Patent Publication Number: US-2017348994-A1

Title: Invisible Luminescent Protection for Financial and Identification Documents

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to document security and, more particularly, to invisible luminescent protection for financial and identification documents. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Checks and other documents that require filling variable data into preprinted fields are often manipulated by bad actors to alter the information written into the various fields by a process of check washing or other means. This type of fraud causes significant problems for those being defrauded. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a blank check. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of check printed with invisible luminescent protection in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a system to implement invisible luminescent protection in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions that may be executed to implement the example system to implement invisible luminescent protection of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an example processing system capable of executing the example machine readable instructions of  FIG. 4  to implement the example system to implement invisible luminescent protection of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Bank checks contain preprinted fields such as payee and dollar amount that are typically filled in by individuals writing in pen, usually with dye-based inks. Alternatively, checks and other documents can be filled in by use of a printer. In either case, if a criminal intercepts a check after it is filled out but before it is cashed, by stealing it from a mailbox for example, it is possible to remove the ink from the check by a process called check washing. This involves washing or submerging the check in acetone or another solvent to dissolve the dye based ink from one or more fields of the check. The criminal can then write his own values into those fields, such as increasing the amount and changing the payee to himself. If done well, there is little that a bank can do to ascertain that a check has been manipulated in such a manner and the bank will likely cash the check, thereby creating a windfall for the criminal at the expense of the innocent check issuer. 
     One way to prevent this type of check washing fraud is to include a security image or pattern on the check that would be altered during the check washing process. It would then be apparent that the check was adulterated by the change to the security image. However, the presence of a visible security image on a check would allow criminals to see it, which could potentially aid them in defeating the security measure. However, a security image that is invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen with special equipment would allow banks to determine if a check has been adulterated without the criminals noticing the security feature. This would allow check washing fraud to be readily detected while also creating a greater deterrent effect against this type of fraud. 
     An invisible security image can be printed on a check using fugitive invisible ink that will run when the check is adulterated using solvents or other methods of check washing. This invisible ink can be printed on particular areas of a check, such as the payee and dollar amount fields, in an image or a geometric pattern. The check can then be viewed with special equipment that allows the invisible ink to be seen to determine if one or more of the fields of the check have been adulterated. If the geometric pattern of the invisible ink has been changed, it will be apparent that the check has been attacked via some manner of check washing and appropriate action can be taken. This security ink can also be used in critical areas of other documents with fillable fields such as IDs, prescriptions, applications, certificates, visas, etc. 
     One way to create this security ink is to mix luminescent particles or taggants into the ink. Taggants that have luminescent properties emit light at a particular wavelength (the emission wavelength of the taggant) when they are illuminated by light at another particular wavelength (the excitation wavelength of the taggant). Once these taggants are mixed with ink, the ink will have the same luminescent properties as the taggants therein. 
     Example methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture disclosed herein provide a method of determining if a check or other document has been subject to check washing or otherwise adulterated. In examples disclosed herein, inorganic ceramic particles (taggants) with a particle size of less than one micron are mixed with a clear, dye-based ink. In examples disclosed herein, this ink is printed on key areas of a check or other secure document in a particular geometric pattern. In examples disclosed herein, the check or other security document is then viewed with a camera device that illuminates the document with light at the excitation wavelength of the taggant and detects light at the emission wavelength of the taggant. In examples disclosed herein, if the geometric pattern originally printed on the document is viewable in its original form, it can be concluded that the document has not been adulterated. In examples disclosed herein, if the geometric pattern is missing or distorted, it can be determined that the document has been adulterated. 
       FIG. 1  is diagram of a blank check  100 . The blank check  100  contains a payee field  102 , a date field  104 , a numeric amount field  106 , a written amount field  108 , a memo field  110  and a signature field  112 . Each of these fields are filled out by the person writing the check. However, if a nefarious party apprehends the check  100  after these various fields are filled out but before the check  100  is cleared by a bank, one or more of the fields can be erased by washing the check with acetone or another solvent. The individual who washed the check can then rewrite the payee field  102  to themselves and increase the amount field  106  in order to defraud the check writer of a significant sum of money. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of a check  200  that contains invisible luminescent protection in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. In the example of  FIG. 2 , fields  202 ,  204  and  206  of the check  200  are printed over with invisible security ink. In some examples, other fields of the check  200  may be printed with invisible security ink. The invisible security ink used to print over fields  202 ,  204  and  206  of  FIG. 2  consists of clear, dye-based ink mixed with taggant. The taggant mixed with the dye-based ink consists of inorganic, ceramic particles with a mean diameter of less than one micron that are invisible to the naked eye. These inorganic, ceramic particles have luminescent properties such that when they are illuminated with light at one wavelength (the excitation wavelength of the taggant), they emit light at another wavelength (the emission wavelength of the taggant). Therefore, the taggant printed in fields  202 ,  204  and  206  of check  200  can be detected by illuminating those fields with light at the taggant&#39;s excitation wavelength and detecting the light emitted at the taggant&#39;s emission wavelength. 
