Infrared Encoding Using Standard Xerographic Colorants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for securing digital documents against counterfeiting and unauthorized copying, such as infrared watermarking, often require special inks or materials that are costly and difficult to integrate into standard printing systems, especially in digital printing environments.

Innovation Solution

The use of standard non-impact printing materials with specific colorant combinations that exhibit identical visual responses under normal illumination but distinct infrared characteristics, allowing for the creation of infrared marks that can be detected using infrared-sensitive devices without physical modifications to the printing device or special materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If special infrared inks or materials are used for document security watermarking, then infrared detection capability is improved, but material cost and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument security detection capabilityVSAvoidprinting system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses standard printing materials to create visual copies that appear identical to the original document, while embedding infrared encoding patterns that are invisible under normal viewing conditions. This allows security information to be copied into the document using conventional printers without requiring special materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent exploits the different infrared absorption characteristics of standard colorants (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) to create patterns that are invisible under visible light but detectable under infrared illumination. By strategically placing colorants with different infrared properties, the system encodes security information using only standard printing materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If special infrared materials are used for security encoding, then infrared mark detectability is improved, but material availability and cost worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfrared mark detectabilityVSAvoidmaterial availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the infrared absorption parameters of standard printing materials by combining different colorants in specific patterns. Instead of requiring special infrared-reactive materials, the system uses conventional colorants with known infrared properties, arranging them to create detectable infrared signatures that are invisible under normal lighting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If distraction patterns are added to infrared encoding, then anti-counterfeiting effectiveness is improved, but pattern complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanti-counterfeiting effectivenessVSAvoidpattern complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetric distraction patterns that are visible to the human eye but do not interfere with the symmetric infrared encoding patterns detected by sensors. These distraction elements create visual complexity that deters counterfeiting attempts while maintaining the simplicity of the underlying infrared code structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables effective document security with minimal system overhead and storage requirements, allowing for the detection of counterfeiting and unauthorized copying using standard digital printing materials and devices, while maintaining a low profile under normal lighting conditions.

Implementation Method 1

standard non-impact printing materials with specific colorant combinations that exhibit identical visual responses under normal illumination but distinct infrared characteristics, allowing for the creation of infrared marks that can be detected using infrared-sensitive devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS8455087B2Infrared encoding of security elements using standard xerographic materials with distraction patterns

Publication Date: 2013.06.04 XEROX CORP

AI summary

The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light, and yet decipherable under infrared illumination when viewed by a suitable infrared sensitive device. This infrared mark entails in combination with at least one distraction pattern, a substrate reflective to infrared radiation, and a first colorant mixture and second colorant mixture printed as an image upon the substrate. The first colorant mixture layer in connection with the substrate has a property of strongly reflecting infrared illumination, as well as a property of low contrast under normal illumination against a second colorant mixture as printed in close spatial proximity to the first colorant mixture pattern, such that the resultant image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an infrared illumination, will yield a discernable image evident as a infrared mark to a suitable infrared sensitive device.