Apparatus and method for security tag detection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for detecting a security tag comprising:
- a source of radiation;
an emission detector; and
, a radiation and emission filtering means, in the optical path of the source of radiation and the emission detector, to direct radiation from the source of radiation to the security tag and from the security tag to the emission detector and having a signal to noise ratio between about 50 dB and about 130 dB.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates, in general, to the field of securing, prevention of fraud, or theft of products such as pharmaceuticals, cigarettes, alcohol and other high value often counterfeited products. In particular the invention teaches an apparatus and method to encode packaging of the protected goods using a near infrared luminescing compound and detecting the compound through recognition of a characteristic spectral signature of its emission.
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Citations
77 Claims
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1. A system for detecting a security tag comprising:
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a source of radiation;
an emission detector; and
,a radiation and emission filtering means, in the optical path of the source of radiation and the emission detector, to direct radiation from the source of radiation to the security tag and from the security tag to the emission detector and having a signal to noise ratio between about 50 dB and about 130 dB. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for detecting a luminescent compound comprising:
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a radiation emitter;
an emission detector;
a target containing the luminescent compound;
a dichroic mirror positioned between the emission detector and the target positioned to direct radiation from the radiation emitter to the target and an emission from the target to the emission detector; and
,a controller operatively connected to the radiation emitter and the emission detector. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method of determining the authenticity of a luminescent tag comprising:
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exciting the luminescent tag;
detecting an emission from the luminescent tag;
measuring a first exponential time constant of the emission during illumination;
de-exciting the luminescent tag;
comparing the first time constant to a predetermined first characteristic time constant; and
indicating authenticity of the luminescent tag if the first time constant matches the predetermined first time constant. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66)
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67. A method of determining the authenticity of a phosphorescent security tag beneath a multilayer package comprising the steps of:
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providing a columnated laser within the enclosure aimed at the phosphorescent security tag;
providing a photomultiplier tube within the enclosure positioned to receive an emission from the phosphorescent security tag;
activating the laser;
measuring the voltage of the photomultiplier tube; and
, determining a spectral signature of the phosphorescent security tag. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A method of determining the authenticity of a luminescent tag comprising the steps of
exciting the luminescent tag; -
detecting an emission from the luminescent tag;
measuring a first exponential time constant of the emission during illumination;
de-exciting the luminescent tag;
measuring a second exponential time constant of the emission during de-excitation;
comparing the first time constant to a predetermined first characteristic time constant;
comparing the second time constant to a predetermined second characteristic time constant; and
,indicating authenticity of the luminescent tag if the first time constant matches the predetermined first time constant and the second time constant matches the predetermined second time constant. - View Dependent Claims (75)
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76. A method of determining the authenticity of a luminescent tag comprising the steps of
exciting the luminescent tag by a light pulse; -
detecting a waveform related to the emission from the luminescent tag;
measuring a set of parameters from the waveform; and
comparing the set of parameters to a predetermined set of parameters related to the luminescent tag.
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77. A method of determining the authenticity of a luminescent tag comprising the steps of:
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exciting the luminescent tag by a predetermined number of light pulses;
detecting a predetermined number of waveforms related to the emission from the luminescent tag;
averaging the predetermined number of waveforms to arrive at an analysis waveform;
measuring a set of parameters from the analysis waveform; and
comparing the set of parameters to a predetermined set of parameters related to the luminescent tag.
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Specification