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.

An example system includes an x-ray absorber. The x-ray absorber is to convert received x-rays into electrical energy. The system also includes a memory. The memory is to receive the electrical energy. The memory also is to output a stored value using the electrical energy. The system includes a transmitter. The transmitter is to produce x-rays representative of the stored value.

There are disclosed a method of producing an XRF readable mark, the XRF readable mark and a component comprising thereof. The method comprises providing an XRF marking composition with specific relative concentrations of one or more chemical elements and fabricating a multilayer structure of the XRF readable mark. The relative concentrations are selected such that in response to irradiation of the XRF marking composition by XRF exciting radiation, the XRF marking composition emits an XRF signal indicative of a predetermined XRF signature. Fabricating the multilayer structure comprises implementing an attenuation layer with at least one element exhibiting high absorbance for an XRF exciting radiation and/or an XRF background; and implementing a marking layer comprising said XRF marking composition.

A workpiece having an identification code is arranged on a workpiece carrier having coded therein, by a pattern made from a plurality of mutually separate regions of different density, at least one character of the identification code. The workpiece and carrier are scanned together by computed tomography, the regions or part of the regions and the densities thereof in the computed tomography scan are ascertained, the scan is oriented in response to at least the location of a straight line through two of these regions, the character that is coded by way of the density pattern of the plurality of regions is determined in the scan, and the oriented scan is processed in response to the coded character.

An electrosurgical return electrode configured for operable association with a transponder detection unit. The return electrode includes a conductive element having an aperture array configured to allow passage of a magnetic, electric, or electromagnetic interrogation signal from the transponder detection unit through the conductive element and through the return electrode. The return electrode is positionable over a transponder detection unit such that the return electrode may be placed upon the transponder detection unit and a patient may be positioned upon the return electrode. The return electrode enables the detection of a transponder located on, within, and/or near the patient without the need for repositioning the patient relative to the return electrode and without the need for positioning an ancillary transponder reader or transmitter above the patient.

The present invention embodies a technique to embed a graphic representation and/or a concealed message such as but not limited to two dimensional codes such as quick response (QR) code matrices, fingerprints, coded fingerprint representations, iris imagery, iris coded representation, biometric hashes, palm print or portraits into a QR matrix code. In the case where biometric data such as finger print representation, iris coded representation or biometric hashes are encoded into the embedding, suitable binary representation of those patterns are generated before encoding. These concealed messages can be further encrypted using any cryptographic method such as public or private key or other suitable encrypting mechanisms adapted to the concealed message. For an implementation of the present invention in which a graphic representation is embedded into the code, the embedding process is based on an optimization method by which the color or luminance of the embedding is modified so as to minimize the visual distortion with respect to a reference image while maintaining the probability of decoding error of the standard and concealed code under a predetermined limit.

The disclosure features methods for generating a unique identifier, the methods including providing a dendritic structure, reading the dendritic structure to provide a signal, and generating a unique identifier from the signal.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a method of additive manufacturing of an object using object material is provided. The method includes forming the object by processing some of the object material, and forming an object identifier by forming a pattern having at least one coded volume within an internal volume of the object, each of the at least one coded volume enclosing unprocessed object material. According to further embodiments of the present invention, an object manufactured using the method of additive manufacturing and a method of scanning an object identifier formed using the method of additive manufacturing are is also provided.

The disclosure features dendritic tags, and methods and systems for fabricating and using such tags. The methods can include obtaining at least one image of a dendritic tag attached to an article, analyzing the at least one image to identify a set of features associated with the dendritic tag, and comparing the set of features to stored information to identify the article.

The disclosure features dendritic tags, and methods and systems for fabricating and using such tags. The methods can include obtaining at least one image of a dendritic tag attached to an article, analyzing the at least one image to identify a set of features associated with the dendritic tag, and comparing the set of features to stored information to identify the article.