Multimode image and spectral reader

Abstract

A system associated with authentication of an object related to a multi-mode marker using a processing device. The processing device performs operations that include detecting a signal associated with a multi-mode marker related with the object; assigning a digital code based on the detected signal associated with the multi-mode marker; and identifying the object based on the digital code related to authentication of the object. A corresponding method and computer-readable device are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system associated with authentication of an object related to a multi-mode marker using a processing device:
 the processing device performing operations that include:
 detecting a signal associated with a multi-mode marker related with the object; assigning a digital code based on the detected signal associated with the multi-mode marker; and 
 identifying the object based on the digital code related to authentication of the object. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-mode marker includes at least one of: a molecule, an olfactory compound, a thermal attribute, a thermal emission, an optical compound, a fluorescent compound, a microdot, a digitized code, a QR code, a bar code, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, a DNA molecule, a DNA sequence, a DNA marking, an upconverting phosphor (UCP), a chemical dye, a digitized image of at least a portion of the object, an electromagnetic emission, a radioactive compound, a fluorophore, an optical reporter, a phosphorescent compound, a spectral characteristic, an optical signature, a colored compound, ultraviolet absorbing compound, an infrared absorbing compound, and a phosphor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-mode marker comprises at least one taggant. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one taggant comprises an encrypted identifier associated with authentication information of the object. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein signals from one or more multi-mode markers related with the object, are captured simultaneously as images from a plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein one of multiple signals is detected and is considered a reference signal and another of the multiple signals is considered an informational signal. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the informational signal is calibrated by comparison with the reference signal. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for detecting the position of a taggant locator that identifies a position of at least one taggant related with the object. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the taggant locator is detected as a signal selected from the group consisting of a visible signal, a fluorescent signal, a radioactive signal, a phosphorescent signal and a thermal attribute. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the taggant locator is selected from the group consisting of a logo, a trademark, a bar code, a scratch-off code and an RFID tag. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , the processing device capable of recording data from the signals detected from the one or more taggants on the object. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the data determined from the one or more taggants on the object is stored in a memory device or communicated to a server for comparison with stored data. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a display for viewing a taggant locator, or at least one of the signals detected from the one or more taggants on the object. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each sensor further comprises one or more optional filters for limiting the signal detected by each sensor, the one or more filters limiting the signals detected to a different range of wavelengths. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the plurality of the sensors each have a filter for limiting the signal detected by the sensor, wherein the at least two of the filters limit the signal detected by the sensor to different wavelength ranges. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the filters each limit the signal wavelength to a bandwidth within a wavelength range that is: about 5 nm to about 75 nm; about 10 nm to about 50 nm; or about 250 nm to about 1,000 nm. 
     
     
         17 . A method associated with authentication of an object related to a multi-mode marker using a processing device:
 the processing device performing operations that include:
 detecting a signal associated with a multi-mode marker related with the object; assigning a digital code based on the detected signal associated with the multi-mode marker; and 
 identifying the object based on the digital code related to authentication of the object. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the multi-mode marker includes at least one of: a molecule, an olfactory compound, a thermal attribute, a thermal emission, an optical compound, a fluorescent compound, a microdot, a digitized code, a QR code, a bar code, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, a DNA molecule, a DNA sequence, a DNA marking, an upconverting phosphor (UCP), a chemical dye, a digitized image of at least a portion of the object, an electromagnetic emission, a radioactive compound, a fluorophore, an optical reporter, a phosphorescent compound, a spectral characteristic, an optical signature, a colored compound, ultraviolet absorbing compound, an infrared absorbing compound, and a phosphor. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable device storing instructions associated with authentication of an object related to a multi-mode marker, the instructions being executable by a processing device:
 the instructions causing the processing device to perform operations upon execution, that include:
 detecting a signal associated with a multi-mode marker related with the object; assigning a digital code based on the detected signal associated with the multi-mode marker; and 
 identifying the object based on the digital code related to authentication of the object. 
   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable device of  claim 19 , wherein the multi-mode marker includes at least one of: a molecule, an olfactory compound, a thermal attribute, a thermal emission, an optical compound, a fluorescent compound, a microdot, a digitized code, a QR code, a bar code, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, a DNA molecule, a DNA sequence, a DNA marking, an upconverting phosphor (UCP), a chemical dye, a digitized image of at least a portion of the object, an electromagnetic emission, a radioactive compound, a fluorophore, an optical reporter, a phosphorescent compound, a spectral characteristic, an optical signature, a colored compound, ultraviolet absorbing compound, an infrared absorbing compound, and a phosphor.