In-line decay-time scanner
First Claim
1. A scanner for determining an intensity profile of luminescence light from a luminescent material moving along a path in a first direction, the luminescent material emitting the luminescence light within a second wavelength range upon illumination with excitation light within a first wavelength range, comprising:
- a power source;
a light source that is connected to the power source and that is operable to illuminate the luminescent material within an illumination area with the excitation light;
a light sensor operable;
to collect luminescence light from the luminescent material during its motion along the path in the first direction across a detection zone,to measure an intensity of the collected luminescence light within the second wavelength range from the luminescent material within the detection zone, andto deliver a luminescence intensity signal, wherein an intensity profile of the collected luminescence light is determinable from a plurality of luminescence intensity signals delivered by the light sensor,wherein said illumination area is at a first location along said path;
said detection zone is at a second location along said path that is downstream of the first location and that extends along a portion of said path;
wherein a responsivity of the light sensor within the second wavelength range is substantially uniform over the detection zone, andwherein the intensity profile from the delivered luminescence intensity signal is determinable upon reception of luminescence light emitted by the luminescent material, which is in response to illumination of the luminescent material within the illumination area with the excitation light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Scanner, method of scanning and system for scanning that allows detecting decay time characteristics of light emitted by a luminescent marking on an item which is transported, even at high speed, on a distribution/production line. The detection zone of the scanner'"'"'s light sensor has a shape elongated along a path of the moving item, and the responsivity of the light sensor, within the wavelength range of the emitted luminescence light, is uniform over the detection zone. The drive current, or drive voltage, powering the excitation light source is adapted to deliver the intensity of the excitation light to the marking so that its light sensor can reliably measure the corresponding luminescence light response, and thus accurately determine a corresponding decay time value.
61 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A scanner for determining an intensity profile of luminescence light from a luminescent material moving along a path in a first direction, the luminescent material emitting the luminescence light within a second wavelength range upon illumination with excitation light within a first wavelength range, comprising:
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a power source; a light source that is connected to the power source and that is operable to illuminate the luminescent material within an illumination area with the excitation light; a light sensor operable; to collect luminescence light from the luminescent material during its motion along the path in the first direction across a detection zone, to measure an intensity of the collected luminescence light within the second wavelength range from the luminescent material within the detection zone, and to deliver a luminescence intensity signal, wherein an intensity profile of the collected luminescence light is determinable from a plurality of luminescence intensity signals delivered by the light sensor, wherein said illumination area is at a first location along said path; said detection zone is at a second location along said path that is downstream of the first location and that extends along a portion of said path; wherein a responsivity of the light sensor within the second wavelength range is substantially uniform over the detection zone, and wherein the intensity profile from the delivered luminescence intensity signal is determinable upon reception of luminescence light emitted by the luminescent material, which is in response to illumination of the luminescent material within the illumination area with the excitation light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification