Device-Independent Pattern Ink Cells for Scalable Security Printing

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security printing technologies face challenges in incorporating specialty imaging elements that are device-specific and resolution-dependent, leading to distortion or failure when printed on different hardware resolutions, which complicates the creation and tracking of pattern ink cells and affects the aesthetic and security integrity of documents.

Innovation Solution

A document printing system that defines a device-independent pattern ink cell using page description language, with scaling routines to adjust parameters based on the print device's resolution, allowing for the creation of a single pattern ink cell that can be applied across multiple devices and resolutions, ensuring accurate and scalable security features.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If specialty imaging elements (microtext, GlossMark, correlation marks) are used for security watermarking, then security and fraud protection are improved, but the elements require exact pixel size and placement that causes distortion or failure when printed on different hardware resolutions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity integrityVSAvoiddevice independence

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of pattern ink cell definition from fixed pixel dimensions to scalable vector graphics defined by mathematical equations. The pattern ink cells are defined using PostScript commands with parameters for size, position, and shape that can be dynamically adjusted based on the printing device's resolution, allowing the same security element to be reliably reproduced across different hardware resolutions without distortion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal pattern ink cell definition that can be used across multiple printing devices with different resolutions. By defining the security elements as resolution-independent vector patterns with scalable parameters, a single pattern ink cell definition serves all printing devices, eliminating the need for device-specific versions while maintaining security integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If fixed-size pattern ink cells are created for specific resolutions (e.g., 600×600 dpi), then accurate printing is achieved at that resolution, but the same pattern ink cells do not work at different resolutions (e.g., 1200×1200 dpi)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting accuracyVSAvoidnumber of pattern ink cells

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal pattern ink cell definition that can be used across multiple printing devices with different resolutions. By defining the security elements as resolution-independent vector patterns with scalable parameters, a single pattern ink cell definition serves all printing devices, eliminating the need for device-specific versions while maintaining security integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If specialty imaging fonts are placed at exact pixel positions with fixed sizes, then the security effect is achieved, but any scaling or displacement causes the specialty imaging effect to fail or distort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecialty imaging effectVSAvoidscalability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of pattern ink cell definition from fixed pixel dimensions to scalable vector graphics defined by mathematical equations. The pattern ink cells are defined using PostScript commands with parameters for size, position, and shape that can be dynamically adjusted based on the printing device's resolution, allowing the same security element to be reliably reproduced across different hardware resolutions without distortion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10063737B2Document printing using hardware-independent pattern ink cells

Publication Date: 2018.08.28 XEROX CORP

AI summary

A system prints a document using a device-independent pattern ink cell that is appropriate for the print device. The system does this by identifying an object in a print job corresponding to a security element that identifies a pattern ink cell for a color parameter. The system then defines a device-independent pattern ink cell for rendering the identified object. The definition of the device-independent pattern ink cell includes at least one scaling routine for adjusting a parameter of the device-independent pattern ink cell based on a resolution of a print device that will be used for printing the document. The system then queries and receives from a print system a device resolution of the print device, executes the at least one scaling routine to transform the device-independent pattern ink cell to yield a device-dependent pattern ink cell, and generates a print using the device-dependent pattern ink cell.