Method and label for recognizing figure by infrared vision in any environment

Abstract

A label comprising some figures that can be recognized by infrared vision devices. The main object is to put a figure surface on or near a reference surface and cooling one of these surfaces, in order to achieve cool surface and warm surface, enabling infrared vision devices to discriminate between the surfaces. The cooling of the surface is achieved by a Latent heat effect due to a evaporation of a liquid absorbed on said surface.

Claims

1. A method for recognizing a figure by an infrared vision device using a related combination of a first surface and a second surface, comprising the steps of: forming said first surface from a material which is capable of absorbing an evaporative liquid; and forming said second surface from a material which is a non-absorbing, low-emissivity material, whereby when said evaporative liquid evaporates from said first surface, said first surface will be cooled to a predetermined degree such that the difference in temperature between said first surface and said second surface will enable said figure to be detected by infrared vision devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: using a material that is also a hydrophobic material for said second surface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: attaching said first surface onto said second reference surface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: printing said first surface onto said second surface using a dedicated ink.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: laying both surfaces upon a common base member.

6. The method of claim 1, further includes a step of wetting the surface that made of material with a capability to absorb liquid.

7. The method of claim 6, further using a material that changes its color while wetted for said surface with a capability to absorb liquid.

8. A label with a figure which can be recognized by an infrared vision device, wherein said label comprises a combination of first and second surfaces and wherein: said first surface is fabricated from a material which is capable of absorbing an evaporative liquid; and said second surface is fabricated from a material which is a non-absorbing, low-emissivity material, whereby when said evaporative liquid evaporates from said first surface, said first surface will be cooled to a predetermined degree such that the difference in temperature between said first surface and said second surface will enable said figure to be detected by infrared vision devices.

9. The label of claim 8, wherein: said first surface is attached to said second surface.

10. The label of claim 8, wherein: said first surface is printed on said second surface.

11. The label of claim 8, wherein: said first material which is capable of absorbing an evaporative liquid has the capability to change its color when it is rendered wet as a result of absorbing the evaporative liquid.

12. The label of claim 8, wherein: said figure comprises a plurality of zones wherein said plurality of zones exhibit different gradient degrees of emissivity, depending upon different liquid absorption capabilities of said different zones of said figure, such that an infrared detection device is enabled to discriminate between said different zones of said figure.

13. The label of claim 8, wherein: said second surface is made a material that is also a hydrophobic material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a label according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates side by side surfaces method.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates label with gradient image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

(5) The principles and operation of the method and the label, according to the present invention, may be better understood with reference to the drawing and the accompanying description.

(6) FIG. 1 illustrates a label according to the present invention. The label 10 is made of a reference surface 11 and a figure surface 12. FIG. 1A illustrates the label from the front view and FIG. 1B illustrates the label from the side view. The reference surface 11 can be made of material with a capability to absorb evaporate liquid, while the figure surface 12 is made of a low emissivity material preferably non-absorbing materialor vice versathe reference surface 11 can be made of a low emissivity material preferably non-absorbing material, while the figure surface 12 is made of material with a capability to absorb evaporate liquid.

(7) Liquid absorbing material, can be any material that can get wet and doesn't repels liquid, not limited to fabrics and paper. It needs to have a higher emissivity than 0.7 in order to get cooler from the evaporation effect.

(8) FIG. 2 illustrates side by side surfaces method. FIG. 2A illustrates a front view and FIG. 2B illustrates side view. In this figure the reference surface 11 and the figure surface 12 are laid side by side of on a mutual base 13. As described in FIG. 1, one of the surfaces can be made of material with a capability to absorb evaporate liquid, while the other is made of a low emissivity material preferably non-absorbing material.

(9) FIG. 3 illustrates label with gradient image. In another configuration, the figure surface 12 can be made to create gradient image 14 in the thermal device by using a gradient emissivity surface that have different emissivity zones or graphics that will be differently affected by the absorbing layer or alternatively, a gradient can be created with the absorbing layer by using different density or different absorbing capability.