# US 12,602,762 B2 · Heat-based authentication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,602,762 B2 - Document ID: US12602762B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/447,898 - Filed: 2023-08-10 - Published: 2025-02-13 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2023-08-10 - Assignees: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Applicants: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Inventors: Robert James Norton, Jr.; Robert J. Kapinos; Russell S. VanBlon; Scott Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12602762B2 ## CPC - G06T 7/0004: {Industrial image inspection} - G06T 2207/10048: Infrared image - G06T 2207/30224: Ball; Puck - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for heat-based authentication. An apparatus includes a processor and a memory that stores code that is executable by the processor. The code is executable by the processor to capture a thermal image of an object placed within a heated environment, identify at least one characteristic of the object based on the thermal image, and determine an authenticity of the object based on the at least one characteristic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory that stores code executable by the processor to: capture a thermal image of an object placed within a heated environment that is configured to uniformly heat the object; identify at least one characteristic of the object based on the thermal image, the at least one characteristic comprising a heat-responsive feature that is intentionally incorporated into the object and known prior to capturing the thermal image; and determine an authenticity of the object based on the at least one characteristic by comparing the thermal image to a reference thermal signature previously linked to the object in a secure data structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is executable by the processor to identify the at least one characteristic based on a thermal signature of the object. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a pattern, a predefined indicator, or a combination of both within the thermal signature of the object. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pattern comprises manufacturing indicia that are introduced to the object during manufacturing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the manufacturing indicia comprises void patterns, ridge patterns, bubble patterns, or a combination thereof that are indicative of manufacturing equipment, a manufacturing location, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the predefined indicator comprises a heat sensitive material that is present within the object and is known prior to capturing the thermal image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the heat sensitive material comprises a metal wire that is placed within the object in a predefined pattern. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the code is executable by the processor to compare the thermal signature of the object to a second thermal signature of the object to determine the authenticity of the object. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second thermal signature comprises a previously-determined thermal signature of the object, the previously-determined thermal signature associated with the object in a way that uniquely identifies the object. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the previously-determined thermal signature is associated with the object using a secure database, a blockchain, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a security card that includes heat sensitive material placed within the security card in a predefined pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a collectable item. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an infrared camera for capturing the thermal image of the object. ### Claim 14 A system, comprising: a heated environment; a thermal camera; a processor; a memory that stores code executable by the processor to: capture a thermal image of an object placed within the heated environment, the heated environment configured to uniformly heat the object; identify at least one characteristic of the object based on the thermal image, the at least one characteristic comprising a heat-responsive feature that is intentionally incorporated into the object and known prior to capturing the thermal image; and determine an authenticity of the object based on the at least one characteristic by comparing the thermal image to a reference thermal signature previously linked to the object in a secure data structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the heated environment is configured to raise the temperature of the object to a temperature within a predefined temperature range. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the thermal camera comprises an infrared camera. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the code is executable by the processor to identify the at least one characteristic based on a thermal signature of the object. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a pattern, a predefined indicator, or a combination of both within the thermal signature of the object. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the code is executable by the processor to compare the thermal signature of the object to a second thermal signature of the object to determine the authenticity of the object, the second thermal signature comprising a previously-determined thermal signature of the object that is captured using the heated environment. ### Claim 20 A method comprising: capturing, by a processor, a thermal image of an object placed within a heated environment that is configured to uniformly heat the object; identifying at least one characteristic of the object based on the thermal image, the at least one characteristic comprising a heat-responsive feature that is intentionally incorporated into the object and known prior to capturing the thermal image; and determining an authenticity of the object based on the at least one characteristic by comparing the thermal image to a reference thermal signature previously linked to the object in a secure data structure.