System for identifying and locating relative positions of objects

• US 6,488,212 B1
• Filed: 10/07/1999
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ferag AG (WRH Walter Reist Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Ferag AG (WRH Walter Reist Holding AG)
• Inventors: Maeder, Carl Conrad
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US09/414,287
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 235/376, 235/380, 235/383, 235/385, 235/384, 235/470, 235/492, 235/451, 343/741, 343/742, 343/788, 343/866, 343/867, 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0739 the incapacitated circuit being part of an antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03

Abstract

The invention concerns a movable object, e.g. a roll of printed products (1) with a winding core (2) onto which printed products are wound with the help of a winding tape (3). The inventive movable object carries data stored in an integrated circuit (23) and an antenna, whereby the data can be read or overwritten respectively without contact by a reading/writing device with a main reading direction (L). The antenna is designed as an antenna loop (5) with a gap, whereby the ends of the loop (5) are contacted with the integrated circuit which is e.g. arranged on a connecting piece and whereby an antenna area is defined by the antenna loop (5). The object is position able relative to the reading/writing device (10) such that the main reading direction (L) penetrates the antenna area vertically or obliquely.

Claims

1. A system for locating relative positions of objects and identifying the objects comprising:

a plurality of objects each carrying an integrated circuit storing data, said objects being freely movable within said system and relative to each other and being arranged in stacks or rows on a supporting surface, each of said objects having an antenna loop spaced from a surface of said object and defining a planar antenna area parallel or perpendicular to said supporting surface, wherein each said objects comprises a container having an openable cover and a rectangular base, one part of said antenna loop being mounted on said cover and a remaining part of said loop being mounted on said container such that said antenna area is perpendicular to said base with said loop extending diagonally across said base, said parts of said antenna loop being electrically connected together when said cover is closed, and said antenna loops of objects in a stack being superimposed;

at least one reading/writing device for contactless reading of data from said objects, one of said at least one reading/writing device and each said stack or row being movable relative to the other of said stack or row and said at least one reading/writing device with a reading direction oriented perpendicular to the relative movement to permit reading by said reading/writing device of data carried by said objects in said stack or row; and

means for correlating each position of said reading/writing device relative to said stack or row with data read from an object at said position to thereby define a position of each object and an identification of said object by the stored data.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said cover is removable from said container, said antenna area is parallel with a diagonal of said base and said container comprises two loop parts extending across said base along two diagonals of said base.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said cover is removable from said container, said antenna area is parallel with a diagonal of said cover and said cover comprises two loop parts extending across said cover along two diagonals of said cover.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said antenna loop includes a gap and said integrated circuit is mounted in said gap.

5. A system according to claim 4 including a tape connecting piece having two spaced-apart loop contact areas, said integrated circuit being mounted on said connecting piece.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said connecting piece comprises a printed circuit on a carrier, said printed circuit including said integrated circuit.

7. A system according to claim 5 wherein said loop connecting pieces are elongated and comprise the entire loop when electrically connected together.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein said loop comprises a metal tape oriented substantially perpendicular to said antenna area.