Comparing gemstone signatures using angular spectrum information
A system comprises a faceted structure imaging assembly and a faceted structure image analyzer. Signature information of the gemstone is obtained and compared to stored signature information. The signature information includes angular spectrum information generated by the imaging assembly while a colored light pattern is reflected onto the gemstone. The signature information uniquely identifies the gemstone and indicates whether an entity was the source of the gemstone. The signature information comparison involves comparing an angular spectrum image obtained by the imaging assembly to stored angular spectrum images. In one example, the system compares the obtained signature information to stored signature information to validate a source of the gemstone. In another example, the system obtains signature information of the gemstone and forwards the signature information to a remote validation system. The remote validation system compares the signature information to stored signature information and forwards a validation result to the system.
1. A method comprising:
reflecting light onto a crystalline structure in a mounted setting, wherein the crystalline structure is not loose and is fixed within the mounted setting;
obtaining an angular spectrum image of the crystalline structure from an image analyzer, wherein the angular spectrum image is part of signature information that uniquely identifies the crystalline structure; and
comparing the angular spectrum image to stored angular spectrum images to validate a source of the crystalline structure, wherein the comparing is performed using an image analyzer that analyzes pixels of the angular spectrum image and that analyzes pixels of the stored angular spectrum images.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the stored angular spectrum images is part of stored signature information that uniquely identifies a prior analyzed crystalline structure.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the angular spectrum image is obtained using an image sensor, wherein at least one other dimension of the crystalline structure is determined using the image sensor, and wherein crystalline structure is authenticated by also comparing the at least one other dimension to prior obtained dimensions.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reflecting of light onto the crystalline structure involves directing light onto color features disposed along an inner surface of a cylinder, wherein the cylinder covers the crystalline structure, and wherein at least some light reflected from the color features is reflected by the crystalline structure onto a center of the cylinder.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the color features comprise a first color feature, a second color feature, and a third color feature, and wherein each of the first color feature, the second color feature, and the third color feature reflects different color light.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first color feature is disposed along the inner surface of the cylinder such that light reflected from the first color feature enters the crystalline structure from a first range of angles, wherein the second color feature is disposed along the inner surface of the cylinder such that light reflected from the second color feature enters the crystalline structure from a second range of angles, and wherein the third color feature is disposed along the inner surface of the cylinder such that light reflected from the third color feature enters the crystalline structure from a third range of angles.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the comparing of the angular spectrum image to stored angular spectrum images involves comparing color characteristics between images.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the angular spectrum image is sensed while the crystalline structure is in the mounted setting and without removing the crystalline structure from the setting.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mounted setting is not part of any assembly used to analyze the crystalline structure.
10. A system comprising:
an imaging assembly, wherein the imaging assembly is configured to reflect light onto color features disposed above a crystalline structure that is mounted within a setting and to obtain an angular spectrum image of an upper surface of the crystalline structure, and wherein the crystalline structure is not loose and is fixed within the setting; and
an image analyzer, wherein the image analyzer is configured to receive the angular spectrum image and compare the angular spectrum image to other stored angular spectrum images via pixel analysis thereby authenticating a source of the crystalline structure, and wherein the authenticating is performed based in part on the angular spectrum image comparison of the image analyzer.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the authenticating indicates whether a particular entity provided the crystalline structure or whether the crystalline structure was obtained from a particular location.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the angular spectrum image is obtained while the crystalline structure redirects light reflected by the color features disposed above the crystalline structure onto an image sensor.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the imaging assembly includes a cylindrical structure having an aperture, and wherein the color features are disposed along an inner surface of the cylindrical structure.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the color features cause light of varying color to enter the crystalline structure, and wherein color indicates a range of angles upon which light enters the crystalline structure.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the light is provided by a light source disposed below the crystalline structure while the crystalline structure is mounted in the setting and without removing the crystalline structure from the setting.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the setting is not part of the imaging assembly.
17. A method comprising:
obtaining signature information of a crystalline structure mounted in a setting using an imaging assembly that has an image sensor, mounted crystalline structure holder, and cylinder, wherein the signature information includes an angular spectrum image of the crystalline structure obtained while a colored light pattern is reflected from an inner surface of the cylinder onto the crystalline structure, and wherein the crystalline structure is not loose and is fixed within the setting; and
comparing the signature information of the crystalline structure to prior obtained signature information by performing pixel analysis of the angular spectrum image to authenticate a source of the crystalline structure.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the comparing is performed by a crystalline structure analysis system.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the comparing is performed by a remote validation system.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the angular spectrum image is an Angular Spectrum Evaluation Tool (ASET) image.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the comparing involves matching images based on color characteristics.
22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the colored light pattern is generated in part by a light source disposed below the crystalline structure while the crystalline structure is mounted in the setting and without removing the crystalline structure from the setting.
23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the setting is not part of the imaging assembly.