Collective objects management system using R.F. object identification with multiple crystals

• US 20110068914A1
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imicrodata Corporation
• Original Assignee: Imicrodata Corporation
• Inventors: Zhu, Shengbo, Huarg, Su Shiong
• Granted Patent: US 8,115,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A collective objects management system for objects such as documents contained in file folders in drawers of file cabinets. Each file folder has an electrical circuit with a visible indicator mounted on the file folder. Each folder circuit has a pair of crystals which are responsive to R.F. signals of specific frequencies, the frequencies of each pair being different for each folder circuit. An associated computer operates an R.F. signal generator to produce R.F. signals at the frequencies of the particular folder circuit of the file folder selected for retrieval. To aid the user, each file drawer has a visible indicator mounted on the front panel, the panel indicator being illuminated when the sought folder is contained in that drawer. The invention can be applied to a wide variety of collective objects management systems, such as supermarkets, automobile parts distributors, and various manufacturing operations.

Claims

1. A system for managing objects distributed in an object location space, said system comprising:

a receptacle for a plurality of objects, said receptacle having a pair of electrically conductive members;

a pair of electrically conductive signal leads coupled to said pair of electrically conductive members; and

a plurality of r.f. circuits each associated to a different one of said objects, each of said plurality of r.f. circuits having a pair of electrically conductive terminals in electrical contact with said electrically conductive members when the associated object is located in said receptacle, at least two crystals each resonant at a specific frequency and an indicator activated whenever the associated crystals detect r.f. signals at the specific frequencies of those at least two crystals, the resonant frequencies of said at least two crystals in each r.f. circuit being different from the resonant frequencies of said at least two crystals in the other r.f. circuits so that r.f. signals applied to said pair of electrically conductive signal leads cause said at least two crystals in only one of said r.f. circuits to resonate and only the associated indicator to be activated.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said indicator is a visible indicator.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said visible indicator is an LED.

4. The system of claim 1 further including a current detector electrically coupled to said pair of electrically conductive members for detecting resonance of said at least two crystals in any of said r.f. circuits in said receptacle, and an additional indicator coupled to and activated by said current detector for signifying that at least two crystals in one of said r.f. circuits in said receptacle are at resonance.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said additional indicator is a visible indicator.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said additional visible indicator is an LED.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein said receptacle has a front panel;

and wherein said additional indicator is located on said front panel.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said receptacle comprises a cabinet file drawer;

said pair of electrically conductive members comprise file folder support rails in said drawer; and

each of said plurality of r.f. circuits is carried by a different one of a corresponding plurality of file folders, each of said file folders having a pair of electrically conductive support arms arranged to engage said support rails so as to be removably supported thereby.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein each said file folder has an upper margin;

and wherein said indicators are located adjacent said upper margin.

10. A system for managing objects distributed in an object location space, said system comprising:

a plurality of receptacles for a plurality of objects, each of said receptacles having a pair of electrically conductive members;

a plurality of pairs of electrically conductive signal leads each coupled to a different one of said plurality of pairs of electrically conductive members, each of said plurality of pairs of electrically conductive signal leads being coupled in parallel to a common signal input terminal; and

a plurality of r.f. circuits each associated to a different one of said objects, each of said plurality of r.f. circuits having a pair of electrically conductive terminals in electrical contact with one of said plurality of pairs of electrically conductive members when the associated object is located in one of said receptacles, at least two crystals each resonant at a specific frequency and an indicator activated whenever the associated crystals detect r.f. signals at the specific frequencies of those at least two crystals, the resonant frequencies of said at least two crystals in each r.f. circuit being different from the resonant frequencies of said at least two crystals in the other r.f. circuits so that r.f. signals applied to said pair of electrically conductive signal leads cause said at least two crystals in only one of said r.f. circuits to resonate and only the associated indicator to be activated.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said indicator is a visible indicator.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said visible indicator is an LED.

13. The system of claim 10 further including a plurality of current detectors each associated to a different one of said plurality of receptacles and each electrically coupled to said pair of electrically conductive members in the associated receptacle for detecting resonance of said at least two crystals in any of said r.f. circuits in said receptacle, and a plurality of additional indicators each coupled to and activated by an associated different one of said plurality of current detectors for signifying that at least two crystals in one of said r.f. circuits in said associated receptacle are at resonance.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said plurality of additional indicators comprises visible indicators.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein each of said additional visible indicator is an LED.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein each of said receptacles has a front panel;

and wherein said additional indicators are located on the front panel of the associated receptacle.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein each of said receptacles comprises a cabinet file drawer;

said plurality of pairs of electrically conductive members comprise file folder support rails in said drawer; and

each of said plurality of r.f. circuits is carried by a different one of a corresponding plurality of file folders, each of said file folders having a pair of electrically conductive support arms arranged to engage said support rails so as to be removably supported thereby.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein each said file folder has an upper margin;

and wherein said indicators are located adjacent said upper margin.