     In the example of  FIG. 2 , invisible security ink is printed in fields  202 ,  204  and  206  in a particular geometric pattern. In some examples, the security ink may be printed in other patterns or images. Because the security ink is clear and the taggant is not visible to the naked eye, the security ink patterns  202 ,  204  and  206  of  FIG. 2  will not be visible without special equipment and a check marked with security ink will not look any different than a check that is not so marked. Thus, a potential perpetrator of check fraud will not know of the presence of the security ink. Also, the example fields  202 ,  204  and  206  of the check will appear blank along with all other fields of the check so that an individual using the check can fill out all of the fields as normal. If the perpetrator later washes the check to remove the payee name, the dollar amount or any other data filled in on the check, the dye-based invisible security ink will be washed as well. Using a detection device, a bank employee can then illuminate the check with light at the taggant&#39;s excitation wavelength and view the luminescent emission at the taggant&#39;s emission wavelength to view the invisible security ink pattern. If the geometric pattern has been distorted or removed, the bank employee will know that the check has been adulterated and can take appropriate action. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a system  300  for implementing invisible protection for checks. The example of  FIG. 3  includes an imager  302  and a sample  314 . The example imager  302  includes a display  304 , an illuminating source  306 , a photo element  308 , a filter  310  and a controller  312 . 
     The example display  304  displays an image of the invisible ink pattern printed on the example sample  314 . The example display  304  receives input from the example controller  312  with the information of what image to display. 
     The example illuminating source  306  illuminates the example sample  314  with light at the excitation wavelength of the taggant in the invisible security ink printed on the sample  314 . In the illustrated example, the illuminating source  306  is an array of light emitting diodes such that their illumination covers the entire area of the sample  314 . In other examples, the illuminating source  306  may be one or more lasers or any other device or combination of devices capable of emitting light at the appropriate wavelength to illuminate the sample  314 . In some examples, the illuminating source  306  only illuminates certain portions of the sample  314 . 
     The example photo element  308  detects light emitted by the sample  314  at the excitation wavelength of the taggant contained in the invisible security ink printed on the example sample  212 . In the illustrated example, the photo element  308  is a camera capable of detecting light at the emission wavelength of the taggant. In other examples, the photo element  308  may be any device capable of detecting light at the appropriate wavelength. 
     The example filter  310  allows light at the emission wavelength of the taggant in the sample  314  to pass but blocks light at other wavelengths. This ensures that the photo element  308  only detects light at the appropriate emission wavelength and that the display only displays the image or pattern printed on the sample  314  with the invisible security ink. The example filter  310  ensures that no light from the example illuminating source  306  or any other ambient light is detected by the example photo element  308 . 
     The sample  314  is a document or physical device on which a pattern or image is printed with invisible security ink containing taggant. In the illustrated example, the sample  314  is a bank check. In some examples, the sample  314  may be another security document with fillable fields such as a passport or government form. In other examples, the sample  314  may be any document or device with security ink containing taggant printed on it. 
     While an example system for implementing invisible protection for checks has been illustrated in  FIG. 3 , one or more of the elements, processes and/or devices illustrated in  FIG. 3  may be combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way. Further, the example imager  302 , the example display  304 , the example illuminating source  306 , the example photo element  308 , the example filter  310 , the example controller  312 , the example sample  314  and/or, more generally, the example system for implementing invisible protection for checks may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of the example imager  302 , the example display  304 , the example illuminating source  306 , the example photo element  308 , the example filter  310 , the example controller  312 , the example sample  314  and/or, more generally, the example system for implementing invisible protection for checks could be implemented by one or more circuit(s), programmable processor(s), application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)), microprocessor(s), hardware processor(s), and/or field programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)), etc. When any of the system or apparatus claims of this patent are read to cover a purely software and/or firmware implementation, at least one of the example imager  302 , the example display  304 , the example illuminating source  306 , the example photo element  308 , the example filter  310 , the example controller  312 , the example sample  314  and/or, more generally, the example system for implementing invisible protection for checks is hereby expressly defined to include a tangible computer readable storage medium such as a memory, DVD, CD, Blu-ray, etc. storing the software and/or firmware. Further still, the example imager  302 , the example display  304 , the example illuminating source  306 , the example photo element  308 , the example filter  310 , the example controller  312 , the example sample  314  and/or, more generally, the example system for implementing invisible protection for checks may include more than one of any or all of the illustrated elements, processes and devices. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions for implementing the example system  300  of  FIG. 3 . In the example flowchart of  FIG. 4 , the machine readable instructions comprise program(s) for execution by a processor such as the processor  512  shown in the example computer  500  discussed below in connection with  FIG. 5 . The program(s) may be embodied in software stored on a tangible computer readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a flash drive, a hard drive, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a Blu-ray disk, or a memory associated with the processor  512 , but the entire program and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executed by a device other than the processor  512  and/or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware. Further, although the example program(s) is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in  FIG. 4 , many other methods of implementing the example system  300  of  FIG. 3  may alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated, or combined. 
