Embedding Information in 3D Printed Objects Using Double Layered near Infrared Fluorescent Dye

Abstract—This paper provides a novel technique to embed high-density information in objects fabricated with a 3D printer using a near infrared fluorescent dye. Regions containing a small amount of fluorescent dye are formed inside the object as it is fabricated to embed information inside an object, and these regions form a pattern that expresses certain information. When this object is irradiated with near-infrared rays, they pass through the resin but are partly absorbed by the dye, and it emits near-infrared fluorescence. Therefore, by using a near-infrared camera, the internal pattern can be captured as a high-contrast image, and the embedded information can be nondestructively read out. This paper presents a technique of forming internal patterns at two different depths to double the amount of embedded information. We can know the depth of the patterns from the image because the profile of the brightness of the captured image of the patterns depends on its depth. Using these profiles enables doubling the amount of embedded information. Experiments we conducted demonstrate the feasibility of this technique.

Index Terms—3D printer, information hiding, near infrared light, fluorescent dye.

Piyarat Silapasuphakornwong, Hideyuki Torii , and Kazutake Uehira are with the Human Media Research Center, Kanagawa Institute of Technology, Atsugi, Japan (e-mail: silpiyarat@gmail.com, torii@nw.kanagawa-it.ac.jp, uehira@nw.kanagawa-it.ac.jp).
Apisara Funsian, Kewalee Asawapithulsert, and Tattawat Sermpong are with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (e-mail: aimfunsian @hotmail.com, kewalee.asa@gmail.com, tattawat@hotmail.com).

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Cite: Piyarat Silapasuphakornwong, Hideyuki Torii, Kazutake Uehira, Apisara Funsian, Kewalee Asawapithulsert, and Tattawat Sermpong, "Embedding Information in 3D Printed Objects Using Double Layered near Infrared Fluorescent Dye," International Journal of Materials, Mechanics and Manufacturing vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 230-234, 2019.

Copyright © 2019 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).