Abstract: A system for use in authentication processes is described comprising a physical unclonable function (“PUF”), a substrate, a plurality of magnetized particles randomly dispersed in the substrate, a PUF reader constructed using multiple discrete magnetometer chips that have magnetic field sensors. The measured magnetic field data may be compared to previously enrolled data to assess authenticity.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor array device is described that is constructed with multiple sensors integrated on a common silicon die, diced and packaged in a wafer level package (WLP). The device comprises an array of multi-axis magnetic sensors that can measure the multi-dimensional magnetic field of an arbitrary sized two-dimensional region with high spatial resolution, reduced sensing distance, higher measurement throughput, tolerance to motion, improved temperature measurement, and improved yield when placed on a circuit card comprises part of an authentication system including a physical unclonable function (“PUF”), a substrate, a plurality of magnetized particles randomly dispersed in the substrate, and a PUF reader constructed using one or more of the magnetic sensor array devices wherein the PUF reader measures the magnetic field at multiple locations in close proximity to the magnetized particles. The measured magnetic field data may be compared to previously enrolled data to assess authenticity.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor array device is described that is constructed with multiple single sensor die, diced out of a wafer individually and packaged in a multi-chip module (MCM). The device comprises an array of multi-axis magnetic sensors that can measure the multi-dimensional magnetic field of an arbitrary sized two-dimensional region with high spatial resolution, reduced sensing distance, higher measurement throughput, tolerance to motion, improved temperature measurement, and improved yield when placed on a circuit card comprises part of an authentication system including a physical unclonable function (“PUF”), a substrate, a plurality of magnetized particles randomly dispersed in the substrate, and a PUF reader constructed using one or more of the magnetic sensor array devices wherein the PUF reader measures the magnetic field at multiple locations in close proximity to the magnetized particles. The measured magnetic field data may be compared to previously enrolled data to assess authenticity.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor array device is described that is constructed with multiple single sensor die, diced out of a wafer as a group and packaged in a wafer level package (WLP). The device comprises an array of multi-axis magnetic sensors that can measure the multi-dimensional magnetic field of an arbitrary sized two-dimensional region with high spatial resolution, reduced sensing distance, higher measurement throughput, tolerance to motion, improved temperature measurement, and improved yield when placed on a circuit card comprises part of an authentication system including a physical unclonable function (“PUF”), a substrate, a plurality of magnetized particles randomly dispersed in the substrate, and a PUF reader constructed using one or more of the magnetic sensor array devices wherein the PUF reader measures the magnetic field at multiple locations in close proximity to the magnetized particles. The measured magnetic field data may be compared to previously enrolled data to assess authenticity.

Abstract: Wine and liquor bottles have a shrink-wrap seal, or other type, that is applied to the cap/cork end of the bottle. This seal material can be loaded with randomly magnetized particles, such as flakes of an alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron (“NdFeB”). The randomly magnetized particles provide a unique unclonable magnetic fingerprint to the bottle. The magnetic field may be recorded for one or more circumferential bands around the surface of the bottle's neck and used as a magnetic fingerprint to authenticate the bottle. Authentication can be performed by inserting the bottle in an appropriate fixture, which measures the magnetic fingerprint.

Abstract: A physically unclonable function is an object that has characteristics that make it extremely difficult or impossible to copy. An array of randomly dispersed hard (magnetized) and soft (non-magnetized) magnetic particles that may be conducting or nonconducting that are disbursed in a binder create a particular magnetic field or capacitive pattern on the surface. This surface magnetic field and capacitive variations can be considered to be a unique pattern similar to fingerprint. The Hall effect prism is a sensor that measures the effects of these patterns by sensing the deformation of currents or electric potential flowing within or around a resistive substrate material that exhibits a substantial Hall effect coefficient.

Abstract: The invention relates generally a device that authenticates a user, operator, or object using multiple factors, thus decreasing the likelihood of unauthorized use. These factors preferably are independent from each other and difficult to defeat. By combining a mechanical key with a number of physically unclonable functions (PUF), the resulting system may be impossible to duplicate or defeat. The addition of the PUF can be deployed to mechanical keys or RFID's of different types without reducing the functionality of the first factors operation.

Abstract: A system for use in authentication processes is described comprising a physical unclonable function (“PUF”), a substrate, a plurality of magnetized particles randomly dispersed in the substrate, a PUF reader constructed using multiple discrete magnetometer chips that have magnetic field sensors, placed on a circuit card in an array with a sufficient center to center spacing between sensing elements of adjacent magnetometer chips, wherein the PUF reader measures the magnetic field data at multiple locations in close proximity to the magnetized particles. The measured magnetic field data may be compared to previously enrolled data to assess authenticity.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a Z-directed component for insertion into a mounting hole in a printed circuit board according to one example embodiment includes simultaneously extruding a plurality of materials according to the structure of the Z-directed component to form an extruded object and forming the Z-directed component from the extruded object. In one embodiment, the extruded object is divided into individual Z-directed components. In one embodiment, the timing of extrusion between predetermined sections of one of the materials is varied in order to stagger the sections in the extruded object.

