Method and apparatus for reading invisible messages

Claim 1

An apparatus for reading a message, said apparatus comprising: a. a first strobe light for producing a first incident light adapted to impinge upon a surface containing a luminescent message, said first incident light having a first set of wavelengths at least partially including a wavelength that causes the message to luminesce and produce a luminescent light, said first set of wavelengths substantially excluding the wavelengths of the luminescent light; b. a second strobe light for producing a second incident light to impinge upon the surface, said second incident light having a second set of wavelengths that substantially exclude wavelengths that cause the message to luminesce, wherein the second set of wavelengths substantially corresponds to the wavelengths of the luminescent light; c. at least one focusing assembly for focusing light from the surface onto a focal plane creating an image; d. at least one image sensor having a plurality of photosensitive pixels, said at least one image sensor being designed for receiving images from the surface and converting the images into electric signals; e. a controlling system for controlling the first and second strobe lights and the at least one image sensor, such that when the first strobe light is on a first image is converted into a first electric signal, and when the second strobe light is on a second image is converted into a second electric signal; and f. a processing system for receiving and processing the first and second electric signals from the at least one image sensor.

Claim 2

An apparatus for reading a message, said apparatus comprising: a. a first strobe light for producing a first incident light adapted to impinge upon a surface containing a luminescent message, said first incident light having a first set of wavelengths at least partially including a wavelength that causes the message to luminesce and produce a luminescent light, said first set of wavelengths substantially excluding the wavelengths of the luminescent light; b. a second strobe light for producing a second incident light to impinge upon the surface, said second incident light having a second set of wavelengths that substantially exclude wavelengths that cause the message to luminesce, wherein the second set of wavelengths substantially corresponds to the wavelengths of the luminescent light; c. at least one focusing assembly for focusing light from the surface onto a focal plane creating an image; d. at least one image sensor having a plurality of photosensitive pixels, said at least one image sensor being designed for receiving images from the surface and converting the images into electric signals; e. a controlling system for controlling the first and second strobe lights and the at least one image sensor, such that when the first strobe light is on a first image is converted into a first electric signal, and when the second strobe light is on a second image is converted into a second electric signal; and f. a processing system for receiving and processing the first and second electric signals from the at least one image sensor.

Claim 14

A method for reading a luminescent message on a surface, said method comprising the steps of: a. impinging onto the surface a first incident light that excites the message such that it luminescences and produces a luminescent light; b. converting the luminescent light into a first electric signal; c. impinging upon the surface a second incident light having a range of wavelengths that substantially correspond to the luminescent light; d. converting the second incident light reflected off the surface into a second electric signal; and e. processing the first and second electric signals to determine the content of the message.

Claim 15

A method for reading a luminescent message on a surface, said method comprising the steps of: a. impinging onto the surface a first incident light that excites the message such that it luminescences and produces a luminescent light; b. converting the luminescent light into a first electric signal; c. impinging upon the surface a second incident light having a range of wavelengths that substantially correspond to the luminescent light; d. converting the second incident light reflected off the surface into a second electric signal; and e. processing the first and second electric signals to determine the content of the message.

Claim 22

An apparatus for receiving two images from a surface, said apparatus comprising: a. an image sensor having a first and second set of photosensitive pixels wherein the first and second set of pixels are alternatively interposed with respect to each other, said first set of pixels being designed for receiving a first image and converting the first image into a first electric signal, said even photosensitive pixels being designed for receiving a second image and converting the second image into a second electric signal; b. a focusing assembly adapted for focusing light from a surface onto a focal plane creating the first and second images; c. a controlling system for controlling the image sensor, such that when the first set of pixels are activated the second set of pixels are deactivated, and when the second set of pixels are activated the first set of pixels are deactivated; and d. a processing system for receiving and processing the first and second electric signals from the image sensor.

Claim 23

An apparatus for receiving two images from a surface, said apparatus comprising: a. an image sensor having a first and second set of photosensitive pixels wherein the first and second set of pixels are alternatively interposed with respect to each other, said first set of pixels being designed for receiving a first image and converting the first image into a first electric signal, said even photosensitive pixels being designed for receiving a second image and converting the second image into a second electric signal; b. a focusing assembly adapted for focusing light from a surface onto a focal plane creating the first and second images; c. a controlling system for controlling the image sensor, such that when the first set of pixels are activated the second set of pixels are deactivated, and when the second set of pixels are activated the first set of pixels are deactivated; and d. a processing system for receiving and processing the first and second electric signals from the image sensor.

Claim 30

An apparatus for reading a message, the apparatus comprising: a) a first incident light impinging upon a surface containing a luminescent message, said first incident light comprising a first set of wavelengths that cause the message to luminesce and produce a luminescent light; b) a second incident light impinging upon the surface having a second set of wavelengths substantially corresponding to the luminescent light; c) a light sensor positioned so as to receive the light from the surface and convert such received light into electric signals; d) a controlling system operative to coordinate the first and second incident lights and the light sensor such that the luminescent light is converted into a first electric signal and second incident light reflected from the surface is converted into a second electric signal; and e) a processing system for processing the first and second electric signals to compensate for the reflectivity of the surface and read the message.

Claim 31

An apparatus for reading a message, the apparatus comprising: a) a first incident light impinging upon a surface containing a luminescent message, said first incident light comprising a first set of wavelengths that cause the message to luminesce and produce a luminescent light; b) a second incident light impinging upon the surface having a second set of wavelengths substantially corresponding to the luminescent light; c) a light sensor positioned so as to receive the light from the surface and convert such received light into electric signals; d) a controlling system operative to coordinate the first and second incident lights and the light sensor such that the luminescent light is converted into a first electric signal and second incident light reflected from the surface is converted into a second electric signal; and e) a processing system for processing the first and second electric signals to compensate for the reflectivity of the surface and read the message.