System for storage and output of objects

• US 6,827,256 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astra Gesellschaft Fur Asset Management mbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Astra Gesellschaft Fur Asset Management mbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Stobbe, Anatoli
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel A.
• Application Number:
  US10/098,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20020130180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/385, 235/451, 235/381, 340/570, 340/572.1, 340/572.7
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00936 for key cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A system is described for the identification, localization, storage and output of objets which carry electronically stored identity information. The system comprises at least one storage container with a reading device for reading the identity information, a display device for displaying the presence, position, or absence of the objects and an output device for releasing the objects which are stored inaccessibly or blocked. The electronically stored identity information can be read wirelessly by the reading device via a transponder located in the respective object.

Claims

1. A system for identifying the location, storage and release of objects, having electrically stored identity information in a storage container, the system comprising:

(a) at least one transponder associated with each object, said transponder for storing the identity information of the associated object;

(b) at least one reading device for reading identity information from each of said at least one transponder;

(c) at least one display device for displaying the present position or absence of the objects;

(d) an antenna for receiving signals from an additional reading device for allowing a user to identify himself via a batch transmission with identity information;

(e) a plurality of storage locations arranged in the storage container in the form of a matrix which are automatically lockable and releasable via said at least one unlocking device; and

(f) at least one door that is slidable and lockable and disposed in the storage container in front of the matrix for selectively covering the objects; and

(g) a drive for moving said at least one door into different positions so that the objects can be selectively inserted and removed manually from the matrix and are unlockable via access authorization.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said display device comprises a plurality of lights in a display matrix allocated to the insertion locations of the objects, comprises a signal for the selective display of missing or desired objects and creates a separate display field which indicate insertion locations on a local storage container.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said reading device comprises an evaluation device which records, and outputs, and stores one or more states and properties of the objects such as presence, absence, insertion location number, storage container number, local range of application, access authorization, time or duration of access authorization, time of removal and return, duration of removal and assignment of user.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the reading device also comprises a writing device and wherein said at least one transponder has a storage device which can write authorizations and properties wirelessly via the writing device, via one or more states.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the reading device comprises a common antenna for the storage container wherein to distinguish one or more of said at least one transponder, data acquisition occurs via an anti-collision method.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one device for each insertion location comprises a separate antenna.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one transponder is readable or combinable with other systems for mobile acquisition and/or identification at other mobile and/or stationary access systems or for control of other systems via said at least one reading device.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the object is a pin with a hole at a free end and in the hole is disposed an insert with at least one transponder, wherein an antenna coil is arranged in an outward-projecting non-metallic head of said at least one transponder.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the pin has a locking slot.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the object is a tag for an item to be secured, which is fixed to at least one relevant item.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the non-detachable connection of the object to the item to be secured is monitored, and if this is disturbed, a property of said at least one transponder is changed.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the display device is constructed as a mobile container for one or more items to be secured.

13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising several additional reading devices in a network which identify local regions outside the storage container which the objects seek out or leave after removal from a storage container.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said at least one transponder is an active transponder with its own power supply.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein each of said at least one transponder acquires data via an anti-collision method to distinguish the transponders.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one transponder monitors objects in local zones wherein total area is covered globally or accesses with cupboards are covered and an alarm is triggered in an event of unauthorized leaving.

17. The system as in claim 1, wherein said door has at least one slit for exposing the objects in the matrix.

18. A system for identifying the location, storage and release of objects, having electrically stored identity information in a storage container, the system comprising:

(a) at least one transponder associated with each other, said transponder for storing the identity information of the object

(b) at least one reading device for reading identity information;

(c) at least one display device for displaying the present position or absence of the objects;

(d) an antenna for an additional reading device for allowing a user to identify himself via a batch with identity information;

(e) a plurality of storage locations arranged in the storage container in the form of a matrix which are automatically lockable and releasable via said at least one unlocking device; and

(f) at least one door that is slidable and lockable and disposed in said storage container in front of the matrix for selectively covering the objects, said door also having a slit for selectively exposing a selected object; and

(g) a drive for moving said at least one door parallel to said matrix into different positions so that the objects;

can be selectively inserted and removed manually from the matrix when said slit exposes the objects wherein the objects can then be unlocked via access authorization.