Anti-counterfeiting object, its manufacturing method and its use

Abstract

The invention relates to a counterfeit-proof object manufactured by depositing a first electrically insulating material in a molten state using additive manufacturing methods. The counterfeit-proof object comprises at least one conductor (15, 16, 17) of a second electrically conductive material integrated in the first material, the conductor (15, 16, 17) connecting at least two accessible terminals (11, 12, 13, 14) and having a measurable characteristic resistance between the terminals (11, 12, 13, 14). The invention also relates to a method for authenticating said object.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a forgery-proof object that allows to verify whether it has been genuinely produced. The present invention also relates to a method for producing said forgery-proof object, and to an authentication method that makes it possible to verify whether an object is genuine. [Background technology]

[0002] Counterfeiting is a long-standing problem that is growing in scope and scale. It is a constant concern for businesses because it affects sales, brand value and corporate reputation, and the ability to benefit from innovation. Consumers also fall victim to counterfeiting, being defrauded of the genuine products they paid for, and pose significant health and safety risks, especially for goods such as machine parts and medicines. At a national level, counterfeiting is a concern for governments because it threatens the welfare and health of their citizens, negatively impacts innovation, and funnels significant funds into criminal networks, organized crime, and other disruptive groups.

[0003] Today, there are numerous technologies that can be used to fight counterfeiting. For example, nanotechnology and other advanced technologies have opened the door to new ways of brand protection and tagging and tracking of products. These technologies offer the possibility to uniquely "fingerprint" the product without affecting it or its packaging. In this context, more than 40 solutions, mostly very recent, are described in the non-patent literature [1].

[0004] Current anti-counterfeiting technology options include a variety of overt and covert measures that enable product authentication. The anti-counterfeiting market can be divided into two main segments: authentication technologies and track-and-trace technologies.

[0005] These technology options include serial numbers, bar codes, data matrix technology and RFID chips for identification, as well as holograms, biometric solutions, watermarks and taggants for security. Each of these technologies has limitations at different levels and is rarely absolutely secure.

[0006] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for identifying an object by including in the object a substance that can be observed by X-rays and has a specific and non-reproducible analytical spectrum.

[0007] Although this method is reliable, it has the drawback of requiring unusual analytical procedures. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 011986 [Non-patent literature]

[0009] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Nano and other Innovative Anti-Counterfeit Technologies," Technology Transfer Centre, April 2016. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide an object which can be authenticated. Another object is to provide a method which allows the manufacture of such an object. Yet another object is to provide a method which allows the authentication of the object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In light of these objectives, the present invention relates to protecting an anti-counterfeiting object produced using additive manufacturing methods by depositing in the molten state a first electrically insulating material, the invention being characterized in that it comprises at least one conductor of a second conductive material integrated in the first material, the conductor connecting at least two accessible terminals and having a measurable characteristic resistance between the terminals.

[0012] Additive manufacturing by fused filament deposition allows the production of integrated objects. The incorporation of conductors during this manufacturing process allows the object to have a specific characteristic that is identifiable in order to verify that the object is indeed genuine. In practice, multiple conductors are incorporated into the object so as to increase the possible combinations in terms of resistance values. Few means are needed to access the resistance values, meaning that the inspection can be easily carried out with a simple ohmmeter. The anti-counterfeiting object can be the product itself, or a part incorporated into the product to be authenticated, or even into the packaging. Although it is theoretically possible to reproduce an object with the same resistance value, in practice such manufacturing techniques have a large variability, making it difficult to obtain completely predictable results. The manufacturer of a genuine product does not have this difficulty, since they are not trying to obtain an exact value, but only a specific value that can be verified later.

[0013] According to one design arrangement, at least one of the terminals is common to the two conductors. This limits the number of terminals accessible from the outside of the object. However, it is also possible to provide a terminal conductor at each end.

[0014] According to one design arrangement, the second material comprises a matrix of a thermoplastic material and a filler in the form of conductive particles. This material can therefore be applied using the fused filament technique. The composite becomes conductive by the conductive particles contacting each other in the matrix of the thermoplastic material. The conductive particles can in particular be based on carbon, for example graphene or carbon nanotubes. Such a second material is, for example, sold under the name "Proto-Pasta" by the company ProtoPlant. The thermoplastic material in this case is PLA and the conductive filler is carbon black in the form of nanoparticles.

[0015] According to one feature, the resistance value is greater than 1 kΩ, preferably greater than 10 kΩ. These values ​​are easily measurable with simple equipment. Lower resistance values ​​are more difficult to obtain and are not of interest in this particular case.

[0016] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned anti-counterfeiting object, according to which multiple layers of a first electrically insulating material are deposited in a molten state, and a second electrically conductive material is further deposited to produce at least one conductor integrated in the first material and connecting at least two accessible terminals. Typically, the 3D printed part is manufactured using at least two printing heads, a first head for the first insulating material and a second head for the second electrically conductive material. The majority of the part is manufactured in the first material, and the conductor deposited by the second head is inserted during the manufacturing of the layers. Each manufactured object is unique.

[0017] The invention also provides a manufacturing method in which a batch of objects is manufactured as described above, and from one object to another, at least one of the parameters is modified for at least one conductor from the group consisting of the path of the conductor, the cross section of the conductor over at least a part of the path, the material of the conductor and the number of conductor manufacturing passes in order to modify the resistance of said conductor. In this way, the characteristics of each manufactured object are adjusted so that the resistance of the conductor is unique to each object. When performing several passes in parallel on one and the same layer, or when superimposed on adjacent layers, all the parameters that may determine the resistance of the conductor, i.e. the path, are affected, in particular the length or cross section. It is also possible to vary the materials used, for example by using several heads, each of which contains a different material.

[0018] The invention also provides a method for authenticating an object from a batch of objects manufactured as described above, according to which for each object of the batch, after manufacture, the resistance value of each conductor is measured between its terminals and a register is kept by making a record of the measurements of the object, and the object to be authenticated is considered to be genuine if the resistance value measured for each conductor of said object to be authenticated matches a value in any record of the register. The manufacturer of the object who has made the register is in a position to establish whether one of the objects for which a resistance measurement has been made is an object manufactured by him, by comparing the measurements with the values ​​in the register. The comparison is carried out with a tolerance taking into account the measurement uncertainty. This tolerance is for example between 1 and 5%. The ratio of the resistances can be used as a basis for making the comparison.

[0019] The invention also provides a method for authenticating an object from a batch of objects manufactured using the above-mentioned method, according to which an inspection device is used that has as many connectors as the object has terminals, each connector being arranged to contact one of the object's terminals in an inspection position, the inspection device comprising at least one tester for testing electrical continuity between at least two connectors, the tester giving a positive indication when it detects electrical continuity provided by the object between the two connectors. This method may be performed in addition to the above-mentioned method, for example as a preliminary step, to detect poor replicas that do not include conductors between the expected terminals. The inspection device is for example manufactured, at least in part, using the same manufacturing method as described above.

[0020] According to an improvement of the method, the terminals are arranged according to a regularly repeating pattern about an axis, so as to repeat the test positions, and the object is considered valid when each tester gives a predefined positive or negative indication for each test position of the tester. Thus, there are a number of test positions at which the tester can contact the terminals. At least one of these positions is capable of testing. Across all test positions, it is possible to predetermine what the tester results should be and to compare them with the tests actually performed on the object. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] The invention will be better understood and other specificities and advantages will become apparent on reading the following description, which refers to the attached drawings, in which:

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an object according to the invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another object according to the invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of an object according to the invention according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an inspection apparatus for the object of FIG. [Diagram 5]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 according to a third embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] An object 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 1. This object 1 is a parallelepiped in the form of a top surface 10 on whose surface are in particular shown four terminals 11, 12, 13, 14. The conductors are represented diagrammatically. A first conductor 15 connects the first terminal 11 with the second terminal 12. A second conductor 16 connects the second terminal 12 with the third terminal 13. A third conductor 17 connects the third terminal 13 with the fourth terminal 14. The resistance of each of the three conductors 15, 16, 17 can be measured between the terminals 11, 12, 13, 14 to which the ends of the conductor to be measured are connected, for example the first terminal 11 and the second terminal 12 of the first conductor 15. The resistance value is almost always more than 1 kΩ, often more than 10 kΩ or even more than 100 kΩ.

[0024] Object 1 is produced by additive manufacturing using fused filament deposition. A first layer is deposited on a build plate to form a bottom surface opposite top surface 10. Layers are then built parallel to and above the previous layer, producing a build-up of layers to produce the finished object 1.

