Pitney Bowes Inc.

Digimarc Corporation

William A Brosseau

Claude Zeller

Robert A Cordery

Donald G Mackay

Jun Tian

Hugh L Brunk

Bertrand Haas

John P Miller

Stephen K Decker

Donald MacKay

Lun Chan

David B Wilk

William L Kilmartin

Mark M Broschart

An image of a moving object, such as a postage indicium barcode on a mail piece, is captured with the object in motion (e.g., while being transported through a mailing machine). An array of CMOS picture elements is held in a reset condition. A signal asserted on control pin ends the reset condition and places the picture elements in an image capture condition. With the picture elements in a picture capture condition, a strobe light is actuated at a time when the barcode is predicted to be present at the picture element array. After the strobe light has been actuated, the signal on the control pin is de-asserted to initiate a read-out of the image data from the picture elements.

Method and system for capturing images moving at high speed

Systems and methods for detecting copies of images are described. In one example, the system utilizes a threshold based contour analysis technique that uses known contour ratios to determine if a scan of an image or document being tested is a first generation scan of an original or of a higher generation copy. In another example, a method for calibrating the copy detection system for use with a particular printer and scanner in described.

Copy detection using contour analysis

A method for producing a background image representing data. The background image is created by; producing a first encoding of data into a first binary array; producing a second encoding of the data into a second binary array; representing the first binary array as a first set of modules of a first size of n&#xd7;n pixels wherein each pixel is either white or black and every pixel in the module is identical to every other picture in the module on nodes of a first lattice, representing the second binary array as a first set of modules of a second size, of m&#xd7;m wherein each pixel is either white or black and every pixel in the module is identical to every other pixel in the module, which is smaller than the first size on nodes of a second lattice, combining the first and second sets of modules; and printing the first and second sets of modules.

Method for embedding information in an image

The disclosure describes an authentication system and related methods for authenticating printed objects. The system uses an information-based metric along with one or more print quality metrics to provide accurate detection or classification of a counterfeit printed object. The print quality metric evaluates attributes of a subject image associated with the original printer, ink or paper to detect degradation of those operations due to copying operations like an image scanning and halftone printing subsequent to the original printing of the object. The information-based metric measures message symbol errors in an optically readable code, such as a digital watermark.

Authenticating printed objects using digital watermarks associated with multidimensional quality metrics

A method for detecting a copy of a composite image that includes a first image and a second image that has information embedded in the second image that will change in appearance when the first and second images are scanned or photocopied. The foregoing is accomplished by scanning the first and second images, and detecting a change in appearance of the second image that indicates the first and second images were scanned or photocopied.

Method for reading information that has been embedded in an image

Mailing machine comprising a printer module including an array of ink jet print elements for printing on an envelope having a top surface, a registration shield located below and spaced apart from the printer module and a transport apparatus. The registration shield includes a top surface and a bottom surface and has an opening through which the array of ink jet print elements project ink onto the top surface of the envelope. The transport apparatus feeds the envelope in a path of travel so that the envelope passes between the registration shield and the printer module. Additionally, the transport apparatus includes a device for biasing the top surface of the envelope into contact with the registration shield. The registration shield further includes a channel extending parallel to the path of travel and in substantial alignment with the opening so that the top surface of the envelope in proximity to the channel does not contact the bottom surface of the registration shield so as to allow air to flow through the opening.

Growing community of inventors

Stratford, CT, United States of America

William A Brosseau