Authentication reader and a dispenser comprising the authentication reader

Abstract

An authentication reader and a dispenser comprising the authentication reader for authenticating a product having a taggant ink disposed on the product's surface.

1 . An authentication reader for authenticating a product having a taggant ink disposed upon a surface of the product, the reader comprising:
 a signal generator comprising an excitation source that provides a light source having a source wavelength or wavelengths producing a signal response from a taggant ink, wherein the signal response comprises a spectrum of intensity peaks at multiple wavelengths and the multiple wavelengths are different from the source wavelength;   a sensor for receiving the signal response from the taggant ink;   a filter, positioned between the signal generator and the sensor, for blocking the source wavelength or wavelengths from the sensor; and   control circuitry coupled to the signal generator, the sensor and a database containing data corresponding to signal responses associated with taggant ink, wherein the control circuitry compares the signal response with the data of an expected signal response stored in the database to determine if the signal response matches an expected signal response in the database, and positively authenticate the product as authentic when the signal response matches the data.   
     
     
         2 . The reader of  claim 1  wherein the authentication reader is incorporated into a coffee brewer. 
     
     
         3 . The reader of  claim 1  wherein the taggant ink is printed with at least one fluorescent dye and wherein the fluorescent dye, when excited by the excitation source, produces the spectrum of intensity peaks at multiple wavelengths. 
     
     
         4 . The reader of  claim 1 , wherein the taggant ink may be in the form of a secure glyph having a geometric pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The reader of  claim 4 , wherein the secure glyph further comprises an intellectual property protected feature which comprises at least an overt feature or a covert feature. 
     
     
         6 . The reader of  claim 5 , further comprising a detector for detecting the intellectual property protected feature. 
     
     
         7 . The reader of  claim 4 , wherein the secure glyph comprises a plurality of materials with differing ratios and differing characteristic excitation patterns. 
     
     
         8 . The reader of  claim 1 , wherein the taggant ink comprises a mixture of a plurality of taggant materials, and the plurality of taggant materials have different excitation wavebands. 
     
     
         9 . The reader of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a multispectral image analyzer for measuring intensity at various wavelengths. 
     
     
         10 . The reader of  claim 9 , wherein the multispectral image analyzer is a red-green-blue (RGB) sensor which collects RGB components of the signal response. 
     
     
         11 . A dispenser having the ability to authenticate a beverage containing cup comprising:
 a base unit for retaining a beverage containing cup having a taggant ink disposed upon a surface of the cup;   an authentication reader for authenticating a beverage containing cup comprising:
 (1) a signal generator comprising an excitation source that provides a light source having a source wavelength or wavelengths producing a signal response from a taggant ink, wherein the signal response comprises a spectrum of intensity peaks at multiple wavelengths and the multiple wavelengths are different from the source wavelength; 
 (2) a sensor for receiving the signal response from the taggant ink; 
 (3) a filter, positioned between the signal generator and the sensor, for blocking the source wavelength or wavelengths from the sensor; and 
 (4) control circuitry coupled to the signal generator, the sensor and a database containing data corresponding to signal responses associated with taggant ink, wherein the control circuitry compares the signal response with the data of an expected signal response stored in the database to determine if the signal response matches an expected signal response in the database, and positively authenticate the beverage containing cup as authentic when the signal response matches the data; and 
   
       a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a beverage via the beverage dispensing cup upon the beverage dispensing cup being authenticated. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the dispenser is a coffee brewer. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the taggant ink is printed with at least one fluorescent dye and wherein the fluorescent dye, when excited by the excitation source, produces the spectrum of intensity peaks at multiple wavelengths. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the taggant ink may be in the form of a secure glyph having a geometric pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the secure glyph further comprises an intellectual property protected feature which comprises at least an overt feature or a covert feature. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , further comprising a detector for detecting the intellectual property protected feature. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the secure glyph comprises a plurality of materials with differing ratios and differing characteristic excitation patterns. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the taggant ink comprises a mixture of a plurality of taggant materials, and the plurality of taggant materials have different excitation wavebands. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a multispectral image analyzer for measuring intensity at various wavelengths. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 19 , wherein the multispectral image analyzer is a red-green-blue (RGB) sensor which collects RGB components of the signal response.