# US 2006/0219791 A1 · Spectrally-encoded labeling and reading

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- Number: US 2006/0219791 A1
- Document ID: US20060219791A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/425,369
- Filed: 2006-06-20
- Published: 2006-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2003-03-04
- Assignees: LightSmyth Technologies Inc
- Inventors: Thomas Mossberg; Christoph Greiner; Dmitri Iazikov; David Alavi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060219791A1

## CPC

- G06K 7/12: using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
- G06K 19/06009: {with optically detectable marking (G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence)}
- G06K 2019/06225: {using wavelength selection, e.g. colour code}
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS

## Abstract

A spectrally-encoded label comprises a spectrally-selective optical element having a label spectral signature. The label spectral signature is determined according to a spectral-encoding scheme so as to represent predetermined label information within the spectral encoding scheme. The label emits output light in response to input light selected by the label spectral signature of the optical element. A spectrally-encoded label system further comprises an optical detector sensitive to the output light emitted from the label, and a decoder operatively coupled to the detector for extracting the label information according to the spectral encoding scheme, and may also include a light source providing the input light for illuminating the label.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A spectrally-encoded label comprising:
a spectrally-selective transmissive optical element having a label spectral signature; and
an emitting optical element,
wherein:
the label spectral signature is determined according to a spectral-encoding scheme so as to represent predetermined label information within the spectral encoding scheme; and
the emitting layer of the label is arranged so as to emit output light in response to input light transmitted by the spectrally-selective transmissive optical element according to the label spectral signature.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The label of claim 1 wherein:
the label spectral signature comprises a plurality of spectral bands, each spectral band having a corresponding nominal center wavelength and a corresponding spectral bandwidth; and
the nominal center wavelength or the spectral width of each of the corresponding spectral bands is selected according to the spectral-encoding scheme to represent the label information.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The label of claim 2 wherein nominal center wavelengths and relative spectral widths of the spectral bands of the spectral-encoding scheme are selected so as to correspond to relative spatial widths of bars or spaces of a spatial barcode.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The label of claim 1 wherein the spectrally-selective transmissive optical element includes at least two distinct areal segments each having a corresponding distinct areal spectral signature substantially spatially uniform over the corresponding areal segment.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The label of claim 1 wherein the emitting layer is arranged so as to scatter input light transmitted through the spectrally-selective transmissive optical element, the output light comprising input light scattered from the emitting layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The label of claim 1 wherein the emitting layer is arranged so as to reflect input light transmitted through the spectrally-selective transmissive optical element, the output light comprising input light reflected from the emitting layer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The label of claim 1 wherein the emitting layer is arranged so as to retro-reflect input light transmitted through the spectrally-selective transmissive optical element, the output light comprising input light retro-reflected from the emitting layer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The label of claim 1 wherein the emitting layer is arranged so as to absorb input light transmitted through the spectrally-selective transmissive optical element, the output light comprising resultant fluorescence from the emitting layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The label of claim 1 wherein the spectrally-selective transmissive optical element comprises an interference filter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The label of claim 1 wherein the spectrally-selective transmissive optical element comprises an absorptive filter.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The label of claim 1 wherein the spectrally-selective transmissive optical element comprises a transmission grating.

### Claim 12

A spectrally-encoded label comprising a spectrally-selective reflective optical element having a label spectral signature, wherein:
the label spectral signature is determined according to a spectral-encoding scheme so as to represent predetermined label information within the spectral encoding scheme;
the label is arranged so as to emit output light in response to input light selected by the label spectral signature of the reflective optical element; and
the spectrally-selective reflective optical element includes at least one optical interference filter or at least one diffraction grating arranged so as to reflect a portion of the input light as the output light according to the label spectral signature.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The label of claim 12 wherein:
the label spectral signature comprises a plurality of spectral bands, each spectral band having a corresponding nominal center wavelength and a corresponding spectral bandwidth; and
the nominal center wavelength or the spectral width of each of the corresponding spectral bands is selected according to the spectral-encoding scheme to represent the label information.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The label of claim 13 wherein nominal center wavelengths and relative spectral widths of the spectral bands of the spectral-encoding scheme are selected so as to correspond to relative spatial widths of bars or spaces of a spatial barcode.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The label of claim 12 wherein the spectrally-selective reflective optical element includes at least two distinct areal segments each having a corresponding distinct areal spectral signature substantially spatially uniform over the corresponding areal segment.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The label of claim 12 wherein the spectrally-selective reflective optical element comprises at least one spectrally-selective reflective optical interference filter, and the output light comprises input light reflected from the interference filter.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The label of claim 12 wherein the spectrally-selective optical element comprises at least one diffraction grating.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The label of claim 12 wherein the label includes a diffusing layer over the spectrally-selective reflective optical element.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The label of claim 12 wherein the label includes an absorbing layer below the spectrally-selective reflective optical element.

### Claim 20

A spectrally-encoded label comprising:
a spectrally-selective transmissive optical element having a label spectral signature;
at least one optical detector positioned for detecting input light transmitted through the spectrally-selective transmissive optical element; and
at least one light source for emitting output light in response to detected input light,
wherein the label spectral signature is determined according to a spectral-encoding scheme so as to represent predetermined label information within the spectral encoding scheme.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The label of claim 20 wherein the label comprises a single detector and a single light source.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The label of claim 20 wherein the label comprises multiple detectors and a single light source.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The label of claim 20 wherein the label comprises multiple detectors and multiple corresponding light sources.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The label of claim 20 wherein the light source comprises an LED.

### Claim 25

A spectrally-encoded label system, comprising:
at least one spectrally-encoded label, the label comprising a spectrally-selective optical element having a label spectral signature;
an optical detector sensitive to output light emitted from the label; and
a decoder operatively coupled to the detector for extracting the label information from detected output light according to the spectral encoding scheme,
wherein:
the label spectral signature is determined according to a spectral-encoding scheme so as to represent predetermined label information within the spectral encoding scheme; and
the label emits the output light in response to input light selected by the label spectral signature of the optical element,
wherein:
the label comprises a spectrally-selective reflective optical element comprising at least one optical interference filter or at least one diffraction grating arranged so as to reflect the output light according to the label spectral signature;
or
the label comprises a spectrally-selective transmissive optical element and a broadband emitting optical element arranged so as to emit the output light in response to input light transmitted by the spectrally-selective transmissive optical element according to the label spectral signature.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 wherein:
the optical detector comprises a spectrally-resolved detector spanning the label spectral signature and having resolution sufficient to resolve the label spectral signature; and
the input light is provided by ambient light.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 further comprising a light source providing the input light for illuminating the label, wherein:
the light source is spectrally sufficiently narrow to resolve the label spectral signature, and is tunable across the label spectral signature; and
the optical detector is sensitive simultaneously to the entire label spectral signature.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 further comprising a light source providing the input light for illuminating the label, wherein:
the optical detector comprises a spectrally-resolved detector spanning the label spectral signature and having resolution sufficient to resolve the label spectral signature; and
the light source provides input light simultaneously over the entire label spectral signature.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 wherein the optical detector generates a temporal waveform in response to detected output light, and the decoder extracts the label information by analysis of the temporal waveform.

### Claim 30 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 wherein the decoder extracts the label information by direct analysis of wavelength-dependence of detected output light.

### Claim 31 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 wherein the spectral encoding scheme is based on a spatial barcode encoding scheme.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31 wherein the spatial barcode encoding scheme is a recognized spatial barcode encoding scheme.