Lumid Barcode Format Security Feature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Barcodes are vulnerable to counterfeiting, and existing technologies lack effective methods to securely differentiate between overt and covert barcode data, making it difficult to authenticate and verify their origin.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for creating a security feature that includes both overt and covert barcodes, where the covert barcode is invisible under normal light and only visible under specific illumination, using photoluminescent materials, and employs data scrambling and encoding techniques to enhance authentication, utilizing position-based and value-based coding systems to increase the likelihood of correct identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional barcode methods are used, then simplicity and ease of manufacture are maintained, but security and reliability against counterfeiting deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The barcode data is segmented into multiple fields including a first field with a first base and a second field with a second base. This segmentation allows different encoding schemes to be applied to different portions of the data, enhancing security while maintaining manageable complexity through structured organization.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the barcode data use different base encodings (first base for first field, second base for second field). This local differentiation creates unique identification characteristics in specific regions of the barcode, improving reliability for authentication while keeping the overall system relatively simple.
2Reliability
If overt and covert barcodes are combined, then authentication reliability improves, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
A decoding system acts as an intermediary that receives the combined overt and covert barcode data, separates the different base fields, and processes them through appropriate decoding algorithms. This intermediary approach simplifies the detection process by providing a structured method to handle the complexity of dual-encoding barcodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection process is segmented into distinct steps: identifying the first base field, decoding it with the first base, identifying the second base field, and decoding it with the second base. This segmentation makes the overall detection process more manageable and less difficult despite the enhanced authentication requirements.
3Reliability
If data scrambling is applied, then security against counterfeiting improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data is scrambled and encoded with different bases before being printed on the product packaging. This preliminary action ensures that the data is already secured against counterfeiting before the product reaches the consumer, reducing the need for complex real-time processing during authentication while maintaining high security standards.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly enhances the security and authenticity of barcodes by ensuring greater than 99.9% likelihood of distinguishing between overt and covert barcode data, providing a robust mechanism against counterfeiting and misidentification.
Implementation Method 1
the covert barcode is invisible under normal light and only visible under specific illumination, using photoluminescent materials
Data Source
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AI summary
A security feature and a method for creating a barcode are disclosed. Data is concatenating to be represented in the barcode. The concatenated data is partitioned into n-bit segments. The formatted data is encoded by assigning a respective code to each n-bit segment. The barcode is created using the encoded data.