Product packaging including digital data

• US 20070001011A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verification Technologies, Inc. (Sun Chemical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verification Technologies, Inc. (Sun Chemical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vig, Rakesh, Selinfreund, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/513,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001011A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/04 Arrangements for preventing, inhibiting, or warning against double recording on the same blank or against other recording or reproducing malfunctions
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/12 by sensing distinguishing features of or on records, e.g. diameter end mark
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/122 involving the detection of an identification or authentication mark record carriers indicating unauthorised or prior use G11B23/28
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00586 said format change concerning the physical format of the recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00768 wherein copy control information is used, e.g. for indicating whether a content may be copied freely, no more, once, or never, by setting CGMS, SCMS, or CCI flags
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00876 wherein physical copy protection means are attached to the medium, e.g. holograms, sensors, or additional semiconductor circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00927 wherein said defects or errors are generated on purpose, e.g. intended scratches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/281 by changing the physical properties of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/24 Record carriers characterised by shape, structure or physical properties, or by the selection of the material characterised by the arrangement of information on the carrier G11B7/007
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/243 comprising inorganic materials only, e.g. ablative layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/247 methine or polymethine dyes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/26 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of record carriers

Abstract

Light sensitive materials applied in shipping materials, including security seals and tear tape, for authentication, discrimination and recognition of items.

Claims

1. A tape having a first longitudinal surface and a second longitudinal surface comprising:

a layer comprising light-sensitive material on said second longitudinal surface, a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive on said layer of light-sensitive material, a release agent on said first longitudinal surface.

2. The tape of claim 1 wherein the light-sensitive material is an optical state change security material.

3. The tape of claim 2 wherein the optical state change security material is a transient optical state change security material.

4. A band of material having a first longitudinal surface and a second longitudinal surface, either or both of said longitudinal surfaces being coated with layer of light-sensitive material.

5. The band of material of claim 4 wherein the light-sensitive material is an optical state change security material.

6. The band of material of claim 5 wherein the optical state change security material is a transient optical state change security material.

7. A method for verifying an authentication mark comprising transient optical state change security material, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) illuminating the authentication mark with a wavelength causing said transient optical state change security material to change optical state from a first optical state to a second optical state;

(b) determining the time it takes for reversion of the transient optical state change security material from said second optical state to said first optical state;

(c) comparing the time in step (b) with a reference time for optical state change to verify the authentication mark.

8. A method for providing an authenticity mark on an item, said method comprising the steps of:

incorporating onto the packaging of a product a light-sensitive security material activated by a defined wavelength of light;

exposing said light-sensitive security material to said defined wavelength of light in a manner so as to form changes in the light-sensitive security material decipherable as digital data.

9. A method of authenticating an item associated with a packaging, said packaging having digital data recorded thereon in the form of activated light-sensitive security material, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning the package with an optical reader to decipher the digital data represented by the activated light-sensitive security material on said packaging;

(b) authenticating the item if the digital data of step (a) matches a standard of digital data that should be on a genuine item.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said light-sensitive security material is a transient optical state change security material.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said light-sensitive security material is a recording dye.

12. A method of providing an authenticity mark on an item having incorporated thereon digital information in discernible optically recorded forms, said method comprising the step of:

overlaying a transient optical state change security material capable of existing in a first optical state and a second optical state over said optically recorded forms.

13. A method for authenticating an authenticity mark on an item comprising a transient optical state change security material overlaid on optically recorded forms of digital information, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) reading said digital information when said transient optical state change security material is in said first optical state and said second optical state;

(b) comparing said digital information read in said first optical state and said second optical state with a reference read of said digital information on an authentic item in both of said first and said second optical state.