Radio frequency identification devices, remote communication devices, identification systems, communication methods, and identification methods

• US 20050083201A1
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Scott T. Trosper
• Inventors: Trosper, Scott T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,123,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0095 Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0222 Message structure or message content, e.g. message protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units

Abstract

The present invention provides radio frequency identification devices, remote communication devices, identification systems, communication methods, and identification methods. A radio frequency identification device according to one aspect includes a substrate; communication circuitry coupled with the substrate and configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier, to process the identifier of the wireless signal and, to output a control signal responsive to the processing of the identifier; and indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to receive the control signal and to indicate presence of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal. A communication method according to another aspect includes providing a radio frequency identification device; receiving a wireless signal including an identifier within the radio frequency identification device; processing the identifier; generating a control signal after the processing; and indicating presence of the radio frequency identification device using indication circuitry of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

a substrate;

communication circuitry coupled with the substrate and configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier, to process the identifier of the wireless signal and to output a control signal responsive to the processing of the identifier; and

indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to receive the control signal and to indicate presence at the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the indication circuitry includes a light emitting device configured to emit a human visible signal to indicate the presence.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the wireless signal includes data and the communication circuitry is configured to output the control signal comprising the data.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to output a wireless signal.

5. A remote communication device comprising:

a housing;

communication circuitry supported by the housing and including a data port, the communication circuitry being configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier and data, to process the identifier, and to write the data to the data port responsive to the processing of the identifier; and

indication circuitry coupled with the data port and configured to receive the data and to indicate presence of the remote communication device responsive to the data.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein the indication circuitry is configured to emit a human perceptible signal to indicate the presence.

7. The device according to claim 5 wherein the indication circuitry includes a light emitting device configured to emit a human visible signal to indicate the presence.

8. The device according to claim 5 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to output a wireless signal.

9. The device according to claim 5 wherein the wireless signal includes a command and the communication circuitry writes the data to the data port responsive to the command.

10. The device according to claim 5 wherein the communication circuitry comprises radio frequency identification device circuitry.

11. A remote communication device comprising:

a housing;

communication circuitry supported by the housing and including a data port, the communication circuitry being configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier and data, to process the identifier, and to write the data to the data port responsive to the processing of the identifier; and

indication circuitry including;

a latch coupled with the data port and configured to receive the data; and

an indicator coupled with the latch and configured to output a signal to indicate presence of the remote communication device responsive to the data received within the latch.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the indicator is configured to emit a human perceptible signal to indicate the presence.

13. The device according to claim 11 wherein the indicator includes a light emitting device configured to emit a human visible signal to indicate the presence.

14. The device according to claim 11 wherein the wireless signal includes a command and the communication circuitry writes the data to the data port responsive to the command.

15. The device according to claim 11 wherein the communication circuitry comprises radio frequency identification device circuitry.

16. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

an integrated circuit including communication circuitry configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier, to process the identifier of the wireless signal and to output a control signal responsive to the processing of the identifier; and

indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to receive the control signal and to output a human perceptible signal to indicate presence of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal.

17. The device according to claim 16 wherein the indication circuitry includes a light emitting device configured to emit a human visible signal to indicate the presence.

18. The device according to claim 16 wherein the wireless signal includes data and the communication circuitry is configured to output the control signal comprising the data.

19. The device according to claim 16 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to output a wireless signal.

20. The device according to claim 16 further comprising a battery coupled with the communication circuitry and the indication circuitry.

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