An image recognition device and method retrieve information on a marker. The marker encodes information identifying an asset by encoding the information in a binary pattern as recesses and non-recesses in the marker. The image recognition is performed by imaging the marker, mapping contrast in the image, identifying variations in the contrast, creating a mesh overlaying the image, identifying the present or absence of recesses from the mesh, and reading the binary pattern represented by the recesses in the marker.

A system and method for identifying test bars formed during a selective laser sintering build. A part cake is formed during a selective laser sintering build. The part cake comprises parts formed from a powder by selective laser sintering and unsintered powder around the formed parts. The parts include test bars for performing material testing. Each test bar includes a plurality of indentations in a first grip section and a second grip section. The plurality of indentations are arranged in a information providing pattern that is adapted to be readable after the test part is removed from the part cake.

The invention relates to a method of optically reading portions in relief on a side wall of a container (14), the method consisting in: using a light source to light a portion of interest with a peripheral incident light beam comprising non-parallel radial light rays; using specular reflection of the beam on the portion of interest and on the portions in relief (12) through an optical element (30) to form a plane image in the field of view of a two-dimensional photoelectric sensor (24); processing the image received by the sensor in order to detect the portions in relief; and causing the light source (34) that provides the peripheral incident light beam to move relative to the optical element in translation along the direction of the theoretical central axis (A1) in order to modify the contrast of the image received by the sensor between zones of the image that correspond to the portions in relief, and adjacent zones.

The invention also provides a visualisation device and a corresponding inspection line.

Disclosed is a method for associating a marking with an object, including the following steps:—identifying the position of at least two different elements of the marking in relation to the marking and/or the object; and—measuring a relative distance between at least two identified elements; then—recording in a database the position of at least two identified elements, and the relative distance between the identified elements so that the position of two identified elements is correlated with the measurement relating to their distance.

A waste separation devices includes a source of radiation for irradiating waste, a camera for capturing an image of the waste when irradiated by the source of radiation, where an item in the waste is provided with a pattern in or on a surface of the item, the pattern forming a repetition of dots, a code being stored in a sequence of adjacent ones of the dots, a data processing device for processing the image to detect the pattern and for deriving the code from the sequence of adjacent ones of the dots of the pattern, and a separator for separating in accordance with the code the item the pattern from the waste. The pattern may be a relief pattern. The relief pattern may comprise a pattern of bumps and recesses. The pattern, such as in a form of a relief, may also be applied to identify the item.

A polymeric container including a code unique to the container that identifies the container. The code is on an inner surface of the container or on an outer surface of the container.

A method of waste separation includes irradiating the waste by a source of radiation, capturing an image of the waste when irradiated by the source of radiation; where an item in the waste is provided with a pattern, the pattern being provided in or on a surface of the item, the pattern forming a repetition of dots, a code being stored in a sequence of adjacent ones of the dots, processing the image to detect the pattern; deriving the code from the sequence of adjacent ones of the dots of the pattern; separating in accordance with the code the item the pattern from the waste. The pattern may be a relief pattern. The relief pattern may comprise a pattern of bumps and recesses. The pattern, such as in a form of a relief, may also be applied to identify the item.

Techniques for integrating a machine-readable matrix with a component of a mechanical structure using three-dimensional (3-D) printing are disclosed. Such techniques include generating at least one data model representing the component, and projecting a matrix pattern identifying one or more features of the component onto a selected surface portion of the component to produce a modified data model for use as an input to a 3-D printer.

An approach is provided for authenticating a payment card. Information is read from the payment card being used for a purchase. The information includes an identifier and data on a chip, in braille cells, and in markings in the payment card. A hash read from the chip, the identifier, and security codes derived from the braille cells and the markings are sent to a payment system. A hash of an (n+1)-th block of a blockchain is received and recorded in the chip in response to validations of the hash as matching a hash of an n-th block of the blockchain, the identifier, and the first and second security codes, and a generation of the hash of the (n+1)-th block. Data about the purchase and the hash of the (n+1)-th block are sent to the payment system.

A system and method for identifying test bars formed during a selective laser sintering build. A part cake is formed during a selective laser sintering build. The part cake comprises parts formed from a powder by selective laser sintering and unsintered powder around the formed parts. The parts include test bars for performing material testing. Each test bar includes a plurality of indentations in a first grip section and a second grip section. The plurality of indentations are arranged in a information providing pattern that is adapted to be readable after the test part is removed from the part cake.