Optical transponder containing identification tag

• US 20050258939A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allen B. Kantrowitz, In K.I. Mun
• Original Assignee: Allen B. Kantrowitz, In K.I. Mun
• Inventors: Kantrowitz, Allen B., Mun, In Ki
• Granted Patent: US 7,652,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1097 Optical sensing of electronic memory record carriers, such as interrogation of RFIDs with an additional optical interface

Abstract

A transponder-equipped ID tag is provided, deriving its power from an incoming interrogating optical signal. The invention relates to a transponder-equipped ID tag that is able to extract power from the incident corresponding interrogation signal and temporarily store it in an internal energy storage device. Optionally, optical transmission is used as either a transmission mode only into the tag or a transmission mode only away from the tag. The inventive optical means of transmission may be combined with either RF transmission into the tag and/or RF transmission away from the tag.

Claims

1. An identification tag comprising:

a substrate;

an information processing mechanism on said substrate and containing a datum;

an interrogating signal receiver for receiving an energy input outside the radiofrequency range; and

an output signal transmitter for communicating said datum external to said substrate as an emission outside the radiofrequency range.

2. The identification tag of claim 1 wherein said substrate is an integrated circuit.

3. The identification tag of claim 1 wherein said receiver receives an optical energy input and said transmitter emission is optical.

4. The identification tag of claim 1 wherein said receiver receives an optical energy input and said transmitter emission is magnetic.

5. The identification tag of claim 1 wherein said receiver receives an optical energy input and said transmitter emission is piezoelectric.

6. The identification tag of claim 1 further comprising an encapsulant encompassing said substrate.

7. The identification tag of claim 6 wherein said encapsulant is opaque and further comprises a transparent window.

8. The identification tag of claim 1 further comprising a radiofrequency energy receiver yielding an RF power input and RF signal input, and a power control apparatus.

9. The identification tag of claim 8 further comprising a radiofrequency energy transmitter receiving power via said power control apparatus and transmitting a radiofrequency signal indicative of said datum.

10. The identification tag of claim 8 further comprising an encapsulant encompassing said substrate.

11. The identification tag of claim 10 wherein said encapsulant is opaque and further comprises a transparent window.

12. A process for reading an identification tag comprising the steps of:

receiving a non-radiofrequency input signal and deriving primary power therefrom;

interrogating an information processing mechanism with said primary power for a datum stored therein; and

transmitting from the tag a non-radiofrequency output signal indicative of said datum.

13. The process of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

compiling said non-radiofrequency input signal with an RF signal received from a radiofrequency receiver.

14. The process of claim 13 wherein secondary power is derived from said RF signal.

15. The process of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

controlling movement of said primary and secondary powers to said information processing mechanism with a power control apparatus.

16. An identification tag comprising:

a substrate having a dimension from 1 to 500 microns having at least one optical coating scheme selected from the group consisting of;

a bandpass filter, dye molecules, and grating scores.

17. The identification tag of claim 16 wherein said substrate is a reflectively polished segment of a semiconductor wafer.

18. The identification tag of claim 16 wherein said substrate is a segment of a reflective metallic or semiconductor wire.

19. The identification tag of claim 16 wherein said substrate is particulate.

20. The identification tag of claim 19 wherein said substrate is porous and has said dye intercalated therein.

21. The identification tag of claim 20 wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of:

porous silicon, an aerogel, and a colloid.

22. The identification tag of claim 16 further comprising an overlying encapsulant.

23. The identification tag of claim 16 having at least two of said bandpass filter, said dye and said grating.

24. The identification tag of claim 16 wherein said bandpass filter comprises at least two bandpass regions.

25. A process for reading a passive identification tag comprising the steps of:

exposing an identification tag comprising a substrate having a dimension from 1 to 500 microns having at least one optical coating scheme selected from the group consisting of;

a bandpass filter, dye molecules, and grating scores to an input optical signal; and

comparing the spectral reflections from said tag relative to a library of tag optical spectra.

26. The process of claim 25 wherein the input optical signal is monochromatic.

27. The process of claim 25 wherein the input optical signal is polychromatic.

28. The process of claim 26 further comprising the step of applying a first dye with a first finite lifetime to determine temporal labeling.

29. The process of claim 28 further comprising the step of applying a second dye with a second finite lifetime that varies relative to the first finite lifetime.

30. An information exchange system comprising:

a reader emitting a laser interrogation signal and having an optical receiver;

an identification tag comprising;

a substrate;

an information processing mechanism on said substrate and containing a datum;

an interrogating signal receiver for receiving the laser interrogation signal;

an output signal transmitter for communicating said datum as an optical signal to said optical receiver; and

a light emitter activated by communicating said datum.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said identification tag is integral with a bracelet.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein said bracelet further comprises a power source coupled to said identification tag.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein said bracelet further comprises a lensing element intermediate between said laser interrogation signal and said signal receiver.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein said light emitter is pulsatile.

35. The system of claim 30 wherein said light emitter is of a longer wavelength than said laser interrogation signal.