Thermal Authentication Using Heated Imaging of Hidden Indicia
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication methods struggle to accurately verify the authenticity of objects based on characteristics that are not visible to the naked eye, such as manufacturing indicia and heat-sensitive materials, which are crucial for distinguishing genuine from counterfeit items.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing thermal imaging to capture heat signatures of objects within a heated environment, identifying patterns and heat-sensitive materials, and comparing them to previously-determined thermal signatures for authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If thermal imaging is used to capture heat signatures, then hidden manufacturing indicia and heat-sensitive materials are revealed, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A heated environment chamber is introduced as an intermediary device to heat the object before thermal imaging. This mediator enables the thermal camera to capture heat signatures of hidden manufacturing indicia and heat-sensitive materials that would not be visible under normal conditions, thereby improving detection precision without requiring the thermal camera itself to generate heat.
Solution Approach 2:
The object is pre-heated in a controlled environment before thermal imaging is performed. This preliminary heating action ensures that the object reaches the appropriate temperature to reveal its thermal characteristics, allowing the subsequent thermal capture to effectively detect hidden features without requiring complex real-time heating mechanisms during imaging.
2Reliability
If objects are placed in a heated environment for thermal imaging, then authentication accuracy improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heated environment is activated only during the authentication process rather than continuously. The system periodically heats the object when authentication is required, maintains the temperature for the duration of the thermal imaging, then shuts off the heating. This periodic operation achieves reliable authentication while minimizing overall energy consumption compared to continuous heating.
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
Effectively determines the authenticity of objects by revealing hidden manufacturing indicia and heat-sensitive materials, providing a reliable means to distinguish genuine from counterfeit items.
Implementation Method 1
Thermal imaging can be used to capture and create an image of an object based on infrared radiation that is emitted from the object
Implementation Method 2
capture a thermal image of an object placed within a heated environment
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for heat-based authentication. An apparatus includes a processor and a memory that stores code that is executable by the processor. The code is executable by the processor to capture a thermal image of an object placed within a heated environment, identify at least one characteristic of the object based on the thermal image, and determine an authenticity of the object based on the at least one characteristic.