Laser ablation for latent image indicia

Abstract

A system and method for creating latent image indicia that includes a variable mark. The latent image indicia is made of pigmented ink that can only be viewed when illuminated with a specific frequency of light. The pigmented ink is printed in a solid patch by a conventional printing process. The variable mark in the pigmented ink is created by laser ablation of the pigment. The laser ablation is done after the ink printing as a separate step.

Claims

1. A method for creating a latent security marking on a product comprising the steps of: applying a solid ink patch using an JR-fluorescent latent ink having an IR up-converting pigment to a substrate at a first step of production or product packaging, said up-converting pigment capable of emission of light at a visible wavelength in response to excitation by irradiation; laser ablation of said solid ink patch as a later step of production or product packaging, said laser ablation forming at least one variable mark having an inverse image; verifying said variable mark by irradiation with an JR light capable of fluorescing said JR-fluorescent latent ink; wherein said variable mark is formed late in the production or product packaging so as to minimize an amount of time between creation of said variable mark and presentation of the product to a consumer or user; whereby said laser ablation does not ablate or otherwise affect the substrate.

2. The method for creating a latent security marking according to claim 1 wherein said up-converting pigment is a phosphor and includes at least one of doped or undoped metal oxides, doped metal sulfides, metal selenides, metal oxysulfides, rare-earth oxysulfides, and/or mixed oxides.

3. The method for creating a latent security marking according to claim 2 wherein said up-converting pigment is a phosphor having a wavelength peak of about 548 nm and 554 nm, and excitation peaks of about 950 nm and 980 nm.

4. The method for creating a latent security marking according to claim 1 wherein said IR up-converting pigment has a particle size of between about 1 micron and 10 microns.

5. The method for creating a latent security marking according to claim 1 wherein said variable mark is a quick response (QR) code.

6. The method for creating a latent security marking according to claim 1 wherein said variable mark is selected from the group consisting of an alphanumeric mark, a symbol, a barcode symbology, a dot pattern, an alternating design, a geometric pattern, a printed guilloché, a digital watermark, a signature, or an image.

7. The method for creating a latent security marking according to claim 1 wherein said variable mark is a combination of two or more variable marks.

8. The method for creating a latent security marking according to claim 1 wherein said step of laser ablation removes the fluorescent pigment from said ink patch in a predetermined pattern such that the latent ink that has been exposed to the laser no longer fluoresces.

9. The method for creating a latent security marking according to claim 1 wherein said step of laser ablation is performed by a laser selected from the group of: a solid-state laser, a fiber laser, a gas laser, a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser, a neodymium-doped yttrium orthovanadate (Nd:YVO.sub.4) laser, a carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) laser.

10. The method for creating a latent security marking according to claim 9 wherein said laser provides a pulsed laser beam.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of a latent variable mark under ambient light.

[0019] FIG. 1B illustrates one embodiment of a latent variable mark when excited by infrared (IR) light.

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the process for creating latent image indicia.

[0021] FIG. 3A illustrates one embodiment of a latent ink patch printed on a substrate when excited by IR light.

[0022] FIG. 3B illustrates one embodiment of a latent ink patch printed on a substrate after laser ablation when excited by IR light.

[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of laser ablation on a latent ink patch.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a system of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a graft of the excitation wavelength.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The present invention is generally directed to systems and methods for creating latent image indicia.

[0027] In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system for creating latent image indicia using latent ink printing and laser ablation.

[0028] In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method for creating latent image indicia using ink printing and laser ablation.

[0029] None of the prior art discloses creating latent image indicia using IR-fluorescent latent ink using a combination of industrial ink printing processes and laser ablation, wherein laser ablation is operable to be applied to latent ink at a later point in time; and wherein the laser ablation does not ablate the substrate on which the latent ink is printed. Though the prior art may disclose laser ablation of a printed ultraviolet (UV) or generic fluorescent ink, there is currently no system that allows the variable mark to be created with latent ink that is fluorescent and activated by IR light as a final step in a multi-step process for creating latent image indicia.

