Methods for identification and verification

Abstract

An identifiable code pattern, a method of providing a carrier material with an identifiable code pattern, and a method for detecting an identifiable code pattern are based on applying water-soluble nanocrystals to carrier materials in a spatially arranged format that can be detected by exposing the identifiable code pattern to an excitation light source in exciting the water-soluble nanocrystals, and detecting any fluorescence peaks emitted from the excited water-soluble nanocrystals using a detection system. Provided are compositions comprising water-soluble quantum dot compounds which may be used to apply to carrier materials in a method of forming an identifiable code pattern that may be used to provide discrete, detectable signals which may be detected for purposes of identification and/or verification.

1 . A method of providing a carrier material with an identifiable code pattern, the method comprising 
 applying an effective amount of one or more species of fluorescent water-soluble nanocrystals; and    contacting the one or more species of water-soluble nanocrystals to the carrier material in operably linking the one or more water-soluble nanocrystals to the carrier material.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identifiable code pattern comprises a format selected from the group consisting of one or more designs, one or more letters, one or more numbers, one or more symbols, one or more characters, encoded data, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble nanocrystals comprise functionalized nanocrystals.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble nanocrystals are incorporated into the carrier material.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble nanocrystals are applied to a surface of the carrier material.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble nanocrystals comprise a component used in the formation of the carrier material.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , to the carrier material is applied one or more solutions of water-soluble nanocrystals, and wherein the one or more solutions of water-soluble nanocrystals, are applied in a form selected from the group consisting of a spray, and a droplet.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the applied one or more solutions from a spatial arrangement of deposits or localizations of the water-soluble nanocrystals in producing the identifiable code pattern.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of solutions is applied, and the plurality of solutions is applied in a manner selected from the group consisting of simultaneously, at separate times, and mixed in the application process.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more species of water-soluble nanocrystals comprises a plurality of species of water-soluble nanocrystals, wherein each species comprises a uniform size that is different from the uniform size of other species of the plurality of species, in providing an identifiable code pattern that can be detected as comprising multiple colors.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein one or more reactive functionalities of diaminocarboxylic acid comprising a coating of the functionalized nanocrystals is used to operably link the functionalized nanocrystals to the carrier material.  
     
     
         12 . An identifiable code pattern comprising an effective amount of one or more species of water-soluble nanocrystals applied to and operably linked to a carrier material, wherein the identifiable code pattern comprises a format selected from the group consisting of one or more designs, one or more letters, one or more numbers, one or more symbols, one or more characters, encoded data, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The identifiable code pattern according to  claim 12 , wherein the one or more species of water-soluble nanocrystals comprises a plurality of species of water-soluble nanocrystals, wherein each species comprises a uniform size that is different from the uniform size of other species of the plurality of species, in providing an identifiable code pattern that can be detected as comprising multiple colors.  
     
     
         14 . An identifiable code pattern comprising an effective amount of one or more species of functionalized nanocrystals applied to and operably linked to a carrier material, wherein the identifiable code pattern comprises a format selected from the group consisting of one or more designs, one or more letters, one or more numbers, one or more symbols, one or more characters, encoded data, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The identifiable code pattern according to  claim 14 , wherein the one or more species of functionalized nanocrystals comprises a plurality of species of functionalized nanocrystals, wherein each species comprises a uniform size that is different from the uniform size of other species of the plurality of species, in providing an identifiable code pattern that can be detected as comprising multiple colors.