Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080278998 | Data Storage Device and Method - A serial magnetic mass storage device and associated data storage method is provided based on magnetic nanowires that support single magnetic domains separated by domain walls. Each data-storing nanowire has a plurality of crossing nanowires along its length, forming cross junctions that constitute domain wall pinning sites. Data is fed through each data-storing nanowire by moving the magnetic domains under the action of a field that alternates between alignment and anti-alignment with the crossing nanowires. The data is encoded in the chirality of the domain walls, with up and down chirality transverse domain walls being used to encode 0's and 1's. Data is clocked into each nanowire with suitable nucleation generators capable of nucleating domains with domain walls of pre-defined chirality. Data is clocked out of each nanowire with suitable magnetic field sensors that sense the chirality. | 11-13-2008 |
20090016535 | Fuzzy Keys - A method can be provided for performing encryption using a fuzzy key. The method can comprise generating a message, dividing a fuzzy key into a plurality of blocks; and generating an encrypted message by selecting a block from the fuzzy key corresponding to a bit position or bit pattern in the message. | 01-15-2009 |
20090283583 | Two Tier Authentication - There can be provided a complete and flexible multi-tier article authentication system. A number of implementation options are possible, and in one of which an article can include an applied code thereon, which applied code includes an identifier code for the article and a biometric type signature for the article, the biometric type signature having been generated from analysis of intrinsic surface or internal structure of a part of an article to which the applied code is applied. | 11-19-2009 |
20090290906 | Cartridges for Reprographics Devices - A removable cartridge for a reprographics device, such as a printer, is described. The removable cartridge comprises a signature scanning unit for use in generating a signature based upon an intrinsic characteristic of an article. By providing a signature scanning unit in a replaceable cartridge, few or no modifications to the existing designs of various reprographics devices are needed. Additionally, the installation of the signature scanning unit in a reprographics device is made as easy as replacing a standard removable cartridge, such as, for example, an inkjet or toner cartridge. The addition of authorisation/identification functionality to various conventional reprographics devices can also be made by a non-technical user using various embodiments of the invention. | 11-26-2009 |
20090303000 | Linearisation of Scanned Data - A system for obtaining a signature a scan area on the surface of an article comprises: a signature generator that generates the signature from scattered coherent radiation detected from a plurality of regions on the surface by using relative motion between the article and a scan head comprising a coherent radiation source and photodetectors to obtain a set of data points comprising a group of data points from each region; an imaging detector that captures a sequence of images of the surface during the relative motion; and a processor that calculates the instantaneous velocity of the relative motion; whereby the signature generator uses the instantaneous velocity to linearise the groups of data point within the set of data points before generating the signature of the article from the set of data points. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307112 | Two Tier Authentication - There can be provided a complete and flexible multi-tier article authentication system. A number of different authentication systems are applied to a given article in order to allow multiple levels of authentication to be performed by different persons throughout the supply chain, and using different levels of equipment to perform the authentication. By using such a flexible approach, authenticity can be verified to one or more different levels, depending upon the interest, capability and equipment of an individual. A corresponding method and apparatus can be provided. A tracking system based upon similar principles can additionally or alternatively be provided. | 12-10-2009 |
20100007930 | Authentication Scanner - A system for obtaining a signature from a scan area on the surface of an article comprises: a signature generator that generates the signature from scattered coherent radiation detected from a plurality of points on the surface and includes a scan head comprising a coherent radiation source and photodetectors; a camera for capturing an image of the surface; a comparator that compares the captured image with a reference image to determine the location and orientation of the scan area; and a drive assembly that positions the scan head appropriately for generating a signature from the scan area in response to the determination of the location and orientation of the scan area. | 01-14-2010 |
20100008590 | Signature of Moulded Article - A method of authenticating an article comprises generating a signature from intrinsic surface structure of an article, comparing the signature for the article to a stored signature for a mould used to produce articles, and determining an authentication result based upon a comparison result between the article signature and stored mould signature. | 01-14-2010 |
