Method and apparatus for tagging objects in harsh environments

• US 5,608,199 A
• Filed: 02/02/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: All Tech Inspection, Inc. (Team Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: All Tech Inspection, Inc. (Team Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heath, Gary E., Clouse, William R. III, Perez, Robert X.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US08/382,506
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 235/490, 235/487, 235/464, 235/435
• US Class Current: 235/435
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/067 Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components

Abstract

A Harsh Environment Tag (HET) and associated data collection system are provided that allow the identification, classification, and description of industrial, architectural, and machine equipment within harsh process environments. Each tag consists of a longitudinally arranged array of non-corrosive modules with standardized dimensional variations that are associated with alpha-numerically encoded values. Each tag may be rigidly or loosely affixed to a particular object for the purposes of inventory, inspection, and maintenance. Each tag may be scanned or read or by a transducer configured to detect the specific variations within which the coded information is retained. The coded values are then interpreted by a microprocessor based device capable of associating the coded values with either prerecorded identities and characteristics or with such information as may be input in association with the scan of a particular tag. The system and the tags associated with the system are appropriate for inventory, inspection, and maintenance purposes within industrial, architectural, and machine systems located within harsh environments.

Claims

1. A system for tagging and subsequently identifying components of industrial, architectural, and machine systems located within harsh environments, comprising:

at least one harsh environment tag, said tag comprising a plurality of like structured code elements arranged linearly and adjacent one another, said linear arrangement of code elements providing a generally flat upper surface for said tag, each of said elements having a distinct depth dimension directed perpendicular to said linear arrangement, said depth dimensions being non-corruptible within said harsh environment, said distinct depth dimensions each being associated with previously assigned bits of information which when taken together serve to identify said tagged component, said tag further comprising at least one terminal calibration element positioned in association with, and at one end of, said linear arrangement of code elements, said terminal calibration element providing a means for identifying a terminal point on said tag, establishing an order orientation for said code elements, and having a fixed and known value for said depth dimension, said fixed value providing a reference point from which values for said structural depth variations of said code elements may be determined;

a transducer capable of detecting and quantifying said depth dimensions for each of said code and calibration elements of said harsh environment tag and generating a signal representative of said dimensions, said transducer further capable of detecting an interface zone between each of said code and calibration elements and generating a signal indicative thereof; and

a microprocessor for receiving and interpreting said signals from said transducer for each of said code and calibration elements and each of said interface zones of said tag and associating said information with predefined alphanumeric coding, said alphanumeric coding being representative of information about said components to which said tag is attached.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said transducer comprises an ultrasonic sensor capable of generating an output ultrasonic wave and receiving a reflected ultrasonic wave.

3. A method for tagging and subsequently identifying components of industrial, architectural, and machine systems located within harsh environments, comprising the steps of:

tagging components of said industrial, architectural, and machine systems with at least one harsh environment tag, said tag comprising a plurality of like structured code elements arranged linearly and adjacent one another, said linear arrangement of code elements providing a generally flat upper surface for said tag, each of said elements having a distinct depth dimension directed perpendicular to said linear arrangement, said depth dimensions being non-corruptible within said harsh environment, said distinct depth dimensions each being associated with previously assigned bits of information which when taken together serve to identify said tagged component, said tag further comprising at least one terminal calibration element positioned in association with, and at one end of, said linear arrangement of code elements, said terminal calibration element providing a means for identifying a terminal point on said tag, establishing an order orientation for said code elements, and having a fixed and known value for said depth dimension, said fixed value providing a reference point from which values for said structural depth variations of said code elements may be determined;

detecting and quantifying said depth dimensions for each of said code and calibration elements of said harsh environment tag with a transducer, and generating a signal representative of said;

detecting an interface zone between each of said code and calibration elements, and generating a signal indicative thereof; and

receiving and interpreting said signals, from said transducer for each of said code and calibration elements and each of said interface zones of said tag and associating said information with predefined alphanumeric coding, said alphanumeric coding being representative of information about said components to which said tag is attached.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said transducer comprises an ultrasonic sensor and said step of detecting and quantifying said depth dimensions comprises generating an output ultrasonic wave and receiving a reflected ultrasonic wave and measuring a time difference between said output and said reflected waves.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of receiving and interpreting said signal includes comparing said signal to said reference point as a means for correcting said signal for errors created by variations in temperature and tag environmental factors.