Three dimensional data storage

• US 7,789,311 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L-1 Secure Credentialing, LLC (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: L-1 Secure Credentialing, LLC (Advent International Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, Robert L., Kenen, Leo M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US11/758,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20070278313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 235487-488, 235/380, 235/454, 235/494, 235/463, 382162-167
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06018 one-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06056 the marking comprising a further embedded marking, e.g. a 1D bar code with the black bars containing a smaller sized coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes

Abstract

One aspect of the invention comprises a method of embedding data in a code readable by machine from a visible light scan of the code. The method comprises pre-printing a two dimensional array of pixels on a substrate. The pixels include at least one calibration pixel, and each have color values. The method selectively alters at least a subset of the pixels by using laser radiation to alter color saturation of the color values of the pixels in the subset relative to the calibration pixel according to digital data values of the code to be embedded in the subset of pixels. This method has been adapted to embed personalized information in pre-printed graphic elements on ID cards.

Claims

1. A method of embedding data in a code readable by machine from a visible light scan of the code, the method comprising:

pre-printing a two dimensional array of pixels on a substrate, the pixels including at least one calibration pixel, and the pixels including color levels, each color level being representative of one of a set of pre-determined values; and

selectively altering at least a subset of the pixels by using laser radiation to alter color saturation of the color levels of the pixels in the subset relative to the at least one calibration pixel according to digital data values of the code to be embedded in the subset of pixels.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-printed two dimensional array comprises a bar code that carries machine readable data separate from the code embedded in the subset of pixels within the bar code.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-printing comprises pre-printing ink or toner on the substrate, and the selectively altering comprises applying the laser radiation to a polymer layer adjacent the ink or toner.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein applying the laser radiation comprises one or more of:

abrading a pixel to decrease the color saturation level of the pixel and darkening the pixel to increase the color saturation level of the pixel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-printing comprises a pre-printed graphic and the laser radiation is used to encode variable, personalized information in the pre-printed graphic.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one calibration pixel comprises one or more of:

an orientation portion including an array of pixels of a predetermined intensity to identify the at least one calibration pixel as a calibration mark, an intensity scale portion including multiple pixels that are each associated with a different one of possible color saturation levels, a sizing portion including an arrangement of pixels to determine a size of a single pixel, an arrangement of pixels to enable determining spacing distance between adjacent pixels and a pixel having a saturation color level corresponding to a colorless level.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a location of the at least one calibration pixel;

scanning the located at least one calibration pixel; and

determining based on the scanned at least one calibration pixel one or more of a size of any pixel from the array of pixels, a spacing distance between any two pixels of the arrays of pixels and the color levels representative of the pre-determined values.

8. An identification document comprising:

a substrate;

a pre-printed pattern on the substrate comprising a two dimensional array of pixels, the pixels including at least one calibration pixel, and the pixels including color levels, each color level being representative of one of a set of pre-determined values; and

a machine readable data carrier embedded in the pre-printed pattern, the machine readable data carrier comprising at least a subset of the pixels of the pre-printed pattern that have been selectively altered using laser radiation to vary color saturation of the color levels of the pixels in the subset relative to the at least one calibration pixel according to digital data values of a code to be embedded in the subset of pixels.

9. The document of claim 8 wherein the pre-printed two dimensional array comprises a bar code that carries machine readable data separate from the code embedded in the subset of pixels within the bar code.

10. The document of claim 8 comprising a polymer layer, and wherein the pre- printing comprises pre-printing ink or toner on the substrate, and the laser radiation is applied to a polymer layer adjacent the ink or toner.

11. The document of claim 10 wherein the laser radiation is applied to the polymer layer adjacent the ink or toner is applied to perform one or more of:

abrade a pixel to decrease the color saturation level of the pixel and darken the pixel to increase the color saturation level of the pixel.

12. The document of claim 8 wherein the pre-printing comprises a pre-printed graphic and the laser radiation is used to encode variable, personalized information about a bearer of the document in the pre-printed graphic.

13. The document of claim 8 wherein the at least one calibration pixel comprises one or more of:

an orientation portion including an array of pixels of a predetermined intensity to identify the at least one calibration pixel as a calibration mark, an intensity scale portion including multiple pixels that are each associated with a different one of possible color saturation levels, a sizing portion including an arrangement of pixels to determine a size of a single pixel, an arrangement of pixels to enable determining spacing distance between adjacent pixels and a pixel having a saturation color level corresponding to a colorless level.