Electronic identification system
First Claim
1. An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, the interrogator including transmitter means for transmitting an interrogation signal to the plurality of transponders and further for transmitting disabling signals to the plurality of transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from any of the plurality of transponders, and processor means for identifying any transponder from data in its response signal;
- each transponder comprising receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, a code generator for generating data identifying the transponder, transmitting means, connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of the interrogation signal each transponder transmits a response signal containing identification data, and control means including monitoring means for detecting a disabling signal from the interrogator;
the interrogator being adapted to receive a response signal from any transponder, to determine whether the response signal has been validly received and thus to identify the transponder transmitting the response signal which has been validly received, and to transmit a disabling signal to the transponders just after such identification, the disabling signal being ignored by all of the transponders except that one which has completed transmission of its response signal a predetermined time before receipt of the disabling signal, the control means of that one transponder responding to the disabling signal to disable the transmitter means of the transponder temporarily.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An identification system comprises an interrogator and a number of transponders. The interrogator includes a transmitter for transmitting an interrogation signal to the transponder, and a receiver for receiving a response signal from the transponder. A micro-processor identifies the transponder from data in the response signal. Each transponder comprises a receiving antenna for receiving the interrogation signal, a code generator, a transmitting antenna, and a modulator connected to the code generator. On receipt of the interrogation signal the transponder repeatedly transmits a response signal containing data which identifies the transponder. The interrogator detects successful identification of any transponder and briefly interrupts the interrogation signal to indicate the successful identification. Each transponder includes a logic circuit responsive to a respective interruption in the interrogation signal to cease transmission of its own response signal.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, the interrogator including transmitter means for transmitting an interrogation signal to the plurality of transponders and further for transmitting disabling signals to the plurality of transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from any of the plurality of transponders, and processor means for identifying any transponder from data in its response signal;
- each transponder comprising receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, a code generator for generating data identifying the transponder, transmitting means, connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of the interrogation signal each transponder transmits a response signal containing identification data, and control means including monitoring means for detecting a disabling signal from the interrogator;
the interrogator being adapted to receive a response signal from any transponder, to determine whether the response signal has been validly received and thus to identify the transponder transmitting the response signal which has been validly received, and to transmit a disabling signal to the transponders just after such identification, the disabling signal being ignored by all of the transponders except that one which has completed transmission of its response signal a predetermined time before receipt of the disabling signal, the control means of that one transponder responding to the disabling signal to disable the transmitter means of the transponder temporarily.
- each transponder comprising receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, a code generator for generating data identifying the transponder, transmitting means, connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of the interrogation signal each transponder transmits a response signal containing identification data, and control means including monitoring means for detecting a disabling signal from the interrogator;
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2. An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, the interrogator including transmitter means for transmitting a common interrogation signal to the plurality of transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from any of the plurality of transponders, and processor means for identifying any transponder from data in its response signal and for counting the number of transponders thus identified;
- each transponder comprising receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, a code generator for generating data identifying the transponder, control means responsive to a disabling signal from the interrogator, and transmitting means, connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of the interrogation signal each transponder transmits a response signal containing identification data, the plurality of transponders including at least one group of transponders arranged to generate response signals containing identical identification data, the interrogator being adapted to receive a response signal from any transponder, to determine whether the response signal has been validly received and thus to identify the transponder transmitting the response signal which has been validly received, to count the number of successful identifications of transponders in at least one group, and to transmit a disabling signal just after such identification to which the identified transponder in question is responsive to cease transmission of its response signal.
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3. An identification system comprising:
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a plurality of transponders; and an interrogator having means for transmitting a first signal to said plurality of transponders, means for receiving a second signal having an identification data from any of said plurality of transponders, means for determining whether the identification data in the second signals has been validly received, and means for identifying said plurality of transponders from the validly received identification data; means for generating a third signal to said transmitting means to alter the first signal upon identification of any one of said plurality of transponders based on the valid identification data. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 12)
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8. An identification system comprising:
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a plurality of transponders; and an interrogator having transmitter means for transmitting an interrogation signal to said plurality of transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from any of said plurality of transponders, and processor means for determining whether a response signal has been validly received, for identifying any of said plurality of transponders from identification data in the validly reached response signal, and for altering the transmitted interrogation signal, wherein each transponder has receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, a code generator for generating data identifying the transponder, and transmitting means, connected to the code generator, for transmitting the response signal having the identification data upon receipt of the interrogation signal, and control means, responsive to an alteration of the interrogation signal, for ending the transmission of the response signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 17, 19)
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9. An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, the interrogator including transmitter means for transmitting an interrogation signal to the plurality of transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from any of the plurality of transponders, and processor means for identifying any transponders from data in its response signal and for generating a control signal which is applied to the transmitter means to cause the transmitter means to modify the transmitted interrogation signal;
- each transponder comprising receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, a code generator for generating data identifying the transponder, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of the interrogation signal each transponder transmits a response signal containing identification data, the interrogator being adapted to receive a response signal from any transponder, to determine whether the identification data in the response signal has been validly received and thus to identify the transponder transmitting the response signal which has been validly received, and to alter a characteristic of the interrogation signal in response to such successful identification, each transponder including control means responsive to such an alteration of the interrogation signal to cease transmission of its response signal.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 18, 20)
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10. An interrogator for identifying a prescribed source comprising:
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means for transmitting a first signal to the prescribed source; means for receiving a second signal having an identification data from the prescribed source; means for determining whether the identification data in the second signals has been validly received; and means for identifying the prescribed source from the valid identification data; means for generating a third signal to said transmitting means to alter the first signal upon identification of the prescribed source. - View Dependent Claims (15, 21)
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11. A transponder comprising:
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means for receiving a first signal; means for generating an identification data in response to the first signal; means, coupled to said generating means, for transmitting a second signal having the identification data upon receipt of the first signal from said interrogator; and control means, responsive to a modification of the interrogation signal, for ending the transmission of the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 22)
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23. An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, the interrogator including transmitter means for transmitting a continuous interrogation signal to the plurality of transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from any of the plurality of transponders, and processor means for identifying any transponders from data in its response signal and for generating a control signal which is applied to the transmitter means in response to each identification of a transponder to cause the transmitter means to interrupt the transmitted interrogation signal;
- each transponder comprising receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, a code generator for generating data identifying the transponder, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of the interrogation signal each transponder transmits a response signal containing identification data at randomly varying intervals, the interrogator being adapted to receive a response signal from any transponder, to determine whether the identification data in the response signal has been validly received and thus to identify the transponder transmitting the response signal which has been validly received, and to interrupt the interrogation signal in response to and just after such successful identification for a period which is less than the duration of a transponder response signal, each transponder including control means responsive to such an interruption of the interrogation signal to cease transmission of its response signal, wherein the transponder comprises
receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, a code generator, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, the transponder being adapted to transmit a response signal containing data which identifies the transponder, the transponder including control means responsive to a modification of the interrogation signal, following successful identification of the transponder, to cease transmission of the response signal.
- each transponder comprising receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, a code generator for generating data identifying the transponder, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of the interrogation signal each transponder transmits a response signal containing identification data at randomly varying intervals, the interrogator being adapted to receive a response signal from any transponder, to determine whether the identification data in the response signal has been validly received and thus to identify the transponder transmitting the response signal which has been validly received, and to interrupt the interrogation signal in response to and just after such successful identification for a period which is less than the duration of a transponder response signal, each transponder including control means responsive to such an interruption of the interrogation signal to cease transmission of its response signal, wherein the transponder comprises
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24. An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, the interrogator including transmitter means for transmitting a continuous interrogation signal to the plurality of transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from any of the plurality of transponders, and processor means for identifying any transponders from data in its response signal and for generating a control signal which is applied to the transmitter means in response to each identification of a transponder to cause the transmitter means to interrupt the transmitted interrogation signal;
- each transponder comprising receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, a code generator for generating data identifying the transponder, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of the interrogation signal each transponder transmits a response signal containing identification data at randomly varying intervals, the interrogator being adapted to receive a response signal from any transponder, to determine whether the identification data in the response signal has been validly received and thus to identify the transponder transmitting the response signal which has been validly received, and to interrupt the interrogation signal in response to and just after such successful identification for a period which is less than the duration of a transponder response signal, each transponder including control means responsive to such an interruption of the interrogation signal to cease transmission of its response signal.
- View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
Specification