Interface surface printer using invisible ink

• US 7,099,019 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2001
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul, Silverbrook, Kia, Hall, Lachlan Everett
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAHIMI, IRAJ A
• Application Number:
  US09/927,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 101/106, 101/107, 380/246, 380/343
• US Class Current: 358/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/51 the printed and recorded information being identical; using type elements with code-generating means
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/328 characterised by dyes
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/50 Sympathetic, colour changing or similar inks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1444 Selective acquisition, locating or processing of specific regions, e.g. highlighted text, fiducial marks or predetermined fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

A printer for receiving document data from a computer system and printing an interface onto a surface. The interface is based on the document data, which includes identity data indicative of at least one identity. The identity is, in turn, associated with a region of the interface. The interface also includes coded data. The printer includes a coded data generator configured to generate the coded data based at least partially on the identity data. A printing mechanism in the printer prints the interface onto the surface, including printing the coded data using an ink including an infrared-absorbing dye.

Claims

1. A printer for receiving document data from a computer system and printing an interface onto a surface, the interface being at least partially based on the document data, the document data including identity data indicative of at least one identity, the identity being associated with a region of the interface, the interface including coded data, the printer including:

a coded data generator configured to generate the coded data based at least partially on the identity data;

a printing mechanism for printing the interface onto the surface; and

a first ink reservoir for supplying first ink to the printing mechanism, whereby the coded data is printed using the first ink, and wherein the first ink, when printed on the interface is not substantially visible.

2. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the first ink is absorbent or reflective in the ultraviolet spectrum or the infrared spectrum.

3. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the first ink is comprised of a compound having at least one polar substituent group selected from the group comprising —

SO₃H, —

NH₂ and —

CN.

4. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the interface includes visible information in addition to the coded data, the visible information being based at least partially on the response data.

5. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is also indicative of at least one reference point of the region.

6. A printer according to claim 3, wherein the at least one reference point is determined on the basis of a coded data layout.

7. A printer according to claim 4, wherein the printer is configured to receive the coded data layout from the computer system.

8. A printer according to claim 5, further including storage means for storing a plurality of the coded data layouts, the printer being configured to:

receive, from the computer system, layout selection information indicative of one of the coded data layouts; and

use the layout selection information to select one of the stored coded layouts for use in determining the at least one reference point.

9. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the coded data includes at least one tag, each tag being indicative of the identity of the region.

10. A printer according to claim 8, wherein the coded data includes a plurality of the tags, the coded data generator being configured to ascertain a position of each tag prior to printing, the respective positions being determined on the basis of a coded data layout.

11. A printer according to claim 9, wherein the coded data generator is configured to receive the coded data layout from the computer device prior to printing the coded data.

12. A printer according to claim 5, further including storage means for storing a plurality of the coded data layouts, the coded data generator being configured to:

receive, from the computer device, layout selection information indicative of one of the coded data layouts; and

generate the coded data based on the layout selection information.

13. A printer according to claim 9, wherein each of the tags includes:

first identity data defining a relative position of that tag; and

second identity data identifying the region.

14. A printer according to claim 1, the printer being configured to print the interface onto the surface on demand.

15. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the interface is printed over a plurality of the pages.

16. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the surface is defined by a substrate.

17. A printer according to claim 15, wherein the substrate is laminar.

18. A printer according to claim 9, wherein the tags are disposed at predetermined positions on the surface.

19. A printer according to claim 18, wherein the tags are disposed on the surface within a tessellated pattern comprising a plurality of tiles, each of the tiles containing a plurality of the tags.

20. A printer according to claim 19, wherein the tiles interlock with each other to substantially cover the surface.

21. A printer according to claim 20, wherein the tiles are all of a similar shape.

22. A printer according to claim 21, wherein the tiles are triangular, square, rectangular or hexagonal.

23. A printer according to claim 19 wherein the tags are disposed stochastically within each of the tiles.

24. A printer according to claim 9, wherein each of the tags includes at least one common feature in addition to the second identity data.

25. A printer according to claim 24, wherein at least one common feature is configured to assist finding and/or recognition of the tags by associated tag reading apparatus.

26. A printer according to claim 24, wherein the at least one common feature is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

27. A printer according to claim 26, wherein the at least one common feature is rotationally symmetric so as to be rotationally invariant.

28. A printer according to claim 26, wherein the at least one common feature is ring-shaped.

29. A printer according to claim 9, wherein each of the tags includes at least one orientation feature for enabling a rotational orientation of the tag to be ascertained by associated tag reading apparatus.

30. A printer according to claim 29, wherein the at least one orientation feature is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

31. A printer according to claim 30, wherein the at least one orientation feature is rotationally asymmetric.

32. A printer according to claim 30, wherein the at least one orientation feature is sewed along its major axis.

33. A printer according to claim 9, wherein each of the tags includes at least one perspective feature for enabling a perspective distortion of the tag to be ascertained by associated tag reading apparatus.