[0030] Advantageously, the latent ink that is activated by and fluoresces at IR light is stable over time, such that the ink does not fade or degrade after exposure to ambient light. In contrast, UV inks of the prior art are not light stable, and the fluorescence of the UV ink fades over time after exposure to ambient and/or UV light. UV ink is often dye-based. Additionally, the latent ink that is activated by and fluoresces at IR light is not as easy to activate or detect as UV inks under ambient lighting conditions because of ambient light interference. Fluorescent IR ink is also harder to obtain by counterfeiters than UV inks.

[0031] Referring now to the drawings in general, the illustrations are for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention, and are not intended to limit the invention thereto.

[0032] Latent markings of goods and documents during production and packaging facilitates the detection of counterfeit goods and documents by providing a way to validate authentic goods. It is beneficial for image indicia used to validate authentic goods to be latent and only detectable under certain conditions in order to prevent counterfeiters from detecting, copying, or removing said image indicia. At the same time, latent image indicia must be easily visible under the specific conditions in order to eliminate uncertainty in detection. It is also beneficial for latent image indicia to include unique, variable marks that are operable to be referenced to stored information in order to track goods and documents after their release and to further prevent counterfeiting.

[0033] In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system and method for creating latent image indicia, including an apparatus for printing latent ink, wherein the latent ink includes an ink carrier and at least one phosphor compound, and wherein the at least one phosphor compound is activated by and fluoresces infrared (IR) light, and an apparatus for laser ablation operable to selectively remove a partial amount of the at least one phosphor compound from the latent ink to create the latent image indicia. The latent ink is preferably pigment-based. In one embodiment, the latent image indicia of the present invention is formed using the latent ink that is not visible under visible light. In a preferred embodiment, the latent ink is up-converted by any light within the entire IR spectrum which is of longer wavelength and lower frequency than visible light. A wavelength of the IR light in the IR spectrum is preferably within a range of about 950 nm to about 1 mm. In one embodiment, the ink carrier is transparent. In another embodiment, the ink carrier is a visible color. In one embodiment, the ink carrier includes metal compounds. In one embodiment, the ink carrier is laser-transparent. In one embodiment, the ink carrier is solvent-based. In another embodiment, the ink carrier is water-based. In one embodiment, the ink carrier contains photoinitiators and is curable by UV light. Alternatively, the ink carrier is curable by LED light in another embodiment.

[0034] The fluorescent property of the latent ink is conferred by a fluorescent pigment. In a preferred embodiment, the fluorescent pigment is of archival quality, and the fluorescent quality of the fluorescent pigment remains stable for years under normal use conditions. The fluorescent pigment is preferably a fluorescent, phosphor-based pigment. In another embodiment, the fluorescent pigment is not phosphor-based. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fluorescent pigment is up-converted by IR light and has a distinct emission wavelength in the IR spectrum. In another embodiment, the fluorescent pigment is up-converted by IR light and has a distinct emission wavelength in the visible light spectrum. In one embodiment, the fluorescent pigment includes at least one of doped and/or undoped metal oxides, doped metal sulfides, metal selenides, metal oxysulfides, rare-earth oxysulfides, and/or mixed oxides. The fluorescent pigment is laser-absorbing at a specific wavelength, approximately 510 nm to 560 nm, wherein other light sources such as LED can provide the required wavelength. In one embodiment, the fluorescent pigment is suspended in a solution that is mixed with the ink carrier to create the latent ink. In a preferred embodiment, a solvent of the solution is volatile and evaporates after the latent ink is printed onto a substrate. In another embodiment, the fluorescent pigment is mixed directly with the ink carrier. Pigment load is a measure of the fluorescent pigment by weight in the ink carrier. The pigment load of the latent ink is dependent on factors including, but not limited to, materials and coatings of the substrate on which the latent ink is printed, the thickness of the latent ink that is printed, and an apparatus used to detect and read the latent image indicia. For example, a lower pigment load is used for a thicker area of latent ink compared to a thinner area of latent ink. In an alternate example, a higher pigment load is used when a plastic coating on top of an area of latent ink inversely affects the visibility of the latent ink. In one embodiment, the pigment load of the latent ink ranges from about 0.25% to about 10%. In one embodiment, the fluorescent pigment is stable under visible light and/or invisible light and its fluorescent properties do not change significantly upon long-term exposure to visible light and/or invisible light. The concentration will depend on the ink carrier chemistry and print method.

