Abstract: An authentication apparatus used to authenticate a moving value document with uniform or non-uniform distribution of a pre-selected covert composition that includes an active ion that emits optical radiation at a pre-selected wavelength when excited by exciting incident light. The optical radiation is imaged onto at least one photodetector having first and second detector elements. The imaged intensities are captured at pre-determined times relating to the velocity of the value document. The ratio between the second detector element and the first detector element measured at the same image location or different image locations represents the characteristic decay time intensity data of the pre-selected wavelength emission. The authenticity of the value document is rejected when the pre-selected wavelength emission is not received by the at least one photodetector or when the output electronic signal ratio does not meet expected value.

Abstract: A value document authentication system comprising a value document substrate having a luminescent compound disposed on or in at least a portion of the value document substrate, wherein the luminescent compound (i) comprises a host lattice having at least one metallic ion with magnetic properties and is doped with at least one rare earth ion capable of emitting infrared radiation with at least one distinct infrared wavelength when excited with an exciting light source having sufficient energy to excite emission from the luminescent compound and (ii) has a pre-determined ratio of metallic ions to rare earth ions such that the ratio corresponds to a parameter of a pre-selected decision criteria, both of which properties are measured at the same location on the value document and used to authenticate the value document.

Abstract: A value document authentication apparatus and system that includes value document substrates having a uniform distribution of one or more phosphors that emit infrared radiation in one or more wavelengths, which can be measured at the same location on the value document that is illuminated by a phosphor exciting light source when the document passes the light source with a uniform velocity. The illumination and measurement locations on the value document can be offset. The measured infrared radiation as a series of overlapped measurements along a pre-selected track in the value document represents an intensity profile, which can be normalized after removing high variations. The normalized intensity profile of a test value document can be compared with normalized intensity profile from valid reference documents to authenticate the test value document.

Abstract: The production of light of various wavelengths using IR phosphor down conversion techniques using existing LED emissions to pump sensitizer-rare earth ions that emit at other wavelengths. A sensitizer absorbs an LED chip pump emission and then transfers that energy with high quantum efficiency to dopant ions that then emits at their characteristic wavelength.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying, tracking, and/or authenticating objects that is simple to apply and to use by an intended user, but is extremely difficult to counterfeit or compromise by an unintended user. Also disclosed is a multi-color, co-planar indicium made of a combination of printed patterns of multiple inks. The printed patterns may be modified by software-generated masks to ensure that the patterns are co-planar. The indicium is undecipherable unless irradiated with specified wavelengths of light radiation, filtered through specified spectral filters, and read and decoded by an electronic image reader. The indicium may be visible or covert. The indicium encodes unique true information about the object and may encode nonsensical or intentionally incorrect information as a further deterrent to unauthorized use. The method permits the indicia to be applied to objects at high processing speeds possible with inkjet printing.

Abstract: A rugged resonator for a laser includes a laser pump housing. An X-fold resonator assembly is configured to receive and hold the laser pump housing. The resonator includes at least four mirrors, a first, a second, a third, and a fourth mirror. The first mirror is configured to receive a first incident laser beam from the first end and to reflect a first reflected beam to reflect as a third reflected beam from the third mirror. The second mirror is configured to receive a second incident laser beam from the second end and reflecting a second reflected beam to intersect the first reflected beam and to reflect as a fourth reflected beam from the fourth mirror. An optical coupler is affixed to an optics plate and configured to receive the third reflected beam. A high reflector is affixed to the optics plate and configured to receive the fourth reflected beam.

Abstract: A spark ignition system for an internal combustion engine has a capacitive discharge (CD) system connected to a coil-per-plug (CCP) magnetic core-coil assembly. The spark ignition system is connected to a spark plug and is adapted to initiate an ignition wherein a spark is produced across the gap of the spark plug. The spark ignition system includes a magnetic core-coil assembly having an amorphous metal magnetic core, a primary coil and a secondary coil for a high voltage output to be fed to a spark plug. The CD system is charged and rapidly discharged through the primary coil of the magnetic core-coil assembly using a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) as the switch. Operation of the SCR is controlled by circuitry that controls the firing of the spark ignition system. The magnetic core-coil assembly acts as a pulse transformer, so that voltage across its secondary coil is related to the turns ratio of secondary to primary.