Differentiable spectral bar code methods and systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An identification system comprising:
- a plurality of identifiable elements;
a plurality of labels, each label associated with a unique or non-unique identifiable element, the labels including reference markers and other markers, the labels generating spectra in response to excitation energy; and
an analyzer for identifying the elements from the spectra of the associated labels, the analyzer calibrating the spectra using reference signals generated by the reference markers.
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Abstract
Devices, systems, methods, and compositions of matter can track and/or identify a library of elements, particularly for use with fluids, particulates, cells, and the like. Signals from one or more semiconductor nanocrystals may be combined to define spectral codes. Separation of signal wavelengths within dedicated wavelength ranges or windows facilitates differentiation of spectral codes, while calibration signals within the spectral codes can avoid ambiguity. Modeling based on prior testing can help derive libraries of acceptable codes.
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Citations
82 Claims
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1. An identification system comprising:
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a plurality of identifiable elements;
a plurality of labels, each label associated with a unique or non-unique identifiable element, the labels including reference markers and other markers, the labels generating spectra in response to excitation energy; and
an analyzer for identifying the elements from the spectra of the associated labels, the analyzer calibrating the spectra using reference signals generated by the reference markers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for sensing a plurality of identifiable elements, the method comprising:
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labeling each identifiable element with a reference marker and at least one associated other marker;
energizing the markers of a first label from a first identifiable element so that the markers generate signals;
measuring a spectrum of the signals; and
identifying a first identifiable element from the spectrum by calibrating the spectrum with reference to a reference signal from the reference marker of the first label.
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21. A library of elements, the library comprising:
a plurality of identifiable elements, each identifiable element having an associated label with a reference marker, the labels generating spectra in response to an excitation energy, each spectrum including a spectral calibration reference signal from the reference marker. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method comprising:
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labeling an identifiable element with a label;
measuring a spectrum generated by the label, the spectrum comprising a plurality of signals; and
identifying the element by selecting a first wavelength range encompassing a first signal of the spectra, and by determining a wavelength of the first signal within the first range. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A method for sensing a plurality of intermingled labels, the method comprising:
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energizing the labels so that the labels generate signals;
identifying a first label by measuring a first discrete wavelength from among a plurality of discrete wavelengths within a first wavelength range; and
identifying a second label by measuring a second discrete wavelength from among a plurality of discrete wavelengths within a second wavelength range, the first and second ranges being separated. - View Dependent Claims (66, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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67. An inventory system comprising:
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a plurality of identifiable elements; and
a plurality of labels having markers, each label associated with an element, each marker generating a signal when energized so that each label emits an identifiable spectrum, at least some of the spectra comprising a plurality of the signals, each signal of the spectra having a discrete wavelength selected from within a dedicated wavelength range, the ranges sufficiently separated so that the signals in different ranges are independently identifiable.
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72. An inventory label generating method comprising:
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generating a plurality of candidate labels; and
selecting a plurality of acceptably distinguishable labels from among the candidate labels by determining spectra emitted by the candidate labels when the candidate labels are energized, and by comparing the spectra of the candidate labels. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82)
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81. A method for identifying a plurality of identifiable elements, the method comprising:
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energizing a plurality of labels so that a first marker of each label generates a first signal with a first wavelength peak, at least some of the labels comprising multiple-signal labels, each multiple-signal label having a second marker generating a second signal with a second wavelength peak;
measuring the first wavelength peaks;
for each multiple-signal label, measuring the second wavelength peak at at least a predetermined minimum wavelength separation from the associated first peak; and
identifying the labels in response to the measured peaks.
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Specification