Methods and articles for identifying objects using encapsulated perfluorocarbon tracers
AssigneeCopilot Ventures Fund II LLC
InventorJay Fraser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for tagging, tracking, locating and identifying people and vehicles transporting people using Perfluorocarbon tracers. An on-going problem faced by military as well as law enforcement personnel is that of friendly fire incidents. To prevent possible friendly-fire incidents, troops would separate the two layers of the uniform patch, thereby releasing a controlled release of the Perfluorocarbon vapors. Other “friendly” troops, equipped with sensors tuned to the specific perfluorocarbon characteristics would thus be able to literally view a plume around the tagged person or object. The system may conversely be used to tag enemies. Formulations of mixed perfluorocarbons may be used to provide coding of emissions.
Claims20
A tracing method, comprising:
- (a) providing a tracer comprising a liquid perfluorinated tracer having at least one of (i) a —CF2—CF2— portion, or (ii) spectral characteristics corresponding to highly electronegative fluorine substituents of an organic composition, encapsulated within at least one permeable wall capsule having a first composition within a polymer matrix having a second composition, the polymer matrix having a controlled matrix permeability for the perfluorinated tracer, wherein the polymer matrix substantially causes a steady state release rate of the perfluorinated tracer into air for an extended period;
- (b) physically blocking a release of the perfluorinated tracer with an electronically controlled barrier substantially impermeable to the perfluorinated tracer;
- (c) altering the electronically controlled barrier to permit contact of the polymer matrix with air, to thereby permit a release of the perfluorinated tracer into the air, wherein prior to changing the electronically controlled barrier, the release of perfluorinated tracer is undetectable and after changing the electronically controlled barrier the release of perfluorinated tracer is detectable.
A remote detection method, comprising:
- (a) providing a liquid perfluorinated tracer having at least one of (i) a —CF2—CF2— portion, or (ii) spectral characteristics corresponding to highly electronegative fluorine substituents of an organic composition, the liquid perfluorinated tracer being volatile and contained within at least one permeable capsule embedded in a polymer matrix, an external surface of the polymer matrix being configured to slowly release the perfluorinated tracer, wherein a permeability of a wall of the at least one permeable capsule rate to liquid perfluorinated tracer exceeds a permeability of the polymer matrix, such that the rate of volatilization of the perfluorinated tracer from the external surface remains at a steady state until the liquid perfluorinated tracer is exhausted;
- (b) providing an electronically controlled barrier substantially impermeable to the perfluorinated tracer to block release of the perfluorinated tracer;
- and
- (c) selectively controlling a release of volatilized perfluorinated tracer into an environment by altering the electronically controlled barrier.
A tag for tracing an object, comprising:
- (a) a tracer comprising a liquid perfluorinated tracer having at least one of (i) a —CF2—CF2— portion, or (ii) spectral characteristics corresponding to highly electronegative fluorine substituents of an organic composition, encapsulated within at least one permeable wall capsule having a first composition;
- (b) a polymer matrix having a second composition surrounding the at least one permeable wall capsule, the polymer matrix having a controlled matrix permeability for the perfluorinated tracer, wherein the polymer matrix substantially causes a steady state release rate of the perfluorinated tracer into air for an extended period;
- and
- (c) an electronically controlled barrier impermeable to the perfluorinated tracer configured to physically block a release of the perfluorinated tracer from a surface of the polymer matrix;
- wherein the first and second compositions are different, and the tracer, at least one permeable wall capsule, and polymer matrix are configured such that a free surface of the polymer matrix emits perfluorocarbon tracer at a steady state rate over an extended duration while liquid perfluorocarbon tracer remains in the at least one permeable wall capsule, after the physical blockage of release of the tracer by the electronically controlled barrier is removed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.