[0035] FIG. 1A illustrates an embodiment of the present invention. A latent ink patch 100 is not visible under ambient light. FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment of the present invention wherein the latent ink patch 100 is illuminated by an infrared light lamp 120. The infrared light lamp activates the pigments in the latent ink patch 100 such that the latent ink patch 100 fluoresces and is visible. In this embodiment, the latent ink patch 100 includes a variable mark 110 in the form of a quick response (QR) code. Alternatively, the variable mark is an alphanumeric, a symbol, a barcode symbology, a dot pattern, an alternating design, a geometric pattern, a printed guilloché, a digital watermark, a signature, and/or an image. In one embodiment, the variable mark is a combination of two or more variable marks.

[0036] Advantageously, the system and method for applying the latent image indicia is easily integrated into a production and/or packaging process. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the latent ink is applied to a substrate using a conventional ink printing method. The ink printing method does not affect the fluorescent properties of the latent ink. In one embodiment, the latent ink is applied using inkjet printing. In another embodiment, the latent ink is applied using digital printing. In another embodiment, the latent ink is applied using screen printing. In yet another embodiment, the latent ink is applied using flexographic printing. In another embodiment, the latent ink is applied using gravure printing. In another embodiment, the latent ink is applied using offset printing. In yet another embodiment, the latent ink is applied using roller coating printing.

[0037] Prior art may disclose a method for directly printing latent image indicia, such as a barcode, onto a substrate using a conventional ink printing process. However, a printer that is capable of printing a complex image, such as a variable mark in latent ink, is more expensive and difficult to design and program than a printer that can print a solid patch or area of latent ink. Therefore, it is advantageous to provide a system where latent ink is operable to be printed as a solid patch of ink in the first step of creating latent image indicia. The present invention includes printing a solid patch of latent ink on a substrate without any variable mark and creating the variable mark in the solid patch of latent ink at a later point in time. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one uniform layer of latent ink is printed on the substrate. In another embodiment, multiple layers of latent ink are printed on the substrate. The size, shape, and thickness of the solid patch of latent ink are dependent on factors including, but not limited to, the substrate, the variable mark, and the apparatus used to detect and read the latent image indicia. The present invention is operable to print the solid patch of latent ink on a variety of substrates and surfaces including, but not limited to, plastic, polymeric materials and films, cellulose-containing materials, coated paper, uncoated paper, cardboard, glass, crystal, and/or metal. The present invention is operable to print the solid patch of latent ink on a variety of objects, including but not limited to, labels, adhesives, documents, cards, laminated cards, passports, cans, bottles, glass bottles, containers, food packaging, metal surgical devices, and medical devices. In one embodiment, the latent ink is printed on a bottle cap. In another embodiment, the latent ink is printed on a bottling line.

[0038] In one embodiment, the latent ink patch is printed on a surface that is the same color as the ink carrier of the latent ink under visible light. In another embodiment, the latent ink patch is printed on a surface that has background ink on it. In one embodiment, the background ink has the same properties as the ink carrier of the latent ink, but the background ink is not fluorescent. In another embodiment, the background ink is different from the ink carrier of the latent ink. In yet another embodiment, the surface on which the latent ink patch is printed is uncoated and unmarked. In a preferred embodiment, reflectance characteristics and a surface appearance of the latent ink patch match reflectance characteristics and a surface appearance of the background and surrounding areas of the substrate on which the latent ink patch is printed. In one embodiment, a texture of the latent ink patch matches a texture of the substrate on which the latent ink patch is printed.

[0039] In one embodiment, the substrate includes a coating. In one embodiment, the coating is a plastic, including but not limited to, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a polycarbonate, and/or a polyester. Alternatively, the coating is a varnish, including but not limited to, a gloss varnish, a matte varnish, and/or a UV-curable varnish. In another embodiment, the substrate is laminated.

[0040] In one embodiment, the latent ink patch is cured after it is printed. In one embodiment, the latent ink patch is cured with UV light. Alternatively, the latent ink patch is cured with LED light. In another embodiment, the latent ink patch is flashed off after it is printed. In one embodiment, a binder is added to the latent ink patch to ensure adhesion to the substrate.

