Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluating the fitness of an object based on determination of a measure of permeability of the object, including positioning the object between a fluid source and a gasochromic material, dispensing a fluid from the fluid source towards the object such that at least a portion of the fluid flows through the object and contacts the gasochromic material, exciting the gasochromic material with an excitation source such that an emission of the gasochromic material is in response to the excitation source and the fluid, detecting the emission from the gasochromic material to determine the permeability of the object, and evaluating the fitness of the object based on the determination of the permeability of the object. The gasochromic material may also be included in the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing the porosity of an object, such as a secure instrument having a substrate, visual data, and a security feature, is disclosed. The method and apparatus include a fluid source, a gasochromic material, an excitation source configured to excite the gasochromic material, and a detection device configured to sense changes in emissions from the gasochromic material after it is contacted with the fluid and excited by the excitation source. The object is configured to fit within a space between the fluid source and the gasochromic material such that when the fluid is emitted from the fluid source, at least a portion of the fluid is configured to flow through the object before contacting the gasochromic material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a radius of particles suspended in a medium includes superposing first and second Doppler-shifted optical waves having a variable frequency shift between them in the medium such that there is a gain in energy of the first optical wave with respect to the second optical wave, varying the frequency shift and measuring the gain while varying the frequency shift to determine the value of the frequency shift at which there is a peak in the gain, and determining the radius of the particles based on the value of the frequency shift at which there is a peak in the gain.

Abstract: Self-cleaning banknotes are provided using coatings, inks and additives which are photo-active and catalytic to reactions which are effective in breaking up organic contaminants or dirt to allow for the self-cleaning of banknotes by ambient light exposure as well as the cleaning of processed banknotes using equipment with more intense optical excitation, thus increasing their usable life. The invention is usable with all substrates and particularly polymeric substrates such as biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP). The invention further discloses a system which allows a certain class of fitness parameters to cause these banknotes to be redirected to a cleaning module, be revaluated, and then either returned to circulation or rejected and/or destroyed. In addition, inks which are photo-catalytic can be used for extending the life of the banknotes in printed regions.

Abstract: An authenticable and machine readable coating for pills, tablets and other ingestible materials is provided. The disclosure also relates to methods of authenticating the same. The coatings are formed from a lattice of particles stacked to cause selective diffraction such that each pill or tablet has an optical signature. The signature associated with each coating can be read and authenticated. In one embodiment, the particles are substantially spherical and self-organized. In one embodiment, generally recognized as safe (GRAS) materials are used to form the particles.

Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a secure instrument, such as a banknote, including a substrate, visual data and a security feature, including exposing the secure instrument to a supercritical fluid at a temperature and a pressure and for a duration sufficient to clean the substrate and not compromise the security feature and the visual data, wherein to clean the substrate includes to remove one or more substances from the substrate into the supercritical fluid. The substances removed from the substrate may include contaminants, dirt, sebum and pathogens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a radius of particles suspended in a medium includes superposing first and second Doppler-shifted optical waves having a variable frequency shift between them in the medium such that there is a gain in energy of the first optical wave with respect to the second optical wave, varying the frequency shift and measuring the gain while varying the frequency shift to determine the value of the frequency shift at which there is a peak in the gain, and determining the radius of the particles based on the value of the frequency shift at which there is a peak in the gain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluating the fitness of an object based on determination of a measure of permeability of the object, including positioning the object between a fluid source and a gasochromic material, dispensing a fluid from the fluid source towards the object such that at least a portion of the fluid flows through the object and contacts the gasochromic material, exciting the gasochromic material with an excitation source such that an emission of the gasochromic material is in response to the excitation source and the fluid, detecting the emission from the gasochromic material to determine the permeability of the object, and evaluating the fitness of the object based on the determination of the permeability of the object. The gasochromic material may also be included in the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing the porosity of an object, such as a secure instrument having a substrate, visual data, and a security feature, is disclosed. The method and apparatus include a fluid source, a gasochromic material, an excitation source configured to excite the gasochromic material, and a detection device configured to sense changes in emissions from the gasochromic material after it is contacted with the fluid and excited by the excitation source. The object is configured to fit within a space between the fluid source and the gasochromic material such that when the fluid is emitted from the fluid source, at least a portion of the fluid is configured to flow through the object before contacting the gasochromic material.

