Method and device for reading authentication means and adapted identification means

• US 7,380,128 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Societe Novatec SA
• Original Assignee: Novatec Incorporated
• Inventors: Bourrieres, Francis, Kaiser, Clement
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand; Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lipman; Jacob
• Application Number:
  US10/182,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20030014647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,671 Days
• Field of Search: 713/185, 713/182
• US Class Current: 713/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/086 with markings consisting of randomly placed or oriented elements, the randomness of the elements being useable for generating a unique identifying signature of the record carrier, e.g. randomly placed magnetic fibers or magnetic particles in the body of a credit card
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/00 Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps

Abstract

This invention involves a reading process for three-dimensional means of identification (100) that are unique and non-reproducible (100), containing a mixture of at least two materials (110 and 120) that are distinguishable from one another (110 and 120), remarkable in that it consists of one part to recognize the internal heterogeneous structure of the means of identification (100) in two dimensions, and another part to verify and prove its third dimension to render falsification impossible. This characteristic reduces the amount of storage memory as well as the length of time necessary to perform the operations of reading, acquisition, and comparison usually conducted in such processes. The invention also involves a device that implements said process as well as a means of identification adapted to said process.

Claims

1. Reading process for a three-dimensional means of identification (100) containing a mixture of at least two materials (110 and 120) that can be distinguished from one another (110 and 120) in the form of a transparent matrix containing bubbles, the process comprising one step to recognize the heterogeneous internal structure in two dimensions of said means of identification (100) and another step to verify and prove its third dimension characterized by

reading and verifying the three-dimensional layout of the bubbles (120) contained in the means of identification (100), these bubbles (120) including members that had been self-generated during the hardening of said transparent material (110), by submitting said means of identification (100) successively and immediately, while the means of identification is maintained in a fixed position, to different lightings to determine by a diffuse lighting a random two dimensional pattern of the bubbles (120), thereby allowing them to be read and coded, and to confirm by a direct lighting from the same lighting sources the three dimensional aspect of the identification means.

2. Process according to claim 1, characterized by verifying the three-dimensional layout of the materials (110 and 120) contained in the means of identification (100) by analyzing the shadows (121) generated by said materials (110 and 120) as a factor of the angle of incidence of said direct light source in relation to said means of identification (100).

3. Process according to claim 1 wherein said bubbles define interfaces with the transparent matrix, characterized by reading and verifying the three-dimensional layout of the bubbles (120) contained in the means of identification (100) by submitting said means of identification (100) successively to said diffuse lighting then to said direct lighting generating a reflection (800) on the interface separating the bubbles from the transparent matrix (110), thereby proving its three-dimensional aspect.

4. Process according to claim 1, characterized by verifying the three-dimensional layout (800) of the means of identification (100) by analyzing the reflected shapes of the bubbles (120) contained in the means of identification (100) caused by said direct lighting.

5. A device (300) for implementing the process according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a ramp containing light sources (310) that go from a state in which all the lights (500 and 600) are illuminated in order to create said diffuse lighting, to a state where only one light (500) is illuminated in order to create said direct lighting.

6. Process according to claim 1, wherein said different lightings are provided by a ramp containing light sources (310) that go from a state in which all the lights (500 and 600) are illuminated to create said diffuse lighting, to a state where only one light (500) is illuminated to create said direct lighting.