Security imaging system

• US 7,068,356 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun Chemical Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sun Chemical Corporation
• Inventors: Miller, Peter, Vig, Rakesh, McInerney, Henry F., Saglimbeni, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Lauchman, Layla G.
• Application Number:
  US10/442,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20030218739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 283/81, 283/85, 283/92, 283/101, 356/71, 250/556
• US Class Current: 356/71
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6417 Spectrofluorimetric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/643 non-biological material

Abstract

Method and system for detecting authenticate products based upon alteration of emission characteristics due to interaction of the emissions with the product and the container.

Claims

1. A method for determining the authenticity of a product housed in packaging having a label attached thereto, the label having a plurality of authentication materials associated therewith, at least two of said authentication materials eliciting at least one measurably different property upon excitation of the authentication materials by an excitation source, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) exciting said at least two authentication materials by way of said excitation source directed across said packaging and said product to said at least two authentication materials;

(b) monitoring said at least one excitation-dependent property of each of said at least two authentication materials after excitation by way of said excitation source;

(c) developing a relative relationship profile between the at least one excitation-dependent property of each of said at least two authentication materials after excitation by way of said excitation source;

(d) comparing said relative relationship profile of step (c) with the relative relationship profile characteristic of said at least two authentication materials after excitation by way of said excitation source with respect to a standard for an authentically labeled, authentic product housed in authentic packaging;

(e) declaring authenticate said product when said relative relationship profile of step (c) corresponds to the relative relationship profile of said standard.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring step b entails monitoring of a plurality of emitted wavelengths from said authentication material.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein monitoring step b is performed using a monitor positioned to receive said emitted wavelengths after passage of said emitted wavelengths through said product and said packaging.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring step b entails monitoring changes in absorption elicited by excitation of said authentication materials by said excitation source.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring step b entails monitoring changes in reflection elicited by excitation of said authentication materials by said excitation source.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring step b entails monitoring changes in emission elicited by excitation of said authentication materials by said excitation source.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said authentication material is a light-absorbing compound and the property monitored is a light-absorbing property.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said authentication material is a light-changeable material and the property monitored is a light-changeable property.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said authentication material is a light-emissive material and the property monitored is a light-emissive property.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said authentication material is a light-sensitive material and the property monitored is a light-sensitive property.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said product is a liquid.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said packaging is transparent.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least two authentication materials are found inside of said label.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least two authentication materials are found on the on the side of said label attached to said packaging.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least two authentication materials are found on the front side of said label attached to said packaging.

16. A method for determining the authenticity of packaging housing a product, said packaging having a label attached thereto, the label having a plurality of authentication materials associated with the attached side, at least two of said authentication materials eliciting at least one measurably different property upon excitation of the authentication materials by an excitation source, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) exciting said at least two authentication materials by way of said excitation source directed across said container, but not across said packaging, to said at least two authentication materials;

(b) monitoring said at least one excitation-dependent property of each of said at least two authentication materials after excitation by way of said excitation source;

(c) developing a relative relationship profile between the at least one excitation-dependent property of each of said at least two authentication materials after excitation by way of said excitation source;

(d) comparing said relative relationship profile of step (c) with the relative relationship profile characteristic of said at least two authentication materials after excitation by way of said excitation source with respect to a standard for authentically labeled, authentic packaging;

(e) declaring authenticate said packaging when said relative relationship profile of step (c) corresponds to the relative relationship profile of said standard.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein monitoring step b entails monitoring of a plurality of emitted wavelengths from said authentication material.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein monitoring step b is performed using a monitor positioned to receive said emitted wavelengths after passage of said emitted wavelengths through said packaging.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein monitoring step b entails monitoring changes in absorption elicited by excitation of said authentication materials by said excitation source.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein monitoring step b entails monitoring changes in reflection elicited by excitation of said authentication materials by said excitation source.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein monitoring step b entails monitoring changes in emission elicited by excitation of said authentication materials by said excitation source.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein said authentication material is a light-absorbing compound and the property monitored is a light-absorbing property.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein said authentication material is a light-changeable material and the property monitored is a light-changeable property.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein said authentication material is a light-emissive material and the property monitored is a light-emissive property.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein said authentication material is a light-sensitive material and the property monitored is a light-sensitive property.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein said packaging is transparent.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least two authentication materials are found inside of said label.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least two authentication materials are found on the on the side of said label attached to said packaging.

29. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least two authentication materials are found on the front side of said label attached to said packaging.