Object identification system and device

• US 20060145830A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jean K. Comstock
• Original Assignee: Jean K. Comstock
• Inventors: Comstock, Jean K.
• Application Number:
  US11/014,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20060145830A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/42 Devices for identifying luggage; Means for attaching same
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/06 with illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

The object identification system of the present invention comprises: a hand-held mechanism or remote control unit employed by the user to set up the system, and to locate an object or objects once the system is set up; and an identification device which is attachable to the object(s) to be identified, and which has an array of lights built into it for uniquely identifying the object(s) as belonging to the user of the system and device. More specifically, the remote control unit is initially employed by the user to program the identification device to respond to a polling signal from the remote control unit by illuminating, in a certain sequence or with a certain pattern, lights built into the identification device so as to uniquely identify, as belonging to the user, the object(s) to which the identification device is attached. Once the identification device is programmed, the remote control unit can be used to generate a polling signal, in response to which the identification device illuminates its lights in the certain sequence or with the certain pattern to identify the object(s) as belonging to the user.

Claims

1. An object identifying system, comprising:

a remote control unit operable by a user to generate a polling signal; and

an identification device attachable to an object belonging to the user, and having a plurality of lights mounted thereon, said identification device being responsive to the polling signal generated by said remote control unit for illuminating the plurality of lights in such a manner as to identify the object as belonging to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lights is illuminated in a certain sequence in response to the polling signal.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote control unit is used by the user to preset the certain sequence in which the lights are illuminated in response to the polling signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lights is illuminated in a certain pattern in response to the polling signal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the remote control unit is used by the user to preset the certain pattern in which the lights are illuminated in response to the polling signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control unit comprises a first control button for generating a polling signal and a second control button for programming the identification device to illuminate the plurality of lights in such a manner as to identify the object as belonging to the user.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the remote control unit further comprises a microprocessor unit connected to the first and second control buttons, and responsive thereto for generating corresponding outputs, and a transmitter connected to said microprocessor unit for transmitting the corresponding outputs to the identification device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said identification device comprises a receiver for receiving the corresponding outputs transmitted by said transmitter, and a microprocessor unit connected to said receiver for receiving the corresponding outputs therefrom.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said microprocessor unit of said identification device responds to a first type of the corresponding outputs by programming said identification device to illuminate the plurality of lights in at least one of a certain sequence and a certain pattern so as to identify the object as belonging to the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said microprocessor unit of said identification device responds to a second type of the corresponding outputs by illuminating the plurality of lights in said at least one of the certain sequence and the certain pattern so as to identify the object as belonging to the user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said identification device further comprises a plurality of drivers connected to said microprocessor unit of said identification device for illuminating the plurality of lights.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification device comprises a peripheral portion and a central portion, said plurality of lights being disposed in said peripheral portion, and identification information relating to the user being displayed in said central portion.

13. An object identifying device attachable to an object belonging to a user, said device comprising:

a plurality of lights disposed on said device;

receiving means for receiving a polling signal; and

illuminating means responsive to the polling signal for illuminating the plurality of lights in such a manner as to identify the object as belonging to the user.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of lights is illuminated in a certain sequence in response to the polling signal.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of lights is illuminated in a certain pattern in response to the polling signal.

16. The device of claim 13, further comprising programming means responsive to a programming signal for programming said illuminating means to illuminate the plurality of lights in at least one of a certain sequence and a certain pattern so as to identify the object as belonging to the user.

17. The device of claim 13, further comprising a receiver for receiving a programming signal, and a microprocessor unit connected to said receiver and responsive to the programming signal for setting at least one of a certain sequence of illumination of the plurality of lights and a certain pattern of illumination of the plurality of lights.

18. The device of claim 13, further comprising a receiver for receiving the polling signal, and a microprocessor unit connected to said receiver and responsive to the polling signal for illuminating said plurality of lights in such a manner as to identify the object as belonging to the user.

19. The device of claim 18,wherein said plurality of lights is illuminated in at least one of a certain sequence and a certain pattern so as to identify the object as belonging to the user.

20. The device of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of drivers connected between said microprocessor unit and said plurality of lights for illuminating said plurality of lights in response to an output from said microprocessor unit.