Abstract: Magnetic keys having a plurality of magnetic plates are disclosed. The location and orientation of the magnetic plates are controlled to generate magnetic fields that are of sufficient strength to be reliably read and sufficient complexity to be difficult to counterfeit. The magnetic keys are located on imaging-device supply items along with non-volatile memory devices containing measurements of the magnetic fields that are digitally signed. These supply items are difficult to counterfeit. Other devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for detecting electrostatic discharge (ESD) events in an imaging device includes scanning a target placed in a scanner to create a scanned image of the target. The scanned image has a plurality of scan lines with each scan line having a number of pixels or samples. For each of the plurality of scan lines, a determination is whether or not the number of pixels or samples of the scan line matches a respective predetermined number of pixels or samples, the predetermined number of pixels or samples being based upon a resolution setting of the scanner. Upon determining that the number of pixels or samples of the scan line does not match the predetermined number of pixels or samples, a count value is incremented. The count value is used as a healthcheck data to indicate at least one ESD event has occurred in the imaging device.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a Z-directed component for insertion into a mounting hole in a printed circuit board according to one example embodiment includes simultaneously extruding a plurality of materials according to the structure of the Z-directed component to form an extruded object and forming the Z-directed component from the extruded object. In one embodiment, the extruded object is divided into individual Z-directed components. In one embodiment, the timing of extrusion between predetermined sections of one of the materials is varied in order to stagger the sections in the extruded object.

Abstract: Magnetic keys having a plurality of magnetic layers having holes are disclosed. The location and orientation of the holes are controlled to generate magnetic fields that are of sufficient strength to be reliably read and sufficient complexity to be difficult to counterfeit. The magnetic keys are located on imaging-device supply items along with non-volatile memory devices containing measurements of the magnetic fields that are digitally signed. These supply items are difficult to counterfeit. Other devices are disclosed.

Abstract: Magnetic keys having a plurality of magnetic plates are disclosed. The location and orientation of the magnetic plates are controlled to generate magnetic fields that are of sufficient strength to be reliably read and sufficient complexity to be difficult to counterfeit. The magnetic keys are located on imaging-device supply items along with non-volatile memory devices containing measurements of the magnetic fields that are digitally signed. These supply items are difficult to counterfeit. Other devices are disclosed.

Abstract: Magnetic keys having a plurality of magnetic layers having holes are disclosed. The location and orientation of the holes are controlled to generate magnetic fields that are of sufficient strength to be reliably read and sufficient complexity to be difficult to counterfeit. The magnetic keys are located on imaging-device supply items along with non-volatile memory devices containing measurements of the magnetic fields that are digitally signed. These supply items are difficult to counterfeit. Other devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A Z-directed capacitor according to one embodiment includes a body having top, bottom and side surfaces, a cross-sectional shape that is insertable into a mounting hole in a printed circuit board, and a plurality of stacked support members. Each support member includes an annular plate mounted on a surface thereof. A first conductive side channel and a second conductive side channel are formed in the side surface and extend along a top-to-bottom dimension of the body. A first set of the annular plates electrically contact the first conductive side channel but not the second conductive side channel and a second set of the annular plates electrically contact the second conductive side channel but not the first conductive side channel. A third conductive side channel is formed in the side surface, extends along the top-to-bottom dimension of the body and is electrically separated from the annular plates.

Abstract: A method for forming a Z-directed component for insertion into a mounting hole in a printed circuit board according to one example includes filling a first cavity having a tapered surface with a body material. A first layer of a constraining material is provided on top of the first cavity and has a second cavity having a width that is smaller than the first cavity. The second cavity is filled with the body material. Successive layers of the constraining material are provided on top of the first layer of the constraining material. Cavities of the successive layers of the constraining material are selectively filled with at least the body material to form layers of the main body portion of the Z-directed component. The constraining material is dissipated to release the Z-directed component from the constraining material and the Z-directed component is fired.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a Z-directed component for insertion into a mounting hole in a printed circuit board according to one example embodiment includes simultaneously extruding a plurality of materials according to the structure of the Z-directed component to form an extruded object and forming the Z-directed component from the extruded object. In one embodiment, the extruded object is divided into individual Z-directed components. In one embodiment, the timing of extrusion between predetermined sections of one of the materials is varied in order to stagger the sections in the extruded object.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a Z-directed component for insertion into a mounting hole in a printed circuit board according to one example embodiment includes simultaneously extruding a plurality of materials according to the structure of the Z-directed component to form an extruded object and forming the Z-directed component from the extruded object. In one embodiment, the extruded object is divided into individual Z-directed components. In one embodiment, the timing of extrusion between predetermined sections of one of the materials is varied in order to stagger the sections in the extruded object.

Abstract: A method for reducing electromagnetic emissions by an image scanner comprises cyclically dithering a frequency of a clock signal of the image scanner by repeated dither cycles, determining a phase of the dither cycle when a scan pass of a page of a document commences; and commencing all subsequent scan passes of the page of the document at a particular phase shift from the determined phase of the dither cycle.