Abstract: An identification apparatus or system includes an estimation unit that estimates an operating distance between the surface of an optical device and an imaging unit as an estimated value. A reference distance refers to the distance between a first face of an identification target and the imaging unit and at which light diffracted by a diffraction grating is capable of being recorded by the imaging unit. A first determination unit is included that determines whether the estimated value matches the reference distance and a second determination unit that determines whether an image captured by the imaging unit matches a reference image. Conditions for identifying the optical device as the identification target include a condition that the first determination unit determines that the estimated value matches the reference distance and a condition that the second determination unit determines that the image captured by the imaging unit matches the reference image.

Abstract: An identification device of the present invention determines authenticity of an article with an anti-counterfeiting medium varying in a pattern of observed light depending on changes in light characteristics of radiated light, using the anti-counterfeiting medium. The identification device includes a similarity calculation unit that determines the degrees of similarity between a plurality of captured image data of the anti-counterfeiting medium obtained with differences in the light characteristics of the radiated light and reference image data corresponding to the light characteristics; and an authenticity determination unit that determines whether the degrees of similarity determined for the individual light characteristics exceed thresholds set corresponding to the individual light characteristics to make an authenticity determination on whether the anti-counterfeiting medium is genuine.

Abstract: An identification device according to the present invention that performs authenticity determination of an article provided with an anti-counterfeiting medium whose observed light pattern changes depending on an observation angle includes a similarity calculating unit that calculates a degree of similarity between captured image data of the anti-counterfeiting medium and reference image data; an authenticity determination unit that performs authenticity determination as to whether the anti-counterfeiting medium is genuine or not on the basis of whether the degree of similarity exceeds a predetermined threshold or not; and a match-percentage notification unit that notifies a match-percentage indicative of a degree of match between an imaging viewpoint for imaging the anti-counterfeiting medium and a reference imaging viewpoint which is predefined as the imaging viewpoint for the captured image data used for authenticity determination.

Abstract: An identification apparatus or system includes an estimation unit that estimates an operating distance between the surface of an optical device and an imaging unit as an estimated value. A reference distance refers to the distance between a first face of an identification target and the imaging unit and at which light diffracted by a diffraction grating is capable of being recorded by the imaging unit. A first determination unit is included that determines whether the estimated value matches the reference distance and a second determination unit that determines whether an image captured by the imaging unit matches a reference image. Conditions for identifying the optical device as the identification target include a condition that the first determination unit determines that the estimated value matches the reference distance and a condition that the second determination unit determines that the image captured by the imaging unit matches the reference image.

Abstract: An identification method for performing authenticity determination on an identification medium having code information and having a variable light pattern portion whose pattern of observed light varies upon a change in an observation angle and for performing reading of the code information includes generating, for captured image data of the variable light pattern portion of the identification medium, reference image data corresponding to the observation angle as the angle of an imaging direction of the captured image data with respect to a reference line of an observation target surface of the identification medium by a reference image generation unit, obtaining a degree of similarity between the captured image data and the reference image data, and performing, based on whether the degree of similarity exceeds a preset threshold, authenticity determination about whether the identification medium is authentic and reading the code information.

Abstract: An identification device of the present invention determines authenticity of an article with an anti-counterfeiting medium varying in a pattern of observed light depending on changes in light characteristics of radiated light, using the anti-counterfeiting medium. The identification device includes a similarity calculation unit that determines the degrees of similarity between a plurality of captured image data of the anti-counterfeiting medium obtained with differences in the light characteristics of the radiated light and reference image data corresponding to the light characteristics; and an authenticity determination unit that determines whether the degrees of similarity determined for the individual light characteristics exceed thresholds set corresponding to the individual light characteristics to make an authenticity determination on whether the anti-counterfeiting medium is genuine.

Abstract: An identification device according to the present invention that performs authenticity determination of an article provided with an anti-counterfeiting medium whose observed light pattern changes depending on an observation angle includes a similarity calculating unit that calculates a degree of similarity between captured image data of the anti-counterfeiting medium and reference image data; an authenticity determination unit that performs authenticity determination as to whether the anti-counterfeiting medium is genuine or not on the basis of whether the degree of similarity exceeds a predetermined threshold or not; and a match-percentage notification unit that notifies a match-percentage indicative of a degree of match between an imaging viewpoint for imaging the anti-counterfeiting medium and a reference imaging viewpoint which is predefined as the imaging viewpoint for the captured image data used for authenticity determination.

Abstract: An identification method for performing authenticity determination on an identification medium having code information and having a variable light pattern portion whose pattern of observed light varies upon a change in an observation angle and for performing reading of the code information includes generating, for captured image data of the variable light pattern portion of the identification medium, reference image data corresponding to the observation angle as the angle of an imaging direction of the captured image data with respect to a reference line of an observation target surface of the identification medium by a reference image generation unit, obtaining a degree of similarity between the captured image data and the reference image data, and performing, based on whether the degree of similarity exceeds a preset threshold, authenticity determination about whether the identification medium is authentic and reading the code information.

Abstract: Increased is the variety of changes of an image in accordance with observation conditions displayed on an optical device including a solidified liquid crystal material. An optical device includes a layered structure including a recess-forming layer with light-transmitting property, a main surface of which includes one or more recess-forming regions each provided with first grooves equal in longitudinal directions to one another and adjacent to one another in a direction crossing the longitudinal directions, and a liquid crystal layer supported by the main surface and made of a solidified liquid crystal material, and a reflection layer facing the layered structure.

Abstract: Increased is the variety of changes of an image in accordance with observation conditions displayed on an optical device including a solidified liquid crystal material. An optical device includes a layered structure including a recess-forming layer with light-transmitting property, a main surface of which includes one or more recess-forming regions each provided with first grooves equal in longitudinal directions to one another and adjacent to one another in a direction crossing the longitudinal directions, and a liquid crystal layer supported by the main surface and made of a solidified liquid crystal material, and a reflection layer facing the layered structure.