Multi-memory electronic identification tag

• US 5,499,017 A
• Filed: 06/03/1994
• Issued: 03/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avid Identification Systems, Inc. (Avid Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Avid, Incorporated
• Inventors: Beigel, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/244,583
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/825.54
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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

Abstract

Multi-memory electronic identification tags (200) are utilized in short-range cooperative electronic identification systems comprised of readers (100) and tags (200) wherein a reader (100) may communicate with the tag (200) if the tag belongs to a certain class of tags. Communication is accomplished by a reader (100) establishing a reversing magnetic field (10) in the vicinity of a tag (200) and the (200) varying its absorption of power from the field (10) in accordance with the information to be transmitted. A first type of memory (258) is permanent and unalterable and used for storing data that is unique to the tag (200) and never needs to be changed. A second type of memory (252) is permanent but alterable and used for storing data that characterizes the object to which the tag (200) is attached. A third type of memory (259) is for the temporary storage of data produced by tag sensors (270,275).

Claims

1. An electronic identification tag comprising:

a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;

a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data;

means for detecting an interrogation signal;

means for discriminating between a non-modulated signal and a modulated interrogation signal; and

a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader upon detection of a non-modulated signal.

2. The identification tag of claim 1, further comprising:

means for causing the tag to transmit data immediately upon receipt of a signal and to subsequently determine whether the signal was an interrogation or a programming signal by determining whether the signal remained on and was modulated.

3. The identification tag of claim 1, further comprising:

means for extracting data carried by a modulated signal and for reprogramming said alterable memory.

4. The identification tag of claim 1, further comprising:

controller means for delaying enablement of the tag functions for a predetermined amount of time following receipt of an interrogation signal.

5. An electronic identification tag comprising:

a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;

a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data, said alterability being subject to permanent disablement;

a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader; and

means for extracting data carried by a modulated signal and for reprogramming said alterable data.

6. The identification tag of claim 5, further comprising:

a means for temporarily storing data, said data being known as temporary data, said communicating means being capable of communicating said temporary data as well as said unalterable and alterable data to an electronic identification reader.

7. An electronic identification tag comprising:

a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;

a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data;

a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader; and

means for confirming that a predetermined interrogation signal has been transmitted by a reader and for subsequently enabling said means for communication upon confirmation of said predetermined interrogation signal.

8. The identification tag of claim 7, further comprising:

controller means for delaying enablement of the tag functions for a predetermined amount of time following receipt of an interrogation signal.

9. An electronic identification tag comprising:

a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable memory, said data being known as unalterable data;

a means for permanently storing data in an alterable memory, said data being known as alterable data, said alterability being subject to permanent disablement;

a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader;

a means for altering said alterable data;

a means for receiving data to be substituted for said alterable data by said altering means; and

means for extracting data carried by a modulated signal and for reprogramming said alterable memory.

10. An electronic identification tag comprising:

a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;

a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data;

a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader upon receipt of an interrogation signal and for subsequently determining whether said interrogation signal is carrying data.

11. The identification tag of claim 10, further comprising:

means for causing the tag to transmit data immediately upon receipt of a signal and to subsequently determine whether the signal was an interrogation or a programming signal by determining whether the signal remained on and was modulated.

12. The identification tag of claim 10, further comprising:

controller means for delaying enablement of the tag functions for a predetermined amount of time following receipt of an interrogation signal.

13. An electronic identification tag comprising:

a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;

a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data;

a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader; and

means for decoding a password from a received signal and for subsequently allowing programming of said means for permanently storing data.

14. The identification tag of claim 13, further comprising:

means for causing the tag to transmit data immediately upon receipt of a signal and to subsequently determine whether the signal was an interrogation or a programming signal by determining whether the signal remained on and was modulated.

15. The identification tag of claim 13, further comprising:

means for extracting data carried by a modulated signal and for reprogramming said alterable memory.

16. An electronic identification tag comprising:

a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;

a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data;

a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader, said means for communicating including a coil in combination with circuitry for varying the load on said coil.

17. An electronic identification tag comprising:

a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;

a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data; and

a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader in response to a signal received from said electronic identification reader, said means for communicating including a clock timer and delay circuitry for counting a predeterminable number of clock cycles after initial receipt of said signal from said electronic identification reader before initiating communication of said data.

18. An electronic identification tag comprising:

a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;

a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data, said alterability being subject to permanent disablement;

a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader; and

a means for temporarily storing data, said data being known as temporary data, said communicating means being capable of communicating said temporary data as well as said unalterable and alterable data to an electronic identification reader.

19. An apparatus for altering data in the memory of an electronic identification tag, the apparatus having a data entry mode and a data transmission mode, the apparatus comprising:

a data entry device that enables a user to enter data into said apparatus;

means for communicating data entered into said apparatus by said user to said tag when said apparatus is in the data transmission mode;

transmit control means for generating a start signal; and

mode control means for placing said apparatus in either the data entry mode or the data transmission mode.

20. An electronic identification system comprising a reader and at least one tag, said tag comprising:

a means for permanently storing data in an unalterable fashion, said data being known as unalterable data;

a means for permanently storing data in an alterable fashion, said data being known as alterable data;

a means for altering said alterable data;

a means for receiving an interrogation signal and a data transmission signal carrying data to be substituted for said alterable data by said altering means;

means for discriminating between a non-modulated interrogation signal and a modulated data transmission signal;

a means for communicating said unalterable data and said alterable data to an electronic identification reader in response to a non-modulated interrogation signal;

said reader comprising;

a means for receiving data to be substituted for said alterable data stored in said alterable storage means in said tag; and

a means for communicating said received data to said tag.