Patent ID: 6249339
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: A61B,A61C,G01J,G01N,G07D

Abstract:
A method for determining whether an object is genuine, comprising the steps of:measuring optical properties of the object at one or more locations with a probe, at least one of the one or more locations having a first region of material that is translucent or semitranslucent, wherein the measured optical properties include one or more properties not readily discernible from a visual inspection of the object, and wherein the probe includes at least one source that emits light on an outer surface of the object, wherein the probe includes at least one receiver that receives light from the object, wherein the measuring step generates optical characteristics data based on spectral characteristics of a second region of material that is under the first region of material; andcomparing the measured optical properties with recorded optical properties, wherein based on the comparison a determination is made whether the object is genuine.