Abstract: A system for verifying the authenticity of a printed mark includes an image acquisition device that acquires an image of a printed mark. In one implementation, the printed mark includes an identifier that identifies the group or class of an item to which the printed mark is to be (or has been) attached. The system may also include one or more processors that carry out actions such as receiving the image from the image acquisition device; analyzing the image to identify artifacts in the printed mark, retrieving a genuine mark signature from a data storage containing genuine mark signatures, comparing the identified artifacts with the genuine mark signature, and determining whether the unverified item is authentic based on the comparison.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a method and computing device for determining whether a mark is genuine. According to various implementations, a computing device (or logic circuitry thereof) uses unintentionally-produced artifacts within a genuine mark to define an identifiable electronic signature, extracts certain attributes of the signature (such as deviation from the mean value for each band of the signature), and assigns numerical values to the extracted attributes in order to create a hash identifier that is significantly smaller than the electronic signature itself. The hash identifier is then used as an index for a database of electronic signatures (of genuine marks) to enhance the ease and speed with which numerous genuine signatures can be searched (e.g., in a database) and compared with signatures (of candidate marks.

Abstract: According to various implementations, a computing device receives an image of a candidate mark and uses the image to create a profile of a feature of the mark. The computing device filters out, from the profile, all spatial frequency components except for a first band of spatial frequency components, resulting in a first filtered profile for the feature. The computing device repeats this filtering process for a second band of spatial frequency components, resulting in a second filtered profile for the feature, and may repeat this filtering process for further spatial frequency bands. The computing device compares the first filtered profile of the candidate mark with an equivalent first filtered profile of a genuine mark, and may repeat this process for further filtered profiles.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a method and computing device for determining whether a mark is genuine. According to various embodiments, a computing device (or logic circuitry thereof) uses unintentionally-produced artifacts within a genuine mark to define an identifiable electronic signature, and extracts certain location identifiers corresponding to certain measured features of the signature in order to enhance the ease and speed with which numerous genuine signatures can be searched and compared with signatures of candidate marks.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a method and computing device for determining whether a mark is genuine. According to various embodiments, a computing device (or logic circuitry thereof) uses unintentionally-produced artifacts within a genuine mark to define an identifiable electronic signature, and extracts certain location identifiers corresponding to certain measured features of the signature in order to enhance the ease and speed with which numerous genuine signatures can be searched and compared with signatures of candidate marks.

Abstract: In one implantation, a processor: (1) receives an image of a candidate mark from an image acquisition device, (2) uses the image to measure one or more characteristics at a plurality of locations on the candidate mark, resulting in a first set of metrics, (3) removes, from the first set of metrics, a metric having a dominant amplitude, resulting in a trimmed first set of metrics, (4) retrieves, from a computer-readable memory, a second set of metrics that represents one or more characteristics measured at a plurality of locations on an original mark, (5) removes, from the second set of metrics, a metric corresponding to the metric removed from the first set of metrics, resulting in a trimmed second set of metrics, (6) compares the trimmed first set of metrics with the trimmed second set of metrics, and (7) determines whether the candidate mark is genuine based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method of verifying an identity of a printed item includes capturing an image of the unverified printed item, wherein the unverified printed item includes artifacts and at least some of the artifacts were not controllably producible in producing the unverified printed item; extracting information associated with the artifacts of the unverified printed item; ranking the information associated with the artifacts of the unverified printed item; retrieving stored ranked information associated with artifacts of an original printed item from a storage device; and in each of a first and second range of magnitudes, comparing the ranked information associated with the artifacts of the unverified printed item with the ranked information associated with the artifacts of the original printed item.

Abstract: A system for verifying the authenticity of a printed mark includes an image acquisition device that acquires an image of a printed mark. In one implementation, the printed mark includes coded information associated with a verified original item. The system may also include one or more processors that carry out actions such as receiving the image from the image acquisition device; analyzing the image to identify imperfections in the printed mark, retrieving a genuine mark signature from a database of genuine mark signatures, comparing the identified imperfections with the genuine mark signature, and determining whether the unverified item is authentic based on the comparison.

Abstract: Utilizing natural variations in marked features on an item as a way of establishing an identifier specific to that item, storing the identifier separately from the item, and subsequently accessing the identifier to validate the identity of the item.

Abstract: Utilizing natural variations in marked features on an item as a way of establishing an identifier specific to that item, storing the identifier separately from the item, and subsequently accessing the identifier to validate the identity of the item.

Abstract: An illuminator system is provided that is responsive to a trigger signal from a remote source to supply controlled pulses to a load, such as an array of light emitting diodes in a LED strobe. The LED strobe is positioned in close proximity to a lens mounting system. The system of the present invention includes a remote trigger source, a load such as an array of light emitting diodes, and a pulse gate section. The pulse gate section includes a trigger interface having an input connected to the trigger source and is configured to generate a pulse trigger signal in response to a trigger signal from the trigger source. A clock generator responds to the pulse trigger signal by generating at least one clock signal, and a flash pulse generator responds to the clock signal and to at least one user definable input signal by generating a flash pulse signal. The flash pulse signal is used to activate or deactivate the load, and a load drive section is used to drive the load.