Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: obtain an image of a barcode from a product, wherein the barcode comprises a signature; obtain a notification associated with authentication of the product based on the signature; and provide the notification as an audio, a video, or a combination of audio and video. A method comprising: obtaining a smart device; coupling a scanner system to the smart device; obtaining a product comprising a barcode; scanning, using the scanner system, the barcode to obtain an image of the barcode, wherein the barcode comprises a signature; and obtaining, using the smart device and based on the signature, a notification associated with authentication of the product.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: obtain an image of a barcode from a product, wherein the barcode comprises a signature; obtain a notification associated with authentication of the product based on the signature; and provide the notification as an audio, a video, or a combination of audio and video. A method comprising: obtaining a smart device; coupling a scanner system to the smart device; obtaining a product comprising a barcode; scanning, using the scanner system, the barcode to obtain an image of the barcode, wherein the barcode comprises a signature; and obtaining, using the smart device and based on the signature, a notification associated with authentication of the product.

Abstract: A method of fuel analysis comprising subjecting a fuel sample comprising a fuel marker and a fuel matrix to fluorescence spectroscopy to generate a measured emission spectrum comprising a first spectral component (type and amount of marker in sample), a second spectral component (spectral perturbation), and a third spectral component (matrix fluorescence); deconvoluting the measured emission spectrum to yield a deconvoluted measured emission spectrum (first and second spectral components) via removal of third spectral component; decoupling the deconvoluted measured emission spectrum to yield a corrected emission spectrum (first spectral component) via a projection function which orthogonally projects the deconvoluted measured emission spectrum onto a subspace devoid of the second spectral component; and determining the amount of fuel marker in the fuel sample from the corrected emission spectrum. The method of fuel analysis comprises temperature corrections.

Abstract: A method of increasing the accuracy of the quantification of an analyte in a hydrocarbon, the analyte containing a marking compound, by obtaining a first sample containing (a) the hydrocarbon and (b) the marking compound, obtaining a homogeneity inducing material, contacting the homogeneity inducing material with an aliquot of the first sample in a volumetric ratio of greater than or equal to about 5:1 to produce a second sample, and determining an amount of the marking compound in the second sample using an analytical technique based on the marking material.

Abstract: Device and methods for detecting/quantifying a fluorescent taggant in a liquid sample. Generally, the liquid samples are fuels having low concentrations (measured in ppb) of a fluorescent taggant. The detection/quantification generates a predicted concentration of the fluorescent tagging compound using a process selected from the group of a multivariate process, a background subtraction process, or a combination of both. The invention addresses the detection of an adulteration of gasoline and diesel fuels.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: receive a spoken phrase associated with a printed phrase from a tamper-evident component of a product; obtain a notification associated with authentication of the product based on the spoken phrase; and provide the notification in a visual manner, in an audio manner, or a combined audio and visual manner. A method comprises: creating a tamper-evident component comprising an obscuring mechanism and a printed phrase, wherein the obscuring mechanism obscures the printed phrase from view; providing the tamper-evident component for integration into a product; receiving a spoken phrase from a first consumer; analyzing the spoken phrase; generating a notification associated with authentication of the product based on the analyzing; and transmitting the notification to the first consumer.

Abstract: A composition comprising a fuel and at least one compound characterized by Formula I: wherein X is carbon, oxygen, or sulfur; R1 and R2 each independently are hydrogen, a C1 to C20 alkyl, or a C6 to C10 aryl; R3 and R3? each independently are hydrogen or a C1 to C4 alkyl; R4 and R4? each independently are hydrogen, a C1 to C4 alkyl, a C4 to C10 cycloalkyl, or a C6 to C10 aryl; R5 and R5? each independently are a C4 to C10 alkyl; R6 and R6? each independently are hydrogen or a C1 to C6 alkyl; and R7 and R7? each independently are hydrogen or a C1 to C4 alkyl; and wherein the compound of Formula I when subjected to GC-MS using electron ionization at greater than about 70 eV produces at least one ion having a mass-to-charge ratio of from 300 to 600.

Abstract: A method of forming a composition comprising contacting a fuel and at least one compound of Formula I: wherein X is carbon, oxygen, or sulfur; R1 and R2 each independently are hydrogen, a C1 to C20 alkyl, or a C6 to C10 aryl; R3 and R3? each independently are hydrogen or a C1 to C4 alkyl; R4 and R4? each independently are hydrogen, a C1 to C4 alkyl, a C4 to C10 cycloalkyl, or a C6 to C10 aryl; R5 and R5? each independently are a C4 to C10 alkyl; R6 and R6? each independently are hydrogen or a C1 to C6 alkyl; and R7 and R7? each independently are hydrogen or C1 to C4 alkyl; and wherein the compound of Formula I when subjected to GC-MS using electron ionization at greater than 70 eV produces at least one ion having a mass-to-charge ratio of 300 to 600.

Abstract: The skew angle of a document image is determined or estimated. The skew angle is determined or estimated by examining patterns found within a Fast Fourier Transform of a subset of the document image. This technique exploits the internal structure of the document designs to allow fast and accurate skew angle estimation, including for arbitrary document fragments.

Abstract: A method of determining adulteration of a fuel including subjecting to an analytical technique a marked fuel mixture comprising (a) a fuel; (b) a compound characterized by Formula I: wherein X is carbon, oxygen, or sulfur; when X is O or S, R1 and R2 are lone non-bonding electron pairs; when X is C, R1 and R2 each independently are hydrogen, C1 to C20 alkyl, or C6 to C10 aryl; R3 and R3? each independently are hydrogen or C1 to C4 alkyl; R4 and R4? each independently are hydrogen, C1 to C4 alkyl, C4 to C10 cycloalkyl, or C6 to C10 aryl; R5 and R5? each independently are C4 to C10 alkyl; R6 and R6? each independently are hydrogen or C1 to C6 alkyl; and R7 and R7? each independently are hydrogen or C1 to C4 alkyl; and (c) a heavy compound, wherein the heavy compound comprises a compound of Formula I having at least one atom replaced with an isotope tag.

