Product card generation, labeling, inspection, and/or authentication system

• US 20050077488A1
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Igor V. Fetisov
• Original Assignee: Organotek Defense System Corporation
• Inventors: Lazarenko-Manevich, Rem M., Brik, Yevgeny B., Lazarenko-Manevich, Vladimir R., Portyan, Alexander T., Fetisov, Igor V., Ryzhakova, Natalia V., Lagutenko, Oleg, Gasanov, Jafar R., Nekrasov, Victor V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,071,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/566
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/1205 Testing spectral properties

Abstract

Process and device for card generation and labeling for extracted or manufactured consumer products, which enables nondestructive contactless product inspection and/or authentication, including card generation and inspection of packaged products without damage to containers, identification of trade specimens of a product made by a specific manufacturer at every step of its distribution, and detection of counterfeit products and/or detection of product taint or contamination. The process uses the apparatus and methods of spectral analysis to form characteristic multidimensional optical images (signatures), fingerprints, and/or data profiles. Such images are presented as a digital, magnetic, graphic, holographic or other code that can be read by special devices and/or by visual comparison. The code is listed in the product documentation and/or printed directly on the product'"'"'s container, which is made of a material transparent in the spectral band of the probing and analyzed optical radiation or is equipped with a device transparent in the spectral band of the probing and analyzed optical radiation. The device enables the probing optical radiation to enter and the analyzed optical radiation, which is used to obtain the characteristic optical image (signature) of the packaged product, to exit, and permits comparison of the image with the labeling code or card listed in the product documentation and/or printed directly on the product'"'"'s container.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating products comprising:

a. sampling a representative series of randomly selected units of known products from a homonymous lot of known products manufactured in a single production cycle from identical raw materials and optional intermediates;

b. obtaining transmitted luminescent and Raman scattering values for the series of known products to produce a signature for the known product;

c. sampling an unknown product to obtain transmitted luminescent and Raman scattering values for the unknown product to produce a signature for the unknown product; and

d. comparing the signature of the product and the unknown product to determine if the unknown product is the same as the known product.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the unknown product is packaged in a container at least partially constructed of a material which is transparent to the spectral band of probing radiation and the spectral band of analyzed radiation.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the container includes a window made of material transparent to the spectral band of probing radiation and the spectral band of analyzed radiation.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the container includes a prism made of a material transparent to the spectral band of probing radiation and the spectral band of analyzed radiation.

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein the container includes a wave guide transparent to the spectral band of probing radiation and the spectral band of analyzed radiation.

6. The method according to claim 2 wherein the container includes a cell transparent to the spectral band of probing radiation and the spectral band of analyzed radiation.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the signature of the known product is presented as a code that can be read.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the code is selected from the group consisting of digital codes, magnetic codes, holographic codes, and graphic codes.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the container is equipped with a card bearing the signature of the known product.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the known product is selected from the group consisting of chemicals, biochemical'"'"'s and petrochemicals, foodstuffs, perfumes, pharmaceutics, minerals and any other products and/or materials, which contain components absorbing and/or emitting light radiation.