GB2527508A

GB2527508A - Object-assisted identification label

Info

Publication number: GB2527508A
Application number: GB1411107.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Furness; Ian Granville Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-06-23
Filing date: 2014-06-23
Publication date: 2015-12-30
Also published as: GB201411107D0

Abstract

An anti-counterfeiting identification label, comprises an aperture or window 12, a transparent adhesive layer 15 and a multitude of randomly dispersed light-absorptive and light-reflective particles. The surface to which the label is applied is visible through the window as are the dispersed particles. A unique identification pattern is created based on the combination of the pattern defined by the particles and the surface features of the object to which the label is applied. This pattern is registered on a database and may be accessed to provide authentication of the object. The particles are preferably two contrasting colours, e.g. black and white, to provide contrast between one or other of the particle colour types and any colour or texture presented by the surface to which the label is attached. A two-dimensional barcode, e.g. QR code 13, and conventional label graphics 14 may be applied. The window of the label may have a raised boundary to provide a tactile feature. The label may be tamper evident such that it breaks if an attempt is made to remove it.

Description

OBJECT-ASSISTED IDENTIFICATION LABEL

This invention relates to the needs for identifying products and other objects for the purposes of authentication and protection against counterfeiting. Labels are often used to identify objects, and products in particular, including product contents and provide other, associated, information, but are often incapable of providing uniqueness of identification, authentication of product origin and or protection against unauthorised copying or counterfeiting of said objects or products.

Other techniques of identification have been developed to provide authenticity or protection against counterfeiting through use of imposed features, such as light or other electromagnetic reflective and absorptive particles of fibres in the object or product covering concerned or through natural features presented by the object or product concerned.

Labels have also been developed that incorporate imposed identification features in is the form of particles or fibres, but without exploiting the natural features of the object or product to which the label is attached. Labels of this kind can be considered to be limited in their ability to securely identify, authenticate and provide counterfeit protection.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

To overcome these limitations the present invention proposes an adhesive label incorporating an aperture or window that provides visibility of the surface to which the label is applied, the adhesive layer being transparent, but containing a multitude of randomly dispersed light-absorptive and light-reflective small particles of a size and number commensurate with the identification needs and of two extreme colours (one highly absorptive -eg near black and one highly reflective -eg near white) to provide contrast between one or other of the particle colour types and any colour or texture presented by the surface to which the label is attached.

ADVANTAGES

The label construction, with its window and transparency of adhesive allows both particles and features in the adhesive to be viewed with features in the surface to which the label is attached and the two feature sets used for identification purposes, thus linking label exclusively to product or object to which the label is attached, for unique identification purposes.

Preferably, the adhesive label will contain randomly dispersed particles of both high and low reflectivity or absorptivity to allow contrasts to be achieved with respect to the colour and texture of the object or product surface to which the label is attached.

Preferably, the number and distribution of particles in the adhesive will be sufficient to allow the identification to a high degree of statistical confidence, with or without the inclusion of natural features within the object or product to which the label is attached.

Preferably, the particles within the adhesive once applied to an object or product will be disrupted, and no longer constitute a viable set for identification, if attempts are made to remove the label and use for unauthorised or counterfeit purposes.

Preferably, the label will include a secondary identification component! in the form of electronically or optically readable data carrier symbol or tag to assist in supporting or managing the identification process using the imposed and natural features.

Preferably, the secondary identification component carriers a secure numbering or alphanumeric sequence specified by a secure numbering algorithm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: * Figure 1 shows the structure of an exemplar label design * Figure 2 shows the label attached to an object or product surface The label, 10, figure 1, comprises: * Top transparent film, 11, covered with opaque white, or other opaque coating, except for the window, 12, and concentric with the window a printed or otherwise formed data carrier symbol, 13, such as a Quick Response (QR) symbol, that encodes a secondary identifier. The window, 12, exposes particles in transparent adhesive layer and visibility through to surface on which the label is attached. The top transparent film, 11, also provides a surface, 14, covered with opaque white, or other opaque coating, to accommodate printed or otherwise applied symbols, such as logos or other label graphics or information.

* Transparent strong adhesive layer, 15, containing random mixed light and dark reflective and absorptive particles. The particles types are chosen to provide greater contrast between the two in order to ensure a contrasting particle set for any background colour or texture presented by the object or product surface.

* Label release layer, 16, to protect label adhesive layer until applied to object or product surface.

In use the label release layer, 16, is removed and the label applied to the object or so product surface revealing through the window, 12, particles in the adhesive layer together with features present on or in the object or product surface within the window area, figure 2, 21.

A camera, or other image capture device is used to obtain an image of the window region, 12, and its associated data carrier symbol, 13. Image processing software is used to separate the data carrier symbol from the window-defined features, the latter comprising adhesive particles and object or product surface within the window region.

The processing software further decodes the data carrier symbol, to reveal a unique secondary, securely derived, identification number or alphanumeric sequence, that is used to manage the storage and subsequent processing of the window-defined feature set, the latter comprising particles in the adhesive layer and natural or imposed features within the object or product surface layer revealed through the window.

An image processing algorithm, within the processing software, is used to configure and derive a unique image-pattern identifier based on the feature set distinguished by the particles in the adhesive and the features or texture presented by the object or product surface revealed within the window.

The unique identifier and or the associated feature set image is stored in a memory location or locations defined by the unique secondary identifier. The latter is used in two functional modes, 1) registration mode, wherein the unique identifier is registered or initially recognised as an identifier for a specific object or product, and 2) application mode, wherein the secondary identifier is used to locate the registered identifier for the purposes of comparing the identifier with that of a similarly derived feature set identifier obtained in a practical application, such as the authentication of a product.

In the application mode a software algorithm is used to compare the registered and application derived identifiers and, based upon threshold criteria, the comparison is declared to be valid and a match identified, or declared to be invalid and a miss-match identified.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any of the accompanying claims, drawings and abstract) and/or all the aspects and steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except those combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any of the accompanying claims, drawings and abstract) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any of the accompanying claims, drawings and abstract), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An adhesive label incorporating an aperture or window that provides visibility of the surface to which the label is applied, the adhesive layer being transparent, but containing a multitude of randomly dispersed light-absorptive and light-reflective small particles of a size and number commensurate with the identification needs and of two highly contrasting colours (one highly absorptive -eg near black and one highly reflective -eg near white) to provide contrast between one or other of the particle colour types and any colour or texture presented by the surface to which the label is attached, identification being achieved through the combination of patterns defined by particles and surface features to which the label is applied.
2. An adhesive label according to claim 1 that links label directly with object or product surface to which it is attached due to label window exposing a is transparent adhesive layer containing contrast particles, fibres or other contrast media, to the object surface and providing a combined product and label feature set for identification purposes.
3. An adhesive label according to claim 1 in which the window through to object or product surface allows natural features within the object surface to form part of a unique feature set comprising both natural and imposed features.
4. An adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein the colour-contrast particles in adhesive layer have both absorptive and reflective feature that allow original labels to be distinguished from counterfeit labels.
5. An adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein the window aperture can be on shape or size to be accommodated within the image capture field of view.
6. An adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein the particles contained in the adhesive are confined to the region defined by the label window.
7. An adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein the particles are confined to the surface of the adhesive, between the adhesive and the window carrying top layer of the label.
8. An adhesive label according to claim 2 wherein two wide range colour-contrast particle types are used in adhesive layer to allow effective imaging to be achieved irrespective of colour or texture of product or object surface.
9. An adhesive label according to claim 2 wherein a multitude of contrasting particle types are used in or on the adhesive layer to allow effective imaging to be achieved irrespective of colour or texture of product or object surface.
10. An adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein a raised boundary of the window provides a tactile feature for helping to distinguish a genuine label from a simple copy, particularly when considered with particle reflective features.
11.An adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer particle set once applied remains static for identification purposes, and any attempt to remove the label disrupts the imposed feature set used for identification purposes.
12.An adhesive label according to claim 11 wherein the label may also be structured to be tamper proof, breaking up if an attempt is made to remove it.
13. An adhesive label according to claim 7 wherein the adhesive layer once applied to the object or product stabilises any loose fibres within the label adhesive zone, incorporating them into the unique feature set for identification purposes.
14.An adhesive label according to claim 1 wherein the in-line data carrier may be a QR code symbol, or any other data carrier symbol or data carrying device.