Electronic locating systems
First Claim
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1. A system for locating an object comprising:
- a transmitter for transmitting of an electromagnetic interrogation signal within a defined interrogation zone;
a tag adapted for attachment to an object, the tag being responsive to said electromagnetic interrogation signal and comprising a signal receiving structure adapted to capture at least a portion of the energy of said interrogation signal, and a response generator for generating a responsive signal to announce the presence of the object within an interrogation zone;
a receiver for detecting said responsive signal; and
display means for displaying information on the tagged object.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for location of objects to facilitate retrieval, filing, security, inventory stock-keeping and the like. The methods and apparatus employ a tag element associated with each object-to-be-located, and interrogation system for searching one or more spatial regions for such tagged items, as well as mechanisms for identifying objects within the interrogated region.
27 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for locating an object comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting of an electromagnetic interrogation signal within a defined interrogation zone;
a tag adapted for attachment to an object, the tag being responsive to said electromagnetic interrogation signal and comprising a signal receiving structure adapted to capture at least a portion of the energy of said interrogation signal, and a response generator for generating a responsive signal to announce the presence of the object within an interrogation zone;
a receiver for detecting said responsive signal; and
display means for displaying information on the tagged object. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25)
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2. The system of claim 2 wherein the transmitter further comprises means for varying the frequency of signals generated by a electromagnetic radiation signal generator.
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18. A method of locating an object comprising the steps of:
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coding an object with a tag responsive to a predetermined electromagnetic signal;
interrogating a spatial region with said electromagnetic signal to cause the tag to generate a responsive signal if present within the region; and
detecting said responsive signal.
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23. A method of taking inventory of distributed items comprising the steps of:
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coding each item to be located with a tag responsive to a predetermined electromagnetic signal;
interrogating a spatial region with said electromagnetic signal to cause the tag to generate a responsive signal if present within the region; and
detecting said responsive signal to confirm the tagged item'"'"'s presence.
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24. A method of controlling the distribution of items from an initial location comprising the steps of:
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coding each item to be distributed with a tag responsive to a predetermined electromagnetic signal, said coded tag defining an intended location;
interrogating a spatial region with said electromagnetic signal to cause the tag to generate a responsive signal if present within a region other than the intended location; and
detecting said responsive signal to confirm the tagged item'"'"'s presence.
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26. A method of locating distributed items comprising:
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attaching an identification tag to each item to be retrieved, the tag comprising a selectively activatible means for emitting an audible sound;
coding each tag to respond to a different electromagnetic signal;
initiating an audible sound on a selected tag by transmitting a predetermined radio signal; and
locating said tag together with the item to which it is attached by said sound.
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Specification