FIELD

The present specification relates generally to product authentication, and specifically to product authentication using markings.

BACKGROUND

Production and distribution of counterfeit products represents an emerging global crisis, which results in a substantial amount of lost revenue for all parties involved. This problem affects nearly every commercial sector and can have consequences for unsuspecting consumers. Legitimate brand and intellectual property owners also suffer due to brand erosion and financial losses. Over the last decade, counterfeiters have become more sophisticated and have expanded counterfeiting activities to include high value products, such as anti-cancer drugs. Large international crime syndicates have also started to establish counterfeiting divisions within their own organizations due to the high profit potential and comparatively lesser penalties compared to other illegal activities such as trafficking narcotics. Ultraviolet responsive inks and holography have been used to provide a means to verify authenticity of products; however, counterfeiters constantly develop ways to overcome these mechanisms.

The actual revenue lost by legitimate corporations is difficult to estimate. Similar issues exist in the anti-counterfeiting sector insofar as it is nearly impossible to determine the return on investment from an anti-counterfeiting technology. Conventional solutions focus either on customer engagement or security. Most commercially available security features require laboratory analysis or the use of proprietary scanning equipment for detection, which are only accessible to brand investigators and law enforcement officials.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect of the specification, there is provided a method of product authentication. The method involves generating a plurality of nanoparticles in a reaction chamber. In addition, the method involves isolating fluorescent nanoparticles from the plurality of nanoparticles. The fluorescent nanoparticles have a peak fluorescence wavelength associated with a peak emission wavelength of a light source. Furthermore, the method involves embedding the fluorescent nanoparticles in a resin. The method also involves applying the resin on a product.

The method may further involve illuminating the resin on the product using the light source. The method may also involve measuring a fluorescent response to the light source.

The method may further involve performing colorimetric analysis on the fluorescent response.

The light source may be a light emitting diode.

The light source may include a plurality of light emitting diodes.

Each light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes may emit light having a different peak emission wavelength.

The method may further involve adding pigment to the resin to form an ink.

The resin may be clear to form a clear coat on the product.

Applying the resin may involve applying the resin in a pattern.

The pattern may be a machine readable code.

Applying the resin may involve applying the resin proximate to an inherent reference point on the product.

In accordance with an aspect of the specification, there is provided a system for product authentication. The system includes a light source having a peak emission wavelength. In addition, the system includes fluorescent nanoparticles having a peak fluorescence wavelength associated with the peak emission wavelength. Furthermore, the system includes a detector for detecting a fluorescent response to the light source by the fluorescent nanoparticles. The system also includes a resin into which the fluorescent nanoparticles are embedded, the resin for applying on a product.

The system may further include a processor configured to perform colorimetric analysis on the fluorescent response.

The light source may be a light emitting diode.

The light source may include a plurality of light emitting diodes.

Each light emitting diode of the plurality of light emitting diodes may emit light having a different peak emission wavelength.

The system may further include an ink formed from the resin and the fluorescent nanoparticles.

The resin may be clear to form a clear coat on the product.

The resin may be applied on the product in a pattern.

The pattern may be a machine readable code.

In accordance with an aspect of the specification, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with codes. The codes are for directing a processor to activate a light source having a peak emission wavelength. In addition, the codes are for directing the processor to receive image data from a detector configure to detect a fluorescence response to the light source by fluorescent nanoparticles. The fluorescence response has a peak fluorescence wavelength associated with the peak emission wavelength. Furthermore, the codes are for directing the processor to apply a saturation mask to the image data. The codes are also for directing the processor to perform colorimetric analysis to determine the peak fluorescence wavelength in the fluorescence response.

The light source may be a light emitting diode.

