Orientation-Based Object Fingerprinting for Unclonable Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing anti-counterfeit and cryptography methods lack a reliable, efficient, and secure means to authenticate objects based on unique physical characteristics, making them susceptible to cloning and counterfeiting.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing crystalline particles with nitrogen-vacancy centers in a host material, the method generates a unique code from orientation information by scanning and analyzing the relative positions and orientations of these particles, employing magnetic resonance and fluorescence techniques to create a unique fingerprint that is difficult to replicate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional anti-counterfeit techniques (holograms, fluorescent dyes, engineered DNA strands) are used, then authentication capability is provided, but the methods are susceptible to cloning and counterfeiting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidsusceptibility to cloning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional optical and chemical authentication methods (holograms, fluorescent dyes) with a physics-based magnetic resonance detection system. The system uses nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond particles that respond to magnetic fields, enabling authentication through magnetic resonance signals rather than optical properties that can be replicated by counterfeiters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter used for authentication from optical/chemical properties to magnetic resonance properties. By measuring the magnetic resonance response of nitrogen-vacancy centers at different magnetic field strengths, the system creates a unique authentication signature based on physical parameters that are extremely difficult to replicate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If cryptography protocols (digital signature protocols, challenge-response protocols, encryption schemes) are used, then security is enhanced, but the methods lack connection to unique physical characteristics of objects

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidlack of physical characteristic binding

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the object itself to serve as the authentication key through its inherent physical properties. The nitrogen-vacancy centers in the diamond particles embedded in the object create a unique magnetic resonance signature that is intrinsic to the object's physical structure, eliminating the need for separate cryptographic keys or certificates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials—specifically diamond particles containing nitrogen-vacancy centers embedded in a host material—to create a physical substrate that inherently provides authentication capabilities. This composite structure combines the stability of diamond with the unique magnetic properties of nitrogen-vacancy centers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Provides a highly secure and unclonable authentication mechanism that ensures the authenticity of objects by leveraging the unique distribution and orientation of crystalline particles, enhancing security against counterfeiting and cloning.

Implementation Method 1

each particle has a magnetic resonance response to an applied magnetic field that depends on the orientation of the particle with respect to the magnetic field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic resonance: Electron Paramagnetic Resonance

Implementation Method 2

employing magnetic resonance and fluorescence techniques to create a unique fingerprint

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentUS12481850B2Generating a unique code from orientation information

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 DUST IDENTITY INC

AI summary

In a general aspect, orientation information is used to generate a unique code. In some aspects, orientation information is extracted from an object. The object includes multiple elements, and the orientation information indicates the relative spatial orientations of the respective elements. The orientation information can be extracted, for instance, by a scanner system that detects the elements. A unique code is generated for the object based on the orientation information. In some examples, the elements are diamond particles that each have one or more color centers, and the orientation information is extracted by detecting the color centers.