A nanoparticle sized between 10-180 nm composed of M(III).sub.2O.sub.3, M(II)O and M(II)M(III).sub.2O.sub.4, wherein M(III) is a trivalent metal and M(II) is a divalent metal, or Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, MnO and M(II)O, wherein M is a divalent metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Pt, Au, Ag, Ba and a rare earth metal.

A nanoparticle sized between 10-180 nm composed of M(III).sub.2O.sub.3, M(II)O and M(II)M(III).sub.2O.sub.4, wherein M(III) is a trivalent metal and M(II) is a divalent metal, or Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, MnO and M(II)O, wherein M is a divalent metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Pt, Au, Ag, Ba and a rare earth metal.

A fluid for ink jet printing characters on a substrate that become magnetized in the presence of a magnetic field, the fluid HAVING a suspension of nanoparticles dispersed in a solvent, wherein the fluid comprises a viscosity from 1 to 50 cps and a surface tension of 20-45 dynes/cm, further wherein each nanoparticle is sized between 10-180 nm and comprises M(III).sub.2O.sub.3, M(II)O and M(II)M(III).sub.2O.sub.4, wherein M(III) is a trivalent metal and M(II) is a divalent metal, or Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, MnO and M(II)O, wherein M is a divalent metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, Cu, Pt, Au, Ag, Ba and a rare earth metal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for marking collectible items to increase their collectible uniqueness includes creating a multiplicity of unique date codes, each of the multiplicity of unique date codes including a representation of a calendar month and a representation of a day in the calendar month, randomly selecting one of the multiplicity of unique date codes, and affixing the randomly selected one of the multiplicity of unique date codes to a collectible item. According to other embodiments, a system with a computer and a marking device may apply a date code to a collectible item. According to yet other embodiments, a method for marking collectibles includes creating at least three hundred sixty-five collectibles in a time period shorter than a year, and marking each with a unique date code combination such that no two visually identical collectibles share the same date code.

A security device for security substrates, such as paper used for making security documents, such as banknotes, having anti-counterfeitable features and methods of making are provided. The security device has a carrier of at least partially light transmitting polymeric material. A carrier bears a plurality of first indicia which are easily visible to the human eye. The first indicia are defined by a plurality of smaller second indicia which are less visible to the human eye positioned relative to each other to enable the first indicia to be visualized.

A handheld imaging device includes an image sensor for sensing an image; a processor for processing the sensed image; a plurality of processing units provided in the processor, the plurality of processing units connected in parallel by a crossbar switch to form a multi-core processing unit for the processor; and an image sensor interface for converting signals from the image sensor to a format readable by the plurality of processing units, the image sensor interface sharing a wafer substrate with the processor. A transfer of data from the image sensor interface to the plurality of processing units is conducted entirely on the shared wafer substrate.

A handheld imaging device includes an image sensor for sensing an image: a Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) processor for processing the sensed image; a plurality of processing units provided in the VLIW processor, the plurality of processing units connected in parallel by a crossbar switch to form a multi-core processing unit for the VLIW processor; and an image sensor interface for receiving signals from the image sensor and converting the signals to a format readable by the VLIW processor, the image sensor interface sharing a wafer substrate with the VLIW processor. A transfer of data from the image sensor interface to the VLIW processor is conducted entirely on the shared wafer substrate.

A portable handheld device including a CPU for processing a script; a multi-core processor for processing an image; an input buffer for receiving data for processing by the multi-core processor, the input buffer being provided under the control of the multi-core processor to send data thereto; and an output buffer for receiving data processed by the multi-core processor, the output buffer being provided under the control of the multi-core processor to receive data therefrom. The multi-core processor comprises a plurality of micro-coded processing units. The CPU is configured with authority to clear and query the input and output buffers.

Disclosed is a solvent-borne or UV-curable fugitive ink composition for application to a substrate that is to be provided with indicia. The ink composition comprises at least one halochromic compound and at least one filler compound and is capable of preventing indicia formed with a heat sensitive erasable ink on an area of the substrate carrying the fugitive ink composition and thereafter subjected to a thermal treatment from becoming invisible to an unaided eye.