Package security having a static element and a dynamic element

• US 7,950,584 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Keenan, Philip, Simske, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELLIS, SUEZU Y
• Application Number:
  US11/554,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20080099565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/488, 235/491, 235/492, 235/494, 283/71, 283/72, 283/74, 283/81, 283 83- 85, 283/92, 283/94, 428/29, 428915-917, 229/102, 383/5
• US Class Current: 235/491
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/46 with electrical circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/333 Watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/00 Tamper-indicating means relating to aerosol containers B65D83/224

Abstract

A package security feature is provided, the package security feature having a static element and a dynamic element. The dynamic element selectively interacts with the static element to enable identification and anti-tampering for a package.

Claims

1. A package security feature for attachment to a package, comprising:

a static element that provides at least one printed identifier for the package; and

a dynamic luminescent element, separate from and underneath the static element, that couples to a power supply via a triggering circuit, wherein the dynamic luminescent element is configured to illuminate upon receiving power from the power supply when the triggering circuit is closed,

wherein successful authentication of the package is based on the at least one printed identifier being correct and the dynamic luminescent element being operational when the triggering circuit is closed and interacting with the at least one printed identifier in a predetermined way.

2. The package security feature of claim 1 wherein the static element comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of a bar code, variable text, a copy-detection pattern, a watermark, and a color tile.

3. The package security feature of claim 1 wherein the static element comprises a luminescent tile pattern.

4. The package security feature of claim 1 wherein the static element comprises a dielectric layer, a phosphor layer, and a transparent electrode layer combined as an adhesive label.

5. The package security feature of claim 1 wherein the dynamic luminescent element comprises a rear electrode conductor pattern.

6. The package security feature of claim 5 wherein the rear electrode conductor pattern comprises printed alphanumeric characters.

7. The package security feature of claim 5 wherein the rear electrode conductor pattern comprises non-conductive areas that modify a luminescent tile pattern.

8. The package security feature of claim 1 wherein the static element and the dynamic luminescent element are manufactured separately and are later combined on the package.

9. The package security feature of claim 1 further comprising a trigger switch that enables a user to manually control when the triggering circuit is closed.

10. The package security feature of claim 1 wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

11. The package security feature of claim 1 wherein the dynamic luminescent element is configured to modify the at least one printed identifier provided by the static element.

12. The package security feature of claim 1 wherein the at least one printed identifier comprises multiple printed identifiers and wherein the dynamic luminescent element is configured to mark at least one of the multiple printed identifiers.

13. The package security feature of claim 1 wherein successful authentication of a package related to the package security feature is based on the static element displaying a correct printed identifier and the dynamic luminescent element modifying the correct printed identifier.

14. A method for package security, comprising:

attaching an adhesive light-emitting label to a package; and

attaching an adhesive static label over the adhesive light-emitting label, the adhesive static label displays at least one printed identifier for the package;

wherein the adhesive light-emitting label is configured to interact with the at least one printed identifier of the adhesive static label when a triggering circuit that couples a power supply to the adhesive light-emitting label is closed.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein providing the adhesive static label comprises providing at least one printed element as the at least one printed identifier selected from the group consisting of a bar code, variable text, a copy-detection pattern, a watermark, and a color tile.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein providing the adhesive static label comprises providing a luminescent tile pattern without a rear electrode and wherein providing a adhesive l light-emitting label comprises preparing a variable rear electrode conductor pattern.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein providing the adhesive static label comprises manufaturing the adhesive label having a dielectric layer, a phosphor layer and a clear electrode layer and wherein providing the adhesive light-emitting label comprises printing alphanumeric characters with conductive ink for use as a rear electrode conductor.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one printed identifier comprises multiple printed identifiers, and wherein the method further comprises marking at least one of the multiple printed identifiers of the adhesive static label with the adhesive light-emitting label.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising modifying the at least one printed identifier of the adhesive static label with the adhesive light-emitting label.

20. A method for package authenticating, comprising:

receiving a package having a static security element positioned over a dynamic luminescent security element, the static security element displaying at least one printed identifier and the dynamic luminescent security element being selectively activated using a triggering circuit that couples a power supply to the dynamic luminescent security element; and

authenticating the package based on the at least one printed identifier being correct and based on the dynamic luminescent security element interacting with the at least one printed identifier in a predetermined way.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said interacting comprises modifying that at least one printed identifier.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said interacting comprises marking one of multiple printed identifiers.