Method and apparatus for labeling using diffraction grating-based encoded optical identification elements
First Claim
1. An optical identification element for identifying an item, comprising:
- a substrate, at least a portion of said substrate being made of a substantially single material and having at least one diffraction grating embedded therein, said grating having a resultant refractive variation within the substantially single material at a grating location;
said grating providing an output optical signal indicative of a code when illuminated by an incident light signal propagating from outside the substrate, said output signal being a result of passive, non-resonant scattering from said grating when illuminated by said incident light signal; and
the element being at least partially disposed on the item.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for labeling an item using diffraction grating-based encoded optical identification elements 8 includes an optical substrate 10 having at least one diffraction grating 12 disposed therein. The grating 12 has one or more colocated pitches Λ which represent a unique identification digital code that is detected when illuminated by incident light 24. The incident light 24 may be directed transversely from the side of the substrate 10 (or from an end) with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, and the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively, or a combination thereof. The element 8 can provide a large number of unique codes, e.g., greater than 67 million codes, and can withstand harsh environments. The encoded element 8 may be used to label any desired item, such as large or small objects, products, solids, powders, liquids, gases, plants, minerals, cells and/or animals, or any combination of or portion of one or more thereof. The label may be used for many different purposes, such as for sorting, tracking, identification, verification, authentication, anti-theft/anti-counterfeit, security/anti-terrorism, or for other purposes. In a manufacturing environment, the elements 8 may be used to track inventory for production information or sales of goods/products.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. An optical identification element for identifying an item, comprising:
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a substrate, at least a portion of said substrate being made of a substantially single material and having at least one diffraction grating embedded therein, said grating having a resultant refractive variation within the substantially single material at a grating location; said grating providing an output optical signal indicative of a code when illuminated by an incident light signal propagating from outside the substrate, said output signal being a result of passive, non-resonant scattering from said grating when illuminated by said incident light signal; and the element being at least partially disposed on the item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An item having an optical identification element disposed therein, comprising:
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a substrate, at least a portion of said substrate being made of a substantially single material and having at least one diffraction grating embedded therein, said grating having a resultant refractive index variation with the substantially single material at a grating location; said grating providing an output optical signal indicative of a code when illuminated by an incident light signal propagating from outside the substrate, said code identifying at least one of the element and said item, said output signal being a result of passive, non-resonant scattering from said grating when illuminated by said incident light signal; and said code identifying the item. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of reading a code associated with an optical identification element that is disposed on an item, the element having a substrate, at least a portion of said substrate being made of a substantially single material and having a diffraction grating embedded therein, said grating having a resultant refractive index variation within the substantially single material at a grating location, comprising:
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illuminating said element with incident light propagating from outside the substrate, said grating providing an output light signal indicative of the code, said output signal being a result of passive, non-resonant scattering from said grating when illuminated by said incident light signal; and reading said output light signal and detecting said code therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method for labeling an item, comprising:
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obtaining a substrate having at least a portion thereof being made of a substantially single material and having at least one diffraction grating embedded therein, said grating having a resultant refractive variation with the substantially single material at a grating location, said grating providing an output optical signal indicative of a code when illuminated by an incident light signal propagating from outside the substrate, said output signal being a result of passive, non-resonant scattering from said grating when illuminated by said incident light signal; and said substrate being at least partially disposed on the item. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification