Systems for spectral multiplexing of source images to provide a composite image, for rendering the composite image, and for spectral demultiplexing of the composite image to animate recovered source images

• US 7,136,522 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Loce, Robert P., Harrington, Steven J., Sharma, Gaurav
• Primary Examiner(s): Do, Anh Hong
• Application Number:
  US10/268,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20040071348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 382/166, 382/162, 382/163, 382/154, 348/292, 359/2, 359/465, 349/15
• US Class Current: 382/166
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/10 Changing, amusing, or secret pictures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/06 with moving picture effect

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for spectrally-encoding plural source images and for providing the spectrally-encoded plural source images in a composite image, for rendering the composite image in a physical form, or for recovering at least one of the encoded source images from the rendered composite image such that the recovered source image is made distinguishable. The rendered composite image may be subjected to a varying field of illumination, generated, for example, by a switched sequence of individually activated, differing illuminants. This sequenced array of illuminants causes a corresponding sequence of source images to be recovered in rapid succession, thus imparting a sense of change, such as motion, between or within the recovered source images.

Claims

1. A method of processing a plurality of source images, comprising the steps of:

encoding the plurality of source images in a composite image;

rendering the composite image on a substrate by use of a plurality of colorants; and

recovering the encoded source images from the rendered composite image, such that the recovered source images are made distinguishable, by subjecting the rendered composite image to a plurality of narrow band illuminants each of which are preselected to reveal a respected source image, wherein a switched sequence of illuminants causes a corresponding sequence of source images to be recovered in rapid succession, thus imparting a sense of motion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recovered source images are made visually detectable by an observer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the source image encoding step further comprises the step of mapping values representative of each source image pixel to a corresponding pixel value in a respective colorant image plane.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mapped values are determined according to at least one of the following:

(a) the trichromacy of human visual response to colorant/illuminant interaction;

(b) the spectral characteristics of the colorants selected for rendering the composite image, and (c) the spectral characteristics of the narrow-band illuminant(s) used for recovering the source image.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the source image encoding step further comprises the steps of:

converting at least one source image to a monochromatic separation image; and

mapping the monochromatic separation image to a corresponding colorant image plane in the composite image.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a narrow band colorant is assigned to a respective colorant image plane of the composite image, and the mapped values in the respective colorant image planes represent the relative amounts of the narrow band colorant to be deposited in the rendered composite image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the composite image is rendered as pattern of deposited narrow band colorants, each of which narrow band colorants exhibiting a predefined spectral reflectance characteristic.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the selected narrow band colorant exhibits a predefined narrow band absorption characteristic.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected narrow band colorant is selected from the group of cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the narrow band illuminant is selected from the group of red, green, and blue illuminants.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the rendered composite image is rendered using a digital color electrophotographic printer.

12. An imaging system, comprising:

a spectral multiplexer for receiving image data representative of plural source images and for processing the image data to encode the source images in a composite image, and for providing a composite image data signal;

an image rendering device which is responsive to the spectral multiplexer for receiving the composite image data signal and for rendering the composite image on a substrate; and

a demultiplexer for recovering the encoded source images from the rendered composite image, such that the recovered source images are made distinguishable, by subjecting the rendered composite image to a plurality of narrow band illuminants each of which are preselected to reveal a respected source image, wherein a switched sequence of illuminants causes a corresponding sequence of source images to be recovered in rapid succession, thus imparting a sense of motion.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the spectral multiplexer is operable for receiving values representative of each source image pixel and for mapping the received values to a corresponding pixel value in a respective colorant image plane.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the mapped values are determined according to at least one of the following:

(a) the trichromacy of human visual response to colorant/illuminant interaction;

(b) the spectral characteristics of the colorants selected for rendering the composite image, and (c) the spectral characteristics of the narrow-band illuminant(s) used for recovering the source image.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the image recording device is operable for receiving the composite image in the form of a composite image data file and for rendering the corresponding composite image as a rendered composite image in a plurality of narrow band colorants on a substrate.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the image recording device is provided in the form of a printer for printing the composite image on a substrate.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the printer include narrow band colorants selected for their apparent darkness when exposed to at least one of red, green, and blue illuminants.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the composite image is formed from colorants selected from the group of cyan, magenta, and yellow colorants, and wherein the demultiplexer further comprises a controller and an illuminant source responsive to control by illuminant source control signals provided by the controller, and wherein the narrow band illuminant is selected from the group of red, green, and blue illuminants.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller further comprises a computer, operable according to control programs for generating one or more of the illuminant source control signals, and wherein the illuminant source further comprises a CRT display responsive to the illuminant source control signals for generating a defined field of illumination of narrow band illuminant, whereby a rendered composite image on a substrate may be located within the field of illumination and thereby subjected to illumination by the narrow band illuminant.