[0041] The present invention includes a system for auditing and verifying an adhesion and a presence of the latent ink patch to the substrate. In one embodiment, the presence of the latent ink patch is verified by irradiation of the latent ink patch with IR light.

[0042] In a production and packaging environment, it is preferable to create a security mark, such as a variable mark, late in the production and/or packaging process so as to minimize an amount of time between creation of the security mark and presentation of the product to a consumer or user. This strategy deters counterfeiting of and/or tampering with the security mark by minimizing exposure of the security mark to potential counterfeiters before it is authenticated. Therefore, the present invention includes the variable mark being created in the latent ink patch at a later point in time, after the solid patch of latent ink has been printed by a conventional ink printing process. Before the variable mark is created, the latent ink is a uniformly fluorescent patch that is not sufficient for tracking a product or preventing counterfeiting. The variable mark is then created in the latent ink, such that the latent ink then fluoresces a specific design and/or pattern which is known to the manufacturer.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, the infrared ink includes an IR up-converting pigment. The IR up-converting pigment converts IR light to visible light by absorbing lower energy photons and emitting higher energy photons as fluorescence. At least two low energy photons are absorbed by the IR up-converting pigment to emit one high energy photon. This process requires a high intensity light source (e.g., laser, a plurality of IR light emitting diodes (LEDs)). Additionally, this process typically requires a controlled lighting environment that limits ambient light. In one embodiment, the IR up-converting pigment includes a phosphor. In one embodiment, the IR up-converting pigment includes at least one of doped or undoped metal oxides, doped metal sulfides, metal selenides, metal oxysulfides, rare-earth oxysulfides, and/or mixed oxides. In one embodiment, the IR up-converting pigment has a particle size of about 2 microns (e.g., 2 microns±10%). Alternatively, the IR up-converting pigment has a particle size of between about 1 micron (e.g., 1 micron±10%) to about 10 microns (e.g., 10 microns±10%). The preferred IR up-converting pigment is a metal oxysulfide phosphor having a particle size distribution—by Coulter Counter (50 μm Aperture) with ultrasonic dispersion, sizes at listed Volume %:

[0044] vol % 5 25 50 75 95

[0045] μm 0.6 1.1 1.5 2.2 3.5 with a Quartile Deviation: 0.33.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the optical property is a green emission color. However, red, blue or a combination of green, red and blue emission colors may be employed. Wavelength peaks of 548 nm and 554 nm and excitation peaks of 950 nm and 980 nm are illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0047] FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the present invention wherein the latent ink is printed as a solid patch onto a package and the variable mark is created in the latent ink patch via laser ablation as the final step in the packaging process.

[0048] FIG. 3A illustrates an example of the present invention wherein a solid latent ink patch 100 is printed on a medicine bottle 300 before the medicine bottle is filled by an assembly line. The latent ink patch is visible under an infrared light lamp 120 at the beginning of the process to verify that the printing is successful. The medicine bottle is then filled with medicine, capped, and sealed by the assembly line.

[0049] FIG. 3B illustrates the medicine bottle at the end of the filling and packaging process. The variable mark 110 is created on the latent ink patch 100 using laser ablation after the medicine bottle has been filled and sealed. The latent ink patch is visible under an infrared light lamp 120 at the end of the process to verify the variable mark. The medicine bottle is then shipped to its destination.

[0050] The variable mark of the present invention is created in the latent ink patch by laser ablation. Laser ablation occurs when the energy of a laser beam is absorbed by a surface and causes particles on the surface to heat until they evaporate or sublimate. The laser beam of the present invention is operable to remove the fluorescent pigment from the latent ink patch in a predetermined pattern, such that the latent ink that has been exposed to the laser beam no longer fluoresces. In one embodiment, the laser beam does not remove the ink carrier of the latent ink patch. The laser beam does not affect the background or surrounding area on which the latent ink patch is printed or the substrate or surface on which the latent ink patch is printed.

