Method and system for optical product authentication

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for optical product authentication, in which a product is labeled with optically active particles, a reference image is recorded in a registration step and a recognition image of the optically active particles is recorded in a recognition step. The product is then authenticated by comparing image data or a coding derived from image data in the registration step versus the recognition step.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for optical product authentication, comprising:
 obtaining an arrangement of particles distributed randomly in at least one of a film, a label, or a coating;   capturing with a camera one or more recognition images of the particles;   compensating for imaging-related deviations between the one or more recognition images and at least one reference image of the particles;   comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image;   determining, based on the comparison, that the one or more recognition images correspond to the at least one reference image; and   displaying, in response to the determination, an indication of a positive authentication,   wherein at least one of:
 the at least one reference image comprises at least two reference images of the particles recorded from defined, differing camera perspectives; 
 comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image comprises obtaining image coordinates of the particles in the one or more recognition images; 
 capturing the one or more recognition images comprises measuring a tilt angle between an optical axis of the camera and a gravitational axis; or 
 the at least one reference image is stored in a database and comprises at least two reference images or two or more reference keys calculated for the at least one reference image. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a density of the particles in the film, the label, or the coating is 30 to 20,000 particles/cm 3 . 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of the film, the label, or the coating is disposed on a product or a package. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein compensating for imaging-related deviations comprises performing a digital image registration between the one or more recognition images and the at least one reference image based on one or more of: a visual feature of the product, a visual feature of the package, an orientation mark on the product, or an orientation mark on the package. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein capturing the one or more recognition images comprises capturing light received from the particles by at least one of reflection or luminescence. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein capturing the one or more recognition images comprises irradiating the particles with light. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more recognition images comprise an image of a serial number or a digital code on a product or package associated with the film, the label, or the coating, and wherein comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image comprises comparing the serial number or the digital code with a reference serial number or a reference digital code stored in a database. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one reference image comprises the at least two reference images of the particles recorded from defined, differing camera perspectives. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image comprises obtaining the image coordinates of the particles in the one or more recognition images. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image comprises comparing the image coordinates of the particles in the one or more recognition images with image coordinates of the particles in the at least one reference image. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein capturing the one or more recognition images comprises measuring the tilt angle between the optical axis of the camera and the gravitational axis. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one reference image is stored in the database and comprises the at least two reference images or the two or more reference keys calculated for the at least one reference image. 
     
     
         28 . A system for optical authentication, the system comprising:
 an arrangement of particles distributed randomly in at least one of a film, a label, or a coating;   a registration system for obtaining at least one reference image of the particles; and   an authentication system comprising:
 a camera for capturing one or more recognition images of the particles; 
 at least one computer processor programmed to perform operations comprising:
 compensating for imaging-related deviations between the one or more recognition images and the at least one reference image of the particles; 
 comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image; and 
 determining, based on the comparison, that the one or more recognition images correspond to the at least one reference image; and 
 
 a display for displaying, in response to the determination, an indication of a positive authentication, 
   wherein at least one of:
 the at least one reference image comprises at least two reference images of the particles recorded from defined, differing camera perspectives; 
 comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image comprises obtaining image coordinates of the particles in the one or more recognition images; 
 capturing the one or more recognition images comprises measuring a tilt angle between an optical axis of the camera and a gravitational axis; or 
 the at least one reference image is stored in a database and comprises at least two reference images or two or more reference keys calculated for the at least one reference image. 
   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one of the film, the label, or the coating is disposed on a product or a package, and wherein compensating for imaging-related deviations comprises performing a digital image registration between the one or more recognition images and the at least one reference image based on one or more of: a visual feature of the product, a visual feature of the package, an orientation mark on the product, or an orientation mark on the package. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more recognition images comprise an image of a serial number or a digital code on a product or package associated with the film, the label, or the coating, and wherein comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image comprises comparing the serial number or the digital code with a reference serial number or a reference digital code stored in a database. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one reference image comprises the at least two reference images of the particles recorded from defined, differing camera perspectives. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image comprises obtaining the image coordinates of the particles in the one or more recognition images. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image comprises comparing the image coordinates of the particles in the one or more recognition images with image coordinates of the particles in the at least one reference image. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein capturing the one or more recognition images comprises measuring the tilt angle between the optical axis of the camera and the gravitational axis. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one reference image is stored in the database and comprises the at least two reference images or the two or more reference keys calculated for the at least one reference image.