Authenticity verification methods, products and apparatuses

A method of identifying an article made of paper or cardboard, comprising:

• exposing the paper or cardboard to coherent radiation, the coherent radiation sequentially directed onto each of a plurality of different regions;
• collecting a set comprising groups of data points that measure scatter of the coherent radiation from intrinsic structure of the paper or cardboard, each group corresponding to a respective different region of the article, wherein each respective group of data points is measured with a plurality of detector elements angularly distributed and operable to collect the respective group of data points when the coherent radiation scatters from a respective region of the paper or cardboard;
• and
• determining a signature of the article from the set of groups of data points.

A method of identifying an article made of plastic, comprising:

• exposing the plastic to coherent radiation, the coherent radiation sequentially directed onto each of a plurality of different regions;
• collecting a set comprising groups of data points that measure scatter of the coherent radiation from intrinsic structure of the plastic, each group corresponding to a respective different region of the article, wherein each respective group of data points is measured with a plurality of detector elements angularly distributed and operable to collect the respective group of data points when the coherent radiation scatters from a respective region of the plastic;
• and
• determining a signature of the article from the set of groups of data points.

A method of identifying a product by its packaging, comprising:

• exposing the packaging of the product to coherent radiation, the coherent radiation sequentially directed onto each of a plurality of different regions;
• collecting a set comprising groups of data points that measure scatter of the coherent radiation from intrinsic structure of the packaging, each group corresponding to a respective different region of the packaging, wherein each respective group of data points is measured with a plurality of detector elements angularly distributed and operable to collect the respective group of data points when the coherent radiation scatters from a respective region of the packaging;
• and
• determining a signature of the product from the set of groups of data points.

A method of identifying a document, comprising:

• exposing the document to coherent radiation, the coherent radiation sequentially directed onto each of a plurality of different regions;
• collecting a set comprising groups of data points that measure scatter of the coherent radiation from intrinsic structure of the document, each group corresponding to a respective different region of the document, wherein each respective group of data points is measured with a plurality of detector elements angularly distributed and operable to collect the respective group of data points when the coherent radiation scatters from a respective region of the document;
• and
• determining a signature of the document from the set of groups of data points.

A method of identifying an item of clothing or footwear by a tag secured thereto, comprising:

• exposing the tag to coherent radiation, the coherent radiation sequentially directed onto each of a plurality of different regions;
• collecting a set comprising groups of data points that measure scatter of the coherent radiation from intrinsic structure of the tag, each group corresponding to a respective different region of the tag, wherein each respective group of data points is measured with a plurality of detector elements angularly distributed and operable to collect the respective group of data points when the coherent radiation scatters from a respective region of the tag;
• and
• determining a signature of the tag from the set of groups of data points.