摘要 |
A system and method for detecting a latent image formed with an invisible ink. A mechanism, such as a heater for heating the ink, provides a temperature differential between the ink and the substrate. An ink delivery system such as an ink jet printer applies the ink to the substrate to form a latent image thereon. A heat-sensitive scanning device scans the substrate and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature differential between the ink and the substrate before the ink reaches thermal equilibrium with the substrate. The electrical signal includes information representative of the image on the substrate, and may be displayed, recorded and/or processed as desired to verify the image.
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