Multilayer Photonic Structure Coating for Secure Article Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for identifying articles of manufacture, such as vehicles, require integral marking that is accessible, posing challenges for tracking and identification when the marking is compromised or obscured.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a multilayer photonic structure with a unique intensity profile into a coating applied to the article of manufacture, which generates an electronic code correlatable with identifying indicia, allowing for non-invasive identification through optical analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If integral marking methods are used to identify articles of manufacture, then identification can be provided, but the marking becomes compromised or obscured when the article is damaged, removed, or inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an optical copy of the article through its multilayer photonic structure. The structure encodes identification information as an intensity profile that can be measured and correlated to identifying indicia. This optical copy remains intact even when the physical marking is compromised, damaged, or obscured, providing reliable identification without requiring direct access to the original marking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/integral marking systems with an optical measurement system. Instead of relying on physical markings that can be damaged, the system uses optical sensors to measure the intensity profile of light interacting with the photonic structure. This substitution eliminates the vulnerability of physical markings while maintaining identification capability.
2Ease of operation
If multilayer photonic structure with unique intensity profile is incorporated into coating, then non-invasive identification is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multilayer photonic structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides optical identification through its unique intensity profile, maintains coating functionality, and can be integrated into various article types. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent encodes identification information by changing optical parameters (intensity profile) rather than physical parameters. The multilayer structure modifies light transmission characteristics to encode identifying information, allowing non-invasive optical measurement without physical contact or damage to the article. This parameter-based encoding achieves identification while managing complexity through optical rather than mechanical means.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables secure and non-destructive identification of articles by correlating the unique intensity profile with electronic codes stored in a database, facilitating tracking and recovery even when integral markings are inaccessible.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting a reference light to the multilayer photonic structure to produce the unique intensity profile
Implementation Method 2
transmitting a reference light to the multilayer photonic structure to produce the unique intensity profile
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method for identifying an article of manufacture may include: producing a plurality of multilayer photonic structures, wherein each of the plurality of multilayer photonic structures has a unique intensity profile; incorporating one of the plurality of multilayer photonic structures that produces the unique intensity profile into a coating; and generating an electronic code corresponding to the unique intensity profile of one of the plurality of multilayer photonic structures.