Imaged coded data source tracking product

• US 7,184,075 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2001
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reiffel Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Reiffel Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Reiffel, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): An, Shawn S.
• Application Number:
  US10/432,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20040027455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 348/169, 348/207, 348/174, 348/143, 235/462.08, 235/462.11, 235/462.1, 235/462.14, 235/462.41, 235/462.45, 235/472.01
• US Class Current: 348/169
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06018 one-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06225 using wavelength selection, e.g. colour code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48

Abstract

The tracking product images several coded data sources (41A–41C) concurrently to cause a track signal (12) which represents each of the several coded data source locations and represents each of the several coded data source identities.

Claims

1. A tracking product comprising:

a plurality of coded data sources;

an imager,

the imager having a field of view,

the field of view extending along each of three orthogonal axes,

the field of view having a reference point,

the imager being adapted to detect light concurrently from several coded data sources from the plurality of coded data sources when the several coded data sources are spatially separated in the field of view;

a first coded data source from the plurality of coded data sources,

the first coded data source being in the field of view at a first coded data source location relative to the reference point,

the first coded data source representing a first coded data source identity,

the first identity being represented by the first coded data source without any physical nor spatial nor temporal dependence on the representation of a second identity by a second coded data source from the plurality of coded data sources;

a first track signal,

the first track signal being caused when light from the first coded data source is detected by the imager,

the first track signal representing the first coded data source identity,

the first track signal representing the first coded data source location relative to the reference point.

2. The product of claim 1 wherein the light from the first coded data source is reflected by the first coded data source.

3. The product of claim 1 wherein the imager is adapted to being held by a person.

4. The product of claim 1 wherein the imager is associated with an environment independently of persons in the environment.

5. The product of claim 4 further comprising a display representing at least part of the first track signal.

6. The product of claim 5 wherein the display is adapted to being held by a person.

7. The product of claim 6 wherein the display is associated with an environment independently of persons in the environment.

8. The product of claim 5 wherein a first query solicits first reply data about the first coded data source and wherein the display is caused to output at least part of the first reply data.

9. A tracking product comprising:

a plurality of coded data sources;

an imager,

the imager having a field of view,

the field of view extending along each of three orthogonal axes,

the field of view having a reference point,

the imager being adapted to detect light concurrently from several coded data sources from the plurality of coded data sources when the several coded data sources are spatially separated in the field of view;

a first coded data source from the plurality of coded data sources,

the first coded data source being in the field of view at a first coded data source location relative to the reference point,

the first coded data source representing a first coded data source identity,

the first identity being represented by the first coded data source without any physical nor spatial nor temporal dependence on the representation of a second identity by a second coded data source from the plurality of coded data sources;

a first track signal,

the first track signal being caused when light reflected from the first coded data source is detected by the imager,

the first track signal representing the first coded data source identity,

the first track signal representing the first coded data source location relative to the reference point.

10. The product of claim 9 wherein the imager is adapted to being held by a person.

11. The product of claim 9 wherein the imager is associated with an environment independently of persons in the environment.

12. The product of claim 11 further comprising a display representing at least part of the first track signal.

13. The product of claim 12 wherein the display is adapted to being held by a person.

14. The product of claim 12 wherein the display is associated with an environment independently of persons in the environment.

15. The product of claim 12 wherein a first query solicits first reply data about the first coded data source and wherein the display is caused to output at least part of the first reply data.

16. A tracking product comprising:

a plurality of coded data sources;

an imager,

the imager adapted to being held by a person,

the imager having a field of view,

the field of view extending along each of three orthogonal axes,

the field of view having a reference point,

the imager being adapted to detect light concurrently from several coded data sources from the plurality of coded data sources when the several coded data sources are spatially separated in the field of view;

a first coded data source from the plurality of coded data sources,

the first coded data source being in the field of view at a first coded data source location relative to the reference point,

the first coded data source representing a first coded data source identity

the first identity being represented by the first coded data source without any physical nor spatial nor temporal dependence on the representation of a second identity by a second coded data source from the plurality of coded data sources;

a first track signal,

the first track signal being caused when light from the first coded data source is detected by the imager,

the first track signal representing the first coded data source identity,

the first track signal representing the first coded data source location relative to the reference point;

a display representing at least part of the first track signal.

17. The product of claim 16 wherein the display is adapted to being held by a person.

18. The product of claim 16 wherein the display is associated with an environment independently of persons in the environment.

19. The product of claim 16 wherein a first query solicits first reply data about the first coded data source and wherein the display is caused to output at least part of the first reply data.

20. A tracking product comprising:

a plurality of coded data sources;

an imager,

the imager adapted to being associated with an environment independently of people in the environment,

the imager having a field of view,

the field of view extending along each of three orthogonal axes,

the field of view having a reference point,

the imager being adapted to detect light concurrently from several coded data sources from the plurality of coded data sources when the several coded data sources are spatially separated in the field of view;

a first coded data source from the plurality of coded data sources,

the first coded data source being in the field of view at a first coded data source location relative to the reference point,

the first coded data source representing a first coded data source identity

the first identity being represented by the first coded data source without any physical nor spatial nor temporal dependence on the representation of a second identity by a second coded data source from the plurality of coded data sources;

a first track signal,

the first track signal being caused when light from the first coded data source is detected by the imager,

the first track signal representing the first coded data source identity,

the first track signal representing the first coded data source location relative to the reference point;

a display,

the display representing at least part of the first track signal.

21. The product of claim 20 wherein the display is adapted to being held by a person.

22. The product of claim 20 wherein the display is associated with an environment independently of persons in the environment.

23. The product of claim 20 wherein a first query solicits first reply data about the first coded data source and wherein the display is caused to output at least part of the first reply data.