encoded signal, and in which the white substrate or background and the ink mixture comprise a spectral reflectivity difference at or around 660 nm in a difference range of 8%-30%. Of course, other implementations, methods, packages, systems and apparatus are described in this patent document.

Signal encoding based on spectral requirements

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. We disclose methods, systems and apparatus for selecting which ink(s) should be selected to carry an encoded signal for a given machine-vision wavelength for a retail package or other printed design. We also disclose retail product packages and other printed objects, and methods to generate such, including a sparse mark in a first ink and an overprinted ink flood in a second ink. The first ink and the second ink are related through tack and spectral reflectance difference. Of course, other methods, packages, objects, systems and apparatus are described in this disclosure.

Signal encoding for difficult environments

The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as image processing, signal encoding, digital watermarking and data hiding. One claim recites a method including: capturing imagery corresponding to a printed object with a red or blue illumination source, the red or blue illumination source having an illumination wavelength at or around 660 nm or an illumination wavelength in the range of 60 nm centered around 460 nm, said capturing imagery yielding captured data; wherein the printed object includes a clear coat printed thereon, the clear coat including a material that has a peak absorbance at or around 660 nm or in the range of 60 nm centered around 460 nm, the clear coat printed in a manner to convey an encoded plural-bit message, the encoded plural-bit message corresponding to product information; analyzing the captured data with one or more programmed multi-core processors to decode the encoded plural-bit message, said analyzing yielding the product information; and providing the product information as an output. Of course, other claims, technology and combinations are disclosed.

Digital watermarking and data hiding with clear topcoats

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One claim is directed to a container comprising: a 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell, the 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; a 5182 aluminum alloy lid attached to the 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell; and an opaque ink printed on the outer surface in a 2-dimensional pattern according to a machine-readable signal. The outer surface and the opaque ink printed on the outer surface comprise a spectral reflectance difference at a machine-vision wavelength in a range of 8%-30%, and the machine-readable signal is detectable from imagery representing the opaque ink printed on the outer surface. Of course, other containers, technology, methods, packages, objects, systems and apparatus are described in this disclosure.

The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for printed objects. One implementation selects an embed direction based on a minimal visibility axis of a 1 JND ellipse at a certain color center. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: memory for storing chromatic contrast sensitivity data representing multiple color encoding angles; one or more multi-core processors configured for: using the stored chromatic contrast sensitivity data, generating an ellipse around a first color center; and from the ellipse, determining a signal encode direction, the signal encode direction comprising an angle &#x3b1; representing a negative angle between the 'a*' axis in an CIELAB space and a direction of minimum sensitivity of an encoded signal, in which the angle &#x3b1; comprises &#x2212;9 degrees&#x2265;&#x3b1;&#x2265;&#x2212;25 degrees. Other technology described.

Utilizing dependency between watermark visibility and location of image sample in color space for embedded signal color direction

This disclosure relates to counterfeit detection and deterrence using advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. Digital watermark can be used on consumer products, labels, logos, hang tags, stickers and other objects to provide counterfeit detection mechanisms.

Counterfeit detection using machine readable indicia

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. The technology may be applied to retail packages and other printed objects, e.g., such as hang tags, labels and receipts.

Signal encoding for inks with low reflectivity

The present disclosure relates generally improving visibility artifacts associated with encoded signals. A visibility change for local image areas associated with an encoded signal can be determined through use of a plurality of channel-specific contrast sensitivity functions. Of course, other features, and related claims and combinations are provided as well.

Weights embedded to minimize visibility change

Signal detection and recognition employees coordinated illumination and capture of images under to facilitate extraction of a signal of interest. Pulsed illumination of different colors facilitates extraction of signals from color channels, as well as improved signal to noise ratio by combining signals of different color channels. The successive pulsing of different color illumination appears white to the user, yet facilitates signal detection, even for lower cost monochrome sensors, as in barcode scanning and other automatic identification equipment.

Coordinated illumination and image signal capture for enhanced signal detection

Growing community of inventors

Lake Oswego, OR, United States of America

Alastair M Reed