Identification particles and system and method for retrospective identification using spectral codes

• US 20020122878A1
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microtrace LLC
• Original Assignee: Microtrace LLC
• Inventors: Brogger, Brian, Kerns, William J., Esterberg, Justin L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,038,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06234 miniature-code
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/122 Online card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/00 Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps

Abstract

A system and method using reporter elements provides retrospective identification of articles. An article is marked with reporter elements such that the mark has a characteristic spectral response when exposed to energy stimulation. To verify the authenticity of the article, a reader scans the mark containing the reporter elements and obtains a spectral signature. The reader then compares the detected signature to the characteristic signature to determine the authenticity or identity of the marked article.

Claims

1. A method of marking an article for retrospective identification, comprising the steps of:

a) attaching a reporter element to an article;

b) subjecting the reporter element to energy stimulation;

c) detecting the reporter element'"'"'s response to the stimulation; and

d) using a pre-defined algorithm, converting the response to an alpha-numeric code.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of attaching the reporter element to a label and attaching the label to an article.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of printing the alpha-numeric code on the label.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of recording the alpha-numeric code in a database in connection with an identification of the article to which the reporter element is attached.

5. A method of marking an article for retrospective identification, comprising the steps of:

a) entraining a reporter element in a layer of a microcoded particle;

b) attaching the microcoded particle to an article.

6. A method of marking an article for retrospective identification, comprising the steps of:

a) applying a mark containing spectral code to an article;

b) conducting spectral analysis of said spectral code to determine its spectral signature;

c) computing a printable code from the spectral signature using an algorithm;

d) printing said printable code on said article.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of recording said code in a database in conjunction with information identifying the article.

8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of assigning a unique identifier to an article to be marked and attaching said unique identifier to said article.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said unique identifier is a serialized bar code.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said code and said bar code are printed on a label.

11. A method according to claim 6, wherein reporter elements are incorporated into microcoded particles.

12. A method according to claim 6, wherein said spectral code includes two reporter elements having different spectral responses to energy stimulation.

13. A method according to claim 6, wherein said mark is applied to a label and said printable code is printed on said label, and said label is attached to an article for retrospective identification of the article.

15. Method of claim 14 further comprising the step of entraining two different types of reporter elements within one layer of a microcoded particle.

16. Method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of entraining one or more different reporter elements in two or more layers of a microcoded particle.

17. Method of claim 14 wherein said microcoded particle is a multilayered particle with adjacent layers being of detectably different colors.

18. Method of claim 14 wherein said microcoded particle has indicia in or on its surface.

19. Method according to claim 14 wherein said reporter element, when exposed to an energy stimulus, yields a spectral signature.

14. A method of marking an article for retrospective identification, comprising the steps of:

a) entraining a reporter element in a layer of a microcoded particle;

b) attaching the microcoded particle to an article;

c) subjecting the reporter element to a stimulus; and

d) detecting the reporter element response to the stimulation.

20. An identification particle for use in retrospective identification, comprising:

a) a microparticle;

b) reporter element entrained in a layer of said microparticle.