Abstract:
A system and associated method provide a marking of material to be applied to goods. In one embodiment, magnetic material is applied in a predetermined pattern. An accumulation of magnetic material in one orientation across the structured pattern may provide an automatically sensible value. Magnetically readable material may be provided as a predetermined, repeatable pattern, where the magnetic material is applied to a surface with a resolution in a range of at least 10,000 to 100 dots per inch.
Abstract:
An assay system includes an optical imager to acquire high resolution images of assay strips (e.g., lateral flow immunochromatographic test strips) and performs image processing to identify individual assay strips and determine results for each assay strip, by quantifies the presence or absence of test signal line(s) and control signal line(s). Assay strips may be in a holder or carrier contained in a specimen container also holding a specimen. The assay system automatically logs all results and data to a database that stores a high resolution image of the original immunochromatographic assay, the values of test line(s) and control line(s), and the test result. A user interface directs an end user through operation.
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing an array of biomolecules that have complementary binding species is disclosed. The method utilizes a master substrate containing a desired master array of binding molecules or ligands, e.g., DNA target molecules. A mixture of complementary, antiligand molecules, e.g., DNA probe molecules, are then hybridized to the ligands of the master array, forming an array of antiligand molecules reversibly bound to the molecules in the master array. The antiligand array is then transferred and bound to a separate substrate, to form a desired array of antiligand molecules on the separate substrate. The process may be repeated to produce multiple arrays or multiple generations of arrays. Also disclosed is a sensor array device and method. The device includes an array of vibratory tympanic elements, each having a specific analyte binding probe carried on the vibratory membrane of the element. A binding event is detected by a change in the vibrational resonance of a selected element.
Abstract:
An anticounterfeiting device comprising a surface relief structure having both diffractive and polarizing properties. Polarization of reflected light is controlled by the orientation and composition of a fine grating structure whose shortest period is substantially smaller than the wavelength of visible light; and diffraction is controlled by a longer period component of the grating structure having a second orientation. Presence and arrangement of the polarizing properties of the device are detected by illuminating the device with polarized light and viewing the reflected light, or by illuminating the device with unpolarized light and viewing reflected light through a polarizer. Because such a device is difficult to copy or reverse engineer precisely, the authenticity of the device can be judged by the presence and arrangement of the polarization properties and the diffraction properties in the device.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for producing durable embossing tools is disclosed. An anisotropic etching process, such as ion etching, is used to etch a relief pattern into a hard substrate. A transfer layer is formed overlaying a generally smooth, seamless surface region of a substrate. A desired relief pattern is formed in the transfer layer, by exposing a photoresist, embossing, or the like. The substrate having the photoresist thereon is subjected to an anisotropic etch. The anisotropic etch continues until the transfer layer is completely removed and the relief pattern is formed in the upper surface of the embossing tool. The relative etch rates between the transfer layer and the surface region of the embossing tool are selected to provide the desired depth modulation in the surface of the embossing tool. An embossing tool produced according to the invention has a relatively hard surface and may thus be used for the mass production of holographic images without significant degradation of the pattern. Because the embossing tool can be made from an extremely hard material such as chromium or hardened steel, materials which previously could not be economically embossed with holograms, such as aluminum or steel, may now be embossed by an embossing tool made according to this invention.