IP Library Granted Patent US 10,195,109
Granted Patent B2
US 10,195,109 · App. 14/692,588 · Granted Feb 5, 2019

System for producing a packaged item with an identifier

Inventors: Peter Pearson (Aptos, CA); Ting Zhou (Orinda, CA); Timothy Learmonth (Berkeley, CA); Michael P. O'Neill (Kaneohe, HI)
Assignee: TruTag Technologies, Inc.
A61J1/14A61J1/03B65C3/06G06Q10/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,195,109
App. No.
14/692,588
Granted
Feb 5, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for packaging an item with an identifier comprises an identifier adder, a labeler, and a packager. The identifier adder adds one or more types of silica-based tags to an item, wherein each type of silica-based tag has a first signature readable using an optical spectroscopic reader. A label is generated based at least in part on reading the one or more types of silica-based tags of the item using the optical spectroscopic reader. The label includes goods info. The packager includes the label on a package, and wherein the packager includes the item in the package.

Claims (25)

1. A system for identifying an item, comprising:

an identifier adder configured to add an identifier comprising two or more tags to a surface of an item based at least in part on tag placement instructions, wherein the two or more tags are uniquely placed or nearly uniquely placed on the item or are arranged in at least one of a shape or a pattern, wherein a tag includes a rugate filter, wherein the shape includes at least one of a square or a circle, wherein the pattern includes at least one of a geometric shape, a checkboard, or a bar code, wherein the identifier on the surface of the item comprises a first signature readable using an optical spectroscopic reader and a second signature readable using an optical imaging reader, wherein the two or more tags comprise an etching that displays a reflectivity spectrum containing the first signature, and wherein the second signature comprises a spatial arrangement of the two or more tags, wherein the identifier adder includes a tag-coat mixer and a coat applier, wherein:

the tag-coat mixer is configured to receive the tag; and

the coat applier is configured to:

receive an indication of placement of the tag; and

place the tag on the item; and

a labeler configured to generate a label based at least in part on a first reading of the first signature of the identifier using the optical spectroscopic reader and on a second reading of the second signature of the identifier using the optical imaging reader, and wherein the label includes goods info.

2. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the two or more tags are uniquely placed or nearly uniquely placed and produced using ultrasonic agitation.

3. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the item comprises a solid oral dosage form.

4. A system as in claim 3 , wherein the solid oral dosage form comprises one of the following: a tablet, a capsule, a caplet, a powder, a crystal, or a thin film.

5. A system for identifying an item of a type, comprising:

an identifier adder configured to add an identifier comprising two or more tags to a surface of an item of a type based at least in part on tag placement instructions, wherein the two or more tags are uniquely placed or nearly uniquely placed on the item or are arranged in at least one of a shape or a pattern, wherein a tag includes a rugate filter, wherein the shape includes at least one of a square or a circle, wherein the pattern includes at least one of a geometric shape, a checkboard, or a bar code, wherein the identifier on the surface of the item has a first signature readable using an optical spectroscopic reader and a second signature readable using an optical imaging reader, wherein the two or more tags comprise an etching that displays a reflectivity spectrum containing the first signature, and wherein the second signature comprises a spatial arrangement of the two or more tags, wherein the identifier adder includes a tag-coat mixer and a coat applier, wherein:

the tag-coat mixer is configured to receive the tag; and

the coat applier is configured to:

receive an indication of placement of the tag; and

place the tag on the item; and

a labeler configured to generate a label based at least in part on a first reading of the first signature of the identifier using the optical spectroscopic reader and on a second reading of the second signature of the identifier using the optical imaging reader, and wherein the label includes goods info.

6. A system as in claim 5 , wherein the item of a type comprises a solid oral dosage form.

7. A system as in claim 6 , wherein the solid oral dosage form comprises one of the following: a tablet, a capsule, a caplet, a powder, a crystal, or a thin film.

8. An item with an identifier, comprising:

An item, wherein an identifier comprising two or more tags is added to a surface of the item by an identifier adder based at least in part on tag placement instructions, wherein the two or more tags are uniquely placed or nearly uniquely placed on the item or are arranged in at least one of a shape or a pattern, wherein a tag includes a rugate filter, wherein the shape includes at least one of a square or a circle, wherein the pattern includes at least one of a geometric shape, a checkboard, or a bar code, wherein the identifier adder includes a tag-coat mixer and a coat applier, wherein the tag-coat mixer is configured to receive the tag, the coat applier is configured to receive an indication of placement of the tag and place the tag on the item, wherein the identifier on the surface of the item has a first signature readable using an optical spectroscopic reader and a second signature readable using an optical imaging reader, wherein the two or more tags comprise an etching that displays a reflectivity spectrum containing the first signature, wherein the second signature comprises a spatial arrangement of the two or more tags, wherein a label is generated by a labeler based at least in part on a first reading of the first signature of the identifier using the optical spectroscopic reader and on a second reading of the second signature of the identifier using the optical imaging reader, and wherein the label includes goods info.

9. An item as in claim 8 , wherein the item comprises a solid oral dosage form.

10. An item as in claim 9 , wherein the solid oral dosage form comprises one of the following: a tablet, a capsule, a caplet, a powder, a crystal, or a thin film.

11. A system for identifying an item, comprising:

an identifier adder configured to add an identifier comprising two or more tags to a surface of an item based at least in part on tag placement instructions, wherein the two or more tags are uniquely placed or nearly uniquely placed on the item or are arranged in at least one of a shape or a pattern, wherein a tag includes a rugate filter, wherein the shape includes at least one of a square or a circle, wherein the pattern includes at least one of a geometric shape, a checkboard, or a bar code, wherein the identifier adder includes a tag-coat mixer and a coat applier, wherein the tag-coat mixer is configured to receive the tag, the coat applier is configured to receive an indication of placement of the tag and place the tag on the item, wherein the identifier on the surface of the item comprises a first signature readable using an optical spectroscopic reader and a second signature readable using an optical imaging reader, wherein the two or more tags comprise an etching that displays a reflectivity spectrum containing the first signature, and wherein the second signature comprises a spatial arrangement of the two or more tags, wherein a label is generated by a labeler based at least in part on a first reading of the first signature of the identifier using the optical spectroscopic reader and on a second reading of the second signature of the identifier using the optical imaging reader, and wherein the label includes goods info.

Assignments (4)
PARTIAL RELEASE AND TERMINATION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 1, 2024
From: KUMUKAHI HOLDINGS, INC.
To: TRUTAG TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069054/0217 →
NON-RECOURSE ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2024
From: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
To: KUMUKAHI HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 069083/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2024
From: TRUTAG TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: OPSEC SECURITY, INC.
Reel/Frame 068751/0477 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2023
From: TRUTAG TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066140/0667 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 13158252 · Jun 10, 2011
Provisional Application 61354637 · Jun 14, 2010
Related Publication 20150313794A1 · Nov 5, 2015