APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OBJECT AUTHENTICATION USING TAGGANT MATERIAL
First Claim
1. An object authentication system for authenticating an object comprising:
- a taggant material applied to the object;
a database storing data related to the excitation-emission properties of the taggant material and to an identity of the object; and
an authentication reader comprising an excitation source for emitting light for exciting the taggant material, an emission detection device for detecting light emission of the excited taggant material, and a processing unit for analyzing the detected light emission, comparing the detected light emission profile with data stored in the database, and thereby verifying the identity of the object;
wherein;
the taggant material comprises a fluorescent material and the taggant material is applied to the object by being mixed into the raw material of the object, being integrated with a portion of the object, or being attached to the object by an adhesive material.
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Abstract
An object authentication system for authenticating an object includes a taggant material applied to the object; a database storing data related to the excitation-emission properties of the taggant material and to an identity of the object; and an authentication reader. The authentication reader includes an excitation source for emitting light for exciting the taggant material, an emission detection device for detecting light emission of the excited taggant material, and a processing unit for analyzing the detected light emission, comparing the detected light emission profile with data stored in the database, and thereby verifying the identity of the object. The taggant material includes a fluorescent material and the taggant material is applied to the object by being mixed into the raw material of the object, being integrated with a portion of the object, or being attached to the object by an adhesive material. A method for authenticating an object is also provided.
43 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An object authentication system for authenticating an object comprising:
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a taggant material applied to the object; a database storing data related to the excitation-emission properties of the taggant material and to an identity of the object; and an authentication reader comprising an excitation source for emitting light for exciting the taggant material, an emission detection device for detecting light emission of the excited taggant material, and a processing unit for analyzing the detected light emission, comparing the detected light emission profile with data stored in the database, and thereby verifying the identity of the object;
wherein;the taggant material comprises a fluorescent material and the taggant material is applied to the object by being mixed into the raw material of the object, being integrated with a portion of the object, or being attached to the object by an adhesive material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for authenticating an object comprising:
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applying a taggant material to the object; exciting the taggant material with light emitted by an excitation source; detecting light emission of the excited taggant material; and analyzing the detected light emission, comparing the detected light emission profile with data stored in a database that stores data related to the excitation-emission properties of the taggant material and related to an identity of the object, and thereby verifying the identity of the object;
wherein;the step of applying the taggant material to the object comprises mixing the taggant material into the raw material of the object, integrating the taggant material with a portion of the object, or attaching the taggant material to the object with an adhesive material. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for authenticating an object, the object being applied with a taggant material, the apparatus comprising:
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a database storing data related to the excitation-emission properties of the taggant material and to an identity of the object; an excitation source for emitting light for exciting the taggant material; an emission detection device for detecting light emission of the excited taggant material; a plurality of light delivery optical fibers for delivering light emitted by the excitation source to the taggant material; a light collection optical fiber for collecting light emitted by the excited taggant material and delivering the collected emission to the emission detection device; a processing unit for analyzing the detected light emission, comparing the detected light emission profile with data stored in the database, and thereby verifying the identity of the object; and an output device connected to the processing unit, the output device being configured for outputting the result of the authentication to a user;
wherein;the light delivery optical fibers and the light collection optical fiber are bundled together to form a probe. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification