Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for light-based authentication of a payment card. The payment card may include a randomized mix of materials. The materials may include transparent or translucent materials. A light source may shine light on a surface of the payment card. Light passing through the card may generate a light pattern that is unique to the payment card. The light pattern may be captured and compared to a reference light pattern to authenticate the payment card. In some embodiments, photodetectors may detect light patterns generated through interactions with the card materials.

A secure indicator includes a substrate, a barcode symbol that has a plurality of barcode modules provided on the substrate, and a security material positioned proximate the barcode symbol on the substrate. The security material is configured to be activated by irradiation at one or more predetermined activation wavelengths. Additionally, the barcode symbol is configured to be read (i) before the security material is activated and (ii) while the security material is activated.

A matrix bar code on a surface may comprise a plurality of colors and an ultraviolet layer. The matrix barcode may be a fiducial marker for conveying spatial information. The The conveyed spatial information may stem at least in part from the ultraviolet layer.

A matrix barcode on a surface may comprise a plurality of colors and an infrared layer. The matrix barcode may be a fiducial marker for conveying spatial information. The conveyed spatial information may stem at least in part from the infrared layer.

A supply chain management system is provided that includes a label having a first side with an adhesive and a second side with a plurality of information units printed thereon. The plurality of information units are printed in visible ink or invisible ink and the invisible ink is activated by environmental conditions such as temperature or light spectrum. The label is affixed to an object being processed and the visible appearance of one or more information elements originally printed in invisible ink is used for further processing or the object.

This disclosure relates to a card having (i) an infrared-blocking material capable of blocking a plurality of near infrared wavelengths and (ii) at least one phosphor particle capable of absorbing at least one near-infrared wavelength, and a card reader capable of allowing a user to interrogate the card and determine if it is authentic, and to read information from the card. The card reader typically includes a processor configured to cause the card reader to emit at least one wavelength of light, receive at least one additional wavelength of light emitting by the at least one phosphor particle, and identify at least one characteristic of the at least one phosphor particle selected from the group consisting of a location on the card, a rise time of the phosphor, and a decay time of the phosphor.

A barcoded indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, the barcoded indicator including at least a first barcode and at least a second barcode, the at least a second barcode being in a second barcode unreadable state prior to exceedance of the at least one threshold and upon exceedance of the at least one threshold the at least a first barcode becoming unreadable and generally simultaneously the at least a second barcode becoming readable.

Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for verifying that an image includes a complete code of a time-varying visual marker that displays codes sequentially on a display. In some implementations, the verification determines that the image include a complete code rather than combinations of sequentially-displayed codes that may be included in an image based on use of a rolling shutter (e.g., in a camera of a detecting electronic device). In some implementations, the verification involves comparing a first verification portion of an image to a second opposing verification portion of an image. Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for modifying image capture parameters (e.g., frame rate) to ensure capture of all codes of a time-varying visual marker.

Techniques to improve detection and security of images, including formation and detection of matrix-based images. Some techniques include logic to process image data, generate one or more colorspaces associated with that data, and perform colorspace conversions based on the generated colorspace. The logic may be further configured to generate an image based on the colorspace conversions, including but not limited to a matrix bar code. The logic may be further configured to apply one or both of an ultraviolet layer and an infrared layer to the image, e.g. matrix barcode, generated from the colorspace conversion(s). Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A barcode, comprising: a code region, comprising at least bright point and a dark point, comprising code information; and a boundary region, formed as a closed shape surrounding the code region. A decoding direction of the code region is not relative to the boundary region. The code information is represented by at least one of: a color sequence, an intensity sequence and a relation between the bright point and the dark point. The present invention also provides a barcode processing system which can process the barcode to generate a control command, and provides a coffee machine using the barcode processing system. The barcode can be easily aligned by a closed boundary region, without using a frame buffer with a large size.