摘要:
Embodiments include articles, authentication methods and apparatus, and article manufacturing methods. An article includes a substrate with a first luminescent taggant, and an extrinsic feature with a second luminescent taggant, which is positioned proximate a portion of the article surface. The first and second taggants produce emissions in overlapping emission bands as a result of exposure to excitation energy. Above the extrinsic feature, the substrate and extrinsic feature emissions combine in the overlapping emission band to produce “confounded” emissions that are distinguishable from the substrate emissions taken alone. An authentication system determines whether, in a region corresponding to a “substrate-only” region of an authentic article, emissions having first emission characteristics are detected in the overlapping emission band. The system also determines whether, in a region corresponding to an “extrinsic feature” region of an authentic article, the confounded emissions are detected in the overlapping emission band.
摘要:
Luminescent taggant compositions, luminescent materials that include luminescent taggants, and articles including luminescent taggants are provided herein. In an embodiment, a luminescent taggant composition includes a first luminescent taggant, a second luminescent taggant, and a third luminescent taggant. The first luminescent taggant includes a first emitting ion that produces a first emission in a first taggant emission band when exposed to excitation energy. The second luminescent taggant includes a second emitting ion that is different from the first emitting ion and that produces a second emission in a second taggant emission band that is different from the first taggant emission band when exposed to excitation energy. The first luminescent taggant is substantially free of the second emitting ion and the second luminescent taggant is substantially free of the first emitting ion. The third luminescent taggant includes the first emitting ion and the second emitting ion.
摘要:
Methods are provided for authenticating a value article that includes a luminescent material. An exciting light source, an optical filter, a photodetector, a signal manipulation circuit, and an amplifier are provided. The luminescent material is exposed to light produced by the exciting light source. Radiation including light from the exciting light source and emitted radiation from the luminescent material is filtered using the optical filter to produce filtered radiation. The filtered radiation is detected using the photodetector to produce a detected radiation signal. The detected radiation signal is electronically manipulated using the signal manipulation circuit to reduce an effect of light from the exciting light source on an authentication determination based upon the detected radiation signal. The detected radiation signal is amplified with the amplifier after electronic manipulation to produce an amplified electronic signal. The amplified electronic signal or data derived therefrom is converted to an authentication output.
摘要:
Embodiments include luminescent phosphor compounds that include one or more emitting ions and one or more disturbing ions, and methods for their production. An emitting ion in the compound may be characterized by a first decay time constant when the emitting ion is undisturbed. However, a corresponding disturbing ion in the compound, which is different from the emitting ion, causes the emitting ion to have a pre-defined, target disturbed decay time constant that is greater than zero and less than the first decay time constant. An embodiment of an authentication system is configured to measure the decay time constant of a phosphor compound applied to an article, and to determine whether the decay time constant corresponds to a phosphor compound that includes a particular disturbing ion (e.g., in order to determine whether or not the article is authentic).
摘要:
Embodiments include luminescent phosphor compounds that include one or more emitting ions and one or more disturbing ions, and methods for their production. An emitting ion in the compound may be characterized by a first decay time constant when the emitting ion is undisturbed. However, a corresponding disturbing ion in the compound, which is different from the emitting ion, causes the emitting ion to have a pre-defined, target disturbed decay time constant that is greater than zero and less than the first decay time constant. An embodiment of an authentication system is configured to measure the decay time constant of a phosphor compound applied to an article, and to determine whether the decay time constant corresponds to a phosphor compound that includes a particular disturbing ion (e.g., in order to determine whether or not the article is authentic).
摘要:
Embodiments include luminescent materials and associated production methods. The material includes a crystal borate having a first substitutable element and a second substitutable element, one or more rare earth ions substituted for the first substitutable element, and chromium substituted for the second substitutable element. The one or more rare earth ions are selected from a group consisting of neodymium and ytterbium. The material also may include a medium within which particles of the borate are incorporated. The medium, with the luminescent material particles, may form a security feature of an article. Embodiments of methods for identifying whether such a luminescent material is incorporated with an article include exposing a portion of the article to excitation in a chromium absorption band, and determining whether a detected emission produced by the article as a result of the excitation indicates an ytterbium emission after termination of the exposing step.
摘要:
A method and system for identifying, tracking, and/or authenticating objects that is simple to apply and to use by an intended user, but is extremely difficult to counterfeit or compromise by an unintended user. Also disclosed is a multi-color, co-planar indicium made of a combination of printed patterns of multiple inks. The printed patterns may be modified by software-generated masks to ensure that the patterns are co-planar. The indicium is undecipherable unless irradiated with specified wavelengths of light radiation, filtered through specified spectral filters, and read and decoded by an electronic image reader. The indicium may be visible or covert. The indicium encodes unique true information about the object and may encode nonsensical or intentionally incorrect information as a further deterrent to unauthorized use. The method permits the indicia to be applied to objects at high processing speeds possible with inkjet printing.
摘要:
Luminescent borates, luminescent materials, and articles incorporating such borates are provided herein. An embodiment of a luminescent borate includes a host borate that has a B9O16-comprising crystal lattice. Neodymium and/or ytterbium are present within the host borate, and one or more substitutable elements are optionally present along with the neodymium and/or ytterbium within the host borate. The one or more substitutable elements are different from neodymium and ytterbium.
摘要:
Embodiments include luminescent materials and associated production methods. The material includes a crystal borate having a first substitutable element, neodymium substituted for the first substitutable element at a first substitution percentage of at least about 20 percent, and ytterbium substituted for the first substitutable element at a second substitution percentage. The material also may include chromium substituted for a second substitutable element. The material also may include a medium within which particles of the borate are incorporated. The medium, with the luminescent material particles, may form a security feature of an article. Embodiments of methods for identifying whether such a luminescent material is incorporated with an article include exposing a portion of the article to excitation in a chromium absorption band, and determining whether a detected emission produced by the article as a result of the excitation indicates an ytterbium emission after termination of the exposing step.
摘要:
Methods are provided for authenticating a value article that includes a luminescent material. An exciting light source, an optical filter, a photodetector, a signal manipulation circuit, and an amplifier are provided. The luminescent material is exposed to light produced by the exciting light source. Radiation including light from the exciting light source and emitted radiation from the luminescent material is filtered using the optical filter to produce filtered radiation. The filtered radiation is detected using the photodetector to produce a detected radiation signal. The detected radiation signal is electronically manipulated using the signal manipulation circuit to reduce an effect of light from the exciting light source on an authentication determination based upon the detected radiation signal. The detected radiation signal is amplified with the amplifier after electronic manipulation to produce an amplified electronic signal. The amplified electronic signal or data derived therefrom is converted to an authentication output.