Tagging of materials and goods with particles of complex shapes and/or florescent spectra

摘要

This invention comprises methods, systems, and devices for tagging objects with one or more particles of complex geometry, individually and in combination. The particles are created via the process of either artificial or biological/natural self-assembly and are used for tagging or labeling various goods in order to identify those goods. The particles may be used individually or in combination as a plurality of particles which are scattered or positioned in a pattern. For example, the use of ultrabright fluorescent silica particles comprising complex optical fluorescent spectra and/or geometrical shapes to tag and authorize objects is disclosed. Application methods and materials are disclosed as well as methods and devices for detecting and decoding resulting tags or labels.

主权项

1. A method for tagging and identifying an object, comprising:
applying a combination of particles onto and/or in the object, each particle having at least one of a measurable shape, location, size, or spectrum, wherein the particles are obtained via artificial self-assembly or natural self-assembly, obtaining one or more images of said particles and/or their combinations, measuring a first tagging characteristic of each particle, the first tagging characteristic comprising particle shapes, measuring a second tagging characteristic of each particle, the second tagging characteristic comprising particle sizes, measuring a third tagging characteristic, the third tagging characteristic comprising each particle's mutual position with relation to each other particle, measuring a fourth tagging characteristic of each particle, the fourth tagging characteristic comprising particle spectra, and identifying the object when either all four tagging characteristics or combinations thereof are within an expected range.