JP7436079B1 - Output material, method for displaying latent image pattern on screen, and software - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an output product of a latent image obtained by converting a latent image pattern having gradations into a latent image, and a method and software for displaying a visualized image that visualizes the latent image pattern on a screen. [Solution] In the present invention, units [U] having the drawing lines [S] are arranged continuously and regularly, and the drawing lines [S] are arranged according to the light amount [18] of the latent image pattern [1]. By rotating, a latent image [4] is formed by converting the latent image pattern [1] into a latent image. In addition, in the present invention, a still image [16] is extracted from a video signal [15] obtained by capturing an output [5] of a latent image [4], feature points of a drawing line [S] are extracted, smoothed, and By averaging, a visualized image [7] that visualizes the latent image pattern [1] is displayed on the screen. [Selection diagram] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a latent image forming technique for converting a pattern having gradation (hereinafter referred to as a "latent image pattern") into a latent image, an output product that visualizes the latent image pattern from the latent image, and a latent image pattern. It relates to a method and software for displaying on a screen.

In the field of image processing, where content is displayed on information terminals (e.g. smartphones) equipped with a screen and a camera, a virtual object β that does not actually exist is superimposed on the real image α by computer processing. There is an augmented reality (AR) technology that displays images on a screen. A common method for this augmented reality is to determine the object β to be superimposed and combine it with the image α by detecting feature points or markers from the image α or by acquiring position information from the GPS function of an information terminal. It is.

Therefore, in augmented reality, information (feature points, markers, position information, etc.) that associates object β with video α and an image of object β must be registered in advance on an application or website. That is, the object β can be superimposed only on the known image α, and it is impossible to superimpose a significant object β on the unknown image α. In addition, even if the information of the video α is registered in advance, it is technically difficult to superimpose a different object β on each of multiple videos α that are taken of a plain color or the same pattern at the same position. ing.

On the other hand, in the printing field, there is a technology that hides a pattern different from the pattern of the printed material γ (hereinafter referred to as "latent image pattern δ") in the printed material γ itself imaged by an information terminal and visualizes it through computer processing. be. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of forming a printed pattern (printed material γ) in which a latent pattern δ is converted into a latent image. A method for displaying a latent image pattern δ on the screen of an information terminal is shown.

In this way, if the latent image pattern δ, which cannot be recognized by human vision, is hidden in the imaged printed material γ, the information that associates the printed material γ with the latent image pattern δ and the latent image pattern δ can be There is no need to pre-register on the application or website. Further, it is easy to make different latent image patterns δ appear on printed matter γ having a plain color or the same pattern.

Patent No. 6976527 Patent No. 7024982

Patent Document 1 is a method of converting a latent image pattern δ into a latent image (hereinafter referred to as "latent image forming technology"). In Patent Document 1, the latent image pattern δ is made into a latent image by regularly arranging fine lines having the same shape and size at angles in two directions. However, since the angles in these two directions have a positive and negative relationship, there is a problem in that the latent image pattern δ is limited to a two-tone pattern consisting only of white and black.

Although it is possible to reproduce pseudo gradations using dithering techniques (e.g. error diffusion method) even with only black and white, the expressive power is limited to patterns with gradations like gray scale. In this case, there was a problem that the image quality was inferior.

Patent Document 2 is a method (hereinafter referred to as "visualization technology") of extracting/visualizing a latent image pattern δ from a printed matter γ. In Patent Document 2, in order to extract the characteristic points of the lines of the printed matter γ using a differential filter, a smoothing process is performed to remove lines other than the lines constituting the latent image pattern δ as preprocessing. There is a problem in that the lines constituting the latent image pattern δ are also smoothed, and the extracted latent image pattern δ becomes unclear.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an output product in which a latent image pattern δ having gradation is turned into a latent image, a method for displaying the latent image pattern δ on a screen, and software. do.

The output product [5] of the present invention according to claim 1 is an output product [5] that has a print/display area in which the first latent image [4] is output on at least a part of the medium. Thus, the first latent image [4] includes a plurality of perfect circular units [U] that define a virtual area arranged continuously and regularly within a rectangle. In this example, a plurality of perfect circular units [U] defining a virtual area are arranged continuously and regularly in a rectangle, and each unit [U] has a bar-shaped drawing line passing through the center of the unit [U]. [S], and the object line [S] in each unit [U] is arranged at a rotation angle [r] according to the light intensity [18] of the gray scale [9] in the visualization process, and each unit A first latent image [4], which is a latent image of the latent image pattern [1] having gradation, is formed by the image line [S] in [U], and the print/display area is imaged, It is characterized in that by processing the captured first latent image [4] by a computer [3], a visualized image [7] in which the latent pattern [1] is visualized is displayed on the screen.

The present invention as set forth in claim 2 provides the output product [5] as set forth in claim 1, in which a plurality of units [U] are arranged so that the centers of the units [U] are staggered, and the units [U] are arranged in a row direction. The unit [U] to be arranged is such that the distance [m] between the centers of adjacent units [U] is equal to the outer diameter [d] of the unit [U], and the unit [U] is arranged in the nth row. The center of the unit [U] and the center of the unit [U] arranged in the n+1th row are shifted by 1/2 of the outer diameter [d] in the row direction, and √3 of the outer diameter [d] in the column direction. /2 interval [dv], the object line [S] is a color with an 8-bit value of light intensity [18] of less than 128, and the object line [S] has a shape and a shape that does not exceed the outer diameter dimension [d]. The image line [S] has an aspect ratio of 1:4 or more, and the image line [S] has an 8-bit value of the latent image pattern [1] with the center of the unit [U] as the rotation axis. The rotation angle [r] is in the range of 0 degrees to 90 degrees.

The present invention as set forth in claim 3 provides the output product [5] as set forth in claim 2, in which the row and column directions of the plurality of units [U] arranged are the same as those of the first latent image [4]. It is characterized by being arranged at an angle of 1 to 29 degrees with respect to the sides of the rectangle.

The present invention according to claim 4 provides an output product [5] according to claim 2 , in which the first latent image [4] has a visible pattern of a color with an 8-bit value of light amount [18] of 192 or more. When the second latent image [4] is formed by combining [2], the captured second latent image [4] is processed by the computer [3]. It is characterized by displaying a visualized image [7] that visualizes the latent image pattern [1] on the screen.

The method for visualizing the latent image pattern [1] of the present invention according to claim 5 is a method of visualizing the latent image pattern [1] from an image of the output product [5] according to claim 4. A method for displaying an image [7] on a screen, which includes the steps of capturing an image of an output object [5] to obtain a video signal [15], and extracting a frame from the video signal [15] to generate a still image [16]. ], obtaining the brightness from the still image [16] as a first image, and applying the first tone curve [12] to the first image to obtain the visible pattern [2]. a step of obtaining a second image from which the feature points of the drawing line [S] are extracted by performing a first convolution operation on the second image; A step of performing a second convolution operation on the image No. 3 to obtain a fourth image with smoothed and averaged feature points, and applying a second tone curve [12] to the fourth image. The present invention is characterized by comprising a step of obtaining a contrast-adjusted visualized image [7], and a step of displaying the visualized image [7] on a screen.

The software [8] of the present invention according to claim 6 implements the method for visualizing the latent image pattern [1] according to claim 5 in an imaging unit [U01], an image processing unit [U02], and a display unit [ Software [8] to be executed by an information terminal [6] equipped with [U03], which includes a step of capturing an image of an output [5] to obtain a video signal [15], and from the video signal [15], A step of extracting a frame to obtain a still image [16], a step of obtaining the brightness from the still image [16] as a first image, and applying a first tone curve [12] to the first image to obtain a second image from which the visible pattern [2] has been removed, and a third image in which the feature points of the drawing line [S] are extracted by performing the first convolution operation on the second image. a step of acquiring an image; a step of performing a second convolution operation on the third image to obtain a fourth image with smoothed and averaged feature points; The information terminal [6] is characterized by applying the tone curve [12] to obtain a contrast-adjusted visualized image [7] and displaying the visualized image [7] on the screen. do.

According to the present invention, an output product can be produced from a latent image obtained by converting a latent image pattern having gradation into a latent image. Further, according to the present invention, a visualized image in which a pattern to be latently imaged is visualized can be displayed on the screen.

A schematic diagram showing the latent image forming technology of the present invention A schematic diagram showing the visualization technology of the present invention A schematic diagram showing a latent image of the present invention Diagram showing the configuration of the unit Diagram showing the situation and distance at which an output object is imaged by an information terminal Diagram showing an example of the shape of the drawing line Diagram showing rotation of drawing lines Diagram showing unit arrangement Diagram showing unit placement and drawing rotation Diagram showing how a latent image pattern becomes a latent image Diagram showing the state in which the output product is imaged with an information terminal Diagram showing the inclination of the grid arrangement of units Diagram showing grid alignment tilt and stroke rotation Diagram showing the visible pattern to be combined with the latent image Diagram showing synthesis and output of latent image and visible pattern Diagram showing the configuration of an information terminal Flowchart showing steps of visualization technology Diagram showing the flow of computer processing Flowchart showing the procedure for visualizing the latent image pattern Diagram showing brightness extraction Diagram showing application of tone curve correction A Diagram showing extraction of feature points by convolution operation Diagram showing smoothing and averaging using convolution operations Diagram showing application of tone curve correction B A schematic diagram showing a printed matter according to an embodiment of the present invention Diagram showing confirmation of lottery results in an embodiment of the present invention

A mode for carrying out the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the mode for carrying out the invention described below, and is based on the technical idea described in the claims. Various other embodiments are included within the scope.

FIG. 1 shows an overview of the latent image forming technology of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the latent image pattern [1] and the visible pattern [2] are processed by a computer [3] so that the latent image pattern [1] becomes a latent image (invisible), and the visible pattern [2] becomes a latent image pattern [1]. ] is formed as a latent image [4] which remains in a state that can be recognized by human vision. Note that the visible pattern [2] is not an essential condition in the present invention, so it may be plain or unused.

FIG. 2 shows an overview of the visualization technology of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the output [5] of the latent image [4] is imaged with an information terminal [6] equipped with a screen and a camera, and the latent image pattern [1] is processed by software [8]. ] is extracted (visualized) and displayed on the screen as a visualized image [7]. Note that the software [8] may be an application installed on the information terminal [6], or a script that operates on a web browser provided on the information terminal [6].

(Latent image technology)
FIG. 3 shows a latent image [4] of the present invention. As shown in the enlarged view on the right, the latent image [4] is formed by composing a plurality of units [U] that constitute the drawing line, which will be explained later, and the visible pattern [2]. be done.

FIG. 4 shows a unit [U] that constitutes a drawing line [S]. As shown in FIG. 4, the unit [U] is a perfect circle that defines a virtual area for forming the drawing line [S], has no color or solid line, and has an outer diameter [d]. , equal to the diameter of a perfect circle.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the optimum value of the outer diameter dimension [d] of the unit [U] differs depending on the distance at which the output object [5] is imaged by the information terminal [6]. For example, as shown in Fig. 5(a), if the distance between the output [5] and the information terminal [6] is approximately 150 mm, the outer diameter [d] is in the range of 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm. is preferable, and as shown in FIG. 5(b), when the distance between the output object [5] and the information terminal [6] is about 1.2 m, the outer diameter dimension [d] is in the range of 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm. It is preferable that the However, since the optimal value of the outer diameter dimension [d] depends on the performance (viewing angle and resolution) of the camera of the information terminal [6], the value is not limited in the present invention.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the unit [U] has a bar-shaped drawing line [S] passing through the center of the area, and this drawing line [S] is the outer diameter dimension [d] of the unit [U]. The shape and size shall not exceed. That is, the vertical dimension [v] and the horizontal dimension [h] of the drawing line [S] are both smaller than the outer diameter dimension [d].

Further, the object line [S] has a shape with a different aspect ratio so that feature points can be extracted by a visualization technique described later. Note that the aspect ratio is 1:4 or more, and for example, the aspect ratio in the case of FIG. 4 is 1:10.

Further, the drawing line [S] may have a designable shape as shown in FIG. 6 as long as it satisfies the requirement that the shape has a different aspect ratio.

FIG. 7 shows the rotation of the drawing line [S] that the unit [U] has. As shown in FIG. 7, the drawing line [S] varies from 0 degrees to 90 degrees with the center of the unit [U] as the rotation axis, depending on the light intensity of the gray scale [9] (0 to 255 in the case of 8-bit value). Rotate within degrees. For example, when the light amount of gray scale [9] is 170, the rotation angle [r] of the object line [S] is 60 degrees. Note that the rotation direction of the drawing line [S] may be clockwise or counterclockwise.

