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A scanner with a low power focused laser beam scans across the surface of the item to be identified. The document or card is placed flat on the top of the scanner and pushed by hand until two of its edges press against guide rails. This ensures that the same part of the document is scanned each time. During the scan, the scanner records a large number of details of the way the laser light is reflected off the surface of the paper or plastic.
Microscopic irregularities on the surface due to the structure of the paper fibres or the setting of the plastic result in complex scattering of the laser beam, through the optical phenomenon of 'speckle'. This forms the basis of a signature which is unique to any given sheet of paper or plastic. The scanner is sufficiently sensitive to detect surface irregularities of less than a few hundred nanometers in size.
Genuine documents, cards and packaging would have their fingerprint read on the way out of the issuing agency or factory. The fingerprint is then stored either in a central database or is written onto the item using an encrypted barcode. In order to check the validity of the item later in the field, the fingerprint would be re-read and compared against the database or against the barcode.
The time required to acquire a fingerprint depends on whether the item to be scanned is already moving, as in a printing press or on a production line. In this case, linear speeds of up to 4 metres per second can be accommodated. If the item is static, then the scanning time is approximately 1 second.
Each fingerprint occupies between 125 and 750 bytes of storage space. The user can set the fingerprint size, according to how much redundancy against item damage is required.
When comparing a scanned fingerprint against a database of possible matches, a standard desktop PC can check 10 million entries per second. A more sophisticated server can check 100 million entries per second.
Two different scanners exist. The first is a static scanner, designed for probing moving items, such as on a production line or printing press. The second is a moving-head scanner, designed for verifying static items and is a hand-held device.
Almost any package or surface can be authenticated …this could include Plain Paper, Passports, ID Cards, Credit Cards, Music or Software, Compact Discs, Banknotes, Packaging, Bonds, Share Certificates, Contracts, Plastic and Metals.. the list is endless.
The technology can be applied retrospectively to authenticate existing documents or packaging without any treatment or modification.
The solution is covert, machine readable and in addition to being an anti-counterfeit tool it can be applied to ensure Supply Chain Integrity, Brand Protection, Document Protection and the integrity of Identity Systems such as national ID cards or passports.
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