Method and apparatus for remotely identifying an electronically coded article
First Claim
1. Apparatus for transmitting a signal in response to an interrogation signal comprising:
- a demodulator for demodulating said interrogation signal;
a signal processor, coupled to said demodulator, for interpreting a set up instruction contained in said interrogation signal and for initiating a counter to count cycles of a carrier wave signal contained in said interrogation signal; and
a modulator, coupled to said signal processor, for transmitting a pulse during a time interval when said signal processor indicates that said counter has attained a count value that matches a codeword stored in said signal processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, and a concomitant method of operation for the apparatus, for responding to an interrogation signal transmitted by a remotely located interrogator comprising: a demodulator for demodulating the interrogation signal; a signal processor, coupled to the demodulator, for interpreting a set up instruction contained in the interrogation signal and for initiating a counter to count cycles of a carrier wave signal contained in the interrogation signal; and a modulator, coupled to the signal processor, for transmitting a pulse when the signal processor indicates that the counter has attained a count value that matches a codeword stored in the signal processor.
22 Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for transmitting a signal in response to an interrogation signal comprising:
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a demodulator for demodulating said interrogation signal; a signal processor, coupled to said demodulator, for interpreting a set up instruction contained in said interrogation signal and for initiating a counter to count cycles of a carrier wave signal contained in said interrogation signal; and a modulator, coupled to said signal processor, for transmitting a pulse during a time interval when said signal processor indicates that said counter has attained a count value that matches a codeword stored in said signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for identifying electronically coded articles, comprising:
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an interrogator for transmitting an interrogation signal containing a set up instruction and a carrier wave signal; a computer, coupled to the interrogator, for processing responsive signals to said interrogation signal; and an electronically coded article for responding to said interrogation signal comprising; a demodulator for demodulating said interrogation signal; a signal processor, coupled to said demodulator, for interpreting a set up instruction contained in said interrogation signal and for initiating a counter to count cycles of the carrier wave signal contained in said interrogation signal; and a modulator, coupled to said signal processor, for transmitting a pulse during a time interval when said signal processor indicates that said counter has attained a count value that matches a codeword stored in said signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A method of responding to an interrogation signal within an electronically coded article comprising the steps of:
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receiving said interrogation signal containing a set up instruction followed by a carrier wave signal; dividing the frequency of the carrier wave signal by an integer value N to produce a first divided signal; counting cycles in said first divided signal to produce a count value; comparing the count value to a codeword; producing a modulator enabling signal when said codeword matches said count value; and transmitting a pulse when said modulator enabling signal occurs. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method of interrogating an electronically coded article comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an interrogation signal from an interrogator, where the interrogation signal contains a set up instruction followed by a carrier wave signal; receiving said interrogation signal within said electronically coded article; dividing the frequency of the carrier wave signal by an integer value N to produce a first divided signal; counting cycles in said first divided signal to produce a count value; comparing the count value to a codeword; producing a modulator enabling signal when said codeword matches said count value; and transmitting a pulse when said modulator enabling signal occurs. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification