Method and apparatus for detecting counterfeit articles
First Claim
1. A counterfeit detecting apparatus for detecting the authenticity of an article having a label containing an isotope of a chemical element enriched to a predetermined amount, said apparatus comprising;
- (a) a housing;
(b) a source of gamma radiation positioned in said housing, said source being subject to the Mossbauer effect, when employed with a particular isotope in the label;
(c) gamma radiation detector means positioned in said housing for detecting radiation from said source;
(d) receiving means in said housing for enabling at least a portion of the article to be inserted therein such that the label is positioned between said source and said detector means;
(e) vibrating means for vibrating said source such that the frequency of the gamma radiation therefrom is shifted;
(f) calculating means coupled to said detector means for calculating the ratio of the number of gamma rays counted by said detector means, during a predetermined period of time, when the article is not positioned by said receiving means (NO) to the number of gamma rays counted by said detector means, during a period of time equal to said predetermined period, when the article is positioned by said receiving means (NR), and for calculating the ratio of the number of gamma rays counted by said detector means, during the predetermined period of time when the article is not positioned by said receiving means (NO), to the number of gamma rays counted during a period of time equal to the predetermined period when said source is vibrated by said vibrating means (NE) and for calculating the ratio NR /NE ; and
(g) output means for providing an output indicating whether NR /NE is within a predetermined range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A counterfeit detecting method and apparatus are provided for detecting the authenticity of an article having a label containing an isotope of a chemical element enriched to a predetermined amount. The apparatus comprises a housing, a source of gamma radiation positioned in the housing, and a gamma radiation detector positioned in the housing for detecting the radiation from the source. The gamma radiation source is selected to emit radiation which can stimulate a selected nuclear transition in the label material. A calculating device, such as a microprocessor, is coupled to a detector for calculating the ratio of the number of gamma rays counted by the detector during a predetermined period of time when the article is not in position near the receiving member (NO) to the number of the gamma rays counted by the detector during a period of time equal to the predetermined period when the article is positioned near the receiving member (NR), and for calculating the ratio of the number of gamma rays counted by the detector during the period of time when the article is not in position near the receiving member (NO) to the number of gamma rays counted during a period of time equal to the predetermined period when the source is vibrated by the vibrating device (NE) and for calculating the ratio (NR /NO)/(NE /NO) and thus NR /NE. An output device provides an output indicating whether or not NR /NE and NE /NO are within a predetermined range.
Also, an article is provided capable of being authenticated, in which the article comprises a non-metallic body and a label fixed to the body. The label includes an isotope of a chemical element enriched to a predetermined amount.
27 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A counterfeit detecting apparatus for detecting the authenticity of an article having a label containing an isotope of a chemical element enriched to a predetermined amount, said apparatus comprising;
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(a) a housing; (b) a source of gamma radiation positioned in said housing, said source being subject to the Mossbauer effect, when employed with a particular isotope in the label; (c) gamma radiation detector means positioned in said housing for detecting radiation from said source; (d) receiving means in said housing for enabling at least a portion of the article to be inserted therein such that the label is positioned between said source and said detector means; (e) vibrating means for vibrating said source such that the frequency of the gamma radiation therefrom is shifted; (f) calculating means coupled to said detector means for calculating the ratio of the number of gamma rays counted by said detector means, during a predetermined period of time, when the article is not positioned by said receiving means (NO) to the number of gamma rays counted by said detector means, during a period of time equal to said predetermined period, when the article is positioned by said receiving means (NR), and for calculating the ratio of the number of gamma rays counted by said detector means, during the predetermined period of time when the article is not positioned by said receiving means (NO), to the number of gamma rays counted during a period of time equal to the predetermined period when said source is vibrated by said vibrating means (NE) and for calculating the ratio NR /NE ; and (g) output means for providing an output indicating whether NR /NE is within a predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of reading a label affixed to an article, said label including an isotope of a chemical element enriched by a predetermined amount, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) counting the number of gamma rays received from a source of gamma rays by a gamma ray detector during a predetermined period of time (NO); (b) placing the article between the source of gamma radiation and the gamma radiation detector; (c) counting the gamma rays received by the detector for a period of time equal to the predetermined period of time (NR); (d) establishing a relative vibrating movement between the source and the detector; (e) counting the gamma rays received by the detector for a period of time equal to the predetermined period of time while there is relative vibrating movement between the source and the detector (NE); (f) calculating the ratios NR /NO, NE /NO, and NR /NE ; and (g) providing an indication of whether NR /NE is within a predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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- 11. An article capable of being authenticated, said article comprising a non-metallic body and a label fixed to said body, said label including an isotope of a chemical element enriched to a predetermined amount.
Specification