FIG. 8 shows the arrangement of the unit [U]. As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of units [U] are arranged continuously and regularly (hereinafter referred to as "grid arrangement"). At this time, the interval [dh] between each unit [U] in the row direction is equal to the outer diameter dimension [d] of the unit [U]. Further, the interval [dv] in the column direction is calculated using Equation 1 described below. Since this calculation result is equal to the height of an equilateral triangle, the distance [m] between the centers of adjacent units [U] is all equal to the outer diameter dimension [d].

FIG. 9 shows the grid arrangement of the unit [U] and the rotation of the drawing line [S]. As shown in FIG. 9, the units [U] are arranged in a grid starting from the origin (for example, the upper left end) of the latent image pattern [1]. The image line [S] rotates according to the above-mentioned rule according to the amount of light obtained by averaging the latent image pattern [1] in the range of each unit [U].

FIG. 10 shows the formation of latent image pattern [1] into a latent image. As shown in FIG. 10, the result of rotating all the drawing lines [S] as described above becomes a latent image [4].

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the output object [5] is imaged by the information terminal [6]. As shown in FIG. 11, the scanning lines [10] of the camera and display of the information terminal [6] are generally arranged in the horizontal/vertical direction. When the output [5] of the latent image [4] is captured using such an information terminal [6], interference fringes [11] may occur. This is because the horizontal direction of the grid arrangement and the scanning line [10] of the camera/display of the information terminal [6] have the same directionality. Such interference fringes [11] become noise components in the visualization technique, so it is preferable to avoid them as much as possible.

FIG. 12 shows the inclination of the grid arrangement of unit [U]. As shown in FIG. 12, if the grid arrangement is tilted within the range of 1 degree to 29 degrees, the units [U] will be arranged so that they are not lined up horizontally and vertically, resulting in interference fringes as shown in FIG. The occurrence of [11] can be avoided. As a supplement, if the grid arrangement is tilted by 30 degrees, the units [U] will be arranged vertically. Therefore, it is within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention to tilt the grid arrangement, for example, in the range of 31 degrees to 59 degrees. Note that the inclination angle [r] in the case of FIG. 12 is 15 degrees. Furthermore, the direction of inclination of the grid arrangement may be clockwise or counterclockwise.

FIG. 13 shows the inclination of the grid arrangement of the unit [U] and the rotation of the drawing line [S]. As shown in FIG. 13, the inclined grid arrangement is arranged so as to cover the latent image target pattern [1]. As described above, the image line [S] rotates according to the amount of light obtained by averaging the latent image pattern [1] in the range of each unit [U]. As a result, a latent image [4] is formed with the rectangular size of the latent image pattern [1].

FIG. 14 shows the visible pattern [2] to be combined with the latent image [4]. For the visible pattern [2], it is preferable to set the light amount of the 8-bit value to 192 or more, assuming that it will be erased by the visualization technology described later. For example, as shown in FIG. 14(a), when all the light quantities of the visible pattern [2] are 192 or more, there is no need to correct the light quantity. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14(b), if the visible pattern [2'] includes a pattern with a light amount of less than 192, tone curve [12] correction with a lower limit light amount of 192 is applied. Note that the visible pattern [2] is not limited to gray scale, and may be RGB or CMYK. In this case, each channel (in the case of RGB, the R channel, G channel, and B channel) is the target to which the tone curve [12] is applied. Further, as described above, the visible pattern [2] is not an essential condition in the present invention, and therefore may be plain or unused.

FIG. 15 shows the composition of the latent image [4'] and the visible pattern [2]. As shown in FIG. 15, when there is a visible pattern [2], a latent image [4'] obtained by converting the latent image pattern [1] into a latent image and the visible pattern [2] are synthesized by image processing (e.g. , multiplication and synthesis) becomes the final latent image [4]. Note that the line [S] included in the latent image [4] is not limited to black, and may be RGB or CMYK as long as the amount of light is less than 128. Further, the color of each object line [S] may be changed as long as the condition that the amount of light is less than 128 is satisfied.

