Spectral signature systems that use encoded image data and encoded spectral signature data
AssigneeMicrotrace, LLC
InventorsBrian John Brogger, Joseph Thomas Ippoliti, Blake Maxwell Roeglin, Brian Thomas Bustrom
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Abstract
The present invention provides improved spectral signature strategies for use in a wide range of product and service applications. The present invention encodes spectral signature features into one or more optical brightener compounds and/or one or more infrared absorbing compounds. Equipment is modified with appropriate ultraviolet/violet or infrared LED illumination sources and corresponding detectors, optionally optical filters, and optionally mask elements, in order to read the spectral responses. These features desirably are used in combination with one or more other luminescent taggant compounds.
Claims16
A method of preparing a consumable substance from at least first and second consumable substance precursors, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a consumable substance storage pod comprising the first consumable substance precursor stored in the consumable substance storage pod and further comprising at least one bar code image provided on a surface of the consumable substance storage pod, said at least one bar code image including encoded image data that is indicative of a characteristic of the first consumable substance precursor stored in the consumable substance storage pod;
- and wherein the consumable substance storage pod further comprises a spectral signature that is pre-associated with the consumable substance storage pod, wherein at least a portion of the spectral signature is encoded in spectral characteristics of at least one optical brightener compound and/or in spectral characteristics of at least one infrared absorbing compound;
- b) illuminating a surface of the consumable substance storage pod with an illumination system, wherein the illumination system comprises a first illumination if the optical brightener compound encodes at least a portion of the spectral signature and/or second illumination if the infrared absorbing compound encodes at least a portion of the spectral signature, wherein the first illumination includes at least ultraviolet and/or violet illumination in one or more portions of a wavelength range from 200 nm to 420 nm, and wherein the second illumination includes at least infrared illumination in one or more portions of a wavelength range from 700 nm to 1200 nm;
- and wherein information comprising spectral data is emitted by the pod in response to the step of illuminating the surface, and wherein the information comprising spectral data is indicative of whether the spectral data encodes the spectral signature;
- and wherein the information comprising spectral data is useful to determine information indicative of a source of the consumable substance storage pod;
- c) capturing image data of the at least one bar code image;
- and
- d) using at least the captured image data to cause a consumable substance to be prepared from ingredients comprising the first and second consumable substance precursors.
A preparation system used to prepare a consumable substance from ingredients comprising a first consumable substance precursor held in a consumable substance storage pod and a second, fluid, consumable substance precursor, said system comprising:
- a) a spectral signature that is pre-associated with the pod, wherein at least a portion of the spectral signature is encoded in optical characteristics of at least one optical brightener compound and/or in optical characteristics of at least one infrared absorbing compound;
- b) an illumination system comprising at least one of a first illumination that provides at least an ultraviolet and/or violet illumination in one or more portions of a wavelength range from 200 nm to 420 nm and/or a second illumination that provides at least infrared illumination in one or more portions of a wavelength range from 700 nm to 1200 nm, wherein the illumination system includes the first illumination at least when the optical brightener encodes at least a portion of the spectral signature, and wherein the illumination system includes the second illumination at least when the infrared absorbing compound encodes at least a portion of the spectral signature;
- c) a fluid supply including at least the second consumable substance precursor;
- d) a preparation chamber that holds the consumable substance storage pod during at least a portion of a preparation carried out to prepare the consumable substance from ingredients comprising at least the first and second consumable substance precursors;
- e) an imaging device positioned in a manner effective to capture image data of at least a portion of the consumable substance storage pod when the pod is held in the preparation chamber;
- and
- f) a detector system comprising at least one detector positioned in a manner effective to detect the spectral characteristics of the pod when s held in the preparation chamber and illuminated with the illumination system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.