Inventory control
US6617583B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 9, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S420/903
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A novel encoding system and methods for determining the location and/or identity of a particular item or component of interest is provided. In particular, the present invention utilizes a “barcode” comprising one or more sizes of semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) having characteristic spectral emissions, to either “track” the location of a particular item of interest or to identify a particular item of interest. The semiconductor nanocrystals used in the inventive “barcoding” scheme can be tuned to a desired wavelength to produce a characteristic spectral emission in narrow spectral widths, and with a symmetric, nearly Gaussian line shape, by changing the composition and size of the quantum dot. Additionally, the intensity of the emission at a particular characteristic wavelength can also be varied, thus enabling the use of binary or higher order encoding schemes. The information encoded by the quantum dot can be spectroscopically decoded, thus providing the location and/or identity of the particular item or component of interest. In particular, a single primary light source can be used to decode the inventive barcode. In particularly pre…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.