Electronic identification system

• US 4,937,581 A
• Filed: 07/20/1989
• Issued: 06/26/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canadian National
• Original Assignee: EID Electronic Identification Systems Ltd.
• Inventors: Baldwin, Howard A, Walker, Conrad M. B., Brockelsby, William K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr Earl
• Application Number:
  US07/383,169
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 340/505, 340/825.54, 340/825.72, 340/825.83, 340/825.86, 340/905, 340/941-943, 235/384, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/10.52
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/048 using programmable tags
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

An identification system to identify objects from a remote interrogation station may be used with moving objects such as railroad cars. The system remotely programs and stores information on an object and remotely retrieves information from the object. An information and identity storage device is located on the object and at least one interrogation station is located remotely from the object.

Claims

1. A low power electronic identification system for remotely programming and storing information on an object and remotely retrieving information from the object, including, in combination, an information and identity storage device located on the object, and at least one interrogation station, one of said object and station moving and the other of said object and station being fixed, said station being located relatively remotely from the object, for reading and programming the information and identity storage device without physical contact when said one moves adjacent said other;

the information and identity storage device comprising;

memory means for storing information and identity data for later retrieval,

protect means for protecting a portion of the memory means against accidental erasure,

logic circuit means for producing a predetermined coded signal representing the information and identity data stored in the memory means, the logic circuit means including means responsive to a control signal comprising a series of pulses from said interrogation station for programming the portion of the memory means not protected by the protect means based on the series of pulses comprising the control signal from the interrogation station,

transmitter means for transmitting the coded signal,

trigger circuit means which is triggered in response to receiving a burst of energy of a predetermined wavelength for, when triggered, causing the coded signal to be transmitted by the transmitter means and,

a long life battery power source for the information and identity storage device,

the system comprising;

means located adjacent said other for indicating the arrival of said one adjacent said other;

the interrogation station comprising;

interrogation signal means for triggering the trigger circuit means in the information and identity storage device, by providing a said burst of energy,

pulse sequence generating means for generating a said control signal comprising a series of pulses for programming the portion of the memory means in the information and identity storage device not protected by the protect means,

receiver means for receiving the coded signal from the information and identity storage device,

synchronization means between the information and identity storage device and the receiver means for synchronizing the signals transmitted therebetween and,

decoder means for decoding the coded signal for verifying the accuracy of the coded signal, and for recovering the information and identity data stored in the memory means of the information and identity storage device.