RFID SMART BOX

• US 20090303003A1
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Trinh, Tu T., Pritchard, Daryl L., Sullivan, Eric
• Application Number:
  US12/134,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20090303003A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication

Abstract

A module for identifying contents of a container, the module comprising an interrogation trigger, an interrogation transmitter, a response receiver, and a response transmitter. The module may be embedded within a wall of the container or affixed to an outside surface of the container. The module may be an active device initiating an interrogation or a passive device merely responding to a received interrogation signal.

Claims

1. A system for identifying contents of a container, the system comprising:

an interrogation trigger affixed to an outside surface of the container;

an interrogation transmitter affixed to an outside surface of the container;

a response receiver affixed to an outside surface of the container; and

a response transmitter affixed to an outside surface of the container.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interrogation trigger, the interrogation transmitter, the response receiver, and the response transmitter are all embedded within a module affixed to an outside surface of the container.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interrogation trigger is an interrogation receiver that receives an interrogation signal from an external RFID reader.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interrogation trigger is a switch.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interrogation trigger is a photovoltaic cell.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including a reconfigurable memory operable to store information received by the response receiver for future transmission by the response transmitter.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, further including a power source to power the interrogation transmitter.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein, upon activation of the interrogation trigger, the interrogation transmitter sends an interrogation signal into the container, the response receiver receives a response signal from items within the container, and thereafter the response transmitter is operable to forward information from the response signal.

9. A system for identifying contents of a container, the system comprising:

the container; and

a module embedded within a wall of the container, the module including;

an interrogation trigger;

an interrogation transmitter;

a response receiver; and

a response transmitter.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the interrogation trigger, the interrogation transmitter, the response receiver, and the response transmitter are all embedded within the module.

11. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the interrogation trigger is an interrogation receiver that receives an interrogation signal from an external RFID reader.

12. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the interrogation trigger is a switch.

13. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the interrogation trigger is a photovoltaic cell.

14. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the module further includes a reconfigurable memory operable to store information received by the response receiver for future transmission by the response transmitter.

15. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the module further includes a power source to power the interrogation transmitter.

16. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein, upon activation of the interrogation trigger, the interrogation transmitter sends an interrogation signal into the container, the response receiver receives a response signal from items within the container, and thereafter the response transmitter is operable to forward information from the response signal.

18. A system for identifying contents of a container, the system comprising:

a module affixed to the container, the module including;

an interrogation trigger;

an interrogation transmitter;

a response receiver;

a response transmitter;

a reconfigurable memory operable to store the information received by the response receiver for future transmission by the response transmitter; and

a power source to power at least the interrogation transmitter;

wherein the interrogation trigger, the interrogation transmitter, the response receiver, and the response transmitter are all embedded within the module; and

wherein, upon activation of the interrogation trigger, the interrogation transmitter sends an interrogation signal into the container, the response receiver receives a response signal from items within the container, and thereafter the response transmitter is operable to forward information from the response signal.

19. The system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the module is embedded within the a wall of the container.

20. The system as set forth in claim 18, wherein the module is affixed to an outside surface of the container.