REMOTE MARKING

• US 20140090482A1
• Filed: 12/04/2013
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloomfield Science Museum Jerusalem
• Original Assignee: Bloomfield Science Museum Jerusalem
• Inventors: BEN SHALOM, AMIR, ROSENBERG, JACOB
• Granted Patent: US 9,368,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/861
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/284 Organic thermochromic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/34 Multicolour thermography
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/50 Sympathetic, colour changing or similar inks
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/704 using marked regions or existing inhomogeneities within the fluid stream, e.g. statistically occurring variations in a fluid parameter G01F1/76, G01F25/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/00 Irradiation devices discharge tubes for irradiating H01J37/00

Abstract

Remote marker systems are disclosed for marking a target using optical markers. Such systems may allow a target to be marked using a remote optical marking device. Also disclosed are photochromic solutions and methods of their preparation.

Claims

1. A remote marking system comprising:

at least one marker unit;

at least one target region; and

at least one concentrator,

wherein said marker unit comprises at least one emitter configured to emit at least one low intensity tracer signal,

wherein said target region comprises at least one receiving medium configured to change its state upon reception of a high intensity tracer signal thereby recording the position at which said high intensity tracer signal is received, and

wherein said concentrator is configured to transform a low intensity tracer signal to a high intensity tracer signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said concentrator comprises a beam focusing device selected from a group consisting of:

a converging lens, a concave reflector, an array of angled reflectors and combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said marker unit comprises an extended emitter operable to emit a low intensity tracer signal over an extended region and said concentrator is configured to focus said low intensity signal such that it is incident upon a concentrated region of said receiving medium.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said extended emitter comprises a high intensity emitter and a beam disperser selected from a group consisting of:

a diverging lens, convex reflector, an array of angled reflectors and combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said extended emitter comprises an array of low intensity emitters.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said concentrator comprises said array of low intensity emitters being angled towards a concentrated region of said receiving medium.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said emitter is configured to emit a tracer signal at an intensity lower than a first threshold.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein said first threshold is selected to be safe.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said receiving medium is configured to record the position of a tracer signal received above a second threshold.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said receiving medium comprises a photosensitive material selected from the group consisting of:

photochromic materials, photoluminescent materials, phosphorescent materials, thermochromic materials and polarising materials.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said receiving medium comprises a photosensitive material selected from the group consisting of:

a matrix of photosensitive electronic components selected from the group consisting of;

photodiodes, photovoltaic cells, photodetectors, photomultipliers and photoconductors.

12. The system of claim 1 comprising at least a first target region comprising a first receiving medium and a second target region comprising a second receiving medium wherein, upon reception of said tracer signal, said first receiving medium changes its appearance in a first detectable manner and said second receiving medium changes its appearance in a second detectable manner.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said target comprises a plurality of target regions, each of said target region comprising:

a first receiving medium selected such that upon reception of said tracer signal, the color of at least a section of said target region turns red;

a second receiving medium selected such that upon reception of said tracer signal, the color of at least a section of said target region turns green;

a third receiving medium selected such that upon reception of said tracer signal, the color of at least a section of said target region turns blue;

and a fourth receiving medium selected such that upon reception of said tracer signal, the color of at least a section of said target region turns black.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said plurality of target regions is arranged into an array.

15. The system of claim 1 incorporated into a device selected from the group consisting of:

a device for providing a demonstration in a science center, a visual display unit, a harmonograph, a toy, a flow monitor and a writing apparatus.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a concentrator configured to increase the intensity of the tracer signal, wherein said concentrator comprises a beam focusing device selected from a group consisting of:

a converging lens, a concave reflector, an array of angled reflectors and combinations thereof.

17. A flow monitor comprising at least one marker unit configured to emit at least one tracer signal towards a tracer fluid, said tracer fluid comprising at least one receiving medium configured to change its state upon reception of a high intensity tracer signal thereby recording the position at which said high intensity tracer signal is received.

18. The flow monitor of claim 17 further comprising detectors operable to detect changes in the receiving medium of said tracer fluid.

19. The flow monitor of claim 17 wherein said tracer fluid comprises a flowing liquid or gas.

20. A method for monitoring fluid flow comprising:

providing at least one marker unit configured to emit at least one tracer signal;

providing at least one tracer fluid;

at least one marker emitting a tracer signal towards said tracer fluid;

detecting changes in said tracer fluid indicating material exposed to said tracer signal;

and tracking the progress of the exposed material along said fluid flow.