Methods for identification and verification using digital equivalent data system

• US 6,850,592 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keymaster Technologies, Inc. (Bruker Corporation), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Keymaster Technologies, Inc. (Bruker Corporation)
• Inventors: Shannon, Robert, Kaiser, Bruce, Kuhlman, Robert D., Wheeler, Ken, Schramm, Harry F., Howe, Therese
• Primary Examiner(s): Church, Craig E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kiknadze, Irakli
• Application Number:
  US10/321,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20030194053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 378/45, 378/42, 378/57, 378/162, 378/163, 378/1, 250/271, 250/358.1, 235/494
• US Class Current: 378/45
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/076 X-ray fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/223 by irradiating the sample with X-rays or gamma-rays and by measuring X-ray fluorescence

Abstract

Apparatus and methods in which one or more elemental taggants that are extrinsically placed in an object are detected by x-ray fluorescence analysis to identify or authenticate the object are described. The taggant is manufactured as part of the object or the taggant is placed into a coating, packaging, label, or otherwise embedded onto the object for the purpose of later verifying the presence or absence of these elements by x-ray fluorescence. The taggant is then analyzed by XRF and the analysis is then converted into a 2D symbol format that can be used in various security and authentication applications. By using x-ray fluorescence analysis, the apparatus and methods of the invention are simple and easy to use, without the limitations experience by current anti-counterfeiting technologies.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating an object, comprising:

placing a taggant in a portion of an object;

causing the taggant to radiate an x-ray that penetrates through the portion of the object;

analyzing through that portion whether the x-ray has a specific energy signature; and

converting that energy signature into a portion of a direct part marking symbol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the direct part marking symbol is a 2D symbol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is an aerospace part.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy signature is converted into an ASCII character code.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising converting the ASCII character code into the portion of the direct part marking symbol.

6. A method for tracking an object, comprising:

placing a taggant in a portion of an object;

causing the taggant to radiate an x-ray that penetrates through the portion of the object;

analyzing through that portion whether the x-ray has a specific energy signature; and

converting that energy signature into a portion of a direct part marking symbol.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the direct part marking symbol is a 2D symbol.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the object is an aerospace part.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the energy signature is converted into an ASCII character code.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising converting the ASCII character code into the portion of the direct part marking symbol.

11. A method for authenticating an object, comprising:

placing a taggant in a portion of an object;

impinging an x-ray on the taggant to cause the taggant to radiate an x-ray;

analyzing whether the x-ray has a specific energy signature; and

converting that energy signature into a portion of a 2D symbol.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the object is an aerospace part.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the energy signature is converted into an ASCII character code and then from the ASCII character code into the portion of the 2D symbol.

14. The method of 11, wherein there is a plurality of taggants and the energy signatures from the plurality forms the 2D symbol.

15. An x-ray fluorescence device, comprising

an x-ray source;

an x-ray detector; and

means for converting an x-ray energy signature into a portion of a direct part marking symbol.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the direct part marking symbol is a 2D symbol.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the converting means changes the energy signature into an ASCII character code.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the converting means changes the ASCII character code into the portion of the direct part marking symbol.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the converting means comprises a database of ASCII character codes corresponding to known elemental x-ray signatures.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the converting means comprises a database of direct part marking symbols corresponding to ASCII character codes.

21. An authentification system containing an x-ray fluorescence device, the device comprising:

an x-ray source;

an x-ray detector; and

means for converting an x-ray energy signature into a portion of a direct part marking symbol.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the converting means changes the energy signature into an ASCII character code and the converting means changes the ASCII character code into the portion of the direct part marking symbol.