Further, the output of the latent image [4] by the output device [13] becomes the output product [5] for the visualization technology. Note that the output device [13] includes anything that has a function of printing on a base material, such as a printing machine and a printer. Furthermore, the latent image [4] may be output by, for example, an electronic device [14] having a screen such as a digital signage.

(Visualization technology)
Next, a method for visualizing the latent image pattern [1] from the output object [5] using the information terminal [6] will be explained.

FIG. 16 shows the configuration of the information terminal [6]. As shown in FIG. 16, the information terminal [6] in the present invention is a device that includes an imaging section [U01], an image processing section [U02], and a display section [U03].

The imaging unit [U01] uses a camera function to image the output object [5] and obtain a video signal. The image processing unit [U02] extracts a frame (here, each still image that constitutes a video) from the video signal acquired by the imaging unit [U01], and extracts a latent image pattern [1]. Perform processing to visualize. The display unit [U03] displays the visualized image [7] visualized by the image processing unit [U02] on a screen such as a liquid crystal display.

As a supplement, the image processing unit [U02] requires computer processing. Therefore, it is desirable to have an information terminal [6] that runs an OS and software [8] on the CPU. Examples of such information terminals [6] include smartphones, tablet computers, portable game devices, and the like. Further, the software [8] may be an application installed on the OS, or a script running on a web browser provided in the information terminal [6].

The visualization technique of the present invention uses the above-mentioned information terminal [6] and processes according to the procedure shown in FIG. 17.

In step S01, the camera of the imaging unit [U01] is activated.
In step S02, a video signal obtained by imaging the output object [5] is obtained from the camera of the imaging unit [U01].
In step S03, one frame is extracted from the video signal obtained in step S02 to obtain a still image.
In step S04, the image processing unit [U02] performs a process of removing the visible pattern [2] from the still image acquired in step S03 and visualizing the latent image pattern [1].
In step S05, the display unit [U03] displays the visualized image [7] visualized in step S04 on the screen. Note that by repeating the processes from step S03 to step S05, the latest visualized image [7] is always displayed on the screen.
In step S06, the operation of the camera of the imaging unit [U01] is stopped, and the software [8] is ended.

FIG. 18 shows the flow of computer processing in the image processing unit [U02]. As shown in FIG. 18, the video signal [15] is updated at a frame rate of, for example, 30 fps (frames per second). In step S03, the image processing unit [U02] extracts one frame from the video signal [15] to obtain a still image [16]. Next, as step S04, a process is performed to visualize the latent image pattern [1] from the still image [16], and as step S05, the visualized image [7] is displayed on the screen of the information terminal [6]. The time required for this one process is the processing time [T], and the processing time [T] is preferably as short as possible. Therefore, in the computer processing in step S04, it is desirable to shorten the processing time [T] by multi-thread processing, bit shift calculation, or the like.

As a supplement, the image processing unit [U02] repeatedly executes the above-described process. On the other hand, since the video signal [15] is acquired asynchronously, after the processing of the still image [16] of frame A is completed, frame D will be processed next. That is, frames B to C are not processed by the image processing unit [U02].

Further, step S04 is performed to visualize the latent image pattern [1], and is processed according to the procedure shown in FIG. 19.

In step S11, the brightness is acquired from the still image [16] as a first image.
In step S12, tone curve correction A is applied to the first image obtained in step S11 to obtain a second image. Note that steps S11 and S12 are processes for eliminating the visible pattern [2].
In step S13, a convolution operation is performed on the second image obtained in step S12 to obtain a third image in which feature points of the drawing line [S] are extracted.
In step S14, a convolution operation is performed on the third image obtained in step S13 to obtain a fourth image in which feature points are smoothed and averaged.
In step S15, tone curve correction B is applied to the fourth image obtained in step S14 to obtain a visualized image [7]. Note that steps S13 to S15 are processes for visualizing the latent image pattern [1].

FIG. 20 shows the extraction of lightness (L) in step S11. For example, as shown in FIG. 20(a), in the case of a general conversion formula to gray scale, a density difference occurs in the hue wheel [17], so the colored visible pattern [2] cannot be eliminated. Therefore, in the present invention, the lightness (L) is calculated using Equation 2 below, and as shown in FIG. Delete the pattern made up of.

FIG. 21 shows the application of tone curve correction A in step S12. As shown in FIG. 21, by applying tone curve [12] to the first image, a pattern with a difference in brightness and darkness is removed from visible pattern [2]. Note that the tone curve [12] in FIG. 21 shows an example, and the calculation formula is not limited as long as it can eliminate the difference in brightness of the visible pattern [2].

Further, as described in the latent image formation technology, the visible pattern [2] is composed of a light amount of 192 or more. Therefore, by applying tone curve [12] as shown in Fig. 21, the difference in brightness when the light amount is 192 or more is reduced, and the "star pattern" of visible pattern [2] is eliminated like visible pattern [2']. Ru. Further, it is preferable that the tone curve [12] is applied so that it does not affect the image line [S] having a light amount of less than 128.

FIG. 22 shows extraction of feature points in step S13. As shown in FIG. 22, feature points are extracted using a convolution operation. As shown in the upper diagram, when a second-order differential filter is applied to the drawing line [S], for example, in the vertical direction (n), the brightness (c) is obtained. When such a second-order differential filter is applied to the second image, as shown in the lower diagram, an image E is obtained in which feature points of drawing lines [S] having different rotation angles are extracted. Note that since the subject of this explanation is visualization technology, explanation of convolution operation, which is a known image processing technique, will be omitted.

FIG. 23 shows the smoothing and averaging in step S14. As shown in FIG. 23, the smoothing/averaging uses a convolution operation (eg, Gaussian filter). For smoothing, image F is obtained by applying a vertical smoothing filter to the third image. Further, as averaging, image G is obtained by applying horizontal and vertical averaging filters. Note that although smoothing and averaging are separated in this description, it is within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention to simultaneously execute the convolution operations of smoothing and averaging using a single kernel.

Further, as a result of the above calculation, a difference occurs in the amount of light [18] per unit area depending on the rotation angle of the drawing line [S].

FIG. 24 shows the application of tone curve correction B in step S15. As shown in Figure 24, by applying the tone curve [12] to the fourth image, the contrast of the amount of light per unit area [18'] is adjusted, and the visualized image [7] has a greater difference in brightness and darkness. The amount of light becomes [18]. Note that in contrast adjustment, gamma correction may be applied in addition to adjustment of highlight points and shadow points. Moreover, the tone curve [12] in FIG. 24 shows an example, and the calculation formula is not limited as long as it can adjust the contrast of the visualized image [7].

By the visualization technique described above, a visualized image [7] in which the gradation of the latent image pattern [1] is recursively restored is obtained from the output product [5] of the latent image [4].

Hereinafter, in accordance with the mode for carrying out the present invention, specific examples will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

This embodiment will be explained using an example of a scratch lottery. Note that a scratch lottery is a lottery in which the lottery results are sealed (blocked) on printed matter, and the person who obtains the lottery scratches the sealed part with a coin or the like to check the lottery results. This kind of scratch lottery is gaining popularity because of the advantage of being able to check the lottery results on the spot, but there are manufacturing costs involved in applying a protective layer (OP varnish) and a sealing layer (non-transparent ink) after the lottery results are printed. However, there are also some disadvantages such as the generation of scraps when scraping.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned advantages and disadvantages, the scratch lottery of this embodiment has a form in which the sealed part is formed using the latent image technology of the present invention, and the lottery results can be confirmed using the visualization technology. For example, as shown in FIG. 25, a scratch lottery ticket [19] printed on n sheets has an envelope designed with a latent image [4]. A latent image [4] formed from the latent image pattern [1], which is different for each sheet, is printed on this sealed portion.

FIG. 26 shows confirmation of the lottery results. As shown in FIG. 26, when the information terminal [6] captures an image of the sealed part of the scratch lottery ticket [19], a visualized image [7] is displayed on the screen and the lottery result can be confirmed. Note that the lottery results are not determined by, for example, random numbers or probabilities when accessing a website, but are determined by a printed scratch lottery [19]. Therefore, there is no need to take measures (for example, ID registration) to prevent re-drawing of the same printed material.

As a supplement, as a demonstration of this example, when the latent image pattern [1] was visualized using a script (JavaScript) running on the web browser (Safari) included in a smartphone (iPhone (registered trademark) 12Pro), a still image was obtained. It was confirmed that each image was processed by computer in about 35 milliseconds.

1 Latent image pattern 2, 2' Visible pattern 3 Computer 4, 4' Latent image 5 Output object 6 Information terminal 7, 7' Visualized image 8 Software 9 Gray scale 10 Scanning line 11 Interference fringes 12 Tone curve 13 Output device 14 Electronic equipment 15 Video signal 16 Still image 17 Hue circle 18, 18' Light amount 19 Scratch lottery U Unit S Image line d Outer diameter dimension h Horizontal dimension v Vertical dimension r Angle dh Distance in row direction dv Distance in column direction m Center to center Interval U01 Imaging unit U02 Image processing unit U03 Display unit c Brightness T Processing time A, B, C, D Frame E, F, G Image

Claims (6)

An output product having a print/display area in which a first latent image is output on at least a part of the medium,
In the first latent image, a plurality of perfect circular units defining a virtual area are arranged continuously and regularly within a rectangle,
Each of the units has a rod-shaped drawing line passing through the center of the unit,
The drawing lines in each of the units are arranged at a rotation angle according to the amount of gray scale light in the visualization process,
The first latent image, which is a latent image of a latent image pattern having gradations, is formed by the image lines in each of the units;
An output product characterized in that a visualized image in which the latent pattern is visualized is displayed on a screen by capturing an image of the print/display area and computer processing the captured first latent image. A plurality of the units are arranged such that the centers of the units are staggered,
The units arranged in the row direction are arranged such that the distance between the centers of the adjacent units is equal to the outer diameter dimension of the units,
The center of the unit arranged in the n-th row and the center of the unit arranged in the n+1 row are shifted by 1/2 of the outer diameter dimension in the row direction, and the outer diameter dimension is shifted in the column direction. arranged at intervals of √3/2 of
The drawing line has a color with an 8-bit value of light amount of less than 128,
The drawing line has a shape and size that does not exceed the outer diameter dimension,
The drawing line has an aspect ratio of 1:4 or more,
The image line is rotated about the center of the unit as a rotation axis in accordance with the amount of light of the 8-bit value of the latent image pattern, and the rotation angle is in a range of 0 degrees to 90 degrees. Output product described in item 1. The row direction and the column direction of the plurality of units arranged are arranged at an angle of 1 degree to 29 degrees with respect to the rectangular sides of the first latent image. The output product according to claim 2. When a second latent image is formed by combining a visible pattern of a color with an 8-bit value of light amount of 192 or more on the first latent image,
3. The output product according to claim 2, wherein the captured second latent image is subjected to the computer processing to display the visualized image in which the latent pattern is visualized on the screen. 5. A method for displaying the visualized image in which the latent image pattern is visualized on the screen from an image of the output product according to claim 4 ,
capturing an image of the output object to obtain a video signal;
extracting a frame from the video signal to obtain a still image;
Obtaining brightness as a first image from the still image;
applying a first tone curve to the first image to obtain a second image with the visible pattern removed;
performing a first convolution operation on the second image to obtain a third image in which feature points of the drawing line are extracted;
performing a second convolution operation on the third image to obtain a fourth image in which the feature points are smoothed and averaged;
applying a second tone curve to the fourth image to obtain the visualized image with adjusted contrast;
A method for visualizing the latent image pattern, comprising the step of displaying the visualized image on a screen. Software for causing an information terminal including an imaging unit, an image processing unit, and a display unit to execute the method for visualizing the latent image pattern according to claim 5,
the step of capturing an image of the output object to obtain the video signal;
the step of extracting the frame from the video signal to obtain the still image;
the step of acquiring the brightness as the first image from the still image;
the step of applying the first tone curve to the first image to obtain the second image from which the visible pattern has been removed;
performing the first convolution operation on the second image to obtain the third image in which the feature points of the drawing line are extracted;
the step of performing the second convolution operation on the third image to obtain the fourth image in which the feature points are smoothed and averaged;
the step of applying the second tone curve to the fourth image to obtain the visualized image with the contrast adjusted;
Software that causes the information terminal to execute the step of displaying the visualized image on the screen.