Fibers with physical features used for coding

US9633579B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Eastman Chemical Company · US

Inventors

• Andrew Ervin McLeod · Jonesborough, US
• Scott Gregory Gaynor · Bristol, US
• Steven Anthony Wilson · Kingsport, US
• Lydia Juanita Salyer · Kingsport, US
• Humberto Collazo · Kingsport, US
• Larry Wayne Renfro · Kingsport, US
• Jeremy Kenneth Steach · Kingsport, US
• Brian Douglas Seiler · Kingsport, US
• Clarissa Tatum · Johnson City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 24, 2015
• Grant date: Apr 25, 2017
• Expiry date: Jun 24, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06V20/95
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Disclosed are fibers which contains identification fibers. The identification fibers can contain a plurality of distinct features, or taggants, which vary among the fibers and/or along the length of the identification fibers, a fiber band, or yarn. The disclosed embodiments also relate to the method for making and characterizing the fibers. Characterization of the fibers can include identifying distinct features, combinations of distinct features, and number of fibers with various combinations of distinct features and correlating the distinct features to supply chain information. The supply chain information can be used to track the fibers, fiber band, or yarn from manufacturing through intermediaries, conversion to final product, and/or the consumer.