Filtrona United Kingdom Limited

Filtrona Plc

Filtrona C&sp Limited

Andrew John Gilbert

Philip John Allen

Shane Alastair Day

Clive John Southernwood

Apparatus for detection of infrared radiation emitted from a taggant following excitation of the taggant sample measures the decay time of the radiation used. If the decay characteristic is accurately measured, the particular taggant can be accurately identified. The apparatus comprises an electronic controller, light-emitting diodes, a photo-detector, a first amplifier, a three-way sampling switch, filter/stores, second amplifiers and an output display. The infrared emission is excited by repeatedly illuminating the taggant for a period of microseconds every few milliseconds. When the light source is turned off, the sample continues radiating for a few milliseconds. The emission is detected by photo-detector sensitive to the 800 to 1000 nm waveband thereby rejecting interference from visible light sources.

Detection apparatus and method

A laminatefor a tamper-resistant identity document, the laminate comprising: a carrier film (, FIG.) having a first adhesive layeron a surface thereof, the first adhesive layercomprising one or more visible registration features; and a cover film (, FIG.) having a first surface (, FIG.) removably bonded to the first adhesive layerand a second surface (, FIG.) having a printed security featureand a second adhesive layer (, FIG.) thereon. The cover film may have a thickness of no greater than 12 microns. The printed security feature may be in predetermined registration with the one or more visible registration features of the first adhesive layer.

Security laminates and documents

A technique and apparatus for detection of infrared radiation emitted from a taggant material sample following the excitation of the sample are described. The decay time of the radiation is a function of the particular taggant being used and so, if the decay characteristic or signature is accurately measured, the particular taggant can be accurately identified. The apparatus comprises an electronic controller (), a pair () of illuminating light-emitting diodes, a photo-detector (), a first amplifier (), a three-way sampling switch (), filter/stores ()(-), second amplifiers ()(-) and an output display (). The infrared emission is excited by repeatedly illuminating the material for a period of microseconds every few milliseconds using a very intense source of infrared light. This light is supplied by the pair of 940 nm, light-emitting diodes (). Once this light source has been turned off, the sample continues radiating infrared light for a few milliseconds. The emission is detected by photo-detector () that is only sensitive to infrared light in the 800 to 1000 nm waveband. This helps to reject interference from visible light sources.

A hand held electronic detector is provided for detecting the presence/absence and/or nature of a mark on an article (not shown) such as a security mark. The article may comprise a product, such as for example a pack of cigarettes. The detector comprises a case or body of strong rigid plastics material. The case comprises front and rear parts and which are connected together by concealed hinges, at their lower edges, so that the parts and can move hingedly between a closed configuration and a fully open configuration, in which the front and rear parts are angularly spaced by approximately 180&#xb0;. There is a further defined intermediate open configuration in which the front and rear parts and are angularly spaced by approximately 90&#xb0; . . . . When opening the case from the closed position the hinges 'lock' when the front and rear parts reach this intermediate position. The hinges will only 'unlock', so that the case can be opened further or closed, if sufficient force is applied. Relative movement of the case parts and to the fully open configuration shown in FIG.is limited by hinges. In an open configuration the detector presents an article-locating station comprising a mounting surface for receiving an article, and alignment means, located on the mounting surface, which in this case is a marked line on the mounting surface with which the security mark should be aligned.

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Kent, United Kingdom

Andrew John Gilbert