20100124091 | Magnetic Data Storage Device and Method - A data storage device comprises an array of parallel magnetic nanowires each having a uniaxial anisotropy with an easy axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nanowire and which is rotated about the longitudinal axis along the length of the nanowire, and a magnetisation state that follows the easy axis, where each nanowire has a data input element for nucleating magnetic domains separated by domain walls in an end of the nanowire, the sequence of domains and walls representing binary data, and a data read-out element operable to detect the magnetisation at an end of the nanowire, the device also comprising a magnetic field source operable to generate a magnetic field rotating in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the nanowires so as to propagate domain walls along the at least one nanowire. Reversal of the direction of rotation of the magnetic field reverses the propagation direction of the domain walls, so that data can be moved in either direction along the nanowires. | 05-20-2010 |
20100128510 | Magnetic Data Storage - The present invention can provide a magnetic memory structure comprising a column comprising a plurality of layers of magnetic material, each sized to adopt a single magnetic domain state, and a plurality of layers of non-magnetic material arranged as spacer layers between adjacent ones of the layers of magnetic material, such that successive magnetic layers in the column are magnetically antiparallel coupled. The column is arranged to maintain therein a plurality of stable transitions of an order parameter of the magnetisations between the magnetic layers, the transitions having a chirality. This enables a single magnetic column structure to store multiple data bits in such a way as to enable the bits to be propagated through the column to enable sequential reading and/or writing of data in the column. | 05-27-2010 |
20100158377 | Authentication - The present invention can provide an apparatus operable to determine a signature from an article arranged in a reading volume. The apparatus can comprise a generator operable to generate and sequentially direct a focussed noncoherent beam onto each of a plurality of different regions of the reading volume; a detector arrangement operable to collect a set comprising groups of data points from signals obtained when the beam scatters from the different regions of the reading volume, wherein different ones of the groups of data points relate to scatter from the respective different regions of the reading volume; and a data acquisition and processing module operable to determine a signature of the article from the set of groups of data points. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161529 | Self-Calibration - Mitigation of processing artefacts caused by surfaces with high contrast printing or colouring transitions within a system to compare signatures derived from inherent physical surface properties of different articles to authenticate or validate articles and within a system to generate signatures from inherent physical surface properties of different articles. | 06-24-2010 |
20100316251 | Optical Authentication - An apparatus may be provided for determining a signature from an article in a reading volume of the apparatus. The apparatus can comprise a source operable to generate a coherent beam and a beam directing member operable to direct the coherent beam into the reading volume. The apparatus may also comprise a detector arrangement for collecting signals created by scatter of the coherent beam within the reading volume, wherein different ones of the signals relate to scatter from different parts of the reading volume, the detector arrangement having a numerical aperture greater than a predetermined minimum and a processor operable to determine a signature for an article in the reading volume from the collected signals. Use of such apparatus can be repeated whenever required to test authenticity of the article. Using this system, it has been discovered that it is essentially pointless to go to the effort and expense of making specially prepared tokens, since unique characteristics are measurable in a straightforward manner from a wide variety of every day articles. | 12-16-2010 |
20110108618 | System And Method For Article Authentication Using Encoded Signatures - A method and apparatus for determining a digital signature from an article. A coherent light source directs a beam to illuminate the article and a detector arrangement collects data points from light scattered from many different parts of the article to collect a large number of independent data points, typically 500 or more. By collecting a large number of independent signal contributions specific to many different parts of the article, a digital signature can be computed that is unique to the area of the article that has been scanned. This measurement can be repeated whenever required to test authenticity of the article. Using this method, it has been discovered that it is essentially pointless to go to the effort and expense of making specially prepared tokens, since unique characteristics are measurable a in a straightforward manner from a wide variety of every day articles. | 05-12-2011 |
20110109428 | System and Method for Article Authentication Using Signatures - A method and apparatus for determining a digital signature from an article. A coherent light source directs a beam to illuminate the article and a detector arrangement collects data points from light scattered from many different parts of the article to collect a large number of independent data points, typically 500 or more. By collecting a large number of independent signal contributions specific to many different parts of the article, a digital signature can be computed that is unique to the area of the article that has been scanned. This measurement can be repeated whenever required to test authenticity of the article. Using this method, it has been discovered that it is essentially pointless to go to the effort and expense of making specially prepared tokens, since unique characteristics are measurable a in a straightforward manner from a wide variety of every day articles. | 05-12-2011 |
20110109429 | System and Method for Article Authentication Using Thumbnail Signatures - A method and apparatus for determining a digital signature from an article. A coherent light source directs a beam to illuminate the article and a detector arrangement collects data points from light scattered from many different parts of the article to collect a large number of independent data points, typically 500 or more. By collecting a large number of independent signal contributions specific to many different parts of the article, a digital signature can be computed that is unique to the area of the article that has been scanned. This measurement can be repeated whenever required to test authenticity of the article. Using this method, it has been discovered that it is essentially pointless to go to the effort and expense of making specially prepared tokens, since unique characteristics are measurable a in a straightforward manner from a wide variety of every day articles. | 05-12-2011 |
20110109430 | System And Method For Article Authentication Using Blanket Illumination - A method and apparatus for determining a digital signature from an article. A coherent light source directs a beam to illuminate the article and a detector arrangement collects data points from light scattered from many different parts of the article to collect a large number of independent data points, typically 500 or more. By collecting a large number of independent signal contributions specific to many different parts of the article, a digital signature can be computed that is unique to the area of the article that has been scanned. This measurement can be repeated whenever required to test authenticity of the article. Using this method, it has been discovered that it is essentially pointless to go to the effort and expense of making specially prepared tokens, since unique characteristics are measurable a in a straightforward manner from a wide variety of every day articles. | 05-12-2011 |
20120246159 | OPTIMISATION - There is described a method for implementing a system for authentication of an article based upon a signature generated from a set comprising groups of data points collected when a plurality of regions of an intrinsic surface structure of an article are sequentially subjected to coherent light and the light scattered by the intrinsic surface structure is collected. For a given system implementation, the method comprises: determining a set of parameters which influence the performance of the system; determining a definition of system performance which can be affected by the set of parameters; producing an initial population of parameter value sets, each parameter set including a value for each parameter to be used in achieving a desired system performance; determining for each parameter value set a fitness value in terms of the system performance definition; identifying mating pairs of the population in accordance with the determined fitnesses; producing a new population by crossing the mating pairs; repeating the determining of a fitness value for each parameter value set, identifying of mating pairs and producing a new population until an end criterion is satisfied; and configuring the system in accordance with a selected one of the parameter sets from the final population. Thereby, a flexible and appropriate approach to system implementation can be followed which provides high efficiency in terms of the human time input and which provides high quality reliable setup parameter values to enable a reliable and efficient system implementation to result. | 09-27-2012 |
20130301035 | Authenticity Verification Methods, Products, and Apparatuses - A method and apparatus for determining a digital signature from an article. A coherent light source directs a beam to illuminate the article and a detector arrangement collects data points from light scattered from many different parts of the article to collect a large number of independent data points, typically 500 or more. By collecting a large number of independent signal contributions specific to many different parts of the article, a digital signature can be computed that is unique to the area of the article that has been scanned. This measurement can be repeated whenever required to test authenticity of the article. Using this method, it has been discovered that it is essentially pointless to go to the effort and expense of making specially prepared tokens, since unique characteristics are measurable a in a straightforward manner from a wide variety of every day articles. | 11-14-2013 |
20140133221 | Magnectic Structure - A method of shifting information between magnetic layers in a thin film structure. The method can comprising applying a magnetic field to the thin film structure, the field having a magnitude sufficient to switch the magnetisation direction of a predetermined one of a pair of layers within the thin film structure when that pair of layers holds a frustration between two regions of different magnetisation direction order parameter within the thin film structure. | 05-15-2014 |
20140168690 | Methods and Apparatuses for Creating Authenticatable Printed Articles and Subsequently Verifying Them - A printer with integral scanner obtains a digital signature from an article as it is printed. The integral scanner has a coherent source which directs a light beam to illuminate the article and a detector arrangement to collect data points from light scattered from many different parts of the article to collect a large number of independent data points. The digital signature derived from the data points is stored in a database with an image of what was printed on the article. The authenticity of an article purported to be the originally printed article can be verified by scanning the purported genuine article to obtain its digital signature. The database is then searched, to establish whether there is a match. If a match is found, the image is displayed with the matched digital signature to allow a further visual check that the article is genuine. | 06-19-2014 |