Method and apparatus for reading and verifying holograms

A security label for storing encrypted information comprising;

• a transparent or semi-transparent holographic image that produces a series of diffraction patterns as the holographic image is moved through a scanner having a collimated light source that illuminates the holographic image,
• a substrate having a first portion over which the holographic image is placed, the first portion of the substrate including a plurality of fluorescent marks that emit a series of spectrum lines when the first portion of the substrate is illuminated by the collimated light as the holographic image is moved through the scanner;
• and
• a second portion of the substrate that stores encrypted information, the encrypted information including a representation for the location of a series of spectrum lines emitted from the fluorescent material relative to the location of a series of patterns of diffracted light, the series of spectrum lines and patterns of diffracted light being produced when the holographic image and substrate having fluorescent marks are moved through the scanner.

A forensic method for validating a security label having a holographic image and fluorescent marks, comprising:

• performing a first scan of a security label at a first site, the label having a holographic image placed over a first portion of a substrate, the first portion of the substrate having a plurality of fluorescent marks disposed thereon;
• storing a series of reference patterns on a computer data base, the reference patterns corresponding to features of a series of diffraction patterns generated from a series of regions of the hologram detected when the label is scanned with a collimated light source during the first scan;
• detecting the location of the florescent marks relative to the features of the diffraction patterns when the security label is scanned;
• encrypting information corresponding to the location of fluorescent marks relative to features of the diffraction patterns determined during the first scan and storing the encrypted information on a second portion of the substrate;
• performing a second scan of the label at a second site, the second scan detecting the location of the series of diffraction patterns relative to the fluorescent marks;
• and
• decrypting the encrypted information on the second portion of the substrate to determine whether the location of the fluorescent marks relative the features of the diffraction patterns detected in the second scan corresponds to the location of the fluorescent marks relative the features of the diffraction patterns determined during the first scan.