Optics: measuring and testing – Document pattern analysis or verification
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-18
2004-03-16
Pham, Hoa Q. (Department: 2877)
Optics: measuring and testing
Document pattern analysis or verification
C436S020000, C436S024000, C436S172000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06707539
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is in the general field of devices and methods for authenticating sample compositions.
Authenticating and monitoring products to discriminate between very similar complex mixtures is useful for various reasons. For example, the use of counterfeit substances (e.g., misbranded material from a competitor or misformulated material from a licensee/franchisee) should be detected to~preserve the integrity of a brand. Also, low quality substances (e.g., diluted or misformulated product) should be quickly and conveniently detected for appropriate correction.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,511, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses an automated method of developing a database to store information for “fingerprint”-type analysis of products (even as to product lot numbers and batch). The automated analysis is a method of evaluating and discriminating products, even within a narrow field or industry, competing and otherwise, e.g., to establish authenticity or point of origin of the product. The invention therein relates to an automated method for identifying key ingredients and/or the relative amounts of key ingredients in products using light-emissive compounds.
The laboratory equipment used to authenticate the sample referred to in '511 is not easily and cost effectively transported. Thus, determining product authenticity on site, either at manufacturing points or at distribution points, is impractical. With regard to distribution of counterfeit substances or production of misformulated material from a licenser/franchiser, the brand owner may not desirably spontaneously check product authenticity on site.
Furthermore, a processing plant, for example, may have numerous continuous processes being performed at any given time. It may be desirable to test the product for purity or quality, for example, as the product is being produced. With relatively large, expensive laboratory equipment, this is not possible. As a result, the process must cease, sample product must be sent to a remote site for testing and the process may not resume until the samples have been tested.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a portable product authentication device is provided. The device includes a base unit having a flexible conduit and a probe assembly coupled to the flexible conduit. The probe assembly has a light source for irradiating a sample to be authenticated with a predetermined wavelength of light. The device further includes an optical detector for detecting at least one emitted wavelength of light generated by the sample in response to the irradiating wavelength of light to provide a sample characteristic. A controller is disposed within the base unit and communicates with the probe assembly for receiving the sample characteristic and comparing the sample characteristic to a fingerprint. In one embodiment, the controller is located at a site remote from the probe assembly and may comprise a database of stored fingerprints. In one embodiment, the light source is a light-emitting diode. In another embodiment, the light source is a fiber optic cable operatively connected to a light-emitting diode. In yet another embodiment, a fiber optic cable is disposed within the probe assembly and is operatively connected to the optical detector for receiving emitted light generated by the sample and transmitting to the optical detector. Alternatively, the optical detector is disposed within the probe assembly.
In an important embodiment, the device includes a receptacle for interchangeably receiving one of a plurality of light sources. Each of the light sources is selected to emit a desired wavelength of light based on a desired sample to be authenticated.
In another embodiment, the device may also include an emission filter for filtering undesired wavelengths of light from the at least one emitted wavelength of light generated by the sample in response to the irradiating wavelength of light and/or a source filter for filtering undesired wavelengths of light generated from the light source. In yet another embodiment, the probe assembly is adapted to interchangeably receive one of a plurality of emission filters, and/or one of a plurality of source filters. Each emission filter is selected to filter undesired wavelengths of light based on a desired sample to be authenticated and each source filter is selected to filter undesired wavelengths of light based on a selected light source.
In another embodiment, the optical detector detects a quantity of the at least one emitted wavelength of light generated by the sample. Alternatively, the optical detector detects a change in quantity over time of the at least one emitted wavelength of light generated by the sample. The optical detector detects a characteristic of an authentic sample to provide the fingerprint and may perform a plurality of detections on a single sample to be authenticated. The fingerprint may include a range of acceptable fingerprints.
In yet another embodiment, the probe assembly further includes a holder adapted to receive the sample. The probe assembly may include a reflector to reflect light emitted from the light source toward the sample.
In another aspect of the invention, a probe assembly for detecting a characteristic of a sample to be authenticated is provided. The probe assembly includes a hand-held probe body and a light source disposed in the body for irradiating the sample with a predetermined wavelength of light. An optical detector is disposed in the body for detecting at least one emitted wavelength of light generated by the sample in response to the irradiating wavelength of light to provide a sample characteristic.
In one embodiment, the light source is a light-emitting diode. In another embodiment, the probe assembly includes a light-emitting diode receptacle formed in the body for interchangeably receiving one of a plurality of light-emitting diodes. Each of the light-emitting diodes is selected to emit a desired wavelength of light based on a desired sample to be authenticated.
In another embodiment, an emission filter disposed in the body for filtering undesired wavelengths of light from the at least one emitted wavelength of light generated by the sample in response to the irradiating wavelength of light. A source filter may be disposed in the body for filtering undesired wavelengths of light generated from the light source. In an important embodiment, the probe assembly includes an emission filter receptacle formed in the body for interchangeably receiving one of a plurality of emission filters and/or a source filter receptacle formed in the body for interchangeably receiving one of a plurality of source filters. Each emission filter is selected to filter undesired wavelengths of light based on a desired sample to be authenticated and each source filter is selected to filter undesired wavelengths of light based on a selected light source.
In yet another embodiment, the probe assembly further includes a holder adapted to receive the sample. The probe assembly may include a reflector to reflect light emitted from the light source toward the sample.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a kit for detecting a characteristic of a sample to be authenticated is provided. The kit includes a hand-held probe body having a plurality of receptacles and at least one light-emitting diode for irradiating the sample with a predetermined wavelength of light. Each light-emitting diode is adapted for insertion into one of the receptacles and is selected based on a desired wavelength of light to be emitted. Each desired wavelength is based on a desired sample to be authenticated. An optical detector for detecting at least one emitted wavelength of light generated by the sample in response to the irradiating wavelength of light is also provided. The probe body may also include a reflector for reflecting light emitted from the light source toward the sample. In one embodiment, the kit further includes at least one emission filter f
Behringer Friedrich
Gill Richard P.
Philips J. Christopher
Selinfreund Richard L.
Vig Rakesh
Pham Hoa Q.
Verification Technologies, Inc.
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