System and Method for Locating Objects and Determining In-Use Status Thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device attachable to an object, comprising:
- a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag operative to communicate with a reader, the RFID tag including;
at least one first antenna for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the reader; and
a motion-based generator generating current upon the device being moved, wherein when the object moves, the RFID tag is configured to transmit at least one signal to the reader using the at least one first antenna and the current generated by the motion-based generator to indicate that the object is in use.
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Abstract
A RFID based system, including an RFID tag to communicate with a reader and having a motion-based generator generating current upon the device being moved. When the object moves, the RFID tag is configured to transmit at least one signal to the reader using the current generated by the motion-based generator to indicate that the object is in use. The RFID tag may include an energy scavenging circuit such that the RFID tag is also capable of being interrogated by the reader and perform additional operations, independent of the motion-based generator.
23 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A device attachable to an object, comprising:
a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag operative to communicate with a reader, the RFID tag including; at least one first antenna for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the reader; and a motion-based generator generating current upon the device being moved, wherein when the object moves, the RFID tag is configured to transmit at least one signal to the reader using the at least one first antenna and the current generated by the motion-based generator to indicate that the object is in use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for indicating whether an object is in use, comprising:
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installing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on the object; providing the RFID tag with a motion-based generator which generates current when moved; and upon the object moving, transmitting, by the RFID tag, at least one signal to an RFID reader using the current generated by the motion-based generator to indicate that the object is in use; wherein the RFID reader receives the at least one signal and determines that the object is in use based upon the at least one signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for determining whether an object is in use, the object attached with circuitry including a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a motion-based generator having an output coupled to the RFID tag and generating current when moved, comprising:
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receiving, by an RFID reader, at least one signal from the RFID tag, determining whether the at least one signal is generated using the current from the motion-based generator; and determining that the object is in use based upon the at least one signal being determined to be generated using the current from the motion-based generator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification