Novel Autonomous Anticounterfeiting Optoelectronic Personal Authentication System (OPAS) Based on Phase Mask Applique

Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop an Optoelectronic Personal Authentication (OPAS) system using optical processing and unique phase masks which prevent counterfeiting. The OPAS system architecture is based on a recent Air Force patent application of Dr. Joe Horner of Rome Laboratory, which is related to a Joint Transform Correlator. The phase masks will be fabricated using POC's proprietary volume and surface relief materials and recording technology, and will involve new phase compensation techniques, which are critical for coherent optical processing. Because of its simplicity and promise for a high confidence level for security applications, the proposed OPAS is extremely well suited to practical applications, and can produce the next generation in authentication systems with greatly improved performance and lower costs. The master phase mask that will be developed in Phase I is impossible to copy or replicate without the absolute knowledge of the code, because phase structures cannot be decoded. The entire OPA system will be realized in Phase II as a pre-production prototype. The resulting OPAS will have many dual-use applications, ranging from government security systems to automatic banking, and widespread verification ID verifications.