Receptacle locator
First Claim
1. A receptacle comprising:
- a body for containing articles;
a radio transceiver on the body, transmitting a first radio frequency signal, and for receiving a second radio frequency signal that is responsive to the first radio frequency signal;
an indicator on the receptacle and communicating with the radio transceiver in such a manner that if the second signal is received by the transceiver, the indicator indicates whether the strength of the second signal is indicative of the receptacle being approximately at a pre-selected position for the receptacle; and
a power supply on the receptacle and powering the indicator.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for positively positioning receptacle at a pre-selected location. In a preferred embodiment a system for positioning a receptacle is provided. The system includes a transmitter, a receiver, and an indicator. The transmitter may be on the receptacle and transmits a signal from the current receptacle position. The receiver receives the signal and using the received signal, causes the indicator to indicate whether the receptacle is at the pre-selected position. In other preferred embodiments, the receptacle includes a power supply for the power consuming components on the receptacle. In another preferred embodiment, the transmitter is at the pre-selected position and the receiver is on the receptacle. Methods are also provided which include transmitting and receiving a signal from the current position of the receptacle. From the signal strength it is determined whether the receptacle is at the pre-selected position.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A receptacle comprising:
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a body for containing articles;
a radio transceiver on the body, transmitting a first radio frequency signal, and for receiving a second radio frequency signal that is responsive to the first radio frequency signal;
an indicator on the receptacle and communicating with the radio transceiver in such a manner that if the second signal is received by the transceiver, the indicator indicates whether the strength of the second signal is indicative of the receptacle being approximately at a pre-selected position for the receptacle; and
a power supply on the receptacle and powering the indicator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A receptacle for receiving articles comprising:
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a body including a bottom and a plurality of sides extending from the bottom, the body defining a volume for containing articles; and
a circuit including;
a transmitter for transmitting a signal from the receptacle, a receiver for receiving a signal responsive to the signal from the receptacle, the responsive signal to be from a pre-selected position for the receptacle, and an indicator adapted to indicate that the receiver is receiving the responsive signal in a manner indicative of the receptacle being approximately at the pre-selected position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A station for handling at least one receptacle, the station comprising:
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a pre-selected position for the receptacle, the receptacle to include a transmitter, a bottom, and a plurality of sides extending from the bottom, the receptacle to define a volume for containing articles; and
a transceiver at the pre-selected position, the transceiver to respond to a signal to be transmitted by the transmitter and to indicate whether the receptacle is approximately at the pre-selected position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of handling a receptacle, comprising:
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pre-selecting a position at which to handle the receptacle;
transmitting a signal from the pre-selected position;
receiving the signal on the receptacle; and
indicating whether the received signal is indicative of the receptacle being approximately at the pre-selected position. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for positioning a receptacle, the receptacle including a bottom and a plurality of sides extending from the bottom, the receptacle defining a volume for containing articles and being movable, the system comprising:
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a transmitter transmitting a signal, the transmitter being at one of a pre-selected position for the receptacle and on the receptacle;
a receiver to receive the signal, the receiver being at the other of the pre-selected position and on the receptacle; and
an indicator in communication with the receiver and adapted to indicate whether the receiver received the transmitter signal in a manner indicative of the receptacle being at the pre-selected position. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for positioning a receptacle, the receptacle including a bottom and a plurality of sides extending from the bottom, the receptacle defining a volume for containing articles and being movable, the system comprising:
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a transmitter transmitting a signal, the transmitter being at one of a pre-selected position for the receptacle and on the receptacle;
a receiver to receive the signal, the receiver being at the other of the pre-selected position and on the receptacle;
an indicator in communication with the receiver and adapted to indicate whether the receiver received the transmitter signal in a manner indicative of the receptacle being at the pre-selected position; and
a motion sensor sensing whether the receptacle is moving and being on the receptacle, the motion sensor communicating with the one of the transmitter and receiver that is on the receptacle in a manner so that the power drawn by the one of the transmitter and receiver that is on the receptacle is minimized when the motion sensor senses that the receptacle is not moving.
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30. A system for positioning a receptacle, the receptacle including a bottom and a plurality of sides extending from the bottom, the receptacle defining a volume for containing articles and being movable, the system comprising:
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a transmitter transmitting a signal, the transmitter being at one of a pre-selected position for the receptacle and on the receptacle;
a receiver to receive the signal, the receiver being at the other of the pre-selected position and on the receptacle;
an indicator in communication with the receiver and adapted to indicate whether the receiver received the transmitter signal in a manner indicative of the receptacle being at the pre-selected position; and
a memory storing tracking data pertinent to the receptacle and communicating with the one of the transmitter and receiver that is on the receptacle.
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31. A system for positioning a receptacle, the receptacle including a bottom and a plurality of sides extending from the bottom, the receptacle defining a volume for containing articles and being movable, the system comprising:
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a transmitter transmitting a signal, the transmitter being at one of a pre-selected position for the receptacle and on the receptacle;
a receiver to receive the signal, the receiver being at the other of the pre-selected position and on the receptacle;
an indicator in communication with the receiver and adapted to indicate whether the receiver received the transmitter signal in a manner indicative of the receptacle being at the pre-selected position; and
a memory storing tracking data pertinent to the receptacle and communicating with one of the transmitter and receiver, whereby the tracking data is used to bill an owner of the receptacle
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Specification