Mechanism for ensuring authenticity of written and printed documents

• US 7,350,716 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2005
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gilfix, Michael A., Stading, Tyron Jerrod
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, STEVEN SANGYUL
• Application Number:
  US11/126,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20060255122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/380, 235/382, 235/494, 345/55, 345/204
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26

Abstract

A mechanism for ensuring the authenticity of written and printed documents. With the mechanism of the present invention, electronic ink is deposited onto a document, wherein the electronic ink deposited comprises at least one mark visible to a user. Current is applied to the electronic ink while the electronic ink is wet. The current is applied to the electronic ink in order to imprint a pattern in the ink. The electronic ink deposited on the document is then allowed to dry. The pattern in the electronic ink may then be examined to verify the authenticity of the document.

Claims

1. A method for ensuring authenticity of written and printed documents, the method comprising:

depositing electronic ink onto a document, wherein the electronic ink deposited comprises at least one mark visible to a user;

applying a current to the electronic ink while the electronic ink is wet, wherein the current is used to imprint a pattern in the electronic ink, and wherein the pattern is adapted for use in verifying the authenticity of the document; and

allowing the electronic ink deposited on the document to dry.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

examining the pattern in the electronic ink to verify the authenticity of the document.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein deposition of the electronic ink is performed using at least one of an electronic ink filled pen and an electronic ink filled cartridge.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the current applied is the current necessary to cause pigments in the electronic ink to form the pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern is invisible to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern is a high resolution pattern.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the high resolution pattern is examined under magnification to verify the authenticity of the document.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the high resolution pattern is examined using a magnetic scanner to verify the authenticity of the document.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein deposition of the electronic ink is performed while the document is positioned adjacent to a surface capable of supplying current to the electronic ink.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein deposition of the electronic ink is performed prior to placing the document adjacent to a surface capable of supplying current to the electronic ink.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern identifies a creator of the document.