Image forming method and apparatus for counterfeit protection controlling image synthesis in response to forming conditions

• US 5,696,594 A
• Filed: 10/07/1996
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cosmetics Specialties, Inc. (Schwanhäußer Industrie Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Atsumi, Tetsuya, Sasanuma, Nobuatsu, Saito, Rie
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US08/726,699
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 358/296, 358/400, 358/401, 358/404, 358/406, 358/434, 358/444, 358/448, 355/202, 355/264, 355/299, 355/201, 355/204, 400/76, 400/692
• US Class Current: 358/296
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00867 with additional data, e.g. by adding a warning message details of embedding additional information in an image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0087 with hidden additional data, e.g. data invisible to the human eye
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2323 according to characteristics of the reproducing medium, e.g. type, size or availability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32203 Spatial or amplitude domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32208 involving changing the magnitude of selected pixels, e.g. overlay of information or super-imposition H04N1/32219, H04N1/32224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32251 in multilevel data, e.g. greyscale or continuous tone data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32288 Multiple embedding, e.g. cocktail embedding, or redundant embedding, e.g. repeating the additional information at a plurality of locations in the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32293 Repeating the additional information in a regular pattern
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32309 in colour image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an input unit for inputting image data representing an image, a synthesizing unit for synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data, a forming unit for forming an image in accordance with the image data, a detecting unit for detecting a condition relating to an image forming by the forming unit, and a controlling unit for controlling the synthesis by the synthesizing unit based on the detection result of the detecting unit. An image forming method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

input means for inputting image data representing an image;

correcting means for correcting the image data and outputting corrected image data;

forming means for forming an image in accordance with the corrected image data;

detecting means for detecting the image formed by said forming means;

synthesizing means for synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; and

controlling means for controlling the correction by said correcting means and the synthesis by said synthesizing means in accordance with the detection result of said detecting means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information to be unnoticeable with respect to human eyes.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information as a yellow pattern.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined pattern is information unique to the apparatus.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined information is a manufacturing number of the apparatus.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correcting means performs γ

-correction.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reference pattern generating means for causing said forming means to form a reference pattern.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, for further comprising means for controlling at least one of a charge quantity of a charger, a developing bias of a developing unit, and a light quantity and an emission time of an exposure unit, said charger, said developing unit, and said exposure unit being included in said forming means.

9. An image forming method comprising steps of:

input step of inputting image data representing an image;

correcting step of correcting the image data and outputting corrected image data;

forming step of forming an image in accordance with the corrected image data;

detecting step of detecting the image formed in said forming step;

synthesizing step of synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data; and

controlling step of controlling the correction in said correcting step and the synthesis in said synthesizing step.

10. An image forming apparatus comprising:

input means for inputting image data representing an image;

synthesizing means for synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data;

forming means for forming an image on a medium in accordance with the image data;

detecting means for detecting characteristic of the medium; and

controlling means for controlling the synthesis by said synthesizing means based on the detection result of said detecting means.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information to be unnoticeable with respect to human eyes.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information as a yellow pattern.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined pattern is information unique to the apparatus.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said predetermined information is a manufacturing number of the apparatus.

15. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said characteristic of the medium is a material or physical value of the medium.

16. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said characteristic of the medium is a spectral characteristic of the medium.

17. An image forming method comprising steps of:

input step of inputting image data representing an image;

synthesizing step of synthesizing a predetermined information with the image represented by the image data;

forming step of forming an image on a medium in accordance with the image data;

detecting step of detecting characteristic of the medium; and

controlling step of controlling the synthesis in said synthesizing step based on the detection result of said detecting step.

18. An image forming apparatus comprising:

input means for inputting image data representing an image;

synthesizing means for synthesizing predetermined information with the image represented by the image data;

forming means for forming an image on a recording medium in accordance with the synthesized image data; and

controlling means for controlling an image forming condition of said forming means in consideration of the synthesis by said synthesizing means.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said control means includes generating means for generating pattern data for forming a reference pattern by said image forming means and reading means for reading the reference pattern.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information with the reference pattern.

21. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said controlling means controls a characteristic of gamma correction.

22. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information to be unnoticeable with respect to human eyes.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said synthesizing means synthesizes the predetermined information as a yellow pattern.

24. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said predetermined pattern is information unique to the apparatus.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said predetermined information is a manufacturing number of the apparatus.

26. An image forming method comprising:

an input step of inputting image data representing an image;

a synthesizing step of synthesizing predetermined information with the image represented by the image data;

a forming step of forming an image on a recording medium in accordance with the synthesized image data; and

a controlling step of controlling an image forming condition of said forming step in consideration of the synthesis by said synthesizing step.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein said control step includes a generating step of generating pattern data for forming a reference pattern by said image forming step and a reading step of reading the reference pattern.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein said synthesizing step synthesizes the predetermined information with the reference pattern.

29. A method according to claim 26, wherein said controlling step controls a characteristic of gamma correction.

30. A method according to claim 26, wherein said synthesizing step synthesizes the predetermined information to by unnoticeable with respect to human eyes.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said synthesizing step synthesizes the predetermined information as a yellow pattern.

32. A method according to claim 26, wherein said predetermined pattern is information unique to an apparatus.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein said predetermined information is a manufacturing number of the apparatus.