Authenticating and authentic article using spectral imaging and analysis

A method for authenticating an authentic article having an authentication mark, comprising the steps of:

• (a) acquiring a set of hyper-spectral images of at least a part of the authentication mark, by using a spectral imaging and analysis system operative according to a hyper-spectral mode of spectral imaging and analysis, said system includes a central programming and control/data/information signal processing unit for acquiring, processing and analyzing, generating, and database storing of, hyper-spectral imaging data and information, said set of hyper-spectral images is stored in a single-authentication mark spectral image data-base of said central programming and signal processing unit;
• (b) forming a set of single-authentication mark hyper-spectral fingerprint data from said set of acquired hyper-spectral images of said hyper-spectrally imaged authentication mark, by using said central programming and signal processing unit, and storing said set of single-authentication mark spectral fingerprint data in a single-authentication mark spectral fingerprint database of said central programming and signal processing unit;
• (c) identifying at least one spectral shift in said set of single-authentication mark hyper-spectral fingerprint data associated with said hyper-spectrally imaged authentication mark, for forming an intra-authentication mark physicochemical region group including a plurality of sub-sets of intra-authentication mark hyper-spectral fingerprint pattern data, such that value of at least one selected data element in each said sub-set is shifted relative to value of each corresponding said data element in each remaining said sub-set in same said intra-authentication mark physicochemical region group, by using said central programming and signal processing unit, and storing said intra-authentication mark physicochemical region group data in a intra-authentication mark physicochemical region group database of said central programming and signal processing unit;
• (d) forming a set of intra-authentication mark physicochemical properties and characteristics data relating to said hyper-spectrally imaged authentication mark, by performing pattern recognition and classification analysis on said intra-authentication mark physicochemical region group of said hyper-spectrally imaged authentication mark, by using said central programming and signal processing unit, and storing said set of intra-authentication mark physicochemical properties and characteristics data in an intra-authentication mark physicochemical properties and characteristics data database of said central programming and signal processing unit;
• and
• (e) comparing and matching values of elements in said set of intra-authentication mark physicochemical properties and characteristics data relating to said hyper-spectrally imaged authentication mark to values of corresponding reference elements in a reference set of intra-authentication mark physicochemical properties and characteristics data of the authentic article, thereby authenticating the authentic article, by using, and storing results thereof in, said central programming and signal processing unit.