34. A printer according to claim 33, wherein the at least one perspective feature includes at least four sub-features which are not coincident.

35. A printer according to claim 13, wherein each tag includes a plurality of tag elements, the first and second identity data each being defined by a plurality of the elements.

36. A printer according to claim 35, wherein the tag elements are disposed in one or more arcuate bands around a central region of each tag.

37. A printer according to claim 36, wherein there are a plurality of the arcuate bands disposed concentrically with respect to each other.

38. A printer according to claim 36, wherein each element takes the form of a dot having a plurality of possible values.

39. A printer according to claim 38, wherein the number of possible values is two.

40. A printer according to claim 35, wherein when representing one of the possible values, the tag elements absorb, reflect or fluoresce electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths to a predetermined greater or lesser extent than the surface.

41. A printer according to claim 35, wherein the possible values of the tag elements are defined by different relative absorption, reflection or fluorescence of electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths.

42. A printer according to claim 35, wherein the tags are slightly visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

43. A printer according to claim 35, wherein the tags are visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

44. A printer according to claim 13, wherein the first identity data is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

45. A printer according to claim 13, wherein the second identity data is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

46. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is an ink printer.

47. A printer according to claim 9, wherein the tags are printed using ink that is absorbent or reflective in the ultraviolet spectrum or the infrared spectrum.

48. A printer according to claim 9, wherein the printer includes a separate ink channel for printing the tags.

49. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is configured to print the coded data and additional information substantially simultaneously onto the surface.

50. A printer according to claim 49, wherein the additional information is printed onto the surface using colored or monochrome inks.

51. A printer according to claim 49, wherein the additional information is printed onto the surface using one of the following combinations of colored inks:

CMY;

CMYK;

CMYRGB; and

spot colour.

52. A printer according to claim 9, wherein at least a plurality of the tags are disposed stochastically upon the surface.

53. A printer according to claim 52, wherein the tags are disposed in a regular array on the surface, in accordance with the coded layout.

54. A printer according to claim 53, wherein the array is triangular.

55. A printer according to claim 53, wherein the array is rectangular.

56. A printer according to claim 53, wherein the tags are tiled over the surface.

57. A printer according to claim 15, further including a binding mechanism for binding the pages into a bound document.

58. A printer according to claim 49, wherein the surface is defined by a face of a page, the printer further including dual printing mechanisms for printing opposite faces of the page simultaneously.

59. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing mechanism includes an inkjet printhead for printing ink onto the surface.

60. A printer according to claim 59, wherein the printhead is a drop on demand inkjet printhead.

61. A printer according to claim 60, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth printhead.

62. A printer according to claim 61 wherein the printhead is configured to deliver a plurality of ink colors onto the surface with one printing pass.

63. A printer according to claim 61, wherein the printhead includes electro-thermal bend actuators to eject the ink onto the surface.

64. A printer according to claim 63, wherein the printer includes two sets of printheads, configured to print opposite surfaces of a page substantially simultaneously.

65. A printer according to claim 63, including a forced filtered air delivery mechanism for keeping nozzles of the printhead relatively free of paper dust.

66. A printer according to claim 63, wherein the printhead includes moving nozzle chambers.

67. A printer according to claim 65, wherein the printer includes two sets of printheads, configured to print opposite surfaces of a page substantially simultaneously.

68. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is printed using an ink that contains a dye that contains an infrared-absorbing molecule that consists of two side groups that contain an odd number of carbon atoms and unsaturated nitrogen atoms whereby each of these carbon atoms and unsaturated nitrogen atoms can be locally described as being chemically bound to three adjoining atoms if it is a carbon atom and chemically bound to two adjoining atoms if it is a nitrogen atom of which at least one must be a carbon atom or an unsaturated nitrogen atom such that of these adjoining atoms there is only one double bond to one carbon atom or an unsaturated nitrogen atom whereby the two groups are chemically bound together by one or more intervening central groups wherein the central group preferably is one of CO, O, S, SO, SO2, Se, SeO, SeO2, Te, TeO, TeO2, CR1R2, NR1, SiR1R2, GeR1R2, PR1 where R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are selected from the group R;

and

the central group may contain more than one of the above mentioned specific groups in any possible combination; and

additionally, the two side groups can be directly connected to each other; and

R is the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a halide atom, a hydroxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted amine group, a substituted or unsubstituted thioalkyl group.

69. A printer according to claim 68 wherein the two side groups of the infrared-absorbing molecule contain any substituted group.

70. A printer according to claim 67 wherein bulky substituents are utilized in the infrared-absorbing molecule.

71. An interface surface produced by a printer according to claim 1.