Inventory control probe and control module with docking station
First Claim
1. An inventory control probe for reading and writing data to and from an inventory control collar for use on a storage container, the inventory control collar having a first conductive ring exposed on the top of the collar and electrically connected to a resident memory;
- and a second conductive ring exposed on the top of the collar spaced from the first ring and electrically connected to the resident memory, the inventory control probe comprising;
a probe tip;
a pair of contact pins disposed on the probe tip at a predetermined distance apart such that the contact pins are configured to concurrently contact the conductive rings of the inventory control collar when the probe tip is removably engaged with the control collar;
a microprocessor for reading and writing data to and from the resident memory of the inventory control collar;
a memory for storing such data;
a probe body housing connected at a first end to the probe tip;
a pair of data transfer contacts disposed on the probe body housing; and
a handle connected at a second end to the probe body housing remote from the probe tip, the handle having a configuration suitable for hand placement of the probe into engagement with the collar.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inventory control system includes an inventory control probe, inventory control module, a docking station, a collar clip, and an inventory control collar used on a storage container. The inventory control collar includes a first conductive ring exposed on the top of the collar electrically connected to a memory and a second conductive ring exposed on the top of the collar and electrically connected to the memory. The inventory control probe includes a probe tip and a first pair of contact pins disposed on the probe tip at a predetermined distance apart such that the contacts concurrently contact the conductive rings of the inventory control collar. A probe body housing is connected at a first end to the probe tip, and a pair of data transfer terminal contacts are disposed on a bottom portion of the probe body housing. A handle is connected at a second end to the probe body housing. The inventory control module includes a control module housing, a pair of data transfer terminal contacts disposed on a bottom portion of the control module housing for engaging the pair of data transfer terminal contacts disposed on the docking station housing, a microprocessor, and a memory. Both the probe and control module can connect to the docking station.
50 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An inventory control probe for reading and writing data to and from an inventory control collar for use on a storage container, the inventory control collar having a first conductive ring exposed on the top of the collar and electrically connected to a resident memory;
- and a second conductive ring exposed on the top of the collar spaced from the first ring and electrically connected to the resident memory, the inventory control probe comprising;
a probe tip; a pair of contact pins disposed on the probe tip at a predetermined distance apart such that the contact pins are configured to concurrently contact the conductive rings of the inventory control collar when the probe tip is removably engaged with the control collar; a microprocessor for reading and writing data to and from the resident memory of the inventory control collar; a memory for storing such data; a probe body housing connected at a first end to the probe tip; a pair of data transfer contacts disposed on the probe body housing; and a handle connected at a second end to the probe body housing remote from the probe tip, the handle having a configuration suitable for hand placement of the probe into engagement with the collar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- and a second conductive ring exposed on the top of the collar spaced from the first ring and electrically connected to the resident memory, the inventory control probe comprising;
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4. An inventory control docking station for transferring data and program instructions to and from an inventory control module or an inventory control probe and an inventory control collar for use on a storage container, the inventory control collar having a first conductive ring exposed on a top of the collar and electrically connected to a resident memory and a second conductive ring exposed on the top of the collar and electrically connected to the resident memory, the inventory control docking station comprising:
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a collar clip; a first pair of contact pins disposed on a collar clip tip at a predetermined distance apart such that the contact pins may concurrently contact the conductive rings of the inventory control collar when the collar clip is removably clipped onto the collar; a docking station housing connected by an electrical conductor to the collar clip, the docking station housing defining a socket into which a control module can be inserted and removed; and a pair of data transfer terminal contacts disposed on the docking station housing facing the socket so that corresponding terminals on a control module come into contact with the data transfer terminal contacts upon insertion into the socket. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification