Emissive Image Substrate Marking, Articles Marked With An Emissive Image, and Authentication Methods Involving The Same

Abstract

A method of marking a substrate with an emissive image wherein the substrate includes optical brighteners, the substrate having applied thereon a substance having one or more fluorescent quenchers and a quench prevention substance. An emissive color component is applied over at least a portion of the quench prevention substance. An article with authentication features may include a substrate having a layer of one or more fluorescent quenchers, a layer of a quench prevention substance, and an emissive image component. An article with authentication features may be used to authenticate the article using an emissive image produced from an emissive color component positioned over at least a portion of a quench prevention substance.

1 . A method of marking a substrate with an emissive image, the substrate containing optical brighteners, the method comprising:
 providing a substrate including one or more optical brighteners;   applying a substance having one or more fluorescent quenchers over at least a portion of the substrate to produce a quenched area of the substrate;   applying a quench prevention substance over at least a portion of the quenched area of the substrate to produce a fluorescent print surface; and   applying an emissive color component of an image indicia over at least a portion of the fluorescent print surface.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance having one or more fluorescent quenchers includes an ink. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said applying a substance having one or more fluorescent quenchers includes using the location of a black ink cartridge of an inkjet printer to deliver the substance having one or more fluorescent quenchers. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the quench prevention substance includes a substance selected from the group consisting of a clear-coat, a binder, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the emissive color component is applied using one or more fluorescent inks. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the one or more fluorescent inks is substantially invisible when exposed to visible light. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said applying an emissive color component is performed using an inkjet printer intended for use with subtractive color ink, the one or more fluorescent inks including red, green, and blue additive color fluorescent inks. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the image indicia when applied over at least a portion of the fluorescent print surface and exposed to an excitation energy produce a full color emissive image. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the full color emissive image is visible to the unaided human eye. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the image indicia is invisible prior to exposure to the excitation energy. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the full color emissive image is detectable using a device for sensing a non-visible wavelength. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 exposing an article including the substrate to an excitation energy corresponding to at least one emissive element of the emissive color component;   authenticating the article by use of any resultant emissive image.   
     
     
         13 . A method of authenticating an article, the method comprising:
 providing an article including:
 a substrate including one or more optical brighteners; 
 a layer of one or more fluorescent quenchers over at least a portion of the substrate; 
 a layer of a quench prevention substance over at least a portion of the one or more fluorescent quenchers; 
 an emissive color component over at least a portion of the quench prevention substance, the emissive color component making up at least a part of an authentication feature of the article; 
   exposing the article to an excitation energy corresponding to at least one emissive element of the emissive color component; and   authenticating the article by use of any resultant emissive image.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the emissive color component is invisible when exposed to visible light. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the emissive image is visible to the unaided human eye. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the emissive color component includes one or more fluorescent inks. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the emissive color component includes a plurality of fluorescent inks that when exposed to an excitation energy produce a full color emissive image. 
     
     
         18 . An article with authentication features comprising:
 a substrate including one or more optical brighteners;   a layer of one or more fluorescent quenchers over at least a portion of the substrate;   a layer of a quench prevention substance over at least a portion of the one or more fluorescent quenchers; and   an emissive color component over at least a portion of the quench prevention substance, the emissive color component making up at least a part of an authentication feature of the article.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the emissive color component is invisible when exposed to visible light. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the emissive color component includes one or more fluorescent inks.