System for authenticating an object
View Patent ↗A system for authenticating an object includes a label ( 12 ) with invisible indicia ( 14 ) on the object which rotates a polarization of incident light; a digital camera ( 18 ) having a light source ( 20 ), an image sensor ( 22 ), a first polarizing filter ( 24 ) having a first orientation, and a second polarizing filter ( 26 ) having a second orientation orthogonal to the first orientation; illuminating the label with light from the light source through the first linear polarizer; forming an image with the image sensor using reflected light from the label wherein the reflected light passes through the second polarizer prior to reaching the sensor; wherein the second linear polarizer makes the invisible indicia visible; and authenticating the object.
1. A system for authenticating an object comprising:
a label with invisible indicia on the object which rotate a polarization of incident light;
a digital camera having a light source, an image sensor, a first linear polarizer having a first orientation, and a second linear polarizer having a second orientation orthogonal to the first orientation;
illuminating the label with light from the light source through the first linear polarizer;
forming an image with the image sensor using reflected light from the label wherein the reflected light passes through the second polarizer prior to reaching the sensor;
wherein the second linear polarizer makes the invisible indicia visible; and
authenticating the object.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
displaying, communicating, or printing the visible indicia.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicia are machine readable or human readable.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicia encode authentication information.
5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:
comparing the authentication information to a predetermined authentication code.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the comparison is made by a user or a processor in the camera.
7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a first transmitter for transmitting the visible indicia to a remote location for authentication; and
a second transmitter transmitting the authentication to the digital camera.
8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:
transmitting a coupon to the digital camera after authentication.
9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:
collecting information related to sale of the object.
10. The system of claim 8 further comprising:
restocking the object based on a sale of the object.
11. The system of claim 8 further comprising:
transmitting the coupon to a cash register on completing a sale of the object.
12. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a GPS sensor for detecting a geographic location of the digital camera;
a first transmitter for transmitting the visible indicia and the GPS location of the digital camera to a remote location for authentication;
authenticating the object based on the visible indicia and the GPS location;
a second transmitter transmitting the authentication to the digital camera; and
transmitting the authentication to the digital camera.
13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:
transmitting a coupon to the digital camera after authentication.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the second orientation is 90° with respect to the first orientation;
a first quarter-wave plate is positioned between the first linear polarizer and the label; and
a second quarter wave plate is positioned between the second linear polarizer and the label.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the invisible indicia change a polarization of incident light.
16. The system of claim 14 wherein the label surrounding the invisible indicia change a polarization of incident light.
17. The system of claim 1 wherein the second orientation is parallel to the first orientation;
a first quarter-wave plate is positioned between the first linear polarizer and the label; and
a second quarter wave plate is positioned between the second linear polarizer and the label.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein the invisible indicia change a polarization of incident light.
19. The system of claim 17 wherein the label surrounding the invisible indicia change a polarization of incident light.
20. The system of claim 1 wherein the second linear polarizer is orthogonal to the first orientation.
21. The system of claim 1 wherein the invisible indicia rotate a polarization of incident light differently from the surrounding label.
22. The system of claim 1 wherein the invisible indicia rotate the incident light greater than 0° and less than 180° and rotate the incident light differently from the surrounding label.
23. The system of claim 1 wherein the invisible indicia rotate a polarization of incident light.
24. The system of claim 1 wherein the label surrounding the invisible indicia rotate a polarization of incident light.
25. A system of authenticating an object comprising:
a light source;
an image sensor;
a first linear polarizer having a first orientation
a second linear polarizer having a second orientation orthogonal to the first orientation;
illuminating a label on the object with light from the light source through the first linear polarizer;
wherein the label has invisible indicia which rotates a polarization of incident light;
forming an image with the image sensor using reflected light from the label wherein the reflected light passes through the second polarizer prior to reaching the sensor;
wherein the second linear polarizer makes the invisible indicia visible; and
authenticating the object.