Security reader for automatic detection of tampering and alteration

• US 6,611,612 B2
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Mann, Graeme R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jayanti K.
• Application Number:
  US09/442,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20020034320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/112, 382/115-119, 382/135, 382/137, 382/138, 382/140, 382/154, 382/210, 382/211, 382/212, 382/213, 382/216, 382/218-219, 382/232, 382/294, 382/302, 382/305, 382/306, 382/312, 235/454-461, 235/70, 235/74, 235/462-1-4, 283/86-94, 359/1, 359/350, 359/6, 705/33, 705/35, 399/16, 194/207
• US Class Current: 382/112
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10574 Multiple sources

Abstract

A document (10) is covered by a laminate (13) comprising a layer of microspheres (16) over an adhesive layer (14) covering a source image (12) such as a photograph, printed matter, or a bar code arranged on a substrate (11). Light impinging on the document (10) is split by the optical properties of the microspheres (16) and underlying specular reflectors. The remaining light passes through the microspheres (16), through the adhesive layer (14) and strikes the substrate (11) or source image (12) on the document (10), and is reflected (18) and scattered (20). Alternatively, the laminate (13) can comprise a plain or clear layer of polyester without microspheres over the adhesive layer (14). Light impinging on the laminate (13) passes through the polyester and laminate (14) to strike the substrate (11) or source image (12) where it is reflected and scattered. A first light source (24) directs light to the document (10). A second light source (26, 27) directs light towards a beam splitting mirror (23) which reflects the light to the document (10). The light turning properties of the mirror (23) produce a light source which appears to an image receiver (40) as being returned from the surface of the document (10) at an angle of less than 1°. The image receiver (40) passes a signal via line (32) to a personal computer (41) which processes the received information. Such processing is to establish whether the document (10) includes a retroreflective laminate, a plain polyester laminate, or neither. Additionally, further processing can establish whether the document (10) has been tampered with, altered, or forged.

Claims

1. A device for use with a document having an at least partially light-transmissive first layer and a second layer located below the first layer, the second layer including at least one source image, the device comprising:

(a) a computer;

(b) at least one light source, the at least one light source adapted to illuminate the document with visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light, the at least one light source being controlled by the computer;

(c) a video image receiver for receiving at least one image of at least a portion of the document, wherein the at least one image is transferred to the computer; and

(d) a signal path for returning images recovered by the video image receiver to the computer;

wherein the computer further comprises software for examining both content and security integrity of the document.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the computer is associated with a video display unit on which images processed by the computer can be displayed for examination by a person.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one image is the source image.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the source image is handwriting.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the source image is typing.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the source image is a bar code.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the source image is a photo.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein the source image is printing.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein a power source is configured to adjust the intensity of the at least one light source.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the computer controls a power source and a trigger source.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the light source also emits polarized light.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the light source also emits light of a predetermined wavelength.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the computer includes reference software, wherein the reference software comprises a reference or look-up table that associates a certain document characteristic with documents originating in a predetermined country.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the reference or look-up table provides operation information whereby the computer controls the at least one light source.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the reference or look-up table provides information that enables the computer to examine the document for both content and security integrity.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the device examines the document for surface cuts.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the device detects a specific color response at a specific x/y coordinate on the document under infrared light.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the device detects a specific color response at a specific x/y coordinate of the document under ultraviolet light.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the device detects the presence of patterned diffraction gratings by detecting differences in color responses.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the device detects the presence of patterned diffraction gratings by detecting differences in color responses.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the device detects the presence of hologram by detecting differences in color responses.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the device detects retroreflected light.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the computer controls (1) an on/off status of the at least one light source, and (2) light intensity of the at least one light source.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the computer provides

(1) a comparative analysis between a first light intensity provided to the document and a second light intensity of the image received through the video image receiver to determine if the document has been tampered with;

(2) a brightness threshold analysis to detect defects in a microsphere layer when present;

(3) a flair detection analysis to detect surface defects in the document; and

(4) a comparative analysis comparing features of the document image with a reference or look-up table programmed into the computer, wherein the reference or look-up table associates certain document characteristic with documents originating in a predetermined country.

25. A device for use with a document having an at least partially light-transmissive first layer and a second layer located below the first layer, the second layer including at least one source image, the device comprising:

(a) a computer;

(b) at least one light source, the at least one light source adapted to illuminate the document, with visible light and at least one of ultraviolet light and infrared light, the at least one light source being controlled by the computer;

(c) a video image receiver for receiving at least one image of at least a portion of the document wherein the at least one image is transferred to the computer;

(d) a signal path for returning images recovered by the video image receiver to the compute; and

(e) a video display unit on which images processed by the computer can be displayed for examination by a person.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the computer further comprises software for examining both content and security integrity of the document.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the computer provides

(1) a comparative analysis between a first light intensity provided to the document and a second light intensity of the image received through the video image receiver to determine if the document has been tampered with;

(2) a brightness threshold analysis to detect defects in a microsphere layer when present;

(3) a flair detection analysis to detect surface defects in the document; and

(4) a comparative analysis comparing features of the document image with a reference or look-up table programmed into the computer, wherein the reference or look-up table associates certain document characteristic with documents originating in a predetermined country.

28. A device for use with a document having an at least partially light-transmissive first layer and a second layer located below the first layer, the second layer including at least one source image, the device comprising:

(a) a computer;

(b) at least one light source, the at least one light source adapted to illuminate the document with visible light and at least one of ultraviolet light and infrared light, the at least one light source being controlled by the computer;

(c) a video image receiver for receiving at least one image of at least a portion of the document, wherein the at least one image is transferred to the computer; and

(d) a signal path for returning images recovered by the video image receiver to the computer; and

(e) a reference or look-up table programmed into the computer that associates a certain document characteristic with documents originating in a predetermined country.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the computer provides

(1) a comparative analysis between a first light intensity provided to the document and a second light intensity of the image received through the video image receiver to determine if the document has been tampered with;

(2) a brightness threshold analysis to detect defects in a microsphere layer when present;

(3) a flair detection analysis to detect surface defects in the document; and

(4) a comparative analysis comparing features of the document image with a reference or look up table programmed into the computer, wherein the reference or look-up table associates a certain document characteristic with documents originating in a predetermined country.

30. A device for use with a document having an at least partially light-transmissive first layer and a second layer located below the first layer, the second layer including at least one source image, the device comprising:

(a) a computer;

(b) at least one light source, the at least one light source adapted to illuminate the document with visible light and at least one of ultraviolet light and infrared light, the at least one light source being controlled by the computer;

(c) a video image receiver for receiving at least one image of at least a portion of the document, wherein the at least one image is transferred to the computer; and

(d) a signal path or returning images recovered by the video image receiver to the computer;

wherein the computer further comprises software for examining the document for surface cuts.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the computer detects flairs on an outer surface of the document, wherein the flairs result from a light reflected off of the outer surface from a light source focused along the outer surface.

32. A device for use with a document having an at least partially light-transmissive first layer and a second layer located below the first layer, the second layer including at least one source image, the device comprising:

(a) a computer;

(b) at least one light source, wherein the at least one light source is adapted to illuminate the document with visible light and at least one of ultraviolet light and infrared light, wherein the at leas one light source is controlled by the computer;

(c) a video image receiver for receiving at least one image of at least a portion of the document, wherein the at least one image is transferred to the computer; and

(d) a signal path or returning images recovered by the video image receiver to the computer.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the computer further comprises software for examining both content and security integrity of the document.