Inventoriable-object control and tracking system

• US 6,075,441 A
• Filed: 05/06/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Control Holding Incorporated (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Original Assignee: Keytrak, Inc. (Reynolds & Reynolds Company)
• Inventors: Maloney, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US09/073,757
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 235/375, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection

Abstract

A system for tracking objects such as keys is provided. The system includes a plurality of units, each associated with an object to be tracked. Each unit carries a memory device storing a unique code identifying the unit and its associated object. A receptacle for receiving and storing the units has a top panel with a plurality of slots each configured to recieve one of the plurality of units. A backplane is mounted in the receptacle underlying the top panel. The backplane is provided with a plurality of connectors each aligned with a corresponding one of the slots in the top panel for engaging a unit disposed in the slot. The connectors are configured for readably coupling with the memory devices of objects disposed in the slots to read the unique codes of the objects. A computer based controller is connected through a data matrix to the connectors for receiving the unique codes and processing the unique codes to determine the presence or absence of units in the slots in order to track the disposition of objects associated with the units.

Claims

1. A system for tracking objects, said system comprising:

a plurality of units each associated with an object to be tracked, each of said units being provided with a code uniquely identifying said unit and thus uniquely identifying the object to be tracked;

a receptacle for receiving and storing said plurality of units;

a top panel mounted in said receptacle and being formed with a plurality of slots, each slot being configured to receive one of said plurality of units;

a backplane mounted in said receptacle spaced from said top panel;

a plurality of connectors on said backplane, each of said plurality of connectors being aligned with a respective one of said plurality of slots for engaging a unit received in said slot;

said connectors being configured for readably coupling to the codes of units disposed in said slots; and

a controller connected to said plurality of connectors for receiving codes and processing the received codes to determine the absence or presence of said units in said receptacle.

2. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said receptacle comprises a drawer.

3. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said codes are stored in readable memory devices on each of said units, each of said readable memory devices comprising a touch memory device having a data contact and a return contact and wherein each of said connectors comprises a first prong positioned to engage said data contact and a second prong positioned to engage said return contact when one of said units is inserted into the slot corresponding to said connector.

4. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 3 and wherein said first and second prongs are spaced apart from each other and said touch memory device is received and releasably captured between said first and second prongs when one of said plurality of units is inserted into the corresponding slot in said top panel.

5. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 4 and wherein said first and second prongs each has a distal end portion, a mid portion, and a base portion, said base portion being attached to said backplane.

6. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 5 and wherein said mid portions of said prongs are biased to converge toward each other to assure contact with a touch memory device disposed between said prongs.

7. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 6 and further comprising a tongue formed in said mid portion of each of said prongs, said tongues being spring biased toward each other to enhance and further assure contact with a touch memory device disposed between said prongs.

8. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 7, and wherein said distal end portions of said prongs are bent to angle away from each other for receiving a touch memory device of a unit inserted into the corresponding slot.

9. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 8 and wherein said prongs are fabricated of steel.

10. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 4 and wherein said backplane includes means for electrically connecting said prongs to said control means.

11. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 10 an wherein said means for electrically connecting comprises a printed circuit formed on said backplane.

12. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 11 and wherein said connectors are arranged in rows and columns on said backplane and wherein said slots in said top panel are arranged in rows and columns aligned with said connectors, said printed circuit comprising a matrix of conducting row and column traces and wherein one prong of each connector is electrically connected to a corresponding row trace and the other prong of each connector is electrically connected to a corresponding column trace, said controller being connected to said row and column traces.

13. A system for storing and tracking objects, said system comprising:

a plurality of tags each associated with an object to be tracked, each of said tags being provided with a readable memory device storing a code identifying said tag and thus identifying the object to be tracked;

a cabinet;

a drawer in said cabinet for containing a plurality of said tags;

a top panel in said drawer, said top panel being formed with an array of slots each for removably receiving at least a portion of a tag;

a backplane in said drawer spaced from said top panel;

an array of connectors mounted to said backplane, each of said connectors being aligned with a corresponding slot in said top panel and being configured to couple with the readable memory device of a tag when the tag is received in said corresponding slot; and

a controller coupled to said array of connectors for reading and processing the codes of tags disposed in said slots for determining the absence or presence and location of tags in said drawer.

14. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 13 and wherein said array of connectors project from said backplane toward said top panel.

15. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 14 and wherein said readable memory device of each of said tags has a first contact terminal disposed on said tag and a second contact terminal disposed on said tag, each of said connectors being shaped and positioned to engage and make electrical contact with said first and second contact terminals when said tag is inserted in the corresponding aligned slot.

16. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 15 and wherein each of said readable memory devices comprises an electronic touch memory device mounted to its corresponding tag, said first contact terminal of said touch memory device being exposed on one side of said tag and said second contact terminal of said touch memory device being exposed on the other side of said tag.

17. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 16 and wherein each of said connectors comprises a pair of spaced apart inwardly spring biased conductive prongs positioned to receive and releasably capture the touch memory device of a tag when the tag is inserted in the corresponding aligned slot.

18. A system for storing and tracking objects as claimed in claim 17 and wherein each of said slots is polarized to allow insertion of the tags in a single orientation.

19. A container assembly for use in an object tracking system for tracking objects inserted in and removed from said container assembly, said container assembly comprising a frame defining an interior compartment, a panel in said interior compartment, said panel being formed with an array of receptacles configured to removably receive objects to be tracked, a backplane in said interior compartment spaced from said panel, and an array of couplers mounted to said backplane and aligned with said array of receptacles for coupling with objects inserted in said receptacles, said array of couplers interacting with objects inserted in said receptacles for transmitting information from said objects to a controller of the object tracking system.

20. A container assembly as claimed in claim 19 and wherein each of said objects is provided with a readable memory device storing a code and wherein said array of couplers comprises an array of connectors configured to engage said readable memory devices for transmission of said codes to the controller of the object tracking system.

21. In an object tracking system having a container for receiving and storing tags associated with objects to be tracked, a code stored on each of said tags identifying the tag and thus identifying the object associated with the tag, and a controller coupled to said container for reading and processing said codes as said tags are inserted in and removed from said container, the improvement comprising a panel in said container, said panel having an array of receptacles configured to receive tags inserted in said container, a backplane in said container spaced from said panel, and an array of connectors mounted to said backplane, each of said array of connectors being aligned with a corresponding one of said receptacles and being configured to couple to the stored code on a tag inserted in the receptacle for transmitting the code to said controller.

22. The improvement of claim 21 and wherein the code is stored on each tag in a touch memory device mounted to the tag and wherein said connectors are configured to engage the touch memory device of a tag when the tag is inserted into the corresponding aligned receptacle.

23. The improvement of claim 22 and wherein each of said connectors comprises a pair of spaced spring biased prongs between which the touch memory device of a tag is received and releasably captured when the tag is inserted into the corresponding aligned receptacle in said panel.

24. The improvement of claim 23 and wherein said backplane comprises a printed circuit board and wherein said prongs of said connectors are coupled to the controller by a row and column array of conductive traces formed on said printed circuit board.

25. A system for tracking objects, said system comprising a plurality of units each associated with an object to be tracked, memory means on each unit for storing a code identifying the unit and the object associated therewith, a container for receiving and storing units, a top panel in said container formed with an array of receptacles configured to receive units to be stored in said container, a backplane in said container spaced from said top panel, and means on said backplane for receiving codes from units located in said receptacles to determine at least the absence or presence of units within said container.

26. A system for tracking objects as claimed in claim 25 and wherein said memory means on each unit comprises a touch memory device having a data contact and a return contact and wherein said means on said backplane for receiving codes comprises a plurality of connectors aligned with said receptacles in said top panel, said connectors being configured to engage the data and return contacts when a unit is inserted in the corresponding receptacle for receiving the code stored in the touch memory device.