Fibers with physical features used for coding

US9916482B2 · 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: Mar 16, 2017
• Grant date: Mar 13, 2018
• Expiry date: Mar 16, 2037

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.