Patent ID: 8470605

Claim:
An optical reader for reading encoded microparticles, each microparticle having an elongated body with an optically detectable code extending along a longitudinal axis of the corresponding elongated body, the reader comprising: a plate having a plurality of channels extending lengthwise along a surface of the plate, each of the channels configured to receive and align a plurality of the microparticles so that the codes of the microparticles are in a common fixed orientation relative to each other and extend longitudinally along a length of the respective channel; an illumination source for illuminating the microparticles in the channels, the codes in the microparticles reflecting a portion of incident light and permitting a portion of the incident light to pass through the microparticles thereby providing an output signal indicative of the code; and a detection device configured to capture the output signals provided by the microparticles.