Method and system for optical product authentication

A method for optical product authentication, comprising:

• obtaining an arrangement of particles distributed randomly in at least one of a film, a label, or a coating;
• capturing with a camera one or more recognition images of the particles;
• compensating for imaging-related deviations between the one or more recognition images and at least one reference image of the particles;
• comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image;
• determining, based on the comparison, that the one or more recognition images correspond to the at least one reference image;
• and
• displaying, in response to the determination, an indication of a positive authentication,
• wherein at least one of:
• the at least one reference image comprises at least two reference images of the particles recorded from defined, differing camera perspectives;
• comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image comprises obtaining image coordinates of the particles in the one or more recognition images;
• capturing the one or more recognition images comprises measuring a tilt angle between an optical axis of the camera and a gravitational axis;
• or
• the at least one reference image is stored in a database and comprises at least two reference images or two or more reference keys calculated for the at least one reference image.

A system for optical authentication, the system comprising:

• an arrangement of particles distributed randomly in at least one of a film, a label, or a coating;
• a registration system for obtaining at least one reference image of the particles;
• and
• an authentication system comprising:
• a camera for capturing one or more recognition images of the particles;
• at least one computer processor programmed to perform operations comprising:
• compensating for imaging-related deviations between the one or more recognition images and the at least one reference image of the particles;
• comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image;
• and
• determining, based on the comparison, that the one or more recognition images correspond to the at least one reference image;
• and
• a display for displaying, in response to the determination, an indication of a positive authentication,
• wherein at least one of:
• the at least one reference image comprises at least two reference images of the particles recorded from defined, differing camera perspectives;
• comparing the one or more recognition images with the at least one reference image comprises obtaining image coordinates of the particles in the one or more recognition images;
• capturing the one or more recognition images comprises measuring a tilt angle between an optical axis of the camera and a gravitational axis;
• or
• the at least one reference image is stored in a database and comprises at least two reference images or two or more reference keys calculated for the at least one reference image.