Reflective badge security identification system

• US 6,446,865 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brady Worldwide Incorporated (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Temtec Inc. (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Holt, Robert J., Haas, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, UYEN CHAU N
• Application Number:
  US09/549,393
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/380, 235/375, 705/13, 705/18, 902/3, 380/23, 382/115
• US Class Current: 235/382
• 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 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

A security system including a security or identification badge to be worn by a person. The identification badge has a reflective surface that has a predetermined reflective pattern indicating a predetermined identification status of the person wearing the badge. A means is provided for illuminating the reflective surface of the badge with radiation and detecting the reflected radiation from the predetermined reflective pattern. A signal is produced from the detected radiation to indicate the predetermined identification status of the person wearing the badge. Preferably, the badge is illuminated with a visible wavelength of light and the predetermined reflective pattern includes a retroreflective film. Optionally, the reflective surface has a predetermined reflective pattern indicating a predetermined identification status of the person wearing the badge and a means for changing this predetermined reflective pattern to a another predetermined reflective pattern that indicates another predetermined identification status, e.g., an electromagnetic energy source that radiates onto the reflective surface of the badge. Additionally, the a means for illuminating the reflective surface of the badge with radiation can also illuminate the physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge and the means for detecting the reflected radiation can also detect the reflected radiation from the physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge.

Claims

1. A security identification system comprising:

an identification badge to be worn by a person, the person having a specific identifying physical characteristic, the identification badge comprising;

a reflective surface of retro reflective film having a predetermined reflective pattern indicating a predetermined identification status of a person who should be wearing the badge; and

an attachment means for attaching the badge to a person;

a means for illuminating with visible light the reflective surface of the badge while the person is wearing the badge and moving and a means for illuminating with visible light the identifying physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge;

a CCTV image frame-freeze system for detecting the reflected light from the predetermined reflective pattern on the badge and detecting the reflected light from the physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge;

a means for producing a signal from the detected light from the badge and from the physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge that indicates the predetermined identification status of the badge and the identification of the person wearing the badge.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the badge is illuminated by ambient light.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the badge is illuminated with a predetermined wavelength of light.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the illuminated specific physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge is facial characteristics.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the illuminated specific physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge is height.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the illuminated specific physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge is body profile.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the illuminated specific physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge is skin color.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the illuminated specific physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge is hair color.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein tie illuminated specific physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge are length of arms.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the illuminated specific physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge is eye color.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the illuminated specific physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge is gender.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the illuminated specific physical characteristic of the person wearing the badge is clothing color.