# US 10,121,294 B1 · Rapid document detection and identification > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,121,294 B1 - Document ID: US10121294B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/676,518 - Filed: 2017-08-14 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-14 - Assignees: Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp. - Applicants: Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp. - Inventors: John Dishon; Joshua N. Edmison; John-Francis Mergen; Zachary Leuschner; Kerry Wood; Laurie Waisel; Richard Burne; Tyler Shake; Thomas Wilkerson; Jason Fox - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121294B1 ## CPC - G07C 9/20: involving the use of a pass - G06K 19/10: at least one kind of marking being used for authentication, e.g. of credit or identity cards (verification of coded identity or credit cards in mechanisms actuated by them G07F7/12) - G06V 30/414: Extracting the geometrical structure, e.g. layout tree; Block segmentation, e.g. bounding boxes for graphics or text - G07C 9/28: the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract An apparatus, method, and computer program product that intentionally illuminate at least one target item with electromagnetic energy having specific characteristics (e.g., frequency, power, waveform, directionality, duration, etc.). The target item, which may be an unpowered data storage device or secure document, acts as a non-linear mixer and is forced to emit radiative signals containing information about the target item's state and physical characteristics. Embodiments receive the forced emissions, extract useful data, and analyze the data to determine target item characteristics (e.g., a target item type, based on a comparison of data from known types). Embodiments control the illumination so the forced emissions radiate from an enclosure without interfering with tactical communications, and so that stored target item data is not affected. Embodiments can locate a hidden target item via the strength and directionality of the forced emissions. The apparatus is portable for use by military, intelligence, and security personnel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A software defined radio (SDR) system configured for remote detection and analysis of a target item, the system comprising: transmitter circuitry configured to illuminate the target item with radio frequency (RF) or microwave electromagnetic energy, the electromagnetic energy configured to stimulate electromagnetic signals in the target item, the stimulated electromagnetic signals in the target item configured to mix with the transmitted electromagnetic energy to produce forced non-linear emissions that radiate from the target item; receiver circuitry configured to receive the forced non-linear emissions from the target item for a subsequent analysis and evaluation; and the target item, which includes an unpowered resonant security structure comprising conductive ink that increases the forced non-linear emissions to enhance the detection of the target item and to simplify the subsequent analysis and evaluation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising processing circuitry configured to control the electromagnetic energy emitted from a transmitter in the transmitter circuitry, the transmitter configured to control the electromagnetic energy by varying at least one of its frequency, power, waveform, directionality, and duration, to configure a frequency range of the forced non-linear emissions to increase the forced non-linear emissions radiating from an enclosure containing the target item. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising processing circuitry configured to perform the analysis and evaluation, that determines a target item type from among known types by comparing a reference evaluation of a reference item of known type with an in situ evaluation of the target item. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is portable and battery powered. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the target item comprises one of a secure document, a secure container, and a security-related item. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the target item comprises one of a passport, a credit card, a bank check, a gambling chip, a ID badge/cardkey, a smartcard, a deed, a college degree, a software license, a bond, a driver's license, a currency note, a classified report, a confidential report, an artwork, a firearm, a cigarette package, a clothing item, a flash memory device, a computer, a cell phone, an integrated circuit package, a pharmaceutical, and a uniform. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the security structure comprises one of an embedded structure, a structure attached during manufacture of the target item, a pre-printed structure, a stamped structure, and a manually written structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein degradation of the security structure changes the forced non-linear emissions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the security structure comprises at least one of a security strip having an electrically conductive portion, a conductive ink pattern, a security hologram, and a barcode structure having both optical and radio frequency/microwave response patterns. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the security structure is not fully visually apparent. ### Claim 11 A method of remotely detecting and analyzing a target item, the method comprising: illuminating the target item using transmitter circuitry that outputs configured radio frequency (RF) or microwave electromagnetic energy that stimulates electromagnetic signals in the target item, the stimulated electromagnetic signals in the target item configured to mix with the transmitted electromagnetic energy to produce forced non-linear emissions that radiate from the target item; and receiving the forced non-linear emissions from the target item using receiver circuitry for a subsequent analysis and evaluation, wherein the target item includes an unpowered resonant security structure comprising conductive ink that increases the forced non-linear emissions to enhance the detection of the target item and to simplify the subsequent analysis and evaluation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising one of previously embedding the security structure, previously attaching the security structure, previously printing the security structure, stamping the security structure, and manually writing the security structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising changing the forced non-linear emissions by degrading the security structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising analyzing the forced non-linear emissions and other security features of the target item together to authenticate the target item. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a target item type from among known types by comparing a reference evaluation of a reference item of known type with an in situ evaluation of the target item. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by processing circuitry of a software defined radio (SDR) system that remotely detects and analyzes a target item, to configure the SDR to: illuminate the target item using transmitter circuitry that outputs configured radio frequency (RF) or microwave electromagnetic energy that stimulates electromagnetic signals in the target item, the stimulated electromagnetic signals in the target item configured to mix with the transmitted electromagnetic energy to produce forced non-linear emissions that radiate from the target item; and receive the forced non-linear emissions from the target item using receiver circuitry for a subsequent analysis and evaluation, wherein the target item includes an unpowered resonant security structure comprising conductive ink that increases the forced non-linear emissions to enhance the detection of the target item and to simplify the subsequent analysis and evaluation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for requesting one of stamping the security structure and manually writing the security structure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for changing the forced non-linear emissions by degrading the security structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for analyzing the forced non-linear emissions and other security features of the target item together to authenticate the target item. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for determining a target item type from among known types by comparing a reference evaluation of a reference item of known type with an in situ evaluation of the target item.