Stylized 2D Machine-Readable Code for Packaging Artwork

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital watermark technologies face challenges in achieving a balance between detectability and human imperceptibility, particularly in dry offset printing, where the amplitude of the watermark can vary significantly, making it either undetectable or visibly apparent, and stylized machine-readable codes often fail to integrate seamlessly into packaging design.

Innovation Solution

A method is developed to create a stylized 2D machine-readable code by collaging excerpts from artwork, which appears as a graphic design element while still encoding a plural-bit message, using transformations and weighting functions to minimize edge discontinuities and ensure readability, even under varying printing conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the watermark amplitude is increased to improve detectability, then the detectability is improved, but the watermark becomes visibly apparent to human viewers

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedetectabilityVSAvoidvisibility to human viewers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the watermark pattern through various image processing operations including filtering, thresholding, and morphological operations to modify its visual properties while preserving detectability. The system adjusts parameters such as edge detection sensitivity and pattern recognition thresholds to maintain optimal performance across different printing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts the watermark pattern based on detected printing conditions and environmental factors. The patent implements adaptive algorithms that modify watermark characteristics in real-time based on feedback from the printing process, allowing the system to optimize between detectability and visual imperceptibility under varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the watermark amplitude is decreased to improve visual imperceptibility, then the visual appearance is improved, but the detectability under adverse imaging conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual imperceptibilityVSAvoiddetectability under adverse conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing the watermark pattern with various image processing techniques during generation, including edge enhancement, pattern reinforcement, and robust feature embedding. These preliminary transformations ensure that even when the watermark is printed at low amplitudes, the essential features remain detectable by the recognition system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces traditional mechanical barcode scanning with advanced image processing and pattern recognition algorithms. The patent employs computational methods such as digital image processing, feature extraction, and machine learning-based recognition to detect watermarks that would be imperceptible to the human eye, substituting visual inspection with automated digital analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If dry offset printing is used to work with tapered shapes, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the manufacturing precision of dot size and print structure deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to work with tapered shapesVSAvoiddot size control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent compensates for dry offset printing variations by implementing adaptive parameter adjustment in the watermark generation process. The system modifies parameters such as pattern density, contrast thresholds, and feature sizes based on expected printing characteristics of the specific substrate and printing equipment, ensuring consistent detection performance despite manufacturing variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts watermark characteristics based on detected or specified printing conditions. The patent implements feedback mechanisms that allow the watermark pattern to be adapted in real-time based on the printing process parameters, substrate properties, and environmental conditions, maintaining optimal performance across different manufacturing scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11514285B2Artwork generated to convey digital messages, and methods/apparatuses for generating such artwork

Publication Date: 2022.11.29 DIGIMARC LLC

AI summary

2D machine readable symbologies are stylized and made aesthetically-appealing, facilitating their use to convey plural-symbol data on product packaging and other articles. In some arrangements, symbologies are stylized by geometric transformations (e.g., by multiple rotation and/or mirroring operations) to develop tiles having organized geometric structures. Such stylized symbologies can be decoded by existing code readers. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.