[0051] In one embodiment, the laser is a solid-state laser. In one embodiment, the laser is a fiber laser. In one embodiment, the laser is a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. In another embodiment, the laser is a neodymium-doped yttrium orthovanadate (Nd:YVO.sub.4) laser. In one embodiment, the laser is a gas laser. In one embodiment, the laser is a carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) laser. In one embodiment, the laser ablation beam is a pulsed laser beam.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a power, a duration, a pulse, a dwell time, and/or a frequency of the laser ablation beam are dependent on the latent ink patch (e.g., the fluorescent pigment, the thickness of the latent ink, the pigment load of the latent ink) and the substrate on which the latent ink patch is printed (e.g., the material of the substrate, the coating on the substrate, a thickness of the substrate). The power, the duration, the pulse, the dwell time and/or the frequency of the laser ablation beam are configured based on the substrate and the latent ink patch before ablation occurs. In one embodiment, the laser emits light at a frequency in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum (10-400 nm). In another embodiment, the laser emits light at a frequency in the IR spectrum. In another embodiment, the laser emits visible light.

[0053] The laser ablation beam is operable to ablate the fluorescent pigment of a latent ink patch without ablating or otherwise affecting a variety of substrates and surfaces, including but not limited to plastic, polymeric materials and films, cellulose-containing materials, coated paper, uncoated paper, cardboard, glass, crystal, and/or metal. The laser ablation beam is operable to ablate the fluorescent pigment of a latent ink patch without ablating or otherwise affecting a variety of objects, including but not limited to labels, adhesives, documents, cards, laminated cards, passports, cans, bottles, glass bottles, containers, food packaging, metal surgical devices, and medical devices. The laser ablation beam is operable to create a variable mark in a latent ink patch printed on a curved surface (e.g., bottle, can). The laser ablation beam is also operable to create a variable mark in a latent ink patch printed on a textured surface.

[0054] The present invention includes the latent ink patch printing and the laser ablation of a variable mark occurring at two distinct times. The laser ablation of a variable mark is a method of marking and/or serializing each product to allow for tracking and to hinder counterfeiting. The present invention eliminates the need for specialty printing press systems that print latent image indicia directly onto a substrate by printing a solid patch of latent ink onto a substrate as a first step using a conventional ink printing process. Laser ablation of the variable mark is then performed at a later point, after the latent ink has been printed, to minimize exposure of the variable mark to potential counterfeiters as a more secure method of creating the security mark. In addition, the laser ablation process only affects the fluorescent component of the latent ink, such that the variable mark as a whole is visible when activated by distinct wavelengths of light.

[0055] The laser in the present invention removes the fluorescent pigment in the latent ink, such that the areas on the latent ink patch ablated by the laser compose a negative image of a variable mark. The laser ablates the inverse image of a variable mark, with the illumination being a patch of pigmented ink around the ablated mark.

[0056] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the inverse image ablation. The solid latent ink patch 100 is fluorescent upon activation by an infrared light lamp 120. The laser 400 ablates the fluorescent pigment in the latent ink, such that the ink is no longer fluorescent under the infrared light lamp. The variable mark contains sufficient information for product authentication, identification, and tracking. In one embodiment, the variable mark is a barcode symbology. In another embodiment, the variable mark is an alphanumeric code such as a serial number. In another embodiment, the variable mark is a two-dimensional (2D) code such as a QR code. In one embodiment of the present invention, the variable mark applied to each product includes a unique identifier. In one embodiment, the variable mark includes information about the product and/or its production process, including, but not limited to, a location, a date, a time, a shelf life, a model number, and/or a batch number. In another embodiment, the variable mark includes information about the seller and/or consumer of the product, including but not limited to a destination, transaction information, licensing information, a serial number, and/or personal identifiers of a seller and/or a consumer of the product. The variable mark is referenced to stored information, such that there is a record of the appearance and content of all variable marks applied to the products. In one embodiment, the present invention scans the variable mark after it has been created and stores the scanned data to a database. This system allows counterfeit indicia to be easily detected if it does not match the stored information. The systems and methods of the present invention can be readily altered periodically to hinder counterfeiting.

