Wireless communication device attachment and detachment device and method

• US 6,646,555 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2000
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2000
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: ThinkLogix, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Marconi Communications, Inc. (Marconi Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J., King, Patrick F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/618,506
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 340/870.01, 340/531, 340/693.9, 702/56, 702/33, 702/185, 702/188, 243/03, 455/346, 455/348, 455/351, 455/128, 455/90, 455/575, 40/15, 402/00, 401/240.4, 406/610.1, 292/251.05, 335/285
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/06 Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets electric coils H01F5/00; devices for holding workpieces using electric force B23Q3/15; load-engaging elements for lifting articles electromagnetically B66C1/06; electromagnetic couplings F16D27/00; magnetic brakes F16D63/002; electromagnetically operated valves F16K11/24, F16K31/00; analysing materials by magnetic means G01N27/72, G01N27/80; electromagnets for winding mechanical clocks G04C1/02; electromagnetic relays H01H51/00; windings for salient poles of dynamo-electric machines H02K3/18; electromagnets for telegraphic communication H04L; for arc lamps H05B31/28
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener

Abstract

The invention relates to a wireless communication device that attaches using magnetic force in whole or part to an article of manufacture, or other material having a magnetic surface portion. The wireless communication device contains a form of a magnet to provide magnetic force and attraction. A magnet can be a natural magnet, electromagnet or other type of material having magnetic properties. The wireless communication device may be detached from the article by altering the magnetic force created by its associated magnet. Altering is accomplished by using an external device or a device internal to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is also operable to receive and communicate information regarding the article to which it is attached remotely for identification, informative, and tracking purposes.

Claims

1. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:

a wireless communication device; and

a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;

said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article;

said chamber comprised of two pole pieces forming a gap at two opposite ends.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is located in one of said pole pieces.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said wireless communication device is located near said gap.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising a second wireless communication device located in one of said pole pieces away from said gap.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein said wireless communication device is located away from said gap.

6. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:

a wireless communication device;

a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;

said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article; and

a latch that rotates said magnet in said chamber in response to a particular signal field.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a spring coupled to said latch to release said latch when said spring resonates.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said particular signal field is 60 Hertz.

9. The device of claim 6, further comprising a signal detector coupled to said latch to detect the particular signal field and release said latch in response thereto.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein said wireless communication device provides power to a piezoelectric device to release said latch.

11. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:

a wireless communication device; and

a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;

said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article;

said wireless communication device alters said magnetic force when said wireless communication device receives a message.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said wireless communication device passes a current to an electromagnet to alter said magnetic force.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said electromagnet is mounted in close proximity to said magnet.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said wireless communication device activates a latch that rotates said magnet to alter said magnetic force.

15. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:

a wireless communication device; and

a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;

said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article;

said magnet is comprised of at least one tab connected to said wireless communication device wherein said at least one tab also comprises an antenna for said wireless communication device.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said at least one tab is a permanent magnet.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein said at least one tab is an electromagnet.

18. A device that magnetically attaches to magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:

a wireless communication device; and

a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;

said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article;

said magnet moves in said chamber in a plane substantially perpendicular to said magnetic surface portion in response to said magnetic force or an external magnetic force.

19. A system for identification of an article, comprising:

an article having a magnetic surface portion;

a wireless communication device; and

a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;

said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article;

said chamber is comprised of two pole pieces forming a gap at two opposite ends.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said wireless communication device is located in one of said pole pieces.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said wireless communication device is located near said gap.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a second wireless communication device located in one of said pole pieces away from said gap.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein said wireless communication device is located away from said gap.

24. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:

a wireless communication device; and

a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;

said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article;

said chamber has an open portion for an external device to be inserted inside said chamber proximate to said magnet wherein said external device is adapted to cause a short with said magnet to cause said magnet to reverse polarity.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said external device is a magnetic short.

26. A system for identification of an article, comprising:

an article containing having a magnetic surface portion;

a wireless communication device;

a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet uses magnetic force to attach said wireless communications device to said magnetic surface portion of said article when in close proximity to said magnetic surface portion, wherein said magnet is housed and rotates in a magnetic assembly; and

a latch that rotates said magnet in response to particular signal field.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a spring coupled to said latch to release said latch when said spring resonates.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein said particular signal field is 60 Hertz.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein said wireless communication device provides power to an piezoelectric device to release said latch.

30. The system of claim 26, further comprising a signal detector coupled to said latch to detect the particular signal field and release said latch in response thereto.

31. A system for identification of an article, comprising:

an article containing having a magnetic surface portion;

a wireless communication device;

a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet uses magnetic force to attach said wireless communications device to said magnetic surface portion of said article when in close proximity to said magnetic surface portion; and

said wireless communication device alters said magnetic force when said wireless communication device receives a message through said wireless communication device.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said wireless communication device passes a current to an electromagnet to alter said magnetic force.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said electromagnet is mounted in close proximity to said magnet.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein said wireless communication device activates a latch that rotates said magnet to alter said magnetic force.

35. A system for identification of an article, comprising:

an article containing a magnetic surface portion;

a wireless communication device; and

a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet uses magnetic force to attach said wireless communications device to said magnetic surface portion of said article when in close proximity to said magnetic surface portion;

said magnet is comprised of at least one tab connected to said wireless communication device wherein said at least one tab also comprises an antenna for said wireless communication device.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said at least one tab is a permanent magnet.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein said at least one tab is an electromagnet.

38. A method of detaching a wireless communication device from a magnetic surface portion wherein, the wireless communication device contains a magnet that attaches the wireless communication device to the magnetic surface portion by a magnetic force, comprising the step of activating a latch coupled to said magnet thereby rotating said magnet and altering said magnetic force, wherein activating a latch is comprised of bringing said wireless communication device in proximity to a signal field generator.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein bringing said wireless communication device in proximity to a signal field generator step resonates a spring coupled to said latch.

40. A method of detaching a wireless communication device from a magnetic surface portion, wherein the wireless commutation device contains a magnet that attaches the wireless communication device to magnetic surface portion by a magnetic force, comprised of altering said magnetic force, which comprises of magnetically shorting said magnet.

41. A method of detaching a wireless communication device from a magnetic surface portion, wherein the wireless communication device contains a magnet that attaches the wireless communication device to the magnetic surface portion by a magnetic force, comprised of altering said magnetic force and communicating via the wireless communication device the attachment status of said wireless communication device.

42. A method of detaching a wireless communication device from a magnetic surface portion, wherein the wireless communication device contains a magnet that attaches the wireless communication device to the magnetic surface portion by a magnetic force, comprising the steps of:

receiving a message by said wireless communication device; and

altering said magnetic force in response to said receiving said message.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said magnet is an electromagnet.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said electromagnet is comprised of a coil around a magnetic surface portion and said wireless communication device provides a voltage across said coil.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said voltage is generated by an energy source comprised from the group consisting of a reservoir capacitor and a battery.

46. The method of claim 42, further comprising powering an electromagnet in proximity to said magnet.

47. The method of claim 42, further comprising activating a latch coupled to said magnet to rotate said magnet.