Optical tracking system

• US 6,384,409 B1
• Filed: 04/21/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MQS Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MQS Incorporated
• Inventors: Libbey, Miles Augustus III, McCoy, Randall Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANIG, RICHARD E
• Application Number:
  US09/295,693
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 250/271, 250/458.1, 250/459.1, 250/461.1, 250/462.1, 283/92, 235/468, 106/31.15
• US Class Current: 250/271
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10

Abstract

An optical system for the tracking or verification of items, having an energy source (e.g., an illumination source), selectively producing a specific wavelength (or small set of wavelengths, such as a spectrum) of energy matched with a material sensitive to that illumination. When the material is subjected to the energy source, it emits a wavelength of energy which is then sensed by a detector.

Claims

1. An optical system for tracking or verification of an item comprising:

(a) a first material receptive to a first wavelength, the first material emitting a second wavelength when subjected to the first wavelength;

(b) a second receptive to the second wavelength, the second material emitting a third wavelength when subjected to the second wavelength;

(c) an energy source capable of emitting energy in the first wavelength; and

(d) a detector capable of detecting the energy emitted in the third wavelength.

2. An object comprising the wavelength-specific material of claim 1.

3. An anti-counterfeit label comprising the wavelength-specific material of claim 1.

4. The system of claim 1, where a second detector detects the second wavelength.

5. A method of tracking or verifying an item comprising:

(a) providing a first material receptive to a first wavelength, wherein said first material emits energy at a second wavelength when subjected to the first wavelength;

(b) providing a second material receptive to the second wavelength, wherein said second material emits energy in a third wavelength when subjected to the second wavelength;

(c) exposing the first material and second material to an energy source in the first wavelength; and

(d) detecting the energy emitted in the third wavelength.

6. An object comprising a wavelength specific material of claim 5.

7. The method of claim 5, where a second detector detects the second wavelength.