Signal encoding for difficult environments
AssigneeDigimarc Corporation
InventorsKristyn R. Falkenstern, Alastair M. Reed
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Abstract
This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. We disclose methods, systems and apparatus for selecting which ink(s) should be selected to carry an encoded signal for a given machine-vision wavelength for a retail package or other printed design. We also disclose retail product packages and other printed objects, and methods to generate such, including a sparse mark in a first ink and an overprinted ink flood in a second ink. The first ink and the second ink are related through tack and spectral reflectance difference. Of course, other methods, packages, objects, systems and apparatus are described in this disclosure.
Claims18
A method of providing a design for a printed object comprising:
- obtaining information associated with a first substrate comprising a first area, the first area comprising a first region and a second region, the first region comprising a layer of ink flood over a layer of first substrate, the second region comprising a layer of ink flood, over a layer of sparse mark pattern, the layer of sparse mark pattern arranged over a layer of first substrate;
- providing an encoded signal arranged in the sparse mark pattern to be printed within the first area with a first ink;
- obtaining information associated with the ink flood to be printed over the sparse mark pattern and the first substrate within the first area with a second ink, in which the second ink comprises a greater tack or adhesion with the first substrate relative to its tack or adhesion with the first ink, which yields a thicker ink flood in the first region relative to the second region;
- determining whether the first region and the second region comprise a spectral reflectance difference at a machine-vision wavelength in the range of 8%-60%;
- selecting a different combination of first ink and second ink when the spectral reflectance difference at a machine-vision wavelength is not within the range of 8%-60%.
A printed object forming a product label, packaging or a hang tag, the printed object comprising:
- a first substrate comprising a first area, the first area comprising a first region and a second region, the first region comprising a layered structure including an ink flood over an area of first substrate, the second region comprising a layered structure including the ink flood over a machine-readable sparse mark pattern, in which the machine-readable spare mark pattern is arranged over an area of first substrate, the ink flood conveyed with a first ink and the machine-readable sparse mark pattern conveyed with a second ink, in which the first ink comprises a greater tack or adhesion with the first substrate relative to its tack or adhesion with the second ink, and due to tack or adhesion differences the first region and the second region comprise a spectral reflectance difference in the range of 8%-60% at or around 660 nm, the machine-readable sparse mark pattern being detectable from optically captured scan data associated with spectral reflectance values associated with the first region and the second region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.