Passive radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder/reader system and method for survey marker location

• US 20070126579A1
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Adams, Donna Fedukowski
• Original Assignee: David Adams, Donna Fedukowski
• Inventors: Adams, David, Fedukowski, Donna
• Application Number:
  US11/292,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20070126579A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/04 Permanent marks; Boundary markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/751 wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal

Abstract

A system designed to identify survey markers that are obscured by an accumulation of dust and dirt or overgrowth of vegetation. The system provides for automatic detection of survey markers using passive radio frequency transponder technology to detect the immediate presence of a tagged survey marker and read additional unique identification data corresponding to said marker. The operator can be signaled audibly and/or visually when a tagged survey marker is detected. The transmitter and antennae are mounted in a handheld or portable unit. An integrated microprocessor performs the requisite algorithms needed to process the reply from one or more RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags and generate the alert signals for the operator alerts. Once the RFID tagged survey marker has been located, it can be cleared of accumulated dust, dirt and overgrowth of vegetation to make it visible for confirming the property boundary. Handheld RFID programmers are used to load or record important identification data in the attached tag, regarding latitude-longitude location, and other pertinent survey data.

Claims

1. A method for detecting and locating property boundary survey markers, including:

tagging said survey markers with preprogrammed passive RFID transponders;

operating a handheld or portable RF transceiver;

detecting a tagged survey marker;

sounding an alert when a tagged survey marker is detected;

locating the tagged survey marker;

clearing the tagged survey marker of visual obstructions; and

improving the process of locating established property boundaries.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including:

the step of programming the RFID transponders at the time of installation.

3. A boundary marker with a programmable weatherproof RFID tag incorporated into said boundary marker.

4. A programmable weatherproof RFID tag incorporating a method of attachment enabling permanent attachment of said RFID tag to various types of boundary markers.

5. An improvement to the utility design of various types of boundary markers incorporating the provision of a flat surface of sufficient area to accommodate the attachment of a weatherproof RFID tag by a bonding means or other suitable means of enjoinment.

6. An improvement to the utility design of various types of boundary markers incorporating the provision of a loop or ring to accommodate the attachment of a weatherproof RFID tag.

7. A weatherproof RFID tag designed to include method of attachment, said method of attachment being an adhesive method, a clip, a ring, hook and loop fasteners, rivets, screws, nails, or various other methods of attachment to either new or existing survey markers.