Secure Printing via Sliced Data on Print Ribbons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Used print ribbons from personalized security documents, such as plastic cards and passports, can reveal confidential information, allowing unauthorized access and potential counterfeiting due to residual ink or dye, which existing methods fail to adequately secure.
Innovation Solution
The technique involves dividing an image into separate portions and printing each portion using different sections or separate print ribbons, ensuring that no single section of the print ribbon contains complete confidential information, requiring long-term access to multiple ribbons to obtain the information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a print ribbon is used to print confidential information on security documents, then the printing function is achieved, but confidential information is left behind on the used ribbon allowing unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complete image into multiple separate image portions and prints each portion using a different section of the print ribbon. This segmentation ensures that no single section of the used ribbon contains the complete confidential information, thereby preventing information leakage while maintaining the printing function.
2Productivity
If the complete image is printed using a single section of print ribbon, then the printing process is simple and efficient, but the entire confidential information is available on one ribbon section
Solution Approach 1:
The image is segmented into multiple portions that are printed in sequence using different ribbon sections. This maintains printing efficiency by using a continuous printing process while distributing the confidential information across multiple ribbon sections, preventing complete information exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to information distribution by placing different image portions at different positions along the ribbon. This dimensional distribution ensures that even if one ribbon section is accessed, the complete information cannot be reconstructed without accessing multiple sections.
3Reliability
If the image is divided into separate portions and printed using different ribbon sections, then confidential information is secured, but the printing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation of the image into multiple portions is achieved through automated software processing that divides the original image file into separate image portion files. This segmentation is then applied during the printing process by sequentially printing each portion using different ribbon sections, maintaining security while managing complexity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The image portions are prepared and organized in advance before the printing process begins. This preliminary action includes dividing the complete image into specified portions and arranging them in a predetermined sequence, which simplifies the actual printing process by eliminating the need for real-time complex decision-making during printing.
4Reliability
If multiple image portions are printed separately, then information security is enhanced, but the printing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image is divided into multiple portions that are printed in continuous sequence without significant delays between portions. This segmentation approach distributes information security across multiple ribbon sections while minimizing total printing time through efficient sequential processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing process maintains continuity by sequentially printing each image portion immediately after the previous one, using different sections of the same ribbon or multiple ribbons in an uninterrupted manner. This continuous action minimizes idle time while achieving the security benefit of distributed information printing.
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 method effectively secures confidential information by making it difficult for casual access to the used print ribbon, as no single section contains the complete data, thus enhancing the security of printed documents like plastic cards and passports.
Implementation Method 1
a print head and a print ribbon... printing of the image portions
Implementation Method 2
dye or ink from the ribbon was transferred from the print ribbon to the card
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An image to be printed on a surface of a substrate that forms, or will be used in, a personalized security document is generated. The image to be printed is then sliced, divided, separated, etc. into a plurality of separate image portions. Each of the separate image portions is then printed onto the substrate. Together, the separate printed image portions form the desired image on the substrate. Each image portion contains only a portion of any confidential or personal information. Each separate image portion is printed using separate sections of a single print ribbon. Since each image portion is printed using a different section of the print ribbon, each ribbon section contains only a portion of any confidential or personal information. This makes it difficult for someone to obtain the confidential or personal information from just a brief or casual glance at the used print ribbon.