Copy restrictive color-reversal documents

• US 5,772,250 A
• Filed: 04/11/1997
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Gasper, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Daniel W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BHARGAVA, ADESH
• Application Number:
  US08/835,976
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 283/117, 283/93, 380/51, 380/54
• US Class Current: 283/114
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/146 using a non human-readable pattern which becomes visible on reproduction, e.g. a void mark
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/08 Photoprinting G03C5/18 takes precedence; Processes and means for preventing photoprinting
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/046 by discriminating a special original, e.g. a bank note
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/902 Anti-photocopy

Abstract

A media for restricting the copying of a color-reversal document utilizing one or more microdots that are embedded in the color-reversal document for providing a non-visual, but machine detectable signal. By detecting the presence of one or more microdots in the color-reversal document, a copy machine is controllably prevented from copying the color-reversal document.

Claims

1. A color-reversal copy restrictive medium comprising:

a support layer;

at least one image-forming layer supported by said support layer; and

at least one of said at least one image-forming layers capable of forming a pattern of microdots of diminished optical density from a latent image of a pattern of microdots.

2. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 1 wherein said pattern of microdots is absent from areas of the document of minimal optical density.

3. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 1 wherein said microdots have a spectral character of low visual perceptibility.

4. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 1 wherein the equivalent circular diameter of the microdots is 300 microns or less with the edge of a microdot defined by the isodensity profile at which the optical density is midway between the minimum density of the microdot and the density of the region adjacent to the microdot.

5. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 1 wherein the spatial arrangement of the microdots is periodic with one or more periodicities.

6. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 1 wherein the spatial arrangement of the microdots is aperiodic with one or more aperiodicities.

7. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 1 wherein the spatial arrangement of the microdots is a combination of periodic and aperiodic.

8. A color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 1 wherein said pattern of microdots is unique.

9. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 1 wherein the microdots have an optical density, size, and spacing so as to not visually modify the lightness, color balance, or tone reproduction of the image in the document.

10. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 1 wherein the microdots are minimally spaced 0.5 mm center-to-center.

11. A color-reversal copy restrictive medium comprising:

a support layer;

at least one image-forming layer supported by said support layer; and

at least one of said at least one image-forming layers capable of forming a pattern of microdots of diminished optical density from a latent image of a pattern of microdots wherein the formed microdots are minls-yellow in hue when viewed against a yellow background and blue in hue when viewed against a neutral background.

12. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 11 wherein said pattern of microdots is absent from areas of the document of minimal optical density.

13. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 11 wherein said microdots have a spectral character of low visual perceptibility.

14. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 11 wherein the equivalent circular diameter of the microdots is 300 microns or less with the edge of a microdot defined by the isodensity profile at which the yellow optical density is midway between the minimum density of the microdot and the density of the region adjacent to the microdot.

15. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 11 wherein the spatial arrangement of the microdots is periodic with one or more periodicities.

16. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 11 wherein the spatial arrangement of the microdots is aperiodic with one or more aperiodicities.

17. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 11 wherein the spatial arrangement of the microdots is a combination of periodic and aperiodic.

18. A color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 11 wherein said pattern of microdots is unique.

19. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 11 wherein the microdots have an optical density, size, and spacing so as to not visually modify the lightness, color balance, or tone reproduction of the image in the document.

20. The color-reversal copy restrictive medium according to claim 11 wherein the microdots are minimally spaced 0.5 mm center-to-center.

21. The color-reversal copy restrictive photographic medium according to claim 11 wherein said support layer is a reflective paper support layer.

22. The color-reversal copy restrictive photographic medium according to claim 21 and further comprising a light reflective layer positioned between said reflective paper support layer and said at least one image-forming layer.

23. The color-reversal copy restrictive photographic medium according to claim 22 and further comprising a protective layer coated on said reflective paper support layer opposite said light reflective layer.

24. The color-reversal copy restrictive photographic medium according to claim 11 wherein said support layer is an optically clear film base.

25. The color-reversal copy restrictive photographic medium according to claim 24 and further comprising a pigmented layer positioned between said optically clear film base and said at least one image-forming layer.

26. The color-reversal copy restrictive photographic medium according to claim 11 wherein said support layer is a pigmented film base.

27. The color-reversal copy restrictive photographic medium according to claim 24 and further comprising a pigmented layer coated on said optically clear film base opposite said at least one image forming layer.