System for authenticating an object

Abstract

A system for authenticating an object (12) includes an object having fluorescent indicia (14), wherein the indicia includes at least two different types of particles which fluoresce upon exposure to light (15) and which have different decay rates, a lamp (32) for exposing the indicia to light and causing the plurality of particles to fluoresce, a sensor (22) for capturing at least a first image of the indicia at a first time and a second image of the indicia at a second time different from the first time, means for analyzing the images to determine decay rates of the at least two types of particles, and means for authenticating the object if the decay rates match stored information.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.