Abstract: An apparatus comprises an image capturing device, a light emitting device for illuminating an object to be captured by the image capturing device, a visual guide to guide a user to aim the apparatus at a target authentication device, and a processor. The visual guide is devised such that when the apparatus is aimed at the target authentication device following guidance of the visual guide, the brightness levels on an image of the target authentication device captured by the image capturing device while under illumination of the light emitting device are within a predetermined range of brightness levels to facilitate verification of authenticity with reference to the captured image of the target authentication device.

Abstract: A tamper or copy resistant information bearing device is disclosed. The information bearing device comprises a first data bearing pattern and a second data bearing pattern in overlap. At least a portion of the first data bearing pattern overlaps with at least a portion of the second data bearing pattern to form an overlapping region comprising an overlapped data bearing pattern. At least some information bearing elements of the first type and at least some information bearing elements of the second type in said overlapping data bearing pattern are joined or connected in abutment to form a plurality of overlapped information bearing elements. An overlapped information bearing element comprises a first portion due to said information bearing element of the first type, a second portion due to said information bearing element of the second type, and a third portion due to merging or overlapping of said information bearing element of the first type and said information bearing element of the second type.

Abstract: An apparatus (100, 1001) comprises an image capturing device (110), a light emitting device (112) for illuminating an object to be captured by the image capturing device (110), a visual guide (114) to guide a user to aim the apparatus (100, 1001) at a target authentication device (140), and a processor (102). The visual guide (114) is devised such that when the apparatus (100, is aimed at the target authentication device (140) following guidance of the visual guide (114), the brightness levels on an image of the target authentication device (140) captured by the image capturing device (110) while under illumination of the light emit ting device (112) are within a predetermined range of brightness levels to facilitate verification of authenticity with reference to the captured image of the target authentication device (140).