Laser verification and authentication raman spectrometer (LVARS) detecting the stokes and/or anti-stokes emission

• US 6,608,670 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molecular Power Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Wizard Of Ink & Co.
• Inventors: Nottke, Francis A., Kirchoff, James A., Pollard, John, Lucke, Jonathan N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, F. L.
• Application Number:
  US09/908,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20020048013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 356/301, 356/71
• US Class Current: 356/71
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/44 Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry ; Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/1205 Testing spectral properties

Abstract

The LVARS is a fully instrumental, non-destructive spectroscopic device for the analysis and verification and authentication of the optical and electromagnetic properties (OEMP) of the inks, dyes, thin films, plastics, toners, paper, fixatives, paints, and printing agents used in documents and financial instruments. The instrument is quantitative in nature so as to correlate compositional data (elemental, isotopic, structure) with Raman optical spectra. The LVARS design consists of a computer-controlled spectrometer with a microscope-guided grid head containing the laser excitation source and detector and optics.

Claims

1. A method to analyze media for composition and authentication of a source of unknown media comprising the steps of:

exposing a sample of unknown media simultaneously to multiple wavelengths from multiple laser sources;

reading a Raman spectra of the sample of the unknown media through a variety of detectors each with a specific wavelength detection region using Raman spectroscopy, wherein the Raman spectra comprises at least one Stokes component and/or at least one Anti-Stokes component; and

manipulating mathematically at least one of the Stokes component and/or at least one of the Anti-Stokes component.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of reading a Raman spectra includes reading a Raman spectra comprising at least one Stokes component and at least one Anti-Stokes component.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of manipulating mathematically includes manipulating a combination of the Stokes component and the Anti-Stokes component.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of exposing a sample of unknown media includes exposing an unknown media which is organic.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of exposing a sample of unknown media includes exposing a sample of unknown media which is inorganic.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of exposing a sample of unknown media includes exposing a sample of unknown media which is naturally occurring.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of exposing a sample of unknown media includes exposing a sample of unknown media which is manufactured.

8. A method to verify the origin of an unknown sample of a document comprising the steps of:

exposing a sample of unknown media simultaneously to multiple wavelengths from laser sources in order to create Raman emissions from the sample;

detecting the Raman emissions from the sample using two or more detectors each with a specific wavelength detection region, wherein the Raman emissions comprises at least one Stokes component and/or at least one Anti-Stokes component; and

comparing the detected Raman spectra with Raman spectra previously stored in a database.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:

manipulating mathematically at least one of the Stokes component or the Anti-Stokes component.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of detecting the Raman emissions includes detecting the Raman emissions comprising at least one Stokes component and at least one Anti-Stokes component.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of detecting the Raman emissions includes detecting the Raman emissions includes manipulating a combination of the Stokes component and the Anti-Stokes component.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of exposing the sample includes exposing a sample of an unknown media which is organic.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of exposing the sample includes exposing a sample of an unknown media which is inorganic.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of exposing the sample includes exposing a sample of an unknown media which is naturally occurring.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of exposing the sample includes exposing a sample of an unknown media which is manufactured.

16. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for verifying the origin of an unknown sample, said program instructions comprising instructions for:

exposing a sample of unknown media simultaneously to multiple wavelengths from multiple laser sources;

reading a Raman spectra of the sample of the unknown media through a variety of detectors each with a specific wavelength detection region using Raman spectroscopy, wherein the Raman spectra comprises at least one Stokes component and/or at least one Anti-Stokes component; and

manipulating mathematically at least one of the Stokes component and/or at least one of the Anti-Stokes component.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the programming step of reading a Raman spectra includes reading a Raman spectra comprising at least one Stokes component and at least one Anti-Stokes component.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the programming step of manipulating mathematically includes manipulating a combination of the Stokes component and the Anti-Stokes component.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the programming step of exposing a sample of unknown media includes exposing an unknown media which is organic.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the programming step of exposing a sample of an unknown media includes exposing a sample of unknown media which is inorganic.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the programming step of exposing a sample of an unknown media includes exposing a sample of unknown media which is naturally occurring.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the programming step of exposing a sample of an unknown media includes exposing a sample of unknown media which is manufactured.

23. A system for verifying the origin of an unknown sample of a document comprising:

a chamber for exposing a sample to a multiple wavelength laser source in order to create Raman emissions from the sample;

two or more detectors each with a specific wavelength detection region for detecting the Raman spectra, wherein the Raman spectra comprises at least one Stokes component and/or at least one Anti-Stokes component; and

a computer for manipulating mathematically at least one of the Stokes component and/or the Anti-Stokes component.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the two or more detectors detect Raman spectra comprising at least one Stokes component and at least one Anti-Stokes component.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein an integrator manipulates a combination of the Stokes component and the Anti-Stokes component.

26. The system according to claim 23, wherein the sample of unknown media is organic.

27. The system according to claim 23, wherein the sample of unknown media is inorganic.

28. The system according to claim 23, wherein the sample of unknown media is naturally occurring.

29. The system according to claim 23, wherein the sample of unknown media is manufactured or processed.