Interrogator and Interrogation System Employing the Same
First Claim
1. An interrogation system, comprising:
- a first fixed interrogator, located at a first station, configured to detect an object at a first time;
a second fixed interrogator, located at a second station, configured to detect said object at a second time;
a mobile interrogator, located at a third station, configured to detect said object at a third time; and
a base command unit configured to receive signals from said first and second fixed interrogators and said mobile interrogator to track a location of said object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interrogator, methods of discerning the presence of an object, and interrogation systems employing the same. In one embodiment, the interrogation systems include multiple interrogators that communicate with a base command unit to track a location of an object. In another embodiment wherein the object is an RFID object (e.g., an object with an RFID tag), the interrogators employ signal processing techniques such as precharging the RFID object, and correlating a reference code with a reply code from the RFID object using selected techniques to increase a sensitivity of the interrogator, especially for adverse environments. In other embodiments, the interrogation systems include variations of metal instruments and sponges employed therewith. In yet another embodiment, the interrogation system includes metal interrogators capable of discerning the presence of a metal object, especially in a presence of another metal object.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An interrogation system, comprising:
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a first fixed interrogator, located at a first station, configured to detect an object at a first time;
a second fixed interrogator, located at a second station, configured to detect said object at a second time;
a mobile interrogator, located at a third station, configured to detect said object at a third time; and
a base command unit configured to receive signals from said first and second fixed interrogators and said mobile interrogator to track a location of said object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating an interrogation system, comprising:
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detecting an object at a first station with a first fixed interrogator at a first time;
detecting said object at a second location with a second fixed interrogator at a second time;
detecting said object at a third location with a mobile interrogator at a third time;
receiving signals from said first and second fixed interrogators and said mobile interrogator at a base command unit; and
tracking a location of said object with said base command unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An interrogation system, comprising:
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an interrogator configured to detect an object at a first time and a second time; and
a base command unit configured to receive signals from said interrogator to track a location of said object. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of operating an interrogation system, comprising:
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detecting an object with an interrogator at a first time;
detecting said object with said interrogator at a second time;
receiving signals from said interrogator at a base command unit; and
tracking a location of said object with said base command unit. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification