One of the new patents expands the technology's original series of patents first filed by Visualant in 2007. It protects the ChromaID technology application in the fields of manufacturing, process quality control, authentication of financial and identity documents, use with biological tissues related to diagnosis and security, as well as the deterioration of manufactured materials and monitoring of liquids, fuels, and lubricants. The patent also details methods for networking the functioning of the ChromaID technology for database building and access for comparing data acquired by one ChromaID device with those collected by other devices. In addition, the new patent solidifies Visualant’s patent portfolio by extending the original ChromaID inventions to these various application domains, company executives said.
A second newly issued patent describes a fluid sampling device that simplifies spectral analysis to produce an accurate but inexpensive chromatic fingerprint for fluid samples. The use of the ChromaID in identifying, authenticating and diagnosing fluids extends the reach of the technology through its unique use of an array of variable wavelength LED emitters and photodiode detectors to measure the scattering of electromagnetic energy from a fluid.
The Visualant ChromaID technology as applied to identification, authentication and diagnostics of fluids allows for a wide variety of real-time real world applications. They include, but are not limited to: confirming the correct fluid is flowing through an IV drip line; identifying known contaminants in various fluids; determining whether water is potable; looking for the presence of water in aviation jet fuel; and checking for counterfeit fluids.
Visualant’s ChromaID technology was invented by Thomas Furness, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Washington and virtual reality expert. He recognized that every material exhibited a unique light signature when stimulated by visible and invisible structured coherent light sources. Furness and his team continue to work with Visualant to extend the reach of its foundational ChromaID technology.“This latest patent is further validation of our intellectual property. Our patent portfolio is a core element of Visualant’s asset base," Ron Erickson, Visualant founder and CEO, said in a news release. "We have a number of additional patents pending and will continue to file new patents to extend the reach of our intellectual property.”
Based in Seattle, Wash., Visualant develops spectral matching technology. The company was founded in 1998.