APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SECURE DETECTION OF AN ITEM AND A METHOD OF SECURING ACCESS TO INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE ITEM

• US 20100073128A1
• Filed: 09/18/2007
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sicpa Holding SA
• Original Assignee: Verichk Global Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Talwerdi, Mehdi
• Granted Patent: US 8,542,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.800
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/06 using wave or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/121 Apparatus characterised by sensor details

Abstract

Privacy of information is protected by a method of securing access to information associated with a value item, the method involving comparing a security signature and a stored profile, and permitting access to the information associated with the value item if the security signature matches the stored profile.

An apparatus and method for detecting an item is provided in accordance with other aspects of the invention. The apparatus includes one or more sources operable to produce electromagnetic radiation in a range of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum; and one or more imaging devices, such as cameras, operable to produce images of the item. Different images may be produced for different ranges of wavelengths being produced. A material profile may be made from digital representations of the images for subsequent authentication of the item and for detecting changes to the item.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting an item, the apparatus comprising:

a) a source operable to produce electromagnetic radiation in a range of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum; and

b) at least one imaging device operable to produce an image of the item.

2. ) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said imaging device is operable to produce an image of the item.

3. ) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said image is a digital representation.

4. ) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source is a plurality of sources, including a plurality of sets of one or more sources.

5. ) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller operable to control at least one of the imaging device and the source, sources and/or sets of sources such that said image is produced when said source(s) are producing electromagnetic radiation.

6. ) The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a processor operable to produce a material profile from the digital representation.

7. ) The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a memory for storing said digital representation.

8. ) The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a memory wherein said memory is operable to store a material profile.

9. ) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said apparatus is operable to transmit said material profile

10. ) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said apparatus is operable to transmit said digital representation.

11. ) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source is operable to produce electromagnetic radiation in a plurality of ranges of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, including overlapping wavelength ranges.

12. ) The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said controller is operable to control the source(s) so as to produce electromagnetic radiation in a selected wavelength range, including sequentially producing electromagnetic radiation in a plurality of selected wavelength ranges.

13. ) The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said controller is operable to control said imaging device and the source(s) such that a plurality of images are sequentially produced, each of the plurality of images being produced when said source(s) is producing electromagnetic radiation in a corresponding wavelength range.

14. ) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said imaging device is at least one of:

a camera;

at least one image capturing sensor;

a scanning device.

15. ) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said camera is one of;

a camera;

a camera operable to produce photographic images;

a digital camera;

a camera operable to produce digital representations of photographic images;

a two-dimensional camera;

a three-dimensional camera for producing three-dimensional images;

a thermal imaging camera.

16. ) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said imaging device includes one or more filters for filtering input to said camera.

17. ) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing dimensioned to receive said item.

18. ) The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said housing further comprises a support plate consisting of a material selected from the group consisting of:

glass, plastic, clear plastic and plexiglass; and

dimensioned to receive said item.

19. ) The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said source(s) are oriented to direct electromagnetic radiation toward said support plate.

20. ) The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said imaging device is oriented to produce an image of said item when said item is being supported by said support plate.

21. ) A method of securing access to information associated with a value item, the method involving:

a) producing electromagnetic radiation in a range of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum by a source;

b) producing an image of said item when said item is being exposed to electromagnetic radiation produced by said source.

22. ) The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of:

c) producing a digital representation of the image.

23. ) The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of:

d) producing a material profile from said digital representation.

24. ) The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of:

e) storing the digital representation.

25. ) The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of:

d) transmitting said digital representation.

26. ) The method of claim 21 wherein said range of wavelengths is selected by one of an algorithm or a user.

27. ) The method of claim 21 wherein said image is produced by sequentially producing a plurality of images of the item, each image being produced when electromagnetic radiation is being produced in a corresponding wavelength range.

28. ) The method of claim 23 wherein producing a material profile from the digital representation is achieved by digitally processing said digital representations including at least one of:

digital compression;

normalization;

signal processing;

filtering;

encrypting;

concatenation;

combining a plurality of digital representations;

correction;

reduction; and

truncation.

29. ) The method of claim 28 further comprising the processing of pixel image data.

30. ) The method of claim 28 wherein said processing pixel image data involves

a) processing numerical values representing image pixels of an image;

b) selecting one or more images having been captured by the camera;

c) selecting a pixel location of the selected images;

d) producing a pixel data set associated with the selected pixel location from the pixel image data associated with the pixels of the selected images corresponding to the selected pixel location;

e) determining whether all the desired pixel locations have been processed;

f) selecting a new pixel location; and

g) producing the material profile from the produced pixel data sets.

31. ) The method of claim 30 wherein producing the material profile from the produced pixel data sets involves combining pixel data from the pixel data sets.

32. ) The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

c) Storing said image;

d) Retrieving said stored image;

e) Producing a new image of said value item;

f) Comparing said new image to said stored image, such that if the two images match, said value item is verified as valid, and if said images do not match, said value item is confirmed as invalid.

33. ) The method claim of claim 29 further comprising the step of providing output to a user confirming or denying the validity of a value item.

34. ) The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of creating a virtual security feature and associating said feature with said image.