Method and apparatus for inhibiting the operation of a copying machine
First Claim
1. A copying system modified to selectively control the reproduction of information contained on an information bearing member comprising in combination,a copying device responsive to radiation within a predetermined region of the spectrum,an information bearing member having information and a first code formed thereon,means for generating radiation of a first wavelength and directing said radiation to said information bearing member,a reference transparency positioned in the path of the radiation transmitted from said information bearing member, said reference transparency comprising a second code which is correlated with a predetermined code,means responsive to the radiation transmitted through said reference transparency for generating a control signal when said first code is said predetermined code and not generating a signal when said first code is not said predetermined code, andmeans coupled to said responsive means and operatively associated with said copying device for enabling said copying device to reproduce the information on said information bearing member when said control signal is generated by said responsive means and for inhibiting said copying device from reproducing said information when a control signal is not generated by said responsive means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A simple optical correlation system for preventing unauthorized copying of selected documents wherein documents (and copy paper) comprise paper having coded information thereon (visible or invisible) which is optically correlated with a protection device within a copying machine. When light emanating from the copying machine light source is directed to the document, light transmitted from the coded area of the document, which may comprise the entire page area, is sensed by optical detectors within the machine. A reference pattern is positioned between the document and the optical detectors. When the document code and the reference pattern are correlated, the output signal from the reference document is detected and coupled to appropriate circuitry wherein the copying machine is allowed to initiate a copying sequence. If the code on the document and the pattern on the reference document are not correlated, the copying machine is inhibited from operation.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A copying system modified to selectively control the reproduction of information contained on an information bearing member comprising in combination,
a copying device responsive to radiation within a predetermined region of the spectrum, an information bearing member having information and a first code formed thereon, means for generating radiation of a first wavelength and directing said radiation to said information bearing member, a reference transparency positioned in the path of the radiation transmitted from said information bearing member, said reference transparency comprising a second code which is correlated with a predetermined code, means responsive to the radiation transmitted through said reference transparency for generating a control signal when said first code is said predetermined code and not generating a signal when said first code is not said predetermined code, and means coupled to said responsive means and operatively associated with said copying device for enabling said copying device to reproduce the information on said information bearing member when said control signal is generated by said responsive means and for inhibiting said copying device from reproducing said information when a control signal is not generated by said responsive means.
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10. A method for controlling a copying device whereby the reproduction of information contained on an information bearing member is selectively controlled comprising the steps of:
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providing an information bearing member having information and a first code formed thereon, generating radiation of a first wavelength and directing said radiation to said information bearing member, positioning a reference transparency in the path of the radiation transmitted from said information bearing member, said reference transparency comprising a second code which is correlated with a predetermined code, generatng a control signal in response to the radiation transmitted through said reference transparency when said first code is said predetermined code and not generating a control signal when said first code is not said predetermined code, and enabling said copying device to reproduce the information on said information bearing member when said control signal is generated and for inhibiting said copying device from reproducing said information when said control signal is not generated. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
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20. For use with a copying device which is responsive to radiation within a predetermined region of the spectrum, said copying device reproducing information contained on an information bearing member onto an information receiving member, apparatus for selectively controlling the operation of said copying device comprising:
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means for generating radiation of a first wavelength and directing said radiation to said information bearing member, said information bearing member having information and a first code thereon, a reference transparency positioned in the path of the radiation transmitted from said information bearing member, said reference transparency comprising a second code which is correlated with a predetermined code, means responsive to the radiation transmitted through said reference transparency for generating a control signal when said first code is said predetermined code and not generating a control signal when said first code is not said predetermined code, and means responsive to said control signal and operatively associated with the copying device whereby the operation thereof is controlled, the copying device being enabled to reproduce the information on said information bearing member when said control signal is generated by said radiation responsive means and said copy device being inhibited from reproducing said information when a control signal is not generated by said radiation responsive means. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification