Method and device for the detection and identification of objects, secure containers and systems which are provided with said device, and objects adapted for same

• US 20070008073A1
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcea Co.
• Original Assignee: Alcea Co.
• Inventors: Poasevara, Claude
• Granted Patent: US 7,701,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.520
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10019 resolving collision on the communication channels between simultaneously or concurrently interrogated record carriers. collision between the communication channels used by wireless communication devices, where the solution is not particularly adapted for RFIDs or the like, H04W74/08
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment

Abstract

A method of detecting and identifying an object (O) which is provided with identification elements (Io) and wireless transmission elements (Ao), the object being disposed close to one receiver module (Mi) from among a plurality of receiver modules (M1, . . . , Mi, . . . , Mn). The inventive method includes: (i) an electromagnetic coupling between the object'"'"'s wireless transmission elements (Ao) and a fixed antenna (Ai) which is associated with the aforementioned receiver module (Mi); and (ii) an electrical coupling between the fixed antenna (Ai) of the receiver module (Mi) and a secondary fixed antenna (3) which is common to all of the fixed antennas (A1, , Ai, . . . An) of the receiver module. Moreover, the common secondary fixed antenna (3) is electromagnetically coupled to a primary fixed antenna (2) which is connected to a read module (4) that is designed to read the identification data originating from the identification elements (Io).

Claims

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. Method for the detection and identification of an object provided with identification means and wireless transmission means, this object being present close to one receiver module among a plurality of receiver modules, this method comprising:

an electromagnetic coupling between the wireless transmission means of said object and a fixed antenna associated with said receiver module, and

an analogue switching between each fixed antenna associated with a receiver module and a secondary fixed antenna common to all of said fixed antennae of the receiver module, so that said secondary fixed antenna is electrically coupled to each of the fixed antennae of each receiver module in succession,

this common secondary fixed antenna being electromagnetically coupled to a primary fixed antenna connected to a reader module which is designed to read identification data originating from said identification means.

31. Method according to claim 30, characterized in that it also comprises a transmission of information from the reader module to the identification means of a previously detected and identified object.

33. Method according to claim 30, characterized in that each electromagnetic coupling between a fixed antenna of a receiver module and wireless transmission means of an object induces a supply to the identification means within said object, by inductive coupling, of electrical energy originating from a power supply module connected to the primary fixed antenna.

34. Method according to claim 33, characterized in that each electromagnetic coupling between a fixed antenna of a receiver module and wireless transmission means of an object induces a transmission of identification data transmitted by the identification means of said object towards the reader module.

35. Method according to claim 30, characterized in that it also comprises a processing of the identification data originating from the identification means of an object, and a selective control of blocking/locking means which are associated with the receiver module the antenna of which is electromagnetically coupled to the wireless transmission means of said object.

36. Method according to claim 30, comprising:

an electromagnetic coupling between the wireless transmission means of said object and a fixed reception antenna associated with a receiver module,

a permanent electromagnetic coupling between a secondary fixed reading antenna and an antenna of a reader module, characterized in that the secondary fixed reading antenna is connected to the fixed reception antenna via a plurality of link selections in cascade each comprising an electrical link between a secondary intermediate antenna of said link section and a primary intermediate antenna of said link section and an electromagnetic coupling between said primary intermediate antenna and a secondary intermediate antenna of a following link section.

49. Object designed to be processed by a detection and identification method according to claim 30, comprising identification means and wireless transmission means designed to exchange information by proximity radiofrequency with a receiver module.

50. Object according to claim 49, characterized in that it also comprises means for mechanical coupling with selective blocking/locking means arranges in said receiver module.

51. Application of the method according to claim 30, for the management of keys or bunches of keys in a lockable cabinet.

52. Application of the method according to claim 30, for the management of documents in a filing cabinet.

53. Application of the method according to claim 30, for the management of weapons in a weapons locker.

54. Application of the method according to claim 30, for the identification of a vehicle in a parking space.

55. System for the detection and identification of a vehicle in a parking space of a parking area, using the method according to claim 30, characterized in that this parking space comprises a fixed reception antenna electrically connected to a primary antenna common to all of the parking spaces of aid parking area and electromagnetically coupled to an antenna of a common reader module, said vehicle being equipped with an identifier module comprising an antenna arranged within said vehicle in order to be electromagnetically coupled to the fixed reception antenna of said parking space when said vehicle is parked in said parking space.

