Patent ID: 6297508
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of verifying the authenticity of a packaged product, comprising:a) providing a package which comprises1) a product,2) a packaging material covering at least one surface of said product, and3) more than 10 up to about 50,000 parts per million independently of at least two fluorescent materials, said fluorescent materials being capable of excitation by radiation in the wavelength range of about 250 to about 400 nm and emission of radiation in the wavelength range of about 300 to about 475 nm, wherein one of the following is true:(a) each of said fluorescent materials is disposed in or on said packaging material,(b) each of said fluorescent materials is disposed in or on at least one surface of said product, or(c) at least one of said fluorescent materials is disposed in or on said packaging material and at least one of said fluorescent materials is disposed in or on at least one surface of said product;b) exposing said package to a source of excitation radiation comprising wavelengths in the range of about 250 to about 400 nm so that said fluorescent materials are excited by said excitation radiation;c) spectroscopically detecting the radiation emitted by said fluorescent materials in the wavelength range of about 300 to about 475 nm;d) compiling an intensity versus wavelength plot of said emitted ultraviolet radiation over at least a portion of the range of wavelengths detected; ande) comparing said compiled intensity versus wavelength plot against a previously measured, stored intensity versus wavelength plot of an authenticated standard so as to determine whether said packaged product is authentic.