[0057] The present invention includes systems and methods for controlling the creation of latent image indicia on a product or document. The latent ink printing and the laser ablation are controlled by a computer system. In one embodiment, the computer system is connected to a server in a production and/or packaging environment. The variable mark created by laser ablation is referenced to information stored on a database. In one embodiment, the database is a cloud database. In one embodiment, the computer system sends data about the variable mark to the laser ablation system. The laser ablation system includes a conversion engine wherein the data about the variable mark is converted into a corresponding laser ablation pattern. In one embodiment, the variable mark is different for each individual substrate. The present invention is operable to automatically change the variable mark created on each substrate and update a database with information about each mark. In one embodiment, the information about each mark includes a time and a date of creation, information about the product on which the mark was created, and/or information about product shipping. In one embodiment, the present invention records data from the substrate after the latent ink printing and after the laser ablation in a database. In one embodiment, the data includes photographs of the latent ink and the variable mark.

[0058] In one embodiment, the computer system verifies that the correct variable mark has been created on a product in real time. In one embodiment, the latent image indicia is authenticated by a mobile authenticator, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,783,734, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In another embodiment, the latent image indicia is detected and verified by an apparatus on a production and/or packaging assembly line. The apparatus is operable to verify latent image indicia after printing and after laser ablation. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one camera system. In one embodiment, the apparatus is attached to the apparatus for printing latent ink and/or the apparatus for laser ablation.

[0059] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the invention illustrating a computer system, generally described as 800, having a network 810, a plurality of computing devices 820, 830, 840, a server 850, and a database 870.

[0060] The server 850 is constructed, configured, and coupled to enable communication over a network 810 with a plurality of computing devices 820, 830, 840. The server 850 includes a processing unit 851 with an operating system 852. The operating system 852 enables the server 850 to communicate through the network 810 with the remote, distributed user devices. The database 870 is operable to house an operating system 872, memory 874, and programs 876.

[0061] In one embodiment of the invention, the system 800 includes a network 810 for distributed communication via a wireless communication antenna 812 and processing by at least one mobile communication computing device 830. Alternatively, wireless and wired communication and connectivity between devices and components described herein include wireless network communication, such as WI-FI, WORLDWIDE INTEROPERABILITY FOR MICROWAVE ACCESS (WIMAX), Radio Frequency (RF) communication including RF identification (RFID), NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC), BLUETOOTH, including BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY (BLE), ZIGBEE, Infrared (IR) communication, cellular communication, satellite communication, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Ethernet communications, communication via fiber-optic cables, coaxial cables, twisted pair cables, and/or any other type of wireless or wired communication. In another embodiment of the invention, the system 800 is a virtualized computing system capable of executing any or all aspects of software and/or application components presented herein on the computing devices 820, 830, 840. In certain aspects, the computer system 800 is operable to be implemented using hardware or a combination of software and hardware, either in a dedicated computing device, or integrated into another entity, or distributed across multiple entities or computing devices.

[0062] By way of example, and not limitation, the computing devices 820, 830, 840 are intended to represent various forms of electronic devices including at least a processor and a memory, such as a server, blade server, mainframe, mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), smartphone, desktop computer, netbook computer, tablet computer, workstation, laptop, and other similar computing devices. The components shown here, their connections and relationships, and their functions, are meant to be exemplary only, and are not meant to limit implementations of the invention described and/or claimed in the present application.

[0063] In one embodiment, the computing device 820 includes components such as a processor 860, a system memory 862 having a random access memory (RAM) 864 and a read-only memory (ROM) 866, and a system bus 868 that couples the memory 862 to the processor 860. In another embodiment, the computing device 830 is operable to additionally include components such as a storage device 890 for storing the operating system 892, one or more application programs 894, a network interface unit 896, and/or an input/output controller 898. Each of the components is operable to be coupled to each other through at least one bus 868. The input/output controller 898 is operable to receive and process input from, or provide output to, a number of other devices 899, including, but not limited to, alphanumeric input devices, mice, electronic styluses, display units, touch screens, signal generation devices (e.g., speakers), or printers.

[0064] By way of example, and not limitation, the processor 860 is operable to be a general-purpose microprocessor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microcontroller, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a controller, a state machine, gated or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any other suitable entity or combinations thereof that can perform calculations, process instructions for execution, and/or other manipulations of information.

[0065] In another implementation, shown as 840 in FIG. 5, multiple processors 860 and/or multiple buses 868 are operable to be used, as appropriate, along with multiple memories 862 of multiple types (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core).

[0066] Also, multiple computing devices are operable to be connected, with each device providing portions of the necessary operations (e.g., a server bank, a group of blade servers, or a multi-processor system). Alternatively, some steps or methods are operable to be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function.

[0067] According to various embodiments, the computer system 800 is operable to operate in a networked environment using logical connections to local and/or remote computing devices 820, 830, 840 through a network 810. A computing device 830 is operable to connect to a network 810 through a network interface unit 896 connected to a bus 868. Computing devices are operable to communicate communication media through wired networks, direct-wired connections or wirelessly, such as acoustic, RF, or infrared, through an antenna 897 in communication with the network antenna 812 and the network interface unit 896, which are operable to include digital signal processing circuitry when necessary. The network interface unit 896 is operable to provide for communications under various modes or protocols.

[0068] In one or more exemplary aspects, the instructions are operable to be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combinations thereof. A computer readable medium is operable to provide volatile or non-volatile storage for one or more sets of instructions, such as operating systems, data structures, program modules, applications, or other data embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The computer readable medium is operable to include the memory 862, the processor 860, and/or the storage media 890, and is operable to be a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed computer system) that stores the one or more sets of instructions 900. Non-transitory computer readable media includes all computer readable media, with the sole exception being a transitory, propagating signal per se. The instructions 900 are further operable to be transmitted or received over the network 810 via the network interface unit 896 as communication media, which is operable to include a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics changed or set in a manner as to encode information in the signal.

[0069] Storage devices 890 and memory 862 include, but are not limited to, volatile and non-volatile media, such as cache, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH memory, or other solid state memory technology; discs (e.g., digital versatile discs (DVD), HD-DVD, BLU-RAY, compact disc (CD), or CD-ROM) or other optical storage; magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, floppy disks, or other magnetic storage devices; or any other medium that can be used to store the computer readable instructions and which can be accessed by the computer system 800.

[0070] In one embodiment, the computer system 800 is within a cloud-based network. In one embodiment, the server 850 is a designated physical server for distributed computing devices 820, 830, and 840. In one embodiment, the server 850 is a cloud-based server platform. In one embodiment, the cloud-based server platform hosts serverless functions for distributed computing devices 820, 830, and 840.

[0071] In another embodiment, the computer system 800 is within an edge computing network. The server 850 is an edge server, and the database 870 is an edge database. The edge server 850 and the edge database 870 are part of an edge computing platform. In one embodiment, the edge server 850 and the edge database 870 are designated to distributed computing devices 820, 830, and 840. In one embodiment, the edge server 850 and the edge database 870 are not designated for distributed computing devices 820, 830, and 840. The distributed computing devices 820, 830, and 840 connect to an edge server in the edge computing network based on proximity, availability, latency, bandwidth, and/or other factors.

[0072] It is also contemplated that the computer system 800 is operable to not include all of the components shown in FIG. 5, is operable to include other components that are not explicitly shown in FIG. 5, or is operable to utilize an architecture completely different than that shown in FIG. 5. The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, elements, circuits, and algorithms described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein are operable to be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application (e.g., arranged in a different order or partitioned in a different way), but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention.

[0073] The latent security marking on a product comprising the steps of: applying a solid ink patch using an IR-fluorescent latent ink having an IR up-converting pigment to a substrate at a first step of production or product packaging, said up-converting pigment capable of emission of light at a visible wavelength in response to excitation by irradiation, the pigment may also be loaded as part of an injection molding forming a light switch, glass bottle and so forth; laser ablation of said solid ink patch as a later step of production or product packaging, said laser ablation forming at least one variable mark having an inverse image, the later step would be subsequent to the printing of labels, packaging, bottle making, switch making and so forth, the technology uniquely serializing the product; verifying said variable mark by irradiation with an IR light capable of fluorescing said IR-fluorescent latent ink; wherein said variable mark is formed late in the production or product packaging so as to minimize an amount of time between creation of said variable mark and presentation of the product to a consumer or user, whereby said laser ablation does not ablate or otherwise affect the substrate.

[0074] The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more” or “at least one.” The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements.

[0075] One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.