Identification particles and system and method for retrospective identification using spectral codes

• US 7,038,766 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microtrace LLC
• Original Assignee: Microtrace LLC
• Inventors: Brogger, Brian, Kerns, William J., Esterberg, Justin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenberger, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US10/023,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20020122878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 356/71, 427/7
• US Class Current: 356/71
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• 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 2019/06234 miniature-code
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/122 Online card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/00 Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps

Abstract

A system and method using reporter elements provides retrospective identification of articles. An article is marked with reporter elements such that the mark has a characteristic spectral response when exposed to energy stimulation. To verify the authenticity of the article, a reader scans the mark containing the reporter elements and obtains a spectral signature. The reader then compares the detected signature to the characteristic signature to determine the authenticity or identity of the marked article.

Claims

1. A method of determining if an article includes a taggant that comprises coded information, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing an article;

b) subjecting the reporter element to energy stimulation to determine whether the article incorporates a taggant particle comprising at least one reporter element that emits a spectral signature responsive to energy stimulation;

c) detecting the reporter element'"'"'s spectral signature response to the stimulation, wherein said spectral signature provides a first code; and

d) if the article incorporates the at least one reporter element, determining if the taggant particle further comprises a second constituent that provides a second code.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second constituent comprises an encoded particle comprising a sequence of colored layers, wherein the sequence of the colored layers provides the second code.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one reporter element is incorporated into the encoded particle.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reporter element is incorporated into the second constituent.

5. The method for retrospective identification, according to claim 1, wherein said first code is derived from information indicative of how the intensity of a spectral signature of a reporter element varies with frequency of stimulating energy.

6. The method for retrospective identification, according to claim 1, wherein said first code is derived from information indicative of how the intensity of a spectral signature of a reporter element varies with wavelength of stimulating energy.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said reporter elements comprise two reporter elements having different spectral responses to energy stimulation.

7. A method of marking an article for retrospective identification, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a taggant particle comprising at least one reporter element and an encoded particle, wherein the at least one reporter element is entrained in a layer of a particle comprising a sequence of colored layers, wherein a spectral signature of a reporter element is associated with a first code and the sequence of colored layers is associated with an independent, second code; and

b) attaching the microcoded particle to the article.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of recording said first and second codes in a database in conjunction with information identifying the article.

9. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of assigning a unique identifier to the article and attaching said unique identifier to said article.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said unique identifier is a serialized bar code.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said code and said bar code are printed on a label.

12. A method according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of reporter elements are incorporated into the encoded particle.

14. Method of claim 7 wherein at least two different types of reporter elements are entrained within one layer of the encoded particle.

15. Method of claim 7 wherein one or more different reporter elements are entrained in two or more layers of the encoded particle.

16. An identification particle for use in retrospective identification, comprising:

a) an encoded particle comprising a sequence of colored layers; and

b) at least one reporter element entrained in a layer of said encoded particle, wherein a first code is associated with the at least one reporter element and a second code is associated with the sequence of colored layers.

17. The identification particle according to claim 16, wherein a reporter element resides in a first surface layer of the encoded particle.

18. The identification particle according to claim 17, wherein a reporter element resides in a second surface layer of the encoded particle.

19. The identification particle according to claim 16, wherein more than one reporter element is entrained in a layer of the encoded particle.

20. The identification particle according to claim 16, wherein one reporter element resides in one layer of the encoded particle, and another reporter element resides in another of the layers of the encoded particle.

21. The identification particle according to claim 16, wherein each layer of the encoded particle contains one reporter element, and each reporter element is distinct from the others in the encoded particle such that each generates a different characteristic spectral response to energy stimulation.

22. The identification particle according to claim 16, wherein a layer of said encoded particle contains no reporter element.

23. The identification particle for use in retrospective identification according to claim 16, wherein said reporter element is fluorescent.

24. The identification particle for use in retrospective identification according to claim 16, wherein said reporter element is phosphorescent.

25. The identification particle for use in retrospective identification according to claim 16, wherein said reporter element is upconverting phosphorescent.

26. The identification particle for use in retrospective identification according to claim 16, wherein said reporter element is photochromic.

27. The identification particle for use in retrospective identification according to claim 16, wherein said reporter element is thermochromic.

28. The identification particle for use in retrospective identification according to claim 16, wherein said reporter element is electrochromic.

29. The identification particle for use in retrospective identification according to claim 16, wherein said reporter element is infrared fluorescent.

30. The identification for use in retrospective identification according to claim 16, wherein said reporter element comprises semi-conducting nanocrystals.

31. The identification particle for use in retrospective identification according to claim 16, wherein said reporter element comprises an isotopic isomer.

32. The identification particle for use in retrospective identification according to claim 16, wherein said first code is associated with a detectable mass of a reporter element.

33. The identification particle for use in retrospective identification according to claim 16, further comprising a bar code embossed on a surface layer of the encoded particle.

34. The identification particle for use in retrospective identification according to claim 16, further comprising indicia embossed on a surface layer of the encoded particle.

35. A method of forming an identification particle for use in retrospective identification, comprising the steps of:

a) forming an encoded particle comprising a sequence of colored layers;

b) entraining at least one reporter element in a layer of the encoded particle;

c) associating a first code with the at least one reporter element; and

d) associating a second code with the sequence of colored layers.

36. A method of marking an article for retrospective identification, comprising the step of incorporating a taggant particle into the article, wherein the taggant article comprises (a) at least one reporter element that emits a spectral signature responsive to energy stimulation, wherein said spectral signature provides a first code;

and (b) a second constituent that provides a second code.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least one reporter element is incorporated into the second constituent.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the second constituent comprises an encoded particle comprising a sequence of colored layers, wherein the sequence provides the second code.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least one reporter element is incorporated into the encoded particle.