Patent ID: 8715725

Claim:
A pharmaceutical tablet, comprising a surface defined by a single pressed mixture of at least one powdered or granulated ingredient, one or more predetermined three-dimensional structures on the surface, a contrast structure associated with the at least one predetermined three dimensional structure, and an optically transparent coating on the surface and covering said one or more predetermined structures, wherein said predetermined structures are visible to the unaided eye and wherein said predetermined structures are detectable by an optical detection device measuring depth through said coating, wherein said predetermined structures are embossed into the surface of the tablet such that the predetermined structures are defined by the surface defined by the single pressed mixture, and wherein said predetermined structures and said contrast structure are simultaneously formed by embossing the surface of the tablet such that said predetermined structures and said contrast structure are defined by the surface defined by the single pressed mixture, and wherein said predetermined structures and said contrast structure define relative dimensions to provide a macro/micro relationship, said predetermined structures having features defining a depth ranging from about 2 microns up to 500 microns and a transverse dimension ranging from about 30 microns up to 500 microns, and said contrast structure having features defining a depth and a transverse dimension, each of which is smaller than the depth and the transverse dimension, respectively, of the features of said predetermined structures.