A method for authenticating an article including engraving a circular feature into a verification substrate that includes a plurality of concentric rings within the circular feature arranged in a pattern according to a data encoding schema, wherein at least one of the plurality of rings includes a surface anomaly. The method can include capturing a first image of the circular feature and storing the first image in a memory device. The verification substrate can be attached to an article to traced and/or authenticated. A second image of the circular feature can be captured and compared with the first image to determine if the surface anomaly is present in the second image, thereby authenticating the article.

A method for authenticating an article including engraving a circular feature into a verification substrate that includes a plurality of concentric rings within the circular feature arranged in a pattern according to a data encoding schema, wherein at least one of the plurality of rings includes a surface anomaly. The method can include capturing a first image of the circular feature and storing the first image in a memory device. The verification substrate can be attached to an article to traced and/or authenticated. A second image of the circular feature can be captured and compared with the first image to determine if the surface anomaly is present in the second image, thereby authenticating the article.

The present invention provides a vibration generator capable of accurately adapting to fine vibration. The vibration generator has a stationary permanent magnet, a yoke for the permanent magnet, a coil fixed to the yoke, four springs provided to the yoke, and a movable piece supported with the yoke through the four springs. The end portions of the movable piece are arranged between the respective two pairs of the projections with first gaps. The central portion of the movable piece is arranged in the through-hole with the second gaps, the second gaps having a size to allow oscillation, which is regulated by the first gaps, of the central portion of the movable piece.

A micro-optic security device with zonal color transitions includes a planar array of focusing elements, an image icon layer including a plurality of retaining structures, the plurality of retaining structures defining isolated volumes at a first depth within the image icon layer, a first zone of image icons, the first zone of image icons having a first predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures, wherein the isolated volumes of retaining structures of the first predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures contain cured pigmented material of a first color, and a second zone of image icons, the second zone of image icons including a second predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures, wherein the isolated volumes of retaining structures of the second predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures contain cured pigmented material of a second color, wherein the second color contrasts with the first color.

A micro-optic security device with zonal color transitions includes a planar array of focusing elements, an image icon layer including a plurality of retaining structures, the plurality of retaining structures defining isolated volumes at a first depth within the image icon layer, a first zone of image icons, the first zone of image icons having a first predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures, wherein the isolated volumes of retaining structures of the first predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures contain cured pigmented material of a first color, and a second zone of image icons, the second zone of image icons including a second predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures, wherein the isolated volumes of retaining structures of the second predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures contain cured pigmented material of a second color, wherein the second color contrasts with the first color.

A method is provided for producing banknotes, which include, in each case, at least one integrated circuit. The banknotes are produced from a sheet or from a material web in a production panel. In at least a plurality of these banknotes, or in each of these banknotes, an aperture is created through their substrate. In each case, an integrated circuit is arranged in the relevant aperture. In a first method step, each of the integrated circuits to be arranged in one of the apertures is arranged, with respect to the intended position in each of the banknotes that include an aperture, in the correct position on a band-shaped foil, and, in the second method step, each of these integrated circuits is transferred from this band-shaped foil onto the relevant banknote. Owing to this transfer carried out in the second method step, one integrated circuit in each case, is arranged in the aperture created in the banknotes.

A method is provided for producing banknotes, which include, in each case, at least one integrated circuit. The banknotes are produced from a sheet or from a material web in a production panel. In at least a plurality of these banknotes, or in each of these banknotes, an aperture is created through their substrate. In each case, an integrated circuit is arranged in the relevant aperture. In a first method step, each of the integrated circuits to be arranged in one of the apertures is arranged, with respect to the intended position in each of the banknotes that include an aperture, in the correct position on a band-shaped foil, and, in the second method step, each of these integrated circuits is transferred from this band-shaped foil onto the relevant banknote. Owing to this transfer carried out in the second method step, one integrated circuit in each case, is arranged in the aperture created in the banknotes.

In a general aspect, unique unclonable physical identifiers are applied and used. A method of applying the unique marker can include receiving an object having a surface feature and forming a unique marker on the surface feature of the object. The unique marker includes a distribution of elements and conforms with a morphology of the surface feature. The method further includes extracting orientation information from the unique marker. The orientation information can indicate relative spatial orientations of the respective elements. The method additionally includes generating a unique code for the object based on the orientation information. The surface feature can be facets, surface patterns, textures, or other indentations of the object. The surface feature can include a region of the object that is susceptible to tampering.

The invention relates to a thin optical security element comprising a reflective or refractive light-redirecting surface having a relief pattern operable to redirect incident light from a light source and form a projected image on a projection surface, the optical parameters of this optical security element fulfilling a specific projection criterion such that the projected image comprises a caustic pattern reproducing a reference pattern that is easily visually recognizable by a person. The invention also relates to a method for designing a relief pattern of an optical security element.

The invention relates to a thin optical security element comprising a reflective or refractive light-redirecting surface having a relief pattern operable to redirect incident light from a light source and form a projected image on a projection surface, the optical parameters of this optical security element fulfilling a specific projection criterion such that the projected image comprises a caustic pattern reproducing a reference pattern that is easily visually recognizable by a person. The invention also relates to a method for designing a relief pattern of an optical security element.