Authentication system and method

摘要

To authenticate and discriminate among articles, authentic articles are marked with predetermined concentrations of fluorescent substances having known emission wavelengths. The articles are illuminated, predetermined wavelength portions of the emission wavelengths are selected and measured, and then compared to previously characterised responses with respect to variables selected from the list consisting of i) emission wavelengths, ii) emission amplitudes, iii) emission delay times, and iv) spatial distribution. A positive authentication result is produced if and only if the measured characteristics agree with the characterised responses. <IMAGE>