PFI:AIR - TT: Complete Print-Read-Decode Prototype for RGB Upconverting Inks

该PFI：AIR技术转换项目的重点是将我们新开发的上转换油墨和相关的打印技术转化为一个完整的系统，用于打印、阅读和解码隐藏标记，这些标记在近红外（NIR）光激发下显示完整的红绿蓝（RGB）加色上转换发光。 该系统将构成一种新的防伪和认证技术，以满足打击广泛行业中令人震惊的假冒和知识产权损失的需要。 该项目将产生一个完整的RGB上转换墨水打印-读取-解码系统的原型。 该打印-读取-解码系统将具有以下独特特征：它将基于用负责上转换发光的纳米晶体激活的墨水;隐蔽标记在环境和UV照明下不可见，并且仅在NIR光下变得可见;它将基于唯一已知的打印系统，该打印系统被证明使用上转换发光来填充RGB颜色空间;它将是一个闭环系统，其中整个系统，从打印到编码，再到阅读和解码，将包括在一个系统内。与领先的竞争安全油墨和标记系统相比，这些特征提供了优势，因为伪造的难度增加。具体地说，复制的能力不仅需要复制油墨（其本质上难以复制），而且需要复制整个系统。该项目解决了以下技术差距，因为它从研究发现转化为商业应用，开发一个网络功能的综合阅读器;并适应当前的油墨配方，以适应行业友好的设备和工艺。 该项目与位于南达科他州布鲁金斯的中西部Micro-Tek公司合作，以增强其研究能力，并为这项技术转化工作提供合适的测试环境。RGB上转换油墨的打印-读取-解码原型非常重要，因为假冒商品每年使美国企业损失2000 - 2500亿美元，并直接导致75万美国人失业。除了美元成本，假药已被证明是对公共健康和安全的威胁。假冒集成电路和电子元件对国防系统的全部功能构成威胁。此外，20亿美元的大规模序列化跟踪市场的经济影响预计将在不到三年的时间内扩大到750亿美元。打击假冒伪劣的成功需要多种创新方法;单一的市场主导型防伪技术似乎是不现实的，甚至是危险的。如果拟议中的系统在三年内仅占预测市场的1%，经济影响将达到7.5亿美元。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating our newly-developed upconversion inks and associated printing techniques into a complete system for printing, reading, and decoding covert markings that exhibit full red-green-blue (RGB) additive color upconversion luminescence upon excitation with near-infrared (NIR) light. This system will constitute a new anti-counterfeiting and authentication technology to fill the need for fighting the staggering counterfeiting and intellectual-property losses suffered across a broad range of industries. The project will result in a prototype of a complete Print-Read-Decode system for RGB upconverting inks. This Print-Read-Decode system will have the following unique features: it will be based on inks activated with nanocrystals which are responsible for the upconversion luminescence; the covert markings are invisible under ambient and UV lighting, and only become visible under NIR light; it will be based on the only known print system demonstrated to fill the RGB color space using upconversion luminescence; and it will be a closed-loop system, in which the entire system, from printing, to encoding, to reading and decoding will be included within one system. These features provide advantages when compared to the leading competing security inks and marking systems due to increased difficulty to counterfeit. Specifically, the ability to replicate would require reproduction of not only the inks (which are intrinsically difficult to reproduce), but of the entire system. This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application, the development of a cyber-enabled, integrated reader; and adaptation of the current ink formulations to accommodate industry-friendly equipment and processes. The project engages Midwest Micro-Tek in Brookings, SD to augment its research capabilities and to provide a suitable test environment in this technology translation effort.The Print-Read-Decode prototype for RGB upconverting inks is important because counterfeit goods cost U.S. businesses $200-$250 billion annually, and are directly responsible for the loss of 750,000 American jobs. Beyond the dollar costs, counterfeit drugs are a proven danger to public health and safety. Counterfeit integrated circuits and electronic components are a threat to the full functionality of national defense systems. In addition, the economic impact of the $2 billion mass serialization track-and-trace market is predicted to expand to $75 billion in less than three years. Success in combating counterfeiting will require numerous creative approaches; a single market-dominant anti-counterfeiting technology seems unrealistic and even dangerous. If the proposed system captures a mere one percent of the predicted market within three years, the economic impact would be $750,000,000.