Tester For Detecting Graphene Security Element In A Security Document, And The Element Detection Method

Abstract

A tester is described for detecting a graphene security element in a secure document, such as a banknote, an identification card, etc. as well as a method for detection of that element. In the tester the light emitter, the reflective/transreflective element and the photodetector are arranged in the measuring slot in such a way that detection of the level of absorption and/or refraction of light passing through a graphene security element is possible and the measurement result when compared with the model provides a basis for generation of a message about the detection result, i.e. the confirmation of authenticity of a security document or information that the document is counterfeited. The tester can preferably be used in combination with a mobile device, such as a smartphone, which together form the measuring system.

1 . A tester for detecting a graphene security element comprising:
 a control module;   a light emitter that emits a light via a reflective and/or transreflective element, and   a photodetector operable to detect a change of about 2.3 percent of a light reflected from and/or transmitted through the graphene security element relative to the light emitted from the light emitter via a reflective and/or transreflective element.   
     
     
         2 . The tester of  claim 1  wherein
 the control module is connected to a power supply module, the light emitter, a data acquisition control module and a control unit; 
 the reflective and/or transreflective element is connected to the light emitter, the photodetector and the control unit; 
 the photodetector is further connected to the data acquisition control module; and 
 the internal memory module is connected to the data acquisition control module. 
 
     
     
         3 . The tester of  claim 1  wherein the light emitter, the reflective and/or transreflective element and the photodetector are aligned in a measurement slot so that when a security document or a fragment thereof comprising the graphene security element is inserted into the measurement slot the light coming from the light emitter via the reflective/transreflective element is reflected from and/or transmitted through the graphene security element. 
     
     
         4 . The tester of  claim 1  wherein the light emitter emits light of a specific wavelength. 
     
     
         5 . The tester of  claim 1  further comprising at least one communication module for wireless data exchange. 
     
     
         6 . The tester of  claim 5  wherein the communication module is a Bluetooth module. 
     
     
         7 . The tester of  claim 5  wherein the communication module is an optical sensor connected to the reflective/transreflective element and the control module. 
     
     
         8 . The tester of  claim 1  wherein the tester further comprises a fingerprint reader. 
     
     
         9 . A method of determining an authenticity of an article comprising:
 emitting a light towards an article;   measuring a level a light reflected from and/or transmitted through the article;   assessing a presence of a graphene security element on the article by said measuring;   determining an authenticity of the article based upon said assessing the presence of the graphene security element.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising authenticating a fingerprint of a user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising mounting a tester on a mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising employing a wireless communication module. 
     
     
         13 . A method of detecting a graphene security element on a security document comprising:
 determining the presence of a security document in a measurement slot;   emitting a light within the measurement slot;   measuring a light reflected from and/or transmitted through the security document;   detecting a presence of a graphene security element on the security document based upon said measuring;   recording a result of said detecting, and   generating a message about said detecting on a display.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 scanning a fingerprint of a user through a fingerprint reader, and 
 comparing the scanned fingerprint to a pattern stored in an internal memory of the tester. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising shutting the tester down automatically when the scanned fingerprint is not consistent with the pattern stored in the internal memory or proceeding to a next step when the scanned fingerprint is consistent with the pattern stored in the internal memory. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the result is transmitted via a communication module to the mobile device and the result is compared with a pattern stored in a database and a message about the result of the detecting is generated on a mobile device display. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the measurement slot is mounted on a mobile device before said determining. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the database is an external database and the measurement result from the mobile device is compared with the stored pattern of the external database by using a wireless connection. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the database is an internal database stored in a memory of the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein a message indicating the result of said detecting is generated by a LED and/or LCD module absent a mobile device.