Authentication system

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an authenticating apparatus, system and a method for authentication of an object or product having a secure glyph thereon. The invention is also directed to the use of the object or product in a machine wherein the secure glyph has an intellectual property protected feature and a machine readable feature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A secure glyph comprising:
 (a) an intellectual property protected feature; and   (b) a machine readable feature;   wherein said intellectual property protected feature is recognized alone, as a machine readable feature or recognized in combination with at least a portion of the machine readable feature, by an authenticating apparatus to determine authenticity.   
     
     
         2 . The secure glyph of  claim 1 , wherein the machine readable feature comprises a covert portion and/or an overt portion. 
     
     
         3 . The secure glyph of  claim 1 , wherein the intellectual property protected feature comprises a covert portion and/or an overt portion. 
     
     
         4 . The secure glyph of  claim 1 , wherein the machine readable feature is a taggant. 
     
     
         5 . The secure glyph of  claim 1 , wherein the intellectual property protected feature is a trademark. 
     
     
         6 . The secure glyph of  claim 5 , wherein the trademark is visually recognizable by the naked-eye. 
     
     
         7 . The secure glyph of  claim 1 , wherein the machine readable feature and the intellectual property protected feature are recognized independently or in association with each other in order to determine the authenticity. 
     
     
         8 . A secure glyph comprising:
 (a) an intellectual property protected feature; and   (b) a machine readable feature comprised of an overt portion and a covert portion;   wherein said intellectual property protected feature is recognized alone as a machine readable feature, or recognized in combination with at least a portion of the machine readable feature by an authentication apparatus to determine authenticity.   
     
     
         9 . The secure glyph of  claim 9 , wherein the intellectual property protected feature comprises a covert portion and/or an overt portion. 
     
     
         10 . The secure glyph of  claim 9 , wherein the machine readable feature is a taggant. 
     
     
         11 . The secure glyph of  claim 9 , wherein the intellectual property protected feature is a trademark. 
     
     
         12 . The secure glyph of  claim 11 , wherein the trademark is visually recognizable. 
     
     
         13 . The secure glyph of  claim 9 , wherein the machine readable feature and the intellectual property protected feature are recognized independently or in association with each other in order to determine the authenticity. 
     
     
         14 . A secure glyph comprising:
 (a) an intellectual property protected feature; and   (b) a machine readable feature comprised of an overt portion or a covert portion;   wherein said intellectual property protected feature is recognized alone as a machine readable feature, or recognized in combination with at least a portion of the machine readable feature, by a detector to determine authenticity.   
     
     
         15 . The secure glyph of  claim 14 , wherein the intellectual property protected feature comprises a covert portion and/or an overt portion. 
     
     
         16 . The secure glyph of  claim 14 , wherein the machine readable feature is a taggant. 
     
     
         17 . The secure glyph of  claim 14 , wherein the intellectual property protected feature is a trademark. 
     
     
         18 . The secure glyph of  claim 17 , wherein the trademark is visually recognizable. 
     
     
         19 . The secure glyph of  claim 14 , wherein the machine readable feature and the intellectual property protected feature are recognized independently or in association with each other in order to determine the authenticity.