Printed Product Authenticity Determination via Image Binarization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the authenticity of printed products, such as vouchers and identification cards, are inadequate as they require close proximity imaging with a line sensor and fail to accurately distinguish between products printed using different methods, especially when using an image sensor like a digital camera.
Innovation Solution
A determination system that captures images of printed surfaces using an imaging data acquisition device, such as a mobile phone or digital camera, and processes the data to determine the printing method by selecting a determination area, extracting target colors, binarizing gradation data, and comparing reference binary data with converted binary data to identify the printing method used, including processing to enlarge or reduce dark portions of the image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a line sensor such as a scanner is used to capture images in close proximity, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an image sensor to capture an image of the printed surface and creates a digital copy (imaging data) for analysis. This allows the system to work with standard digital images from cameras or smartphones rather than requiring specialized line sensors, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability through computational processing of the digital image data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical scanning process of a line sensor with optical imaging using an image sensor. Instead of physically scanning the document line by line, the system captures a full image and processes it computationally to extract the necessary information for determining the printing method, thus eliminating the need for complex mechanical scanning devices.
2Measurement precision
If a line sensor is used for close proximity imaging, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system accepts standard digital images from common devices like smartphones and cameras as input. Users can simply photograph the printed surface with their mobile phone or camera, and the system automatically processes the image data to determine the printing method, eliminating the need for users to operate specialized scanning equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically performs image processing, binarization, and analysis without requiring user intervention in the complex processing steps. The determination device autonomously processes the uploaded images and returns results, making the system easy to use while maintaining high measurement precision through automated computational algorithms.
3Manufacturing precision
If area coverage modulation method is used for printing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the continuous gradation data from the printed image into binary data through binarization processing. By converting the image data into a simplified binary representation and comparing it with reference binary data, the system can accurately detect the characteristics of area coverage modulation printing and distinguish it from other printing methods, thereby maintaining measurement precision for authenticity determination.
Data Source
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AI summary
A determination device in a determination system selects a determination area included in a captured image from imaging data acquired by an imaging data acquisition device, extracts a determination image of a preset target color from the selected determination area, binarizes gradation data of the target color in a plurality of pixel regions constituting the extracted determination image by using as a reference a binarization threshold suitable for each determination area to acquire binarized reference binary data of the determination image, converts the gradation data of the target color in the plurality of pixel regions constituting the extracted determination image with respect to a dark portion of the determination image to acquire converted gradation data, binarizes the acquired converted gradation data by using as a reference the binarization threshold to acquire comparison binary data, and acquires, based on a comparison result obtained by comparing the reference binary data with the comparison binary data, a determination value for determining a printing method used to produce a printed surface of a printed product.