56. Systems according to claim 55, characterized in that the identifier, module of the vehicle is included in one and/or more of the number plates of said vehicle.

57. System according to claim 56, characterized in that the identifier module of the vehicle is provided in the form of a radiofrequency tag (RF tag)

37. Device for the detection and identification of an object provided with identification means and wireless transmission means, this object being present close to one receiver module among a plurality of receiver modules, this device comprising

a plurality of fixed antennae each associated with one receiver module among the plurality of receiver modules,

analogue switching means for selectively connecting one antenna among said plurality of fixed antennae to a common secondary fixed antenna,

a primary fixed antenna electromagnetically coupled to the e secondary fixed antenna, and

a common reader module designed to read identification data originating from said identification means, this reader module being connected to the primary fixed antenna.

38. Device according to claim 37, characterized in that the common reader module is also designed to transmit information to an object close to a receiver module.

39. Device according to claim 37, characterized in that the selective connection means are arranged in order to connect each fixed antenna of the module to the secondary fixed antenna in sequence.

40. Device according to claim 37, characterized in that it also comprises a power supply module connected to the primary fixed antenna, this module being arranged in order to transmit electrical energy to the identification means of an object the wireless transmission means of which are inductively coupled to a fixed antenna of a receiver module, via the electromagnetic coupling between the primary fixed antenna and the secondary antenna and the electromagnetic coupling between the fixed antenna of the receiver module and the wireless transmission means of said object.

41. Device according to claim 39, characterized in that the common secondary antenna is electromagnetically coupled to a primary intermediate antenna, this primary intermediate antenna being electrically connected to a secondary intermediate antenna electromagnetically coupled to the primary fixed antenna electrically connected to the reader module.

42. Device according to claim 41, characterized in that it also comprises a plurality of pairs of intermediate antennae each constituted by a primary intermediate antenna and a secondary intermediate antenna which are electrically connected.

43. Equipment for securely storing a plurality of objects each provided with identification means and wireless transmission means, comprising:

a group of modules each designed to receive one object among said plurality of objects, each receiver module comprising means for selectively blocking/locking an object, and

means for controlling said selective blocking/locking means,

characterized in that it also comprises a plurality of fixed antennae each associated with one receiver module among the plurality of receiver modules,

means for selectively connecting one antenna among said plurality of fixed antennae to a common secondary fixed antenna, and

a primary fixed antenna electromagnetically coupled to the secondary fixed antenna, and

a common reader module designed to read identification data originating from said identification means, this reader module being connected to the primary fixed antenna and cooperating with the control means.

44. Equipment according to claim 43, characterized in that it also comprises electrical supplying means connected to the primary fixed antenna, which are arranged in order to supply power to the identification means of and object the wireless transmission means of which are inductively couple to one antenna of one of the receiver modules of said equipment.

45. Equipment according to claim 43, designed for the management of a set of keys, characterized in that each receiver module comprises;

a housing arranged to receive a mechanical coupling part of a key or a key ring, this part including the wireless transmission means,

a fixed antenna of the module arranged close to said housing so as to produce an electromagnetic coupling between said fixed antenna and the wireless transmission means of an object the mechanical coupling part of which is engaged in the receiver housing, and

an electromagnet comprising a mobile part arranged in order to engage in said mechanical coupling part.

46. Equipment according to claim 45, characterized in that the mechanical coupling part has one end which comprises in an substantially cylindrical cavity, the wireless transmission means and the identification means of the object.

47. Equipment according to claim 45, characterized in that the mechanical coupling part comprises:

a first part comprising;

a head which includes the wireless transmission means and the identification means,

an indented part for receiving the mobile part of a blocking/locking electromagnet,

a non-reversible mechanical coupling part, and

a second part comprising at least one housing for receiving the non-reversible mechanical coupling part of the first part.

48. Equipment according to claim 43, designed to store in a secure manner weapons provided with identification means and wireless transmission means.