Indentification pill with integrated microchip: smartpill, smartpill with integrated microchip and microprocessor for medical analyses and a smartpill, smartbox, smartplague, smartbadge or smartplate for luggage control on commercial airliners

• US 5,792,048 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schaefer, Guenter
• Original Assignee: Schaefer, Guenter
• Inventors: Schaefer, Guenter
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US08/707,015
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/487, 600/302
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00

Abstract

A capsule, which is resistant to stomach acids, is shaped like a medical pill, and can be orally taken in the same manner. This capsule includes a pair of plastic shells surrounding a circuit board, and, in an alternative embodiment, a microprocessor. The circuit board includes memory circuits for storing personal identification data, which is made available when needed, but which cannot be changed without a code number or word. A battery, an antenna for wireless access, and a metal disk supporting the location of the capsule with metal detectors may be added. A device with such additional features can also be used to identify luggage, to be transported on commercial airliners, as belonging to the holder of the ticket and/or boarding card.

Claims

1. A capsule comprising:

an upper shell;

a lower shell having a plurality of penetration holes extending therethrough, and a periphery sealed to said upper shell;

a circuit board between said upper and lower shells, having a plurality of data storage devices;

a plurality of conductive contact surfaces, with each contact surface within said plurality thereof extending adjacent a penetration hole in said plurality thereof, wherein said contact surfaces are connected to said data storage devices in a manner allowing data to written to said data storage devices and read therefrom through said contact surfaces; and

a penetrable sealing member extending between said plurality of penetration holes in said lower shell and said plurality of contact surfaces.

2. The capsule of claim 1, wherein

said upper and lower shells are of a size and shape allowing said capsule to be swallowed, and

said upper and lower shells are composed of materials resistant to stomach acids.

3. The capsule of claim 1, additionally comprising a partially metallic member facilitating location of said capsule by means of a metal detector.

4. The capsule of claim 1, wherein said penetrable sealing member is composed of a flexible plastic material having a slit adjacent each said penetration hole, with said slit opening when a pin is pushed through said penetration hole and closing when said pin is removed from contact with said penetrable sealing member.

5. Apparatus comprising:

A capsule including

an upper shell,

a lower shell having a plurality of penetration holes extending therethrough, and a periphery sealed to said upper shell,

a circuit board between said upper and lower shells, having a plurality of data storage devices,

a plurality of conductive contact surfaces, with each contact surface within said plurality thereof extending adjacent a penetration hole in said plurality thereof, wherein said contact surfaces are connected to said data storage devices in a manner allowing data to written to said data storage devices and read therefrom through said contact surfaces, and

a penetrable sealing member extending between said plurality of penetration holes in said lower shell and said plurality of contact surfaces; and

a data transfer device, external to said capsule, including

a capsule holder including a cavity for holding said capsule, with alignment surfaces surrounding said cavity to engage and align said capsule therein, and

a plurality of contact pins extending within said cavity and through said penetration holes to engage conductive contact surfaces within said plurality thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein

said upper and lower shells are of a size and shape allowing said capsule to be swallowed, and

said upper and lower shells are composed of materials resistant to stomach acids.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, with said capsule additionally including a partially metallic member facilitating location of said capsule by means of a metal detector.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said penetrable sealing member is composed of a flexible plastic material having a slit adjacent each said penetration hole, with said slit opening when a contact pin within said plurality thereof is pushed through said penetration hole and closing when said contact pin is removed from contact with said penetrable sealing member.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, with said data transfer device additionally including,

within said cavity,

a carrier moving downward under said capsule as said capsule is moved downward on said contact pins, and

a spring compressed by downward movement of said carrier, with releasing said capsule within said cavity causing said spring to move said carrier and said capsule upward.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said data transfer device causes data to be written to said data storage devices of said capsule through said contact pins, when said contact surfaces are held in contact with said contact pins.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said data transfer device additionally causes data to read from said data storage devices of aid capsule through said contact pins, when said contact surfaces are held in contact with said contact pins.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, with said data transfer device additionally including a door movable between a first position, in which said capsule can be loaded into said cavity and removed therefrom, and a second position, in which said door holds said contact surfaces of said capsule in contact with said contact pins of said data transfer device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, in which said data transfer device includes a keyboard and a digital read-out.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, in which said data transfer device includes a connection for attachment to a computing system.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, in which data is written to said data storage devices in response to selection of an encoded number sequence.