Methods and apparatus for invisible luminescent protection for financial and identification documents are described herein. An example apparatus includes an illuminating source to illuminate a sample with light having a first wavelength, a photo element to detect light having a second wavelength and to capture an image of a first pattern printed on the sample, wherein the first pattern is printed on a first area of the sample with clear ink containing inorganic, ceramic particles having a mean diameter of less than one micron and having luminescent properties such that when the particles are illuminated with light having the first wavelength, they emit light having the second wavelength.

A method for detecting a component including a concealed pattern includes: detecting infrared electromagnetic radiation reflected or emitted by a component including a first pattern, the component including: a substrate; the first pattern disposed over at least a portion of the substrate; an optional primer layer disposed between at least a portion of the substrate and at least a portion of the first pattern; and a first visibly opaque layer including an infrared transparent pigment, the first visibly opaque layer disposed over at least a portion of the first pattern; and comparing the reflectivity and/or absorbance of infrared electromagnetic radiation by the first pattern at one wavelength to the reflectivity and/or absorbance by the primer layer and/or the substrate at the same wavelength.

A system and associated method, the system including an item including a substrate including a polymer material and a first diffraction feature configured to diffract incident radiation into the substrate at an angle greater than the critical angle and launch the incident radiation into a waveguide transmission mode within the substrate to transmit the incident radiation laterally within the substrate, and a computing device including a radiation source configured to irradiate the item at a location of the first diffraction feature directly or indirectly on or within the substrate such that radiation is transmitted laterally within the substrate and a camera configured to measure emitted radiation from the substrate after lateral transmission of the incident radiation, where, in connection with irradiating with the radiation source and measuring the emitted radiation with the camera, the computing device is disposed in contact with the substrate.

Provided is a data carrier comprising a card body, wherein the card body is configured to interact with impinging electromagnetic radiation (R) such, that a laser marking (M1) having a first appearance (A1) is generated in the card body in the region of impingement. The data carrier further comprises at least one protection element that is configured to interact with impinging electromagnetic radiation (R) such, that a laser marking (M2) having a second appearance (A2) is generated in the card body, wherein said second appearance (A2) differs from the first appearance (A1).

Methods and system for creating an infrared effect that can survives copying, can involve providing a metameric pair of pattern inks, wherein a first pattern ink reflects higher in an infrared spectrum as compared to a second pattern ink among the metameric pair of pattern inks, wherein the second pattern ink is less reflective than the first pattern ink. For the second pattern ink that is less reflective than the first pattern ink, a pattern can be created for the second pattern ink that is larger and less scattered than an existing design for a pattern ink. A color of media can be used as a common color for the metameric pair of patterns and inks to create an infrared effect from the metameric pair of pattern inks that survives copying on the media.

Methods and system for creating an infrared effect that can survives copying, can involve providing a metameric pair of pattern inks, wherein a first pattern ink reflects higher in an infrared spectrum as compared to a second pattern ink among the metameric pair of pattern inks, wherein the second pattern ink is less reflective than the first pattern ink. For the second pattern ink that is less reflective than the first pattern ink, a pattern can be created for the second pattern ink that is larger and less scattered than an existing design for a pattern ink. A color of media can be used as a common color for the metameric pair of patterns and inks to create an infrared effect from the metameric pair of pattern inks that survives copying on the media.

A method and system for authenticating an item includes providing the item including a polymer substrate comprising a polymer material and a doping material, the polymer material and the doping material configured to transmit radiation laterally through the polymer substrate, and the doping material capable of scattering radiation and absorbing radiation of at least one specific wavelength to generate a spectral signature in a spectral band of wavelengths of the transmitted radiation, irradiating the item with incident radiation characterized by a spectral band of wavelengths spanning a band of wavelengths including the at least one specific wavelength absorbed and scattered by the doping material, detecting the spectral signature after the radiation is transmitted laterally through the polymer substrate, and determining a code associated with the spectral signature.

The invention relates to a security element (1). The security element (1) has a viewing side and a back side that is opposite the latter. The security element comprises at least one luminous layer (2) that can provide light (20), and at least one mask layer (4) that, when the security element (1) is viewed from the viewing side, is arranged in front of the at least one luminous layer (2). The at least one mask layer (4) has at least one opaque region (5) and at least two transparent openings (41, 42). The at least two transparent openings (41, 42) has a substantially higher transmittance than the at least one opaque region (5) in respect of light (20) provided by the at least one luminous layer (2), preferably a transmittance that is at least 20% higher, particularly preferably a transmittance that is at least 50% higher.

Embodiments include luminescent phosphor compounds that include one or more emitting ions and one or more disturbing ions, and methods for their production. An emitting ion in the compound may be characterized by a first decay time constant when the emitting ion is undisturbed. However, a corresponding disturbing ion in the compound, which is different from the emitting ion, causes the emitting ion to have a pre-defined, target disturbed decay time constant that is greater than zero and less than the first decay time constant. An embodiment of an authentication system is configured to measure the decay time constant of a phosphor compound applied to an article, and to determine whether the decay time constant corresponds to a phosphor compound that includes a particular disturbing ion (e.g., in order to determine whether or not the article is authentic).

The invention provides methods for stably binding and immobilizing deoxyribonucleic acid onto objects and substrates. The method includes exposing the deoxyribonucleic acid to alkaline conditions, and contacting the deoxyribonucleic acid to the object or substrate. The alkaline conditions are produced by mixing the deoxyribonucleic acid with an alkaline solution having a pH of about 9.0 or higher, and contacting the deoxyribonucleic acid to the substrate. The immobilized DNA can be used as a taggant and can be used in combination with other detectable taggants, such as optical reporters. Methods for authentication of a DNA marked object are also provided.