Bearing with data storage device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a bearing having an inner race, an outer race, a plurality of rolling members disposed between said inner race and said outer race, and a cage to maintain a desired spacing between said rolling members;
- the improvement comprising a pocket formed in a surface of said bearing and a self-contained transponder assembly received in said pocket;
said transponder assembly containing data unique to the individual bearing containing said transponder assembly;
said self-contained transponder assembly comprising a housing, a memory chip on which said data is encoded and an antenna capable of detecting electromagnetic signals, said memory chip and antenna being contained in said transponder assembly housing;
said transponder assembly and said bearing pocket being sized such that an upper surface of said transponder housing does not extend above said bearing surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A product with an automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) device associated with a physical measurement, authentication code or operating condition of the product is disclosed. A bearing with an embedded transponder is illustratively described. The transponder contains data specific to the manufactured bearing, such as physical measurements or identification numbers.
64 Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a bearing having an inner race, an outer race, a plurality of rolling members disposed between said inner race and said outer race, and a cage to maintain a desired spacing between said rolling members;
- the improvement comprising a pocket formed in a surface of said bearing and a self-contained transponder assembly received in said pocket;
said transponder assembly containing data unique to the individual bearing containing said transponder assembly;
said self-contained transponder assembly comprising a housing, a memory chip on which said data is encoded and an antenna capable of detecting electromagnetic signals, said memory chip and antenna being contained in said transponder assembly housing;
said transponder assembly and said bearing pocket being sized such that an upper surface of said transponder housing does not extend above said bearing surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- the improvement comprising a pocket formed in a surface of said bearing and a self-contained transponder assembly received in said pocket;
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8. In combination, a bearing and a self-contained AIDC device, said bearing comprising an inner race, an outer race, a plurality of rolling members positioned between said inner and outer races, and a cage for maintaining a desired spacing between said rolling members;
- said bearing further including a surface and a pocket formed in said surface;
said self-contained AIDC device including a memory chip and an antenna and being fully received in said pocket, said pocket being sized such that said AIDC device does not extend above said surface;
said AIDC device containing information associated with the manufacture of the bearing. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- said bearing further including a surface and a pocket formed in said surface;
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18. A method of communicating manufacturing information for a bearing to a consumer of the bearing:
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manufacturing a bearing having a pocket in a surface of said bearing;
acquiring physical data associated with said bearing;
positioning a self-contained AIDC device in said bearing pocket, said bearing pocket being sized such that said AIDC device does not extend above said bearing surface, said self-contained AIDC device comprising a memory chip and an antenna for said AIDC device;
encoding said acquired physical data in said memory chip;
said data being;
readable by a consumer of said bearing for receiving and interpreting manufacturing data associated with said bearing by passing said bearing through an electromagnetic field.- View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification