System for verifying an item in a package

• US 8,596,546 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2011
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TruTag Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TruTag Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Learmonth, Timothy, O'Neill, Michael P., Pearson, Peter, Zhou, Ting
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mikels, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US13/158,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20110303746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/487, 235/492, 340/10, 340/572
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 79/02 Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport B65D79/005 takes precedence ; measuring devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0614 the marking being selective to wavelength, e.g. color barcode or barcodes only visible under UV or IR methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers using a selected wavelength, see G06K7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud

Abstract

A system verifying an item in a package comprises a package producer and a verifier. The package producer produces a package with a label, wherein the package includes an item each with one or more selected tag identifiers that are placed in a location on the item. The verifier verifies the item using 1) the one or more selected tag identifiers as detected using a spectral measurement or 2) a location or a shape of the one or more selected tag identifiers on the item, and 3) the label as read using a label reader.

Claims

1. A system for verifying an item in a package, comprising:

a package producer, wherein the package producer produces a package with a label, wherein the package includes an item each with one or more selected tag identifiers that are placed in a location on the item, and wherein the one or more selected tag identifiers comprise silica; and

a verifier, wherein the verifier verifies the item using

     1) the one or more selected tag identifiers as detected using a spectral measurement, wherein the spectral measurement comprises a measurement of an optical signature of the one or more selected tag identifiers, and

     2) the label as read using a label reader.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the verifier verifies the item also using a location or a shape of the one or more selected tag identifiers on the item.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the spectral measurement measures a number of reflectance peaks.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the spectral measurement measures an amplitude of a reflectance peak.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the spectral measurement measures a phase of a reflectance peak.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the spectral measurement enables the decoding of a number.

7. A system for verifying an item in a package, comprising:

a package producer, wherein the package producer produces a package with a label, wherein the package includes an item each with one or more selected tag identifiers that are placed in a location on the item, and wherein the one or more selected tag identifiers comprise silica; and

a verifier, wherein the verifier verifies the item using

     1) the location or shape of the one or more selected tag identifiers on the item, wherein the one or more selected tag identifiers each have an optical signature, and

     2) the label as read using a label reader.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein the verifier verifies the item also using the one or more selected tag identifiers as detected using a spectral measurement.

9. A system as in claim 7, wherein the verifier verifies the item using the shape of the one or more selected tag identifiers.

10. A system as in claim 7, wherein the one or more selected tag identifiers are laid out in a pattern.

11. A system as in claim 7, wherein the one or more selected tag identifiers are laid out in a bar code.

12. A system for verifying a type of item in a package, comprising:

a package producer, wherein the package producer produces a package with a label, wherein the package includes an item of the type each with an associated one or more selected tag identifiers that are placed in a location on the item and wherein the one or more selected tag identifiers comprise silica; and

a verifier, wherein the verifier verifies the item using

     1) the associated one or more selected tag identifiers as detected using a spectral measurement, wherein the spectral measurement comprises a measurement of an optical signature of the one or more selected tag identifiers, and

     2) the label as read using a label reader.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein the verifiers verifies the item also using a location or a shape of the one or more selected tag identifiers on the item.

14. A system as in claim 12, wherein the spectral measurement measures a number of reflectance peaks.

15. A system as in claim 12, wherein the spectral measurement measures an amplitude of reflectance peaks.

16. A system as in claim 12, wherein the spectral measurement measures a phase of reflectance peaks.

17. A system as in claim 12, wherein the spectral measurement enables the decoding of a number.

18. A system for verifying a type of item in a package, comprising:

a package producer, wherein the package producer produces a package with a label, wherein the package includes an item of the type each with an associated one or more selected tag identifiers that are placed in a location on the item, and wherein the one or more selected tag identifiers comprise silica; and

a verifier, wherein the verifier verifies the item using

     1) location or shape of the one or more selected tag identifiers on the item, wherein the one or more selected tag identifiers each have an optical signature, and

     2) the label as read using a label reader.

19. A system as in claim 18, wherein the verifier verifies the item also using the associated one or more selected tag identifiers as detected using a spectral measurement.

20. A system as in claim 18, wherein the associated one or more selected tag identifiers are placed in a pattern.

21. A system as in claim 18, wherein the associated one or more selected tag identifiers are placed in a bar code.

22. A system as in claim 18, wherein the associated one or more selected tag identifiers form a shape.