Method and system for item authentication and customization

Abstract

A method of illumating an item is disclosed. The method includes applying adhesive to the item, interspersing a taggant in the adhesive, illuminating the item with an excitation signal, sensing luminescence emitted by the taggant in response to illumination by the excitation signal, and determining the authenticity of the item based on the sensed emitted luminescence. The item can include any item benefited by authentication, and can include a postage stamp. A method of customizing an item is disclosed. This can include the steps of preparing a substrate, applying a security feature to the substrate, printing non-customized information on the substrate, receiving image information, and printing the image information on the substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An authentication system, comprising:
 a label including:
 an object, 
 a substrate, and 
 a taggant formed in an adhesive on the substrate, 
 the adhesive attaching the label to the object; 
   a detector; and   a receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The authentication system of  claim 1 , wherein the taggant is configured to emit a luminescence in response to an excitation signal. 
     
     
         3 . The authentication system of  claim 2 , wherein the taggant is distributed in a shape or pattern within the adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The authentication system of  claim 1 , wherein the detector is configured to interrogate the taggant with the excitation signal. 
     
     
         5 . The authentication system of  claim 4 , wherein the pattern is detectable and recognizable by the detector. 
     
     
         6 . The authentication system of  claim 4 , wherein the receiver comprises a first receiver and a second reciter, wherein the first receiver is configured to capture a first emission pattern from the taggant and the second receiver is configured to capture a second emission pattern of the taggant based upon a first position of the first receiver that is different from a second position of the second receiver with respect to the label. 
     
     
         7 . The authentication system of  claim 6 , wherein the taggant comprises particles arranged both vertically and horizontally within the adhesive such that the taggant generates the first emission pattern and the second emission pattern based upon the viewpoint of the first receiver and the second receiver. 
     
     
         8 . A validation system, comprising:
 a substrate:   a first ink on the substrate:   a second ink on the substrate; and   a taggant,   wherein light of a first wavelength passes through the first ink, but be absorbed by the second ink, and   wherein light of a second wavelength is absorbed by the first ink, but passes through the second ink.   
     
     
         9 . The validation system of  claim 8 , wherein the first ink and the second ink are positioned on a surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The validation system of  claim 8 , wherein the first ink and the second ink are not positioned in overlapping areas of the substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The validation system of  claim 8 , wherein the taggant is configured to emit a luminescence in response to either light of the first wavelength or light of the second wavelength. 
     
     
         12 . The validation system of  claim 11 , wherein the taggant is positioned below both the first ink and the second ink. 
     
     
         13 . The validation system of  claim 12 , wherein when light of the first wavelength is incident on the substrate, the taggant positioned below the first ink will emit a first luminescence. 
     
     
         14 . The validation system of  claim 12 , wherein when light of the second wavelength is incident on the substrate, the taggant positioned below the second ink will emit a second luminescence. 
     
     
         15 . The validation system of  claim 8 , wherein the taggant is arranged in a pattern.