[0025] The bulk of the component is manufactured by deposition of a first thermoplastic insulating material, for example PLA, ABS, PETG, PA or PEEK. The conductors are integrated into these layers by deposition of a second conductive material different from the first material. The deposition can be carried out in the form of a continuous bead, several adjacent beads in the same layer or in superimposed layers, or parts of adjacent beads in continuous contact. The second material comprises a matrix of thermoplastic material and a filler in the form of conductive particles, such as nanoparticles of carbon or graphene. The terminals 11, 12, 13, 14 are also made of this second material.

[0026] Such objects are manufactured in batches, and at least one parameter is changed for at least one of the conductors 15, 16, 17 from one object 1 to the next in order to change the resistance value of said conductor. The parameters that may be changed are the path of the conductor, the cross section of the conductor over at least part of the path, the material of the conductor, and the number of manufacturing passes of the conductor. In the example of object 1' shown in Figure 2, the paths of the three conductors 15', 16', 17', also shown diagrammatically, have been changed with respect to the example of Figure 1, while the terminals 11', 12', 13', 14' remain in the same place.

[0027] For each object in the batch, the resistance of each of the three conductors between the terminals is measured after manufacture. A record is made in the logbook with the three values ​​measured for the object.

[0028] When it is desired to prove whether an object to be authenticated is genuine, the resistance of each conductor of said object is measured and compared with the recorded values ​​in the register. If there is a record showing that the three measured resistance values ​​match the recorded resistance values, the object to be authenticated is deemed to be genuine.

[0029] The object may be the actual product that a consumer has purchased and wishes to have a guarantee of its manufacture: the consumer may perform the resistance measurement himself or with the assistance of the retailer, and the resistance measurement is transmitted to the manufacturer who keeps a record book and who in turn can indicate whether the object is genuine or not.

[0030] Alternatively, the object may be incorporated into the product such that extraction is only possible by destroying the product or part of the object. The object may also be integrated into a container or packaging for the product.

[0031] An object 2 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 3. This object 2 is in the form of a substantially pentagonal plate. Five terminals 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 are provided flush with the surface, regularly distributed around the point of a pentagon inscribed in the contour of the plate, as can be seen in Figure 3. The terminals are distributed according to a regularly repeating pattern around the centre of the pentagon. Conductors 26, 27 connect terminals 21, 25 and terminals 22, 25 respectively.

[0032] The inspection device 3 is also in the form of a substantially pentagonal plate, as shown in FIG. 4. Five connectors 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 protrude from the surface so as to contact the terminals 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 of the object 2, respectively, by placing the object 2 and the inspection device 3 opposite each other. The inspection device comprises a tester for testing the electrical continuity between the connector 35 and the group of connectors 31 and 32. When the connector is pressed against the terminals in a first position, electrical contact is established between the connector 31 and the terminal 21, between the connector 32 and the terminal 22, and between the connector 35 and the terminal 25. The tester then detects the electrical continuity passing through the connector 35, the terminal 25, the conductor 26, the terminal 21 and the connector 31, and therefore gives a positive indication. A positive indication is also obtained from the electrical continuity detected when passing through the connector 35, the terminal 25, the conductor 27, the terminal 22 and the connector 32. By moving the test fixture one-fifth turn clockwise to a second position, connector 35 contacts terminal 21 and connector 31 contacts terminal 22. The tester then gives a positive indication because it detects electrical continuity through connector 35, terminal 21, conductor 26, conductor 27, terminal 22, and connector 31.

[0033] All other positions give a negative indication. In practice, it is sufficient that the two connectors of the tester mate with the two terminals to give a positive indication. Since the testing device can employ five different positions, a predetermined position sequence can be designed to test the continuity according to the conductor pattern, and the tester must give a positive indication in certain positions and a negative indication in others. In this case, the test is considered positive if the indication is positive only in the first and second positions.

[0034] In one variant, the testing device comprises two testers, not shown but identical in appearance to that of FIG. 4, a first electrical continuity tester between connector 35 and connector 31, and a second continuity tester between connectors 32 and 34. Connectors 31 and 35 are electrically connected to each other, as are connectors 32 and 34. When the connector is pressed against the terminal in the first position, the first tester gives a positive indication, since it detects electrical continuity passing through connector 35, terminal 25, conductor 26, terminal 21 and connector 31. The second tester gives a negative indication. In the second position, the tester gives a positive indication, since it detects electrical continuity passing through connector 35, terminal 21, conductor 26, conductor 27, terminal 22 and connector 31. The second tester continues to give a negative indication.

