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Method of verifying the authenticity of a document and identifiable document produced thereby

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-01-05
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1992-01-05
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Abstract

Abstract The invention disclosed herein pertains to a means of verifying the authenticity of a document, identification card, or any object for which a means of establishing authenticity is desired, whereby such document, I.D. card or other object, hereinafter referred to generically as ''''document,'''' is treated with a suitable thermoluminescent phosphor in a coded manner and for subsequent verification is exposed to a means for detecting the presence of said thermoluminescent phosphor and for deciphering the message thereby embodies in such document.

Inventors

  • 👤 W Harshaw

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 11:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/08; G06K19/10; G06K19/14; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/02; G01T1/10; G01T1/11; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 105 words
A process for identifying a document comprising the steps of: a. embedding a small amount of a thermoluminescent phosphor in one or more small confined areas of the document, said areas being arranged to give a coded message upon subsequent readout; b. exposing said document to an activating radiation for said phosphor at a temperature at which the energy imparted by activating radiation will not be immediately discharged; c. thereafter positioning said document in a readout device capable of interpreting the coded message; and d. increasing the temperature of said document to a temperature at which said phosphor will discharge the radiation energy stored therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 105 words
A process for identifying a document comprising the steps of: a. embedding a small amount of a thermoluminescent phosphor in one or more small confined areas of the document, said areas being arranged to give a coded message upon subsequent readout; b. exposing said document to an activating radiation for said phosphor at a temperature at which the energy imparted by activating radiation will not be immediately discharged; c. thereafter positioning said document in a readout device capable of interpreting the coded message; and d. increasing the temperature of said document to a temperature at which said phosphor will discharge the radiation energy stored therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The process of claim 1 in which said activation is effected at room temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 2 in which the temperature in said readout device is increased to about 80*-85* C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The process of claim 1 in which the amount of phosphor in different areas is varied to give different amplitudes of energy upon readout.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The process of claim 1 in which said message is encoded by using two or more thermoluminescent phosphors with different emission frequencies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The process of claim 5 in which said message is coded and decoded by the spatial arrangement of said different phosphors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
The process of claim 5 in which said message is coded and decoded by the use of band-pass filters to separate the emission from said phosphors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
The process of claim 1 in which said document is dated by the use of a phosphor having a half-life appropriate for the time lapse desired to be identified.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 34 words
The process of claim 1 in which said phosphor is one that discharges at least a portion of the activating energy at ambient temperature so that deliberate heating of the document is not required.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 70 words
An identifiable document having a small amount of thermoluminescent phosphor embedded in one or more small confined areas of said document, the number and positioning of said areas being designed by predetermined code to give specific identifying information, said phosphor being capable of activation by radiation at room temperature and capable of discharging the stored radiation energy therein and thereby the identifying information upon increasing the temperature of said document.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 70 words
An identifiable document having a small amount of thermoluminescent phosphor embedded in one or more small confined areas of said document, the number and positioning of said areas being designed by predetermined code to give specific identifying information, said phosphor being capable of activation by radiation at room temperature and capable of discharging the stored radiation energy therein and thereby the identifying information upon increasing the temperature of said document.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2742631A Cited
US3639762A Cited
US3663813A Cited
US3652854A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-03-25 1977-09-24 1978-03-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-03-25 1981-09-24 1982-03-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-03-25 1985-09-24 1986-03-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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