摘要:
Self-cleaning banknotes are provided using coatings, inks and additives which are photo-active and catalytic to reactions which are effective in breaking up organic contaminants or dirt to allow for the self-cleaning of banknotes by ambient light exposure as well as the cleaning of processed banknotes using equipment with more intense optical excitation, thus increasing their usable life. The invention is usable with all substrates and particularly polymeric substrates such as biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP). The invention further discloses a system which allows a certain class of fitness parameters to cause these banknotes to be redirected to a cleaning module, be revaluated, and then either returned to circulation or rejected and/or destroyed. In addition, inks which are photo-catalytic can be used for extending the life of the banknotes in printed regions.
摘要:
A method and system for cleaning a secure instrument, such as a banknote, including a substrate, visual data and a security feature, including exposing the secure instrument to a supercritical fluid at a temperature and a pressure and for a duration sufficient to clean the substrate and not compromise the security feature and the visual data, wherein to clean the substrate includes to remove one or more substances from the substrate into the supercritical fluid. The substances removed from the substrate may include contaminants, dirt, sebum and pathogens.
摘要:
A method of using a dye sensitized solar cell includes providing a dye sensitized solar cell having a first electrode having a transparent substrate of a first refractive index, a second electrode having a second transparent substrate of a second refractive index comparable to the first refractive index, and an electrolyte solution in a gap between the first electrode and second electrode. The electrolyte solution is removed from the gap and replaced with an inert fluid having a third refractive index comparable to the first refractive index and the second refractive index to allow light to pass through the cell substantially unrefracted. Alternatively, the inert fluid is in the gap between the first electrode and second electrode, and the inert fluid is removed from the gap and replaced with an electrolyte solution.
摘要:
Robust composite materials containing nanoscale antennae for molecules are used in the up-conversion process. Antennae can be used to locally enhance the electric fields near an upconverting phosphor or material to enhance both absorption of energy, such as with a television or radio receiver, and emission of energy, such as by the transmitter at the radio station.
摘要:
A magnetically addressable bistable film includes a polymeric substrate impregnated with polymeric microcapsules that contain liquid-suspended magnetically orientable or magnetophoretic material. The material is subject to reorientation either in the plane or perpendicular to the plane of the film, as well to forces of attraction, due to an external magnetic field. The two states provide sufficient difference in light reflectivity to create visible contrast by addressing the film locally, either on a pixel-by-pixel basis or by spatially patterning the driving magnetic field itself. The congregation of magnetophoretic materials in one portion of the microcapsule may also provide sufficient difference in light reflectivity to create visible contrast.
摘要:
A marking system that includes forming at least one marking in or on an article, wherein the image formed is not visible to the unaided human observer, and further contains at least one digital watermark. The digitally watermarked image comprises emissive and photoabsorptive portions. The digitally watermarked image is applied using a substance reactive to a predetermined excitation source, and exposure to ultraviolet light. Other traditional techniques, such as printing with fluorescent inks may be used in combination. The digitally watermarked image is subsequently observable upon exposure to the predetermined excitation source. The digitally watermarked image may be observed and decoded by appropriately configured detection systems, wherein the information obtained may be used for purposes including, but not limited to, authentication and security of the article or information contained within the article.
摘要:
Systems and methods for using microscopic capsules containing orientable materials for document security and processing applications are presented. A security application comprising a medium having a substrate and a plurality of microcapsules is disclosed. The microcapsules contain magnetically orientable material and a liquid. The magnetically orientable material is oriented in a first alignment. Application of a magnetic field to the medium orients the magnetically orientable material to a second alignment, thereby altering the opacity of the medium. Magnetic material may also be dragged into a concentrated arrangement by a magnetic field, thereby altering the opacity of the medium.
摘要:
A film for surface enhanced raman scattering may be utilized for chemical and biological sensing. The film includes a polymeric layer, and a metallic nanoparticle having a cross-section, the metallic nanoparticle being embedded in the polymeric layer. The polymeric layer has a thickness less than a largest straight line through the cross-section of said metallic nanoparticle. The polymeric layer is selected from a group of absorbing media and amplifying media, and the metallic nanoparticle may be gold. The metallic nanoparticle may also be a shape selected from a group of spheroids and rods.
摘要:
A marking system that includes forming at least one marking in or on an article, wherein the image formed is not visible to the unaided human observer, and further contains at least one digital watermark. The digitally watermarked image comprises emissive and photoabsorptive portions. The digitally watermarked image is applied using a substance reactive to a predetermined excitation source, and exposure to ultraviolet light. Other traditional techniques, such as printing with fluorescent inks may be used in combination. The digitally watermarked image is subsequently observable upon exposure to the predetermined excitation source. The digitally watermarked image may be observed and decoded by appropriately configured detection systems, wherein the information obtained may be used for purposes including, but not limited to, authentication and security of the article or information contained within the article.
摘要:
This invention teaches an optical source (10) for performing photomedicine. The optical source includes a Nd:YLF laser (12) having an output providing light having a wavelength of 1.053 micrometers; a frequency doubler (13) that is optically coupled to the laser output for converting a portion of the light to frequency doubled light, the frequency doubler having an output providing frequency doubled light having a wavelength of 526.5 nm; and, coupled to the output of the frequency doubler, a unit (14) for shifting the frequency doubled light to light having a wavelength of about 630 nm. In a presently preferred embodiment of this invention the shifting unit includes a device for performing stimulated Raman scattering of the frequency doubled light for creating the third Stokes line at 630.1 nm. The device includes a crystal comprised of a R.sub.x (MO.sub.3).sub.y compound and means for establishing a multi-pass or resonant cavity optical configuration through the crystal. By example, the crystal is comprised of one of Ba(NO.sub.3).sub.2, KNO.sub.3, Ca(O.sub.3), Pb(NO.sub.3).sub.2, and NaNO.sub.3.