Methods and articles for identifying objects using encapsulated perfluorocarbon tracers
AssigneeCopilot Ventures Fund III 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.
Claims19
A tracer release device, comprising:
- a reservoir containing a volatile tracer having at least one —CF2—CF2— portion;
- a releasable barrier configured to prevent release of the volatile tracer prior to release of the barrier;
- an electronic controller configured to produce a variable signal to control a release rate of the volatile tracer after release of the barrier;
- a volatile tracer release control device, selected from the group consisting of a microelectromechanical device, a bubble jet device, and a piezoelectric device, configured to release the volatile tracer selectively dependent on the variable signal;
- and
- a battery, configured to provide power to the electronic controller and the volatile tracer release control device.
A tracer release device, comprising:
- A reservoir comprising a volatile tracer embedded within a polymer matrix;
- A removable barrier configured to prevent release of the volatile tracer prior to removal of the barrier;
- A remote control configured to receive a wireless signal from a remote source;
- An electronic controller configured to produce a control signal to control a temporally variable release rate of the volatile tracer after release of the barrier in dependence on at least the wireless signal;
- and
- A volatile tracer release control device, selected from the group consisting of a microelectromechanical device, a bubble jet device, and a piezoelectric device, configured to release the volatile tracer selectively dependent on the control signal.
A release device, comprising:
- A reservoir, containing a volatile compound embedded within a polymer matrix;
- A wireless receiver, configured to receive at least a remote control signal from a remote transmitter;
- An electronic controller configured to receive the remote control signal from the wireless receiver, and to produce a control signal to control a release rate of the volatile compound over time in dependence on a release profile;
- A volatile compound release control device, comprising a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a microelectromechanical device, a bubble jet device, and a piezoelectric device, configured to release the volatile compound, selectively dependent on the control signal;
- and
- A power supply configured to power the wireless receiver, the electronic controller, and the volatile compound release control device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.