Product authentication system

• US 6,612,494 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Polestar LTD
• Original Assignee: Crossoff Incorporated
• Inventors: Outwater, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIK, STEVEN SANGYUL
• Application Number:
  US09/670,915
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.02, 235/462.04, 235/462.06, 235/375, 235/381
• US Class Current: 235/462.04
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/144 using fluorescent, luminescent or iridescent effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks

Abstract

Authenticating an object includes marking the object with a mark containing at least two markers wherein each marker fluoresces when illuminated with one of UV and IR, but does not fluoresce when illuminated with visible light. The marking may be in the form of a bar code containing a number or alphanumeric codes uniquely identifying the object to be marked with the particular mixture of markers used. A spectral analysis of the marking ink or the code is used to define spectral peaks for use as part of the authentication signature. The authentication signature may be defined using the identified peaks and logical conditions imposed upon them such as minimum threshold amplitude values and ratio values among peaks. Apparatus includes a device for storing data associating the code data printed on the object, the identification of the marking ink, the authentication signature (including the logical constraints) and other data such as the position of the marking on the object, the owner of the object and date of marking.

Claims

1. A method of verifying the authenticity of multiple groups of objects in the field comprising the steps of:

a. illuminating a first group of the objects with one of UV and IR radiation;

b. receiving the reflected one of the UV and IR radiation from each of several of the objects of said first group;

c. performing a spectral analysis of the received, reflected radiation;

d. accessing a data base to retrieve stored spectral authentication information corresponding to the object under test, said spectral authentication information including at least two peaks from different fluorescent markers previously placed on the object in admixture in a clear ink;

e. comparing the accessed data corresponding to the spectral authentication information with the results of the spectral analysis;

f. indicating the results of the comparison; and

g. illuminating a second group of the objects with one of UV and IR radiation;

h. receiving the reflected one of the UV and IR radiation from each of several of the objects of said first group;

i. performing a spectral analysis of the received, reflected radiation;

j. accessing a data base to retrieve stored spectral authentication information corresponding to the object under test, said spectral authentication information including at least two peaks from different fluorescent markers previously placed on the object in admixture in a clear ink;

k. comparing the accessed data corresponding to the spectral authentication information with the results of the spectral analysis;

l. indicating the results of the comparison; and

m. marking the objects of the first and second groups or selecting such groups to have different spectral authentication information.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of accessing the database includes accessing the database via one of an Internet or an intranet.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further including the step of performing a threshold comparison of said at least two peaks for objects of each of said first and second groups.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 further including the step of performing a ratio of peak amplitudes and comparing said ratio to a preset value.

5. A method of marking a plurality of objects for authentication comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least first and second markers, said at least first and second markers not visible when exposed to radiation within the visible frequency range and emitting radiation within at least one of the visible, IR, UV and X-ray range when exposed to radiation within a frequency range of at least one of IR, UV and X-ray;

each of said at least first and second markers emitting at least one peak within at least one of the frequency range of visible, IR, UV and X-ray, at least one of said peaks defining a first signature for authentication;

b. mixing said at least first and second markers in a clear ink and storing same in a first mixed container;

c. applying said mixed markers from said first mixed container to a first group of said plurality of objects to be marked and authenticated;

d. storing a representation of said first signature together with an ID code identifying said first mixed container and a first range of numbers associated with a first finite group of codes to be applied as first code markings to said first group of said plurality of objects;

e. providing at least third and fourth markers, said at least third and fourth markers not visible when exposed to radiation within the visible frequency range and emitting radiation within at least one of the visible, IR, UV and X-ray range when exposed to radiation within a frequency range of at least one of IR, UV and X-ray;

each of said at least third and fourth markers emitting at least one peak within at least one of the frequency range of visible, IR, UV and X-ray, at least one of said peaks defining a second signature for authentication;

f. mixing said at least third and fourth markers in a clear ink and storing same in a second mixed container;

g. applying said mixed markers from said second mixed container to a second group of said plurality of objects to be marked and authenticated; and

h. storing a representation of said second signature together with an ID code identifying said second mixed container and a second range of numbers associated with a second finite group of codes to be applied as second code markings to a second group of said plurality of objects.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein said first and second code markings comprise codes applied to said first and second groups of said plurality of objects.