Composition including an item and an encoded optical identification element that is physically associated with the item

Abstract

A composition including an item and an optical identification element that is physically associated with the item. The optical identification element includes a binder material and one or more materials embedded in the binder material. The one or more materials provides a composite X-ray diffraction pattern when illuminated by an X-ray beam. The composite X-ray diffraction pattern being indicative of a code. The code relating to information about the item.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
   
   
       38 . A composition comprising:
 an item; and   an optical identification element that is physically associated with the item, the optical identification element comprising:
 a binder material; and 
 one or more materials embedded in the binder material, the one or more materials providing a composite X-ray diffraction pattern when illuminated by an X-ray beam, the composite X-ray diffraction pattern being indicative of a code, the code relating to information about the item. 
   
   
   
       39 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the code includes a binary or higher order code. 
   
   
       40 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the code includes a binary code having a number of bits that correspond to a number of unique Debye-Scherrer diffraction patterns in the composite X-ray diffraction pattern. 
   
   
       41 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the code is a binary code that is arranged in a protocol including one or more error-check bits and a plurality of data bits. 
   
   
       42 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more materials each include a powdered crystal material. 
   
   
       43 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the binder material is selected from glass, plastic, one or more polymers, and combinations including one or more of the foregoing. 
   
   
       44 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the optical identification element is shaped as a microbead. 
   
   
       45 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the optical identification element is shaped as a macrobead. 
   
   
       46 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the binder material is in the form of a thread or fiber. 
   
   
       47  The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the item is selected from the group consisting of: large objects, small objects, products, solids, powders, liquids, gases, plants, pharmaceuticals, currency, ID cards, minerals, cells and/or animals. 
   
   
       48 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the item is a chemical. 
   
   
       49 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the item comprises a nucleic acid probe. 
   
   
       50 . The composition of  claim 49  wherein the nucleic acid probe is hybridized to a target nucleic acid. 
   
   
       51 . The composition of  claim 38  wherein the optical identification element is configured for labeling the item for at least one of sorting, tracking, identifying, verifying, and authenticating the item. 
   
   
       52 . The composition of  claim 38  wherein the code includes an error check portion configured to ensure that the code is accurate. 
   
   
       53 . The composition of  claim 38  wherein the at least one material includes a plurality of materials, each material having a predetermined diffraction pattern configured for a coding system. 
   
   
       54 . The composition of  claim 53  wherein the plurality of materials is a plurality of crystal materials, each crystal material having a predetermined Debye-Scherrer X-ray diffraction pattern configured for the coding system. 
   
   
       55 . The composition of  claim 38  wherein the item includes material that is one of transparent to the X-ray beam and substantially transparent to the X-ray beam. 
   
   
       56 . The composition of  claim 38  wherein the binder material either does not diffract the X-ray beam or diffracts the X-ray beam in a known manner. 
   
   
       57 . The composition of  claim 41  wherein the code includes start and stop bits.