     As mentioned above, the example processes of  FIG. 4  may be implemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer readable instructions) stored on a tangible computer readable storage medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a cache, a random-access memory (RAM) and/or any other storage media in which information is stored for any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, brief instances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the information). As used herein, the term tangible computer readable storage medium is expressly defined to include any type of computer readable storage device and/or disk and to exclude propagating signals. Additionally or alternatively, the example processes of  FIG. 4  may be implemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer readable instructions) stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a cache, a random-access memory and/or any other storage media in which information is stored for any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, brief instances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the information). As used herein, the term non-transitory computer readable storage medium is expressly defined to include any type of computer readable storage device and/or disk and to exclude propagating signals. As used herein, when the phrase “at least” is used as the transition term in a preamble of a claim, it is open-ended in the same manner as the term “comprising” is open ended. Thus, a claim using “at least” as the transition term in its preamble may include elements in addition to those expressly recited in the claim. 
       FIG. 4  begins when the example illuminating source  306  illuminates the example sample  314  with light at a wavelength equal to the excitation wavelength of the taggant contained in the security ink that is printed on the sample  314  (block  402 ). In the illustrated example, the excitation wavelength of the taggant is in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. In other examples, the taggant may have an excitation wavelength in other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. In the illustrated example, the sample  314  is a check and the illuminating source  306  illuminates the entire sample  314 . In other examples, the sample  314  may be another item or document and the illuminating source  306  may only illuminate certain portions of the sample  314 . 
     When the example illuminating source  306  illuminates the example sample  314  with light at the appropriate wavelength, the taggant in the sample  314  emits a luminescent response at the taggant&#39;s emission wavelength. In the illustrated example, the taggant&#39;s emission wavelength is in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. In other examples, the taggant may have an emission wavelength in other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The luminescent emission of the taggant in the example sample  314  passes through the example filter  310  and illuminates the example photo element  308 . The example photo element  308  then captures an image of the taggant printed on the example sample  314  from the light that is emitted by the sample  314  (block  404 ). 
     After the example photo element  308  captures an image of the taggant printed on the example sample  314 , the example controller  312  causes the image to be displayed on the example display  304  (block  406 ). This allows a user of the example imager  302  to view the invisible security ink pattern printed on the example sample  314 . 
     After the image captured from the example sample  314  is displayed on the example display  304  (block  406 ), the displayed image is compared against the known invisible security ink pattern printed on the example sample  314  (block  408 ). In the illustrated example, a user of the imager  302  compares the displayed image to the known pattern printed on the sample  314  with security ink. In some examples, the controller  312  automatically compares the known pattern printed on the sample  314  to the image detected by the photo element  308  using image processing software. A determination as to whether the sample has been adulterated can be determined based upon this comparison. If the image detected by the example photo element  308  is substantially the same as the known image printed on the example sample  314 , it can be determined that the sample  314  has not been adulterated. If the image detected by the example photo element  308  is substantially different from the known image printed on the example sample  314 , it can be determined that the sample has been altered. The example of  FIG. 4  then ends. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a processor platform  500  capable of executing the instructions of  FIG. 4  to implement the example system for implementing invisible check protection  100  of  FIG. 1 . The processor platform  500  can be, for example, a server, a personal computer, an Internet appliance, a DVD player, a CD player, a Blu-ray player, a gaming console, a personal video recorder, a smart phone, a tablet, a printer, or any other type of computing device. 
     The processor platform  500  of the instant example includes a processor  512 . As used herein, the term “processor” refers to a logic circuit capable of executing machine readable instructions. For example, the processor  512  can be implemented by one or more microprocessors or controllers from any desired family or manufacturer. 
     The processor  512  includes a local memory  513  (e.g., a cache) and is in communication with a main memory including a volatile memory  514  and a non-volatile memory  516  via a bus  518 . The volatile memory  514  may be implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM) and/or any other type of random access memory device. The non-volatile memory  516  may be implemented by flash memory and/or any other desired type of memory device. Access to the main memory  514 ,  516  is controlled by a memory controller. 
     The processor platform  500  also includes an interface circuit  520 . The interface circuit  520  may be implemented by any type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB), and/or a PCI express interface. 
     One or more input devices  522  are connected to the interface circuit  520 . The input device(s)  522  permit a user to enter data and commands into the processor  512 . The input device(s) can be implemented by, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball, isopoint and/or a voice recognition system. 
     One or more output devices  524  are also connected to the interface circuit  520 . The output devices  524  can be implemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube display (CRT), a printer and/or speakers). The interface circuit  520 , thus, typically includes a graphics driver card. 
     The interface circuit  520  also includes a communication device such as a modem or network interface card to facilitate exchange of data with external computers via a network  526  (e.g., an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL), a telephone line, coaxial cable, a cellular telephone system, etc.). 
     The processor platform  500  also includes one or more mass storage devices  528  for storing software and data. Examples of such mass storage devices  528  include floppy disk drives, hard drive disks, compact disk drives and digital versatile disk (DVD) drives. 
     The coded instructions  532  of  FIG. 5  may be stored in the mass storage device  528 , in the volatile memory  514 , in the non-volatile memory  516 , and/or on a removable storage medium such as a CD or DVD. 
     Although certain example apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture have been disclosed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent.