Systems and Methods for Infrared Detection

• US 20140362228A1
• Filed: 06/10/2014
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Relevant Play, LLC
• Original Assignee: Relevant Play, LLC
• Inventors: McCloskey, David C., Barnett, Jeffrey L., James, Stanley R., White, Bradley Matthew, Blakely, John Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,699,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/164
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6417 Spectrofluorimetric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/1205 Testing spectral properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A fluorescence detection system includes a light source for coupling with a mobile device and software, having machine readable instructions loadable into memory of the mobile device and executable by a processor of the mobile device, capable of: activating the light source in coordination with capturing one or more images using a camera of the mobile device; analyzing an image captured with the light source on with an image captured with the light source off, to detect a shift of intensity within a predetermined color range within the images; and identifying and authenticating objects by measuring the intensity shift within the images.

Claims

1. A fluorescence detection system, comprising:

a light source for coupling with a mobile device; and

software, comprising machine readable instructions loadable into memory of the mobile device and executable by a processor of the mobile device, capable of;

activating the light source in coordination with capturing one or more images using a camera of the mobile device;

analyzing an image captured with the light source on with an image captured with the light source off, to detect a shift of intensity within a predetermined color range within the images; and

identifying and authenticating an object by measuring the intensity shift within the images.

2. The system of claim 1, the light source comprising an LED adapted to plug into a port of the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 2, the LED sized to fit with the headphone jack of the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 2, the LED emitting at a wavelength of about 450 nm.

5. The system of claim 4, the step of analyzing comprising detecting a fluorescent response from an object tagged with an IR-fluorescing dye in the red wavelength band within the image in response to the emission from the LED.

6. The system of claim 1, the mobile device selected from the group of a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, an MP3 player, an iPad, an iTouch, an iPod and a personal data assistant.

7. A fluorescence detection system, comprising:

software, having machine readable instructions loadable into memory of a mobile device and executable by a processor of the mobile device, capable of;

activating a display of the mobile device to emit light in coordination with capturing one or more images using a camera of the mobile device;

analyzing an image captured with the display on with an image captured with the display off, to detect a shift of intensity within a predetermined color range within the images; and

identifying and authenticating an object by measuring the intensity shift within the images.

8. A fluorescence detection system for coupling with a mobile device having a camera, comprising:

a filter for placing over a flash of the camera; and

software, comprising machine readable instructions loadable into memory of the mobile device and executable by a processor of the mobile device, capable of;

capturing a first image of an object using the camera when the flash is not active;

activating the flash in coordination with capturing a second image of the object using the camera;

analyzing the first and second images to detect a shift in intensity within a predetermined color range within the first and second images based upon fluorescence from the object in response to activation of the flash; and

identifying and authenticating the object based upon the detected shift in intensity.

9. The system of claim 8, the filter blocking green and red emissions from the flash.

10. The system of claim 9, the predetermined color range comprising a red wavelength band, wherein the object is configured with an IR-fluorescing dye that fluoresces at the red wavelength band in response to the filtered emission from the flash.

11. A near-IR filter array layer for an electromagnetic sensor array, comprising:

a plurality of infrared filters arranged over the sensor array such that, for each pixel of the sensor array, each infrared filter is configured to pass a different wavelength of electromagnetic radiation within the infrared wavelength band to one sensor of the pixel.

12. A 3D printer with filament authentication, comprising:

a print engine for generating a 3D object using a filament of material; and

an infrared (IR) authenticator positioned to authenticate the filament before use by the print engine;

wherein operation of the print engine is based upon authentication of the filament by the IR authenticator.

13. The 3D printer of claim 12, wherein the print engine initiates authentication of the filament when the filament is installed into the 3D printer.

14. The 3D printer of claim 12, wherein the print engine initiates authentication of the filament periodically during operation of the print engine.

15. The 3D printer of claim 12, wherein configuration of the print engine is based at least in part upon the authentication of the filament.

16. The 3D printer of claim 12, the IR authenticator comprising:

an IR generator for generating IR at a first wavelength; and

an IR detector for detecting fluorescence of a dye within the filament at a second IR wavelength;

wherein the authentication of the filament is based upon detection of the fluorescence at the second IR wavelength.

17. The 3D printer of claim 16, wherein at least one parameter of the print engine is configured based upon the detected florescent response of the dyes within the filament.

18. The 3D printer of claim 16, wherein the detected fluorescent response of the dyes identifies a type of the filament.

19. A method for authenticating a filament used in a 3D printer, comprising:

projecting, within the 3D printer, an IR beam at a first wavelength onto the filament; and

detecting, in response to the IR beam, IR fluorescence at a second wavelength from a dye within the filament;

wherein the detected IR fluorescence indicates authentication of the filament within the 3D printer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the steps of projecting and detecting are repeated periodically during operation of the 3D printer.