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Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2026002319-A1
Application number	US-202318992498-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 6, 2023
Priority date	Jul 8, 2022
Publication date	Jan 1, 2026
Grant date	—

Abstract

An article includes an identifier fiber. The identifier fiber includes a photonic structure that, upon illumination, produces an optical response having an optical parameter value. The optical parameter value, at least in part, identifies a particular article characteristic. The inclusion of the identifier fiber in the article indicates, at least in part, that the article has the particular article characteristic.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An article including:
an identifier fiber embedded in the article; and the identifier fiber; and a photonic structure within the identifier fiber, the photonic structure having an optical response selected to identify, at least in part, a characteristic of the article, the photonic structure extends along a length of the identifier fiber.

2 . The article of claim 1 , where the article includes a textile.

3 . The article of claim 2 , where the identifier fiber is woven among multiple base material fibers of the textile.

4 . The article of claim 1 , where the characteristic of the article includes:
a base material makeup of the article; an identity of the article; an identity of a maker of an article; a textile recycling sorting reference for the article; a manufacture date of the article; an identifier string for the article; and/or a tracking identifier for logistics.

5 . The article of claim 1 , where the photonic structure includes a reflector with a selected reflectivity profile.

6 . The article of claim 1 , where the photonic structure includes a one-dimensional photonic structure running along an axis of the identifier fiber.

7 . The article of claim 6 , where the photonic structure includes a photonic structure that is radially symmetric around the axis of the identifier fiber.

8 . The article of claim 6 , where the photonic structure includes a sandwich-type multilayer structure.

9 . The article of claim 1 , where the photonic structure includes a structure is characterized by a selected optical response to a specific illumination source, where the selected optical response is characterized by one or more parameter values corresponding to a database entry that identifies, at least in part, the characteristic of the article.

10 . The article of claim 1 , where the photonic structure includes multiple material layers, where:
the multiple material layers include a polymer material layer; the multiple material layers include a glass material layer; the multiple material layers include a doped material layer; the multiple material layers include a metal material layer; and/or the multiple material layers include a birefringent material layer.

11 . The article of claim 1 , where the optical response is selected to occur at a portion of the optical spectrum where the article has an absence of optical response features.

12 . A method including:
illuminating an article including an identifier fiber to cause an optical response from a photonic structure of the identifier fiber; capturing the optical response; determining a parameter value of the optical response dependent on the photonic structure of the identifier fiber, and performing a look-up using the parameter value to determine a characteristic of the article.

13 . The method of claim 12 , where illuminating the article includes illuminating the article with an illuminator with an output, at least in part, within the infrared spectrum.

14 . The method of claim 12 , where capturing the optical response includes scanning an optical filter over a portion of an optical spectrum in which optical responses assigned to article characteristics lie.

15 . The method of claim 12 , where illuminating the article includes scanning an illuminator over multiple angles of light incidence with the article.

16 . The method of claim 12 , where capturing the optical response includes mapping the optical response versus frequency and/or wavelength.

17 . The method of claim 12 , where capturing the optical response includes performing Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

18 . The method of claim 12 , where performing the look-up using the parameter value to determine the characteristic of the article includes referencing the parameter value against a database that relates parameter values to article characteristics.

19 . A device including:
an illuminator configured to illuminate at least a portion of an article, the portion including an identifier fiber embedded in the article; an optical sensor configured to capture an optical response of the identifier fiber; and scanning circuitry configured cause the device to perform a scan to determine a parameter value of the optical response, the parameter value of the optical response tuned to identify a characteristic of the article.

20 . The device of claim 19 , further including a rotating mirror, where:
the scanning circuitry is configured to cause optical sensor to perform a capture timed to the rotation of the rotating mirror to perform the scan.

Assignees

• Univ Michigan Regents
• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Iezzi Brian
• Shtein Max
• Wang Tairan
• Rothschild Mordechai
• Coon Austin
• Cantley Lauren
• Perkins Bradford G

Classifications

• G06K19/06046 Primary

  Constructional details · CPC title

• D01D5/32

  Side-by-side structure; Spinnerette packs therefor · CPC title

• D06H1/043 Primary

  by attaching threads · CPC title

• G06Q30/018

  Certifying business or products · CPC title

• G06Q10/30

  Administration of product recycling or disposal · CPC title