# US 8,786,839 B2 · Object authentication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,839 B2 - Document ID: US8786839B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/024,074 - Filed: 2013-09-11 - Published: 2014-01-09 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-10-15 - Assignees: Authentix, Inc. - Applicants: Authentix, Inc. - Inventors: Paul J. Cronin; Chester Wildey; Alan K. Hunt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786839B2 ## CPC - H10F 39/80: {Constructional details of image sensors} - H10F 55/25: wherein the radiation-sensitive devices and the electric light source are all semiconductor devices - A61B 5/1172: using fingerprinting - G06V 40/1324: {by using geometrical optics, e.g. using prisms (G06V40/1312 takes precedence)} - G07D 7/1205: Testing spectral properties - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING ## Abstract A device detects multi-spectral imaging by using scan elements. The device may include an illumination module and a detection module to detect light scattered from an object illuminated by the illumination module. The device may also include an array of light sources to produce light at a plurality of different wavelengths, and create a line of illumination with each of the different wavelengths. The light detection may be applied to authenticate and validate documents, such as banknotes moving along a document conveyer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for authenticating an object, comprising: illuminating the object with a plurality of wavelengths of light from a plurality of light-emitting sources; detecting light scattered from the illuminated object with a plurality of photodiodes to create a multi-spectral image of at least a specified portion of the illuminated object, wherein the plurality of light-emitting sources and the plurality of photodiodes are optically coupled such that the plurality of wavelengths of light are simultaneously directed to the plurality of photodiodes; producing a reflectance spectrum from the multi-spectral image, wherein the producing the reflectance spectrum from the multi-spectral image further comprises finding pixels of a specified feature on the object and averaging their intensity values; comparing the reflectance spectrum to a template reflectance spectrum of an authentic object; and determining if the illuminated object is authentic as a function of the comparison. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-spectral image of the illuminated object comprises a plurality of images of the illuminated object, wherein each of the plurality of images represents detected scattered light produced by one of the plurality of light-emitting sources. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the illuminating is performed as a line scan illumination of the object, wherein the line scan illumination is performed as the object moves past the plurality of light-emitting sources. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the plurality of light-emitting sources are configured into a two-dimensional array. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method a recited in claim 4, wherein a first one of the light-emitting sources emits light in a first band of light wavelengths, and wherein a second one of the light-emitting sources emits light in a second band of light wavelengths, wherein the first and second bands are different from each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of photodiodes are arranged in a two-dimensional array. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method as recited in claim 6, wherein a first one of the photodiodes comprises a silicon photodiode, and a second one of the photodiodes comprises an InGaAs photodiode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining if the illuminated object is authentic further comprises determining that the object is a counterfeit when one or more intensity values in the reflectance spectrum is outside of a specified range of acceptable intensity values from the template reflectance spectrum. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each pixel on the specified portion of the object is simultaneously illuminated with more than one of the plurality of light-emitting sources. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the template reflectance spectrum of the authentic object is associated with a portion of the authentic object that spatially corresponds with the specified portion of the illuminated object. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the reflectance spectrum represents intensities of the detected scattered light from at least one spatial position of the illuminated object over the plurality of wavelengths of light resulting from the illumination from the plurality of light emitting sources. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining if the illuminated object is authentic further comprises determining that the object is authentic when a predetermined amount of the reflectance spectrum is within a specified range of the template reflectance spectrum. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the object is a banknote. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of light-emitting sources and the plurality of photodiodes are optically coupled via a multi-lens optical system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the multi-lens optical system comprises a illuminator module comprising a plurality of lenses and a mirror. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the illuminator module collects and mixes the plurality of wavelengths of light from the plurality of light-emitting sources to form a relatively uniform line of light and directs the line of light upon the object. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the multi-lens optical system comprises a detector lens assembly comprising a plurality of lenses. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the detector lens assembly comprising a plurality of doublet lenses. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the detector lens assembly collects the light scattered from the illuminated object and directs the collected light onto the plurality of photodiodes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the detector lens assembly resolves a size of a feature on the object to match a size of the plurality of photodiodes. ### Claim 21 A system for authenticating an object comprising: a scanner configured for scanning at least a portion of the object and creating a reflectance spectrum thereof, wherein the reflectance spectrum is created from a multi-spectral image produced by the scanning of the at least the portion of the object, finding pixels of a specified feature on the object, and averaging their intensity values, wherein the multi-spectral image comprises a plurality of images each representing scattered light produced as a result of illumination by one of a plurality of light-emitting sources in the scanner and detected by a plurality of photodiodes in the scanner; a multi-lens optical system in the scanner for coupling the plurality of light-emitting sources and the plurality of photodiodes such that such that the plurality of wavelengths of light are simultaneously directed to the plurality of photodiodes; circuitry configured for comparing the reflectance spectrum to a template reflectance spectrum of an authentic object; and circuitry configured for determining whether the object is authentic as a function of the comparison.