Anti-counterfeiting measures for three dimensional objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11001045-B2
Application number	US-201916281453-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2019
Priority date	Feb 9, 2015
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A method and system of producing a three-dimensional object with an anti-counterfeiting measure uses a processor to access a data file including a plurality of parameters for producing a three-dimensional object, wherein the parameters comprise a plurality of structural parameters. The processor may also cause a three dimensional printing device to form the three dimensional object that exhibits the structural parameters by identifying a build material, identifying at least one anti-counterfeiting measure that when included in the 3D object will prevent creation of a digital model of the three-dimensional object by causing the 3D object to obstruct a possible 3D scanning method, and causing the three dimensional printing device to form the three-dimensional object with the anti-counterfeiting measure using the build material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of producing a three-dimensional (3D) object with an anti-counterfeiting measure, the method comprising:
by a processor, accessing a data file comprising a plurality of parameters for producing a 3D object, wherein the parameters comprise a plurality of structural parameters; and
by the processor, causing a 3D printing device to form the 3D object that exhibits the structural parameters by:
identifying a build material,
identifying at least one anti-counterfeiting measure that when included in the 3D object will prevent creation of a digital model of the three-dimensional object by causing the 3D object to obstruct a possible 3D scanning method, and
causing the three dimensional printing device to form the three-dimensional object with the anti-counterfeiting measure using the build material.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, by the processor, identifying one or more concealment parameters that cause the 3D object to exhibit the at least one anti-counterfeiting measure.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the at least one anti-counterfeiting measure comprises identifying the possible 3D scanning method based on at least one of the following:
the structural parameters,
the build material,
a complexity value of the 3D object, or
a monetary value of the 3D object.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the possible 3D scanning method is selected from at least of the following:
x-ray 3D scanning;
laser 3D scanning;
ultrasound 3D scanning;
magnetic resonance imaging 3D scanning; and
contact 3D scanning.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein identifying the possible 3D scanning method based on the build material comprises:
identifying a density value of the build material;
comparing the density value with a threshold value; and
identifying a deep penetrating scanning method as the possible 3D scanning method if the density value is greater than the threshold value, else identifying a surface scanning method as the possible 3D scanning method.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein identifying the possible 3D scanning method based on the complexity value comprises:
retrieving a complexity value of the 3D object from a database;
comparing the complexity value with a threshold value; and
identifying a deep penetrating scanning method as the possible 3D scanning method if the complexity value is greater than the threshold value, else identifying a surface scanning method as the possible 3D scanning method.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein identifying the possible 3D scanning method based on the complexity value comprises:
retrieving a monetary value of the 3D object from a database;
comparing the monetary value with a threshold value; and
identifying an expensive scanning method as the possible 3D scanning method if the monetary value is greater than the threshold value, else identifying a non-expensive scanning method as the possible 3D scanning method.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anti-counterfeiting measure comprises at least one of the following:
including a concealment material within the 3D object; or
imparting a concealment pattern on one or more surfaces of the 3D object.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the concealment material comprises at least one of the following: an ultrasound-shielding material; an ultrasound-absorbing material; a laser-shielding material; a laser-absorbing material; an x-ray shielding material; an x-ray absorbing material; a gamma-ray shielding material; a gamma-ray absorbing material; a ferromagnetic material that, when exposed to a magnetic field from a magnetic resonance imaging system, will cause the 3D object to alter its shape; or a cantilevered mirror.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the concealment pattern comprises a plurality of hooks arranged and positioned to prevent creation of an accurate copy of the 3D object by a contact scanner.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the concealment pattern comprises a pattern that is not visible on the three-dimensional object; and
the concealment pattern is included in a copy of the 3D object such that it indicates to a user that the copy of the 3D object is a counterfeit.

Assignees

• Xerox Corp

Inventors

• Levine Jonathan D
• Pangrazio Iii Donald M
• Vandervort David R
• Eschbach Reiner
• Tsongas Jason C

Classifications

• H04N1/00838 Primary

  Preventing unauthorised reproduction · CPC title

• B33Y10/00 Primary

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title