Method and apparatus for monitoring liquid for the presence of an additive
First Claim
1. A method for identifying a liquid comprising the steps of:
- a) adding to the liquid a luminescent compound that absorbs electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength and emits fluorescent light of a second wavelength which is shorter than the first wavelength, wherein the compound comprises atoms selected from the groups consisting of ytterbium and erbium;
ytterbium and thulium ytterbium and holmium; and
ytterbium and terbium,b) exposing the compound to electromagnetic radiation of the first wavelength; and
,c) detecting electromagnetic radiation of the second wavelength, thereby identifying the liquid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for the identification or authentication of liquid products by the addition of an anti-Stokes marker. The invention features an apparatus and method for the identification of a liquid, dynamic or static, that includes adding an anti-Stokes luminescent marker compound to the liquid followed by exposing the compound to a light source of a known wavelength or known wavelengths and then detecting one or more shorter wavelength emissions from the marker, where the identity of the liquid is confirmed by the emission wavelength or wavelengths that are detected and quantified. The irradiating source of light includes, but is not limited to, a laser and other conventional light sources.
225 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method for identifying a liquid comprising the steps of:
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a) adding to the liquid a luminescent compound that absorbs electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength and emits fluorescent light of a second wavelength which is shorter than the first wavelength, wherein the compound comprises atoms selected from the groups consisting of ytterbium and erbium;
ytterbium and thulium ytterbium and holmium; and
ytterbium and terbium,b) exposing the compound to electromagnetic radiation of the first wavelength; and
,c) detecting electromagnetic radiation of the second wavelength, thereby identifying the liquid. - 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, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification