US5542971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Bar codes using luminescent invisible inks
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-01
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Granted: 1996-08-06
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Expires: 2014-12-01
Abstract
Abstract Inks have been discovered that are selectively excitable by different wavelengths of incident radiation. This allows a lower layer bar code to be written on an object with an ink and an upper layer bar code to be written over the lower layer bar code with an ink that is invisible to the naked eye. This allows the lower layer and upper layer bar code to contain more information than conventional bar codes.
Inventors
- 👤 Judith D. Auslander
- 👤 William Berson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:50
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/50; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/06; G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06018; G06K19/06046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An aqueous ink composition comprising an upper level ink that is invisible to the human eye which is in contact with a lower layer ink that is affixed to an object wherein said upper level ink has the general formula: BM(III)--DPA where; B is an alkali metal ion selected from the group consisting of sodium, lithium or potassium; M(III) is a lanthanide; and DPA is dipicolinic acid providing that the ratio M(III) to DPA is between 1:5 and 1:14 and to the aqueous solution of BM(III) to DPA is added a humectant so that the emission of the upper level ink will be between 400 to 1800 nm when the upper level ink is exposed to radiation between 250 and 350 nm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
An aqueous ink composition comprising an upper level ink that is invisible to the human eye which is in contact with a lower layer ink that is affixed to an object wherein said upper level ink has the general formula: BM(III)--DPA where; B is an alkali metal ion selected from the group consisting of sodium, lithium or potassium; M(III) is a lanthanide; and DPA is dipicolinic acid providing that the ratio M(III) to DPA is between 1:5 and 1:14 and to the aqueous solution of BM(III) to DPA is added a humectant so that the emission of the upper level ink will be between 400 to 1800 nm when the upper level ink is exposed to radiation between 250 and 350 nm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink claimed in claim 1, wherein M(III) is selected from the group consisting of: Eu, Dy, Pr, Nd, Sm, Yb, Er, Tm, and Gd.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ink claimed in claim 1, wherein the humectant is selected from the group consisting of: 2'-pyrolidone, dimethylsulfoxide, sulfolane, diethyleneglycol, hexylenegylcol, N-methyl pyrrolidone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
An aqueous ink composition comprising an upper level ink that is invisible to the human eye which is in contact with a lower layer ink that is affixed to an object wherein said upper level ink has the general formula: BM(III)-pyrazol 3,5 dicarboxylic acid where; B is an alkali metal ion selected from the group consisting of sodium, lithium or potassium; and M(III) is a lanthanide, providing that the ratio M(III) to pyrazol 3,5 dicarboxylic acid is between 1:5 and 1:14 and to the aqueous solution of BM(III) to pyrazol 3,5 dicarboxlic acid is added a humectant so that the emission of the upper level ink will be between 400 to 1800 nm when the upper level ink is exposed to radiation between 250 and 350 nm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
An aqueous ink composition comprising an upper level ink that is invisible to the human eye which is in contact with a lower layer ink that is affixed to an object wherein said upper level ink has the general formula: BM(III)-pyrazol 3,5 dicarboxylic acid where; B is an alkali metal ion selected from the group consisting of sodium, lithium or potassium; and M(III) is a lanthanide, providing that the ratio M(III) to pyrazol 3,5 dicarboxylic acid is between 1:5 and 1:14 and to the aqueous solution of BM(III) to pyrazol 3,5 dicarboxlic acid is added a humectant so that the emission of the upper level ink will be between 400 to 1800 nm when the upper level ink is exposed to radiation between 250 and 350 nm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink claimed in claim 4, wherein M(III) is selected from the group consisting of: Eu, Dy, Pr, Nd, Sm, Yb, Er, Tm, and Gd.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ink claimed in claim 4, wherein the humectant is selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidone, dimethylsulfoxide, sulfolane, diethyleneglycol, hexylenegylcol, N-methyl pyrrolidone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ink claimed in claim 3, wherein M(III) is Eu and further including a solution of an organic fluorescent pigment that is excited between 250 and 450 nm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ink claimed in claim 3 further including a solution of an organic fluorescent pigment that is excited at 380 nm and emits at 600 nm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-06 | 2000-02-05 | 2000-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-06 | 2004-02-05 | 2004-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-06 | 2008-02-05 | 2008-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |