A method for verifying an object is furnished with a security element in which the security element is manufactured in a multi-step method with register variations and contains in a check field an individual characteristic feature of the security element in the form of a superimposition of at least two areal regions. The check field of the security element is optically captured by a camera, the area proportions of the superimposed and not superimposed areal regions are determined and from it a check value for the individual characteristic feature of security element is formed and compared with a reference check value, on which a verification result for the object furnished with the security element is created.

An optical product checking system (100) for checking a property and an authenticity of a product (10) emits light from a plurality of light-emitting units (12, 14, 16, 18) toward a surface of the product (10). Respective intensities of light emanating from the surface of the product (10) in response to the emitted light are detected and used to determine the property and the authenticity of the product (10). The optical product checking system can be incorporated into a beverage-preparation system, for example, to determine whether a coffee capsule for a coffee machine is an authentic product of the manufacturer of the coffee machine.

A value document has a security marking in the form of two luminescent substances whose the emission spectra partially overlap in a primary emission range. The emission spectra have a degree of overlap of less than 80% and more than 5%, wherein the luminescent substances have different individual decay times in the primary emission range. The individual decay times of the luminescent substances differ from each other by more than 50% with reference to the shortest individual decay time.

An identification device of the present invention determines authenticity of an article with an anti-counterfeiting medium varying in a pattern of observed light depending on changes in light characteristics of radiated light, using the anti-counterfeiting medium. The identification device includes a similarity calculation unit that determines the degrees of similarity between a plurality of captured image data of the anti-counterfeiting medium obtained with differences in the light characteristics of the radiated light and reference image data corresponding to the light characteristics; and an authenticity determination unit that determines whether the degrees of similarity determined for the individual light characteristics exceed thresholds set corresponding to the individual light characteristics to make an authenticity determination on whether the anti-counterfeiting medium is genuine.

Utilizing microwave reflections to compare a reference device with counterfeit and/or aging devices under test. The reflection from the device under test varies based on certain properties, which results in each device having a unique and intrinsic electromagnetic signature. Comparisons of the electromagnetic signature of the device under test to the electromagnetic signature of a reference device enable evaluating the acceptability of the device under test.

A method and apparatus for determining authenticity of objects using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS). The fluorescent security feature of a flat object Q is identified under illumination with ultraviolet light. Then the security feature is illuminated by a beam of light at continuously varied excitation wavelength, while the intensity of emitted light (fluorescence) is recorded at the continuously varied, yet different emission wavelength. The difference between the wavelengths of emission and excitation is held constant, and the spectrum SFS(Q) is obtained. The same procedure is conducted with a known authentic (A) object, resulting in its synchronous fluorescence spectrum SFS(A). A comparison of SFS(Q) and SFS(A) is conducted. If SFS(Q) and SFS(A) are the same, the Q object is concluded to be authentic.

A security transfer element includes a security element layer composite with a functional layer arranged to develop an optically variable effect for a viewer. On the opposite side of the functional layer with respect to the viewer, the security element layer composite has at least one luminescent substance. The luminescent substance has a primary emission wavelength and can be excited by an excitation radiation. The functional layer is configured to be opaque to the emission radiation of the luminescent substance. The security transfer element comprises a carrier film, and the security element layer composite is arranged on the carrier film in a detachable manner. The security element layer composite comprises a functional layer and an adhesive layer. The functional layer has an embossing lacquer with an embossed structure. The embossing lacquer is coated with a metallization. The adhesive layer comprises several luminescent substances.

An article comprising a substrate which carries a material of formula (I)
M.sup.1.sub.aM.sup.2.sub.bW.sub.cO.sub.d(P(O).sub.nR.sub.m).sub.e (I)
wherein each of M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 is independently ammonium or a metal cation; a is 0.01 to 0.5; b is 0 to 0.5; c is 1; d is 2.5 to 3; e is 0.01 to 0.75; n is 1, 2 or 3; m is 1, 2 or 3; and R is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group.

A substrate can include at least two scintillator materials that are mixed at a predetermined ratio. In an embodiment, the scintillator materials can have a decay time difference of at least 50% when exposed to a same radiation source. In another embodiment, the scintillator materials can have a maximum emission wavelength difference of at least 25 nm when exposed to a same radiation source. At least one of the scintillator materials has a decay time of at most 10 s. A system can include the substrate and a logic element configured to determine an identity represented by the substrate. A method can include generating an electronic pulse in response to the substrate being exposed to a radiation source; and analyzing the electronic pulse to determine an identity represented by the substrate.

A method for testing a value document having a luminescence feature involves guiding the value document past a test sensor in a transport direction. A scanning sequence occurs that repeats itself multiple times upon guiding the value document past the test sensor. The method involves irradiating a test region of the test sensor such that the test radiation is arranged to be remitted by the value document at least partially in a detection spectral range of the test sensor. Excitation radiation is arranged to cause an emission radiation of the luminescence feature in the detection spectral range. The method further involves scanning at least one location-dependent remission spectral value in the test region in the first irradiation phase, irradiating the test region only with the excitation radiation in a second irradiation phase, and scanning at least one location-dependent emission spectral value in the test region after the first irradiation phase.