Abstract: Self-cleaning banknotes are provided using coatings, inks and additives which are photo-active and catalytic to reactions which are effective in breaking up organic contaminants or dirt to allow for the self-cleaning of banknotes by ambient light exposure as well as the cleaning of processed banknotes using equipment with more intense optical excitation, thus increasing their usable life. The invention is usable with all substrates and particularly polymeric substrates such as biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP). The invention further discloses a system which allows a certain class of fitness parameters to cause these banknotes to be redirected to a cleaning module, be revaluated, and then either returned to circulation or rejected and/or destroyed. In addition, inks which are photo-catalytic can be used for extending the life of the banknotes in printed regions.

Abstract: Disclosed are security articles and methods and systems for authenticating security articles using a plurality of stimuli. According to one embodiment, an illustrative security feature includes activation of phosphorescent or fluorescent materials by the simultaneous presence of a source of electromagnetic radiation and a specific gas environment. A detector detects a spectral emission of the security feature that results from the change in gas environment. The spectral emission may be compared to an expected emissive signature to determine authenticity of the security article.

Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a secure instrument, such as a banknote, including a substrate, visual data and a security feature, including exposing the secure instrument to a supercritical fluid at a temperature and a pressure and for a duration sufficient to clean the substrate and not compromise the security feature and the visual data, wherein to clean the substrate includes to remove one or more substances from the substrate into the supercritical fluid. The substances removed from the substrate may include contaminants, dirt, sebum and pathogens.

Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a secure instrument, such as a banknote, including a substrate, visual data and a security feature, including exposing the secure instrument to a supercritical fluid at a temperature and a pressure and for a duration sufficient to clean the substrate and not compromise the security feature and the visual data, wherein to clean the substrate includes to remove one or more substances from the substrate into the supercritical fluid. The substances removed from the substrate may include contaminants, dirt, sebum and pathogens.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to a security feature for authenticating an object having an outer surface and an inner surface. The security feature includes a substrate having a length and a width and a two-dimensional code comprising a plurality of two dimensional regions, the plurality of two dimensional regions disposed in the substrate, the two-dimensional code is substantially invisible when inspected during exposure to visible light and readable during exposure to ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a secure instrument, such as a banknote, including a substrate, visual data and a security feature, including exposing the secure instrument to a supercritical fluid at a temperature and a pressure and for a duration sufficient to clean the substrate and not compromise the security feature and the visual data, wherein to clean the substrate includes to remove one or more substances from the substrate into the supercritical fluid. The substances removed from the substrate may include contaminants, dirt, sebum and pathogens.

Abstract: Systems and methods for document and product authentication using a variety of absorption and emission signatures are disclosed. Emission signatures in the form of florescent or phosphorescent coatings, inks and substrates are used for authentication and protection of items such as documents, currency, and secondary packaging for tobacco, luxury goods and pharmaceuticals. Spectrally overlapping absorption and emission materials are combined to provide a unique spectral fingerprint detectable by a scanner.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to methods, systems, and devices that use thermal transients to diagnose wear or other damage in a document such as a banknote. In one embodiment, the invention performs various steps including applying a transient heating or cooling stimulus to the document, wherein the document includes a substrate and a plurality of elements thermally dissimilar to the substrate; detecting a differential thermal emission signature for the substrate and each thermally dissimilar element using a sensor; and determining a wear status of the document based on the detected differential thermal emission signatures.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to a security feature for authenticating an object having an outer surface and an inner surface. The security feature includes a substrate having a length and a width and a two-dimensional code comprising a plurality of two dimensional regions, the plurality of two dimensional regions disposed in the substrate, the two-dimensional code is substantially invisible when inspected during exposure to visible light and readable during exposure to ultraviolet light.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to methods, systems, and devices that use thermal transients to diagnose wear or other damage in a document such as a banknote. In one embodiment, the invention performs various steps including applying a transient heating or cooling stimulus to the document, wherein the document includes a substrate and a plurality of elements thermally dissimilar to the substrate; detecting a differential thermal emission signature for the substrate and each thermally dissimilar element using a sensor; and determining a wear status of the document based on the detected differential thermal emission signatures.

Abstract: A method of generating an energy release reaction including providing a surface or interface formed between a first medium and a second medium. Depositing a plurality of like-charged particles in the first medium adjacent to the surface wherein a potential binding energy between the plurality of like-charged particles and the repulsive force that exists between the like charged particles causes the particles to move until a state of equilibrium is reached. Wherein the movement of the particles over said surface generates dissipation energy. Further wherein the state of equilibrium results in a distance between at least two of the like-charged particles to be sufficiently small to result in reaction of the at least two like-charged particles.