Security markers for ascertaining navigational information

• US 20060118738A1
• Filed: 11/02/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation, Pride Technologies LLC (Pride Capital Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Ross, Gary A., Forrest, Simon J., Clark, Barrie, Ricci, Christopher P., Johnson, Graham I.
• Application Number:
  US11/265,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20060118738A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/556
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 12/00 Powdered glass C03C8/02 takes precedence; Bead compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/091 containing aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/095 containing rare earths
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/03 characterised by features other than the chemical nature of the binder
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/143 Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns

Abstract

A method of ascertaining navigational information comprises illuminating a region of a surface incorporating one or more luminescent markers. Emission from the luminescent markers in response to the illumination is detected and processed to ascertain navigational information associated with the processed emission.

Claims

1. A method of ascertaining navigational information, the method comprising:

illuminating a region of a surface incorporating one or more luminescent markers;

detecting emission from the one or more luminescent markers in response to the illumination; and

processing the detected emission to ascertain navigational information associated with the processed emission.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the navigational information to a user to allow the user to navigate to a desired destination.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the navigational information to an automated guidance system of a vehicle to direct the vehicle automatically towards a desired destination.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigational information includes information relating to at least one of the following:

location, direction, destination, speed limit, topography, and time to reach a destination.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting emission from the one or more luminescent markers comprises detecting emission intensity, wavelength, and duration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more luminescent markers each comprise a carrier doped with one or more rare earth elements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the carrier comprises a glass.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein illuminating a region of a surface incorporating one or more luminescent markers includes illuminating a region of a road surface from a moving vehicle.

9. A device for ascertaining navigational information, the device comprising:

an illumination source which illuminates a region of a surface incorporating one or more luminescent markers;

a detector which detects emissions from the one or more luminescent markers in response to the illumination; and

a processor which processes the detected emission to ascertain navigational information associated with the processed emission.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a sensory output for presenting the navigational information to a user.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the sensory output comprises one or more of a visual display, an audio display, and a tactile display.

12. A vehicle including the device of claim 9, and further comprising an automated vehicle guidance system which receives the navigational information from the device, and automatically guides the vehicle thereby.

13. A method of providing navigational information, the method comprising:

providing one or more luminescent markers having an emission characteristic associated with navigational information;

incorporating the one or more luminescent markers into a surface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the surface comprises one or more surfaces of a roadway, railroad, curb, sidewalk, walkway, step, door, floor, wall, sign, railing, object, or building element.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more luminescent markers each comprise a carrier doped with one or more rare earth elements.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the carrier comprises a glass.