Coded polymer substrates for banknote authentication

Abstract

A method and system for authenticating an item includes irradiating the item, the item including a polymer substrate including a polymer material and a doping material and configured to emit a radiation spectrum having a spectral signature in response to the irradiating, the doping material capable of absorbing or scattering radiation at a specific wavelength to generate the spectral signature, detecting the spectral signature, and determining a code associated with the spectral signature.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62 / 465,587, filed March 1, 2017. technical field [0003] The present application relates generally to apparatus and methods for encoding an article with a polymeric substrate comprising a doped material, the code being detectable in the form of a patterned radiation spectrum in response to incident radiation. Background technique [0004] Counterfeiting is a growing concern, so security tools like banknotes typically have three levels of authentication. Class I certification is for public use, usually in the form of optical effects like optically variable inks or security threads with optical properties that are quite unique and difficult to replicate. These Class I authentication features include holographic threads and lenticular lens array security threads. Paper banknotes already include a Level 1 authentication feature in the form of a ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The use of polymeric substrates is mainly limited to lower denomination banknotes as most of the Class III security features incorporated in paper banknote substrates are not available or suitable for polymeric banknotes

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