Method and apparatus for verifying a hologram and a credit card
First Claim
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1. A method for verifying a hologram, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving at least two 2-dimensional images of the hologram, the 2-dimensional images being representative of images derived at respective different viewing angles;
preparing a bitmap of each of the at least two 2-dimensional images of the hologram;
computing difference values of corresponding pixels in each of the bitmaps of the at least two 2-dimensional images of the hologram;
comparing difference values of a characteristic derived from the bitmaps of the at least two 2-dimensional images with a corresponding 2-dimensional reference characteristic to establish if the hologram is authentic; and
outputting a signal indicative of the authenticity or otherwise of the hologram in response to comparing the difference values of the characteristic derived from the bitmaps of the at least two 2-dimensional images with the corresponding 2-dimensional reference characteristic.
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Abstract
A method for verifying a hologram, comprising the steps of reading at least two images of the hologram, the images being representative of images derived at respective different viewing angles, comparing a characteristic derived from the respective images with a reference characteristic to establish if the hologram is authentic, and outputting a signal indicative of the authenticity or otherwise of the hologram.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for verifying a hologram, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least two 2-dimensional images of the hologram, the 2-dimensional images being representative of images derived at respective different viewing angles; preparing a bitmap of each of the at least two 2-dimensional images of the hologram; computing difference values of corresponding pixels in each of the bitmaps of the at least two 2-dimensional images of the hologram; comparing difference values of a characteristic derived from the bitmaps of the at least two 2-dimensional images with a corresponding 2-dimensional reference characteristic to establish if the hologram is authentic; and outputting a signal indicative of the authenticity or otherwise of the hologram in response to comparing the difference values of the characteristic derived from the bitmaps of the at least two 2-dimensional images with the corresponding 2-dimensional reference characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15)
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- 13. The method of 1 wherein the bitmaps of the at least two 2-dimensional images of the hologram are electronically read, and the at least two 2-dimensional images are formed in an image plane in at least one electronic camera.
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16. An apparatus for verifying a hologram on a document, the apparatus comprising;
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a reading means for reading at least two 2-dimensional images of the hologram, the images being representative of images derived at respective different viewing angles; a generating means for generating a bitmap of the at least two 2-dimensional images; a computing means for computing difference values of corresponding pixels in each of the bitmaps of the at least two 2-dimensional images; a comparing means for comparing difference values of a characteristic derived from the bitmaps of the at least two 2-dimensional images with a 2-dimensional reference characteristic to establish if the hologram is authentic, and an output means responsive to the comparing means for outputting a signal indicative of the authenticity or otherwise of the hologram. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification