Authentication of an article of manufacture using an image of the microstructure of it surface

• US 9,208,394 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AlpVision S. A.
• Original Assignee: AlpVision S. A.
• Inventors: Kutter, Martin, Jordan, Frederic, Di Venuto Dayer, Celine
• Primary Examiner(s): Liew, Alex
• Application Number:
  US13/471,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20120243797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 382141-152, 382128-134, 382181-231
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30176 Document
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/242 by image rotation, e.g. by 90 degrees
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/7515 Shifting the patterns to accommodate for positional errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/248 involving plural approaches, e.g. verification by template match; Resolving confusion among similar patterns, e.g. "O" versus "Q" G06V30/242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/2504 Coarse or fine approaches, e.g. resolution of ambiguities or multiscale approaches
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1371 Matching features related to minutiae or pores
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/2033 Matching unique patterns, i.e. patterns that are unique to each individual paper
• CPC Class Codes: G09C 1/00 Apparatus or methods whereby a given sequence of signs, e.g. an intelligible text, is transformed into an unintelligible sequence of signs by transposing the signs or groups of signs or by replacing them by others according to a predetermined system cryptographic typewriters G09C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3278 using physically unclonable functions [PUF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

The present application concerns the visual identification of materials or documents for tracking or authentication purposes.

It describes methods to automatically authenticate an object by comparing some object images with reference images, the object images being characterized by the fact that visual elements used for comparison are non-disturbing for the naked eye. In some described approaches it provides the operator with visible features to locate the area to be imaged. It also proposes ways for real-time implementation enabling user friendly detection using mobile devices like smart phones.

Claims

1. A method to authenticate an article of manufacture, the method comprising:

storing at least one surface image of a reference article of manufacture, each reference surface image including a reflection of light that depends on surface height variations of a microstructure of a surface of the reference article of manufacture corresponding to the reference image, the surface height variations of the microstructure of the surface of the reference article of manufacture having a random noise characteristic or a pseudo-random noise characteristic;

comparing a surface image of the article of manufacture with the at least one reference surface image;

wherein the surface image of the article of manufacture used for comparison to the at least one reference surface image characterizes a reflection of light that depends on surface height variations of a microstructure of the article of manufacture having a random noise characteristic or a pseudo-random noise characteristic; and

wherein a match between the surface image of the article of manufacture and a reference surface image indicates an authenticity of the article of manufacture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator uses visible features to locate an area of the surface to be imaged.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein graphics are overlaid on a real-time view of the area of the surface to be imaged in order to aid the operator for positioning an acquisition device in a way similar to a positioning of an acquisition device used to acquire the reference images.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the acquired images are processed in real-time and a successful match with a reference image is immediately reported to the operator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the device used for imaging and processing is an optical document scanner.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the device used for imaging and processing is a hand-held device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the device used for imaging and processing is a mobile phone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data used for comparison corresponds to the microstructure.