[0035] When the test device is rotated another fifth of a turn clockwise to the third position, both testers give negative indications.

[0036] By rotating the test fixture another one-fifth of a turn clockwise to the fourth position, the first tester gives a negative indication. The second tester gives a positive indication by detecting electrical continuity through connector 32, terminal 25, conductor 27, terminal 22, and connector 34.

[0037] In a third embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the object 4 is distinguished from that of FIG. 3 in that it includes additional conductors between the terminals 41, 45 and between the terminals 42, 44. The testing device, not shown, is identical in appearance to that of FIG. 4 and includes a first electrical continuity tester between the connector 35 and the connector 31 and a second electrical continuity tester between the connectors 32 and 34. When the connector is pressed against the terminals in the first position, electrical contact is established between the connector 31 and the terminal 41, between the connector 32 and the terminal 42, between the connector 34 and the terminal 44, and between the connector 35 and the terminal 45. The first tester then detects electrical continuity passing through the connector 35, the terminal 45, the conductor 46, the terminal 41 and the connector 31, and thus gives a positive indication. Similarly, the second tester detects electrical continuity passing through the connector 32, the terminal 42, the conductor 47, the terminal 44 and the connector 34, and thus gives a positive indication. In the second position, the first tester gives a positive indication as a result of electrical continuity between connector 35, terminal 41, conductor 46, terminal 41 and connector 31. The test is considered positive if both testers give a positive indication in the first position, only the first tester gives a positive indication in the second position, and the indications are negative in the other positions.

[0038] In the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the object is distinguished from that of the second embodiment in that it comprises ten terminals, numbered 0 to 9 in Fig. 6, distributed at the vertices of a regular decagon. Conductors connect terminals 1 to 2, 4 to 10 and 5 to 9. The same verification principle can also be applied to an inspection device comprising connectors arranged around a decagon of the same diameter.

[0039] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described by way of example: the surfaces supporting the terminals and connectors are depicted as flat, but may also be in relief.

Claims

1. 1. An anti-counterfeiting object manufactured using additive manufacturing methods by depositing a first electrically insulating material in a molten state, the object comprising at least one conductor (15, 16, 17) of a second electrically conductive material integrated into said first material, said conductor (15, 16, 17) connecting at least two accessible terminals (11, 12, 13, 14) and having a measurable characteristic resistance between said terminals (11, 12, 13, 14).

2. 2. The object of claim 1, wherein at least one of the terminals (12, 13) is common to two conductors (15, 16, 17).

3. The object of claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a matrix of a thermoplastic material and a filler in the form of conductive particles.

4. 2. The object of claim 1, wherein the resistance is greater than 1 kΩ, preferably greater than 10 kΩ.

5. 5. A method for manufacturing an anti-counterfeiting object (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of depositing the second electrically conductive material, wherein a plurality of layers of the first electrically insulating material are deposited in the molten state, to produce at least two accessible terminals (11, 12, 13, 14) and at least one conductor (15, 16, 17) integrated in the first material, and connecting at least two of the accessible terminals (11, 12, 13, 14).

6. a batch of objects is manufactured, and for at least one of the conductors (15, 16, 17) from one object (1) to another object (1) at least one of the parameters from the group comprising the path of the conductor, the cross section of the conductor over at least a part of the path, the material of the conductor, and the number of manufacturing passes of the conductor is varied in order to vary the resistance value of the conductor; The method of claim 5.

7. 7. A method of authenticating an object in a batch of objects manufactured using the method of claim 6, wherein for each object (1) of the batch, the resistance value of each conductor (15, 16, 17) is measured between the terminals (11, 12, 13, 14) after manufacture and a register is kept by making a record of the measurements for the object (1), and the object to be authenticated is considered genuine if the resistance value measured for each of the conductors (15, 16, 17) of the object to be authenticated matches the value of one of the records in the register.

8. 10. A method for authenticating an object in a batch of objects manufactured using the method of claim 6, wherein an inspection device is used that has the same number of connectors as the object has terminals, the device being configured so that each connector contacts one of the terminals of the object in an inspection position, the inspection device comprising at least one tester for testing electrical continuity between at least two connectors, the tester providing a positive indication when it detects electrical continuity provided by the object between the two connectors.

9. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the terminals are arranged according to a regularly repeating pattern around an axis to repeat test positions, and the object is deemed valid if each tester gives a predetermined positive or negative indication for each of the test positions of the testing device.

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