Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-18
2002-12-03
Trieu, Van (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S572100, C369S275100, C524S360000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06489892
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
These teachings relate to providing authentication of objects and evidence of tampering with a package containing an object.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known that certain items, for example CD-ROMS and DVDs, are susceptible to unauthorized copying. With currently available equipment it is possible to make copies of these and other objects that are indiscernible from those produced by the original manufacturer. It is also possible to open certain products, use them and then to return them to their packaging, or reseal them such that such unauthorized use is undetectable.
It would be desirable when distributing an object to provide a mechanism for verifying the integrity of the object. For the purposes of these teachings, integrity is defined as including the authenticity of the object andlor an indication that packaging for the object has not been opened prior to being opened by an authorized user, such as a purchaser of the object.
For example, a company that sells computer software will find it advantageous to provide to the purchaser an indication that the company itself has manufactured the computer software media as opposed to a counterfeiter. In addition, that same company would also find it advantageous to provide an indication to the purchaser that the packaging of the software has not been opened.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a first object and advantage of these teachings to provide a system and process for verifying the integrity of an object.
It is another object and advantage of these teachings to verify the integrity of an object utilizing an evaporative technique to manifest a detectable indicator of integrity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method and apparatus for verifying the integrity of an object includes providing an authentic object with a layer that includes a volatile component and at least one other component, packaging the object so as to prevent a loss of the volatile component, opening the packaging causing the removal of at least some of the volatile component, and causing a color change with the remaining component for providing a visual indicator of the integrity of the object. A barrier layer may be provided to control the removal of the volatile component, and at least one chromophore may be provided to bias the first layer so as to reduce an amount of time required before the color change is detectable.
The object may be gaming token, and the visual indicator may provide information related to the use of the gaming token, as well as the authenticity of the gaming token.
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Harrington & Smith ,LLP
Spectra Systems Corporation
Trieu Van
LandOfFree
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