This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One claim recites a printed object comprising a machine-readable signal therein, the printed object comprising: a substrate; a first color printed on a substrate, the first color printed on the substrate so as to include holes without the first color, the holes arranged corresponding to the 2-d spatial pattern representing the machine-readable signal; a second color printed in the holes, in which the first color and the second color comprise a spectral reflectance difference at or around 660nm in the range of 8%-60%, in which the second color is printed in the holes with a trap of 1-4 pixels, and in which the machine-readable signal is detectable from image data captured with red-light illumination, the red-light illumination comprising a peak illumination at or around 660nm, in which the trap comprises a spread trap, in which the second color overlaps the first color. The technology may be applied to retail packages and other printed objects, e.g., such as hang tags, labels and receipts.

Digital encoding methods are used to encode digital payloads in image and conductive ink carriers. These carriers are applied to objects by various printing technologies, together in one or more ink formulations or in separate ink layers on an object. The image payload is extracted from an image sensed with image sensor, while the conductive ink payload is extracted from an image sensed with a capacitive or resistive sensor or like device for sensing the modulation in conductivity of the printed conductive ink elements.

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One claim is directed to a container comprising: a 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell, the shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; a first layer of transparent ink printed on the outer surface as a flood within a first region; a second layer of the transparent ink printed over the first layer of transparent ink within the first region, in which the second layer of the transparent ink is printed to include a plurality of holes without any transparent ink printed therein; an opaque ink printed within the plurality of holes of the second layer of transparent ink on first layer of transparent ink within the first region, in which: i) the outer surface/first layer/second layer, and ii) the outer surface/first layer/opaque ink comprise a spectral reflectance difference at a machine-vision wavelength in the range of 8%-35%, and in which the plurality of holes are arranged in a 2-dimensional pattern according to a machine-readable signal, the 2-dimensional pattern being machine-readable from imagery captured of the first region. Of course, other containers, methods, packages, objects, systems, technology and apparatus are described in this disclosure.

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.

The present disclosure relates generally to image signal processing, including encoding signals for image data or artwork. An aggregation module predicts likely detection of an encoded signal, including modeling detection in an environment in which an encoded signal is swiped in front of a camera system comprising at least two cameras.

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One claim is directed to a container comprising: a 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell, the shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; a first layer of transparent ink printed on the outer surface as a flood within a first region; a second layer of the transparent ink printed over the first layer of transparent ink within the first region, in which the second layer of the transparent ink is printed to include a plurality of holes without any transparent ink printed therein; an opaque ink printed within the plurality of holes of the second layer of transparent ink on first layer of transparent ink within the first region, in which: i) the outer surface/first layer/second layer, and ii) the outer surface/first layer/opaque ink comprise a spectral reflectance difference at a machine-vision wavelength in the range of 8%-35%, and in which the plurality of holes are arranged in a 2-dimensional pattern according to a machine-readable signal, the 2-dimensional pattern being machine-readable from imagery captured of the first region. Of course, other containers, methods, packages, objects, systems, technology and apparatus are described in this disclosure.

Techniques are disclosed to identify a form document in an image using a digital fingerprint of the form document. To do so, the image is evaluated to detect features of the image. For each feature, a pixel is plotted in a second image. The second image is the digital fingerprint of the form. To identify the form corresponding to the digital fingerprint, the digital fingerprint may be compared to digital fingerprints of known forms.

A method, apparatus and system for rendering a security mark, can involve providing two variable layers of data text for a security mark including a first variable layer and a second variable layer, and applying the security mark to a recording medium using the two variable layers to create a third variable layer of the security mark. The second variable layer can be applied out of phase or orthogonally from the first variable layer at the same frequency, which can form the third variable layer with data text that is decodable. The third variable layer with the data text can be decodable with a decoding screen. In addition, the first, second, and third variable layers can share the same area. The security mark may comprise a correlation mark.

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.

Techniques are disclosed to identify a form document in an image using a digital fingerprint of the form document. To do so, the image is evaluated to detect features of the image. For each feature, a pixel is plotted in a second image. The second image is the digital fingerprint of the form. To identify the form corresponding to the digital fingerprint, the digital fingerprint may be compared to digital fingerprints of known forms.