Identification of objects using plasma resonant particles

Abstract

A method and apparatus for identifying an object having a pattern of plasmon resonant particles (PREs) distributed in or on the object are disclosed. In the method, a field containing the pattern is illuminated, and one or more spectral emission characteristics of the light-scattering particles in the field are detected. From this data, an image of positions and spectral characteristic values in the field is constructed, allowing PREs with a selected spectral signature to be discriminated from other light-scattering entities, to provide information about the field. The image may be compared to a database of reference images to identify or validate the object.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.