Method and apparatus for authentication of a 3D structure

• US 10,019,627 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2016
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AlpVision S. A.
• Original Assignee: AlpVision S. A.
• Inventors: Kutter, Martin, Jordan, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Koziol, Stephen R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Azima, Shaghayegh
• Application Number:
  US15/346,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20170132465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10032 Satellite or aerial image; Remote sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30164 Workpiece; Machine component
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/95 Pattern authentication; Markers therefor; Forgery detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/003 using security elements using digital security elements G07D7/004
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/202 using pattern matching
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/2033 Matching unique patterns, i.e. patterns that are unique to each individual paper

Abstract

New authentication features are proposed that are visible, can be authenticated with a mobile equipment and yet are challenging to counterfeit. In a possible embodiment, the surface of the authentication feature may have three-dimensional characteristics, which can be recognized by a handheld camera, such as a smartphone camera, while it cannot be easily reproduced by a simple scan and print procedure. In a further possible embodiment, at least two different viewpoints of the authentication feature may be acquired using a smartphone camera and the resulting images may be analyzed using the smartphone processor to identify the three-dimensional characteristics of the authentication feature. The manufacturing of the feature may be performed at a low cost by embossing the three dimensional structure on a surface. The authentication feature may be carried by a self-adhesive label or directly embedded on the product packaging.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a 3D pattern of a 3D pattern surface with an imaging device, comprising the steps of:

providing, with an imaging device screen, an indication of a first imaging device position;

capturing, with an imaging device camera, a first digital image of the 3D pattern surface;

comparing, with an imaging device processor, the first image with a 3D pattern reference image to generate a first characteristic signal;

providing, with an imaging device screen, an indication of a second imaging device position;

capturing, with the imaging device camera, a second digital image of the 3D pattern surface;

comparing, with the imaging device processor, the second image with the 3D pattern reference image to generate a second characteristic signal;

wherein comparing the first or second image with the 3D pattern reference image further comprises pre-processing the first or second image;

measuring, with the imaging device processor, a difference between the first and second characteristic signals, the difference being measured as the angle between a first vector joining a first point of highest correlation value in a pre-defined area of a first cross-correlation image signal to a second point of the lowest correlation value in a pre-defined neighborhood area of the first point in the first cross-correlation image signal and a second vector joining a third point of highest correlation value in a pre-defined area of a second cross-correlation image signal to a fourth point of the lowest correlation value in a pre-defined neighborhood area of the third point in the second cross-correlation image signal; and

determining, with the imaging device processor, an authenticity of the 3D pattern based at least in part on whether the measured difference is above a pre-defined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing first or second image with a 3D pattern reference image includes cross-correlating the first or second image with a 3D pattern reference image to generate the first or second cross-correlation signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein measuring a difference between first and second characteristic signals further comprises filtering the first or second cross-correlation signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating to an end user, by displaying a message onto the imaging device display screen, that the 3D item is authenticated.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating to an end user, by emitting a sound onto an imaging device display speaker, that the 3D item is authenticated.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating to an end user, by producing a vibration of the imaging device, that the 3D item is authenticated.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the 3D pattern reference image represents random or pseudo random dot locations.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the 3D pattern reference image represents random or pseudo random dot sizes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the 3D pattern reference image represents random or pseudo random dot greyscale values.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is a smartphone.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the 3D pattern surface is filled with a substantially transparent material resistant to solvents.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the 3D pattern surface is covered with a transparent sticker material resistant to solvents.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the 3D pattern surface material is sensitive to certain solvents, and the 3D pattern is filled with a transparent material sensitive to the same solvents as the embossed item surface material.

14. The Method of claim 1, wherein the 3D pattern surface material is sensitive to certain solvents, and the 3D pattern is covered with a transparent sticker material sensitive to the same solvents as the embossed item surface material.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein an additional transparent layer or varnish is deposited over the 3D pattern surface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the surface of the additional layer or varnish has a randomly variable shape.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the additional layer or varnish has a color tint.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the additional layer or varnish is a non-uniform deposit.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the 3D pattern is combined with a download code and wherein providing, with the imaging device screen, an indication of a first imaging device position further comprises capturing, with the imaging device, the download code, decoding an URL from the download code, connecting to the URL, downloading a software application from the URL to the imaging device, and running on the imaging device the software application to provide to an end user, with the imaging device screen, an indication of a first imaging device position.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises a light source and wherein the first imaging position corresponds to a first angle between the light source and the 3D pattern surface and the second imaging device position corresponds to a second angle between the light source and the 3D pattern surface.