EP-4736062-A1 - METHOD OF DETERMINING COUPLING OF OBJECTS USING AN IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE

Abstract

There is described a method of determining coupling of objects using an image capturing device (10). The method comprises, by the image capturing device (10): reading (51) a first optically readable security element (21) proximal to a first object (31), and extracting a first identity from the first optically readable security element (21); reading (52) a second optically readable security element (22) proximal to a second object (32), and extracting a second identity from the second optically readable security element (22); calculating S3 a correspondence between the first identity and the second identity that is indicative of coupling of the first object (21) and the second object (22).

Inventors

• HOWARTH, DAVID IAN
• SPEED, Phillip
• YOUNG, ROBERT JAMES

Assignees

• Quantum Base Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240627

Claims (15)

1. 1. A method of determining coupling of objects using an image capturing device, the method comprising, by the image capturing device: reading a first optically readable security element proximal to a first object, and extracting a first identity from the first optically readable security element; reading a second optically readable security element proximal to a second object, and extracting a second identity from the second optically readable security element; calculating a correspondence between the first identity and the second identity that is indicative of coupling of the first object and the second object.
2. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the correspondence comprises: verifying that the first object is coupled to the second object.
3. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein calculating the correspondence comprises: combining the first identity and the second identity to produce a joint identity.
4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein calculating the correspondence comprises: comparing the joint identity to a stored joint identity; and verifying that the first object is coupled to the second object if the joint identity matches the stored joint identity.
5. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein calculating the correspondence comprises: retrieving, from a data storage, the stored joint identity.
6. 6. The method of any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising: transmitting an output signal if the first object is not verified as coupled to the second object.
7. 7. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the reading of the first optically readable security element and the reading of the second optically readable security element is simultaneous in a same field of view.
8. 8. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the first optically readable security element is attached to the first object, and the second optically readable security element is attached to the second object.
9. 9. The method of any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the first identity and the second identity are combined using an exclusive disjunction operation.
10. 10. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising: authenticating at least one of the first optically readable security element and the second optically readable security element based on an optical characteristic thereof.
11. 11 . The method of claim 10, further comprising: extracting the identity of the at least one of the first optically readable security element and the second optically readable security element only if a level of the optical characteristic is within a predetermined range.
12. 12. The method of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first optically readable security element and the second optically readable security the optically readable security element comprise one or more optical emitters arranged to be read via emission radiation emitted from the one or more optical emitters.
13. 13. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first optically readable security element and the second optically readable security optically readable security element comprise one or more optical emitters arranged to be excited by excitation radiation, optionally emitted from the image capturing device.
14. 14. An image capturing device for determining coupling of objects, the image capturing device comprising: a reader configured to read a first optically readable security element proximal to a first object and a second optically readable security element proximal to a second object; and a processor configured to: extract a first identity from the first optically readable security element and a second identity from the second optically readable security element; and calculate a correspondence between the first identity and the second identity that is indicative of coupling of the first object and the second object.
15. 15. A system comprising: a first optically readable security element proximal to a first object, a first identity being extractable from the first optically readable security element; a second optically readable security element proximal to a second object, a second identity being extractable from the second optically readable security element; the first object to which the first optically readable security element is proximal; the second object to which the second optically readable security element is proximal; and a data store configured to store a calculated correspondence between the first identity and the second identity that is indicative of coupling of the first object and the second object.

Description

METHOD OF DETERMINING COUPLING OF OBJECTS USING AN IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a method of determining coupling of objects using an image capturing device and an image capturing device for determining coupling of objects. A related system is also disclosed. BACKGROUND Products may be sold comprising multiple components or with documentation included (e.g., a certificate of authenticity). While conventional security measures (e.g., tagging the product with a security ID) may provide a barrier to, for instance, counterfeit production of a single component of a product, such measures fail to ensure the security of all the parts of the product (i.e., all components or accompanying documentation). For example, if a product tagged with a security ID is sold and that product comprises multiple components, one or more of the components to which the security tag is not attached may be exchanged for counterfeit components that may be made, for instance, using inferior materials. Similar or associated problems arise in relation to objects that are generally coupled (i.e., physically or virtually linked or related) together. While conventional security measures (e.g., tagging an object with a security ID) may provide a barrier to, for instance, counterfeit production of that object, such measures fail to ensure the security of the coupled objects. Hence, there is a desire to provide a method of improving security of all parts of a product and, more generally, coupled objects. SUMMARY It is one aim of the present disclosure, amongst others, to provide a method of determining coupling of objects which at least partially obviates or mitigates at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art, whether identified herein or elsewhere, or to provide an alternative approach. For instance, it is an aim of embodiments of the invention to provide a method that ensures security of a number of (e.g., all of) parts of a product. According to the present invention there is provided a method of determining coupling of objects using an image capturing device and an image capturing device for determining coupling of objects, as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims and the description that follows. According to a first aspect, there is provided a method of determining coupling of objects using an image capturing device. The method comprises, by the image capturing device: reading a first optically readable security element proximal to a first object, and extracting a first identity from the first optically readable security element; reading a second optically readable security element proximal to a second object, and extracting a second identity from the second optically readable security element; calculating a correspondence between the first identity and the second identity that is indicative of coupling of the first object and the second object. Calculating the correspondence may comprise verifying that the first object is coupled to the second object. Calculating the correspondence may comprise combining the first identity and the second identity to produce a joint identity. Calculating the correspondence may comprise comparing the joint identity to a stored joint identity; and verifying that the first object is coupled to the second object if the joint identity matches the stored joint identity. Calculating the correspondence comprise may retrieving, from a data store, the stored joint identity. The method may further comprise transmitting an output signal if the first object is not verified as coupled to the second object. The reading of the first optically readable security element and the reading of the second optically readable security element may be simultaneous in a same field of view. The first optically readable security element may be attached to the first object, and the second optically readable security element may be attached to the second object. The first identity and the second identity may be combined using an exclusive disjunction operation. The method may further comprise authenticating at least one of the first optically readable security element and the second optically readable security element based on an optical characteristic thereof. The method may further comprise extracting the identity of the at least one of the first optically readable security element and the second optically readable security element only if a level of the optical characteristic is within a predetermined range. At least one of the first optically readable security element and the second optically readable security the optically readable security element may comprise one or more optical emitters arranged to be read via emission radiation emitted from the one or more optical emitters. At least one of the first optically readable security element and the second optically readable security optically readable security