Abstract: Marking a petroleum product includes adding a covert dye selected from the group consisting of azadipyrromethene dyes, dipyrromethene dyes, and any combination thereof to the petroleum product and distributing the dye in the petroleum product. A petroleum product selected for analysis may be spectroscopically analyzed for the presence of an azadipyrromethene dye, a dipyrromethene dye, or a combination thereof. A concentration of at least one azadipyrromethene or dipyrromethene dye present in the portion of the petroleum product may be determined to identify the petroleum product as counterfeit, adulterated, or authentic based on the determined concentration of the azadipyrromethene or dipyrromethene dye.

Abstract: A device detects multi-spectral imaging by using scan elements. The device may include an illumination module and a detection module to detect light scattered from an object illuminated by the illumination module. The device may also include an array of light sources to produce light at a plurality of different wavelengths, and create a line of illumination with each of the different wavelengths. The light detection may be applied to authenticate and validate documents, such as banknotes moving along a document conveyer.

Abstract: A known amount of marker may be added to a pressurized hydrocarbon fluid, or combined with an additive to form a mixture, and the mixture may be added to a pressurized hydrocarbon fluid. An amount of the marker in the hydrocarbon fluid may be determined. An amount of the additive in the hydrocarbon fluid may be determined based on the amount of the marker in the pressurized hydrocarbon fluid. An inline system may be used for detection of a marker in a pressurized hydrocarbon fluid. The system is fixed in a pressurized hydrocarbon fluid supply line such that pressurized hydrocarbon fluid flowing from a first location to a second location in the supply line passes through the detection system. The hydrocarbon fluid may be a liquid or a gas. The markers may include a variety of optical markers, such as fluorescent markers. Detection of the markers may include, for example, fluorescence detection.

Abstract: A light source is gated ON and OFF in response to a pulsed signal. Photo emissions from the light source are coupled to a material under test. Resonant fluorescent emissions from the material are coupled to a photodiode. Current from the photodiode is coupled into an amplifier system comprising a first and second amplifier stages. The first amplifier stage is gated to a low gain when the light source is turned ON and the gain is increased when the light source goes from ON to OFF. The second amplifier stage has digitally programmable offset and gain settings in response to control signals. The output of the second amplifier stage is digitized by an analog to digital converter. A controller generates the pulse control signal and the control signals.

Abstract: At least two luminescent materials are intermingled within a security feature. The materials are selected from among a larger set of luminescent materials each having a different individual exponential decay characteristic (decay constant and initial amplitude response to the degree of excitation) for photo-luminescent emission from the respective material following excitation. The ratio of the decay constants for any two materials is greater than or equal to about 1.5. The selected materials are mixed in one of a plurality of predetermined ratios. The combined emissions from the intermingled materials appear, to an unsophisticated measuring device, to have a single exponential decay constant. Based on measurements for the decay of the combined emissions following excitation, estimates of the individual decay constants and associated initial emission amplitudes allow decoding of the particular combination of materials and/or their ratios to validate the security feature, authenticating the article.

Abstract: The skew angle of a document image is determined or estimated. The skew angle is determined or estimated by examining patterns found within a Fast Fourier Transform of a subset of the document image. This technique exploits the internal structure of the document designs to allow fast and accurate skew angle estimation, including for arbitrary document fragments.

Abstract: A device detects multi-spectral imaging by using scan elements. The device may include an illumination module and a detection module to detect light scattered from an object illuminated by the illumination module. The device may also include an array of light sources to produce light at a plurality of different wavelengths, and create a line of illumination with each of the different wavelengths. The light detection may be applied to authenticate and validate documents, such as banknotes moving along a document conveyer.

Abstract: A device detects multi-spectral imaging by using scan elements. The device may include an illumination module and a detection module to detect light scattered from an object illuminated by the illumination module. The device may also include an array of light sources to produce light at a plurality of different wavelengths, and create a line of illumination with each of the different wavelengths. The light detection may be applied to authenticate and validate documents, such as banknotes moving along a document conveyer.

Abstract: At least two luminescent materials are intermingled within a security feature. The materials are selected from among a larger set of luminescent materials each having a different individual exponential decay characteristic (decay constant and initial amplitude response to the degree of excitation) for photo-luminescent emission from the respective material following excitation. The ratio of the decay constants for any two materials is greater than or equal to about 1.5. The selected materials are mixed in one of a plurality of predetermined ratios. The combined emissions from the intermingled materials appear, to an unsophisticated measuring device, to have a single exponential decay constant. Based on measurements for the decay of the combined emissions following excitation, estimates of the individual decay constants and associated initial emission amplitudes allow decoding of the particular combination of materials and/or their ratios to validate the security feature, authenticating the article.

Abstract: A first fuel and a second fuel are marked with a marker that can be detected quantitatively in a predetermined concentration range. The second fuel is marked with a binary marker. Decreased concentration of the quantitative marker, presence of a binary marker, or both may be indicative of a fuel that is altered (e.g., mixed, laundered, diluted, or adulterated). Testing a fuel includes testing the fuel for a presence of a first marker in the fuel in a predetermined concentration range, and testing the fuel for a presence of a second marker. The presence of the first marker in the predetermined concentration range and an absence of the second marker may be indicative that the fuel is unaltered. The presence of the first marker in the fuel in a concentration less than the predetermined concentration range or the presence of the second marker may be indicative that the fuel is altered.