Laserlock Technologies, Inc.

Verifyme, Inc.

Norman A Gardner

Terry William Stovold

Edward H Bell

Neil Alpert

Paul Andrew Donfried

Peter J Kuzma

Terry Stovold

Described is a characteristic verification system that includes security marks, devices, systems and methods that may be used to authenticate a material good and to provide strong brand protection. A device, such as a smartphone, that includes a software application, a camera and a light source, may be used to interrogate the security mark and connect to remote servers to authenticate the material good at varying levels of assurance. In addition to authenticating the good, the system may also authenticate the user and provide different information to different users and/or limit information that is provided unauthenticated users.

Characteristic verification system

Mediums that include features that work together to create a medium that can be tracked, identified and authenticated efficiently and accurately. In addition, these features may be concealed to prevent or hinder potential copiers from copying or passing off a copy as an original. Further, these features may allow organizations to determine the origin of a copy.

System and method for providing tangible medium with electromagnetic security marker

A light source is configured to emit a narrow peak at a discrete spectral band, especially at a primary color wavelength. The light source can have a plurality of narrow peaks to simulate the effect of a broadband light source. A subject is provided with a pigment, such as certain rare earth lanthanides, with a strong absorption peak at a corresponding narrow spectral band. The pigment has a nominal color when illuminated by a true broadband light (e.g., sunlight) that does not have a narrow peak at the discrete spectral band, and has a different color when illuminated by the light source that has a narrow peak. This color shift can be used for security authentication, information and decorative applications.

Illumination sources and subjects having distinctly matched and mismatched narrow spectral bands

A light source is configured to emit narrow peaks at discrete spectral bands, especially primary color wavelengths, added to simulate the effect of a broadband light source. A subject is provided with a pigment, examples being certain rare earth lanthanides, with a strong absorption peak at a corresponding narrow spectral band. The pigment has a nominal hue under true broadband light. When illuminated by the narrow band source, the absorption peak eliminates the contribution of one of the primary colors, producing a distinct shift in hue of the pigmented subject. The change in hue cannot be anticipated from the appearance of illuminated subjects that lack the pigment, which remain normal. The narrow absorption peak is not noticeable under unmatched light sources or true broadband light sources, e.g., sunlight. The hue shift effect is useful for security authentication, informational and decorative applications.

A latent or 'invisible ink' security marking formulation is provided using a phosphor with distinct emissions characteristics including visible emission due to excitation at a particular invisible wavelength. An insoluble inorganic phosphor with this or a similarly distinct emission characteristic is milled to a small particle size, preferably less than one micron particle diameter, and is combined with a carrier at very low pigment concentration, for example one percent by weight of the ink formulation. Preferably the pigment is cropped to resin particles in a binder. This ink formulation is diluted by a volatile solvent and applied using a conventional inkjet printer of the type used to mark codes on packages and labels. To test for security purposes the printing is irradiated and a response according to the predetermined characteristic is noted (or not noted) to detect security information. The marking is not immediately apparent and without knowledge of the specific phosphor used is difficult for a counterfeiter to reproduce.

Latent inkjet formulation and method

In the method for associating source information with a substrate, which includes providing at least one latent marking agent that emits a signal at an emission wavelength in response to being irradiated with infrared radiation at an excitation wavelength, wherein the signal is at least a portion of the source information; and affixing the at least one latent marking agent to the substrate, a process for providing an ink with a viscosity for effective printing of the source information on the substrate. The at least one latent marking agent includes an inorganic pigment. In some embodiments of the method, the latent marking agent must be exposed to ultraviolet radiation before it can emit a signal in response to infrared irradiation.

Process for blending of ink used in counterfeit detection systems

A method for associating source information with a substrate includes providing at least one latent marking agent that emits a signal at an emission wavelength in response to being irradiated with infrared radiation at an excitation wavelength, wherein the signal is at least a portion of the source information; and affixing the at least one latent marking agent to the substrate. The at least one latent marking agent includes an inorganic pigment. In some embodiments of the method, the latent marking agent must be exposed to ultraviolet radiation before it can emit a signal in response to infrared irradiation.

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Bala Cynwyd, PA, United States of America

Norman A Gardner