# US 12,222,299 B2 · Method for assessing contrasts on surfaces

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- Number: US 12,222,299 B2
- Document ID: US12222299B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/913,497
- Filed: 2021-03-03
- Published: 2023-05-11
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-23
- Assignees: 4Art Holding AG
- Applicants: 4Art Holding AG
- Inventors: Kai Zeh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222299B2

## CPC

- G01N 21/95607: {using a comparative method}
- G06Q 30/018: Certifying business or products
- G06V 10/761: {Proximity, similarity or dissimilarity measures}
- G07D 7/12: Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
- G07D 7/2033: Matching unique patterns, i.e. patterns that are unique to each individual paper
- G07D 7/206: Matching template patterns
- H04N 23/60: Control of cameras or camera modules
- H04N 23/675: {comprising setting of focusing regions}
- G01N 2201/0221: Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
- G01N 2201/0616: Ambient light is used
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A method for assessing contrasts on surfaces, in particular for optically identifying structured and/or pictorial surfaces, e.g. of paintings or sculptures, is simple to use independently of the location and safe. For this purpose, the method involves the steps of: focusing a camera onto a prominent image dot on the surface; creating at least two images of a recognizable, high-contrast area of the image dot; and storing the image having the greatest depth of detail as a reference image.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for assessing contrast on surfaces, the method comprising: focusing a camera on an image dot of a surface; after focusing the camera, creating at least two images of a recognizable, high contrast area of the image dot; determining a number of details in each of the at least two images, and storing the image with the highest number of details as a reference image; after focusing the camera, calculating an actual distance to the image dot of the surface based on a physical lens position of the camera.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein creating at least two images comprises creating five to eight images.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein when focusing the camera on the image dot of the surface, a distance of the camera from the surface is 9-10 cm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein when focusing the camera on the image dot of the surface, a distance of the camera from the surface is 9-10 cm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises comparing the reference image with a photograph of the image dot of the surface created at a later time.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises comparing the reference image with a photograph of the image dot of the surface created at a later time.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises comparing the reference image with a photograph of the image dot of the surface created at a later time.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein the method further comprises comparing the reference image is compared with a photograph of the image dot of the surface created at a later time.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:
after storing the image as the reference image, creating another image of the recognizable, high-contrast area of the image dot, and storing this other image as a secondary reference image.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:
after storing the image as the reference image, creating another image of the recognizable, high-contrast area of the image dot, and storing this other image as an authentication image; and
performing a comparison of the authentication image and the reference image based on matches between the authentication image and the reference image.

### Claim 11

A method for assessing contrasts on surfaces, the method comprising: focusing a single camera on an image dot of a surface; after focusing the single camera, using the single camera to create at least two images of a recognizable, high contrast area of the image dot; determining a number of details in each of the at least two images; and storing the image with the highest number of details as a reference image; after focusing the camera, calculating an actual distance to the image dot of the surface based on a physical lens position of the camera.