RFID monitoring and tracking of tools
First Claim
1. A system for identifying, monitoring, and tracking a plurality of tools, the system comprising:
- a pad for placing the plurality of the tools, wherein the pad comprisesa plurality of appropriately sized cutouts for nesting each of the tools;
a sensor in each cutout that detects placement and removal of the tool in the cutout;
a low frequency radio tag placed in the pad and operatively coupled with each sensor for reading each sensor, said radio tag operating at a low clock frequency and configured to receive and transmit data signals within a peer-to-peer network with any low frequency active radiating transceiver, the radio tag comprising;
a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 450 kilohertz, a transceiver operatively connected to the tag antenna, said transceiver configured to transmit and receive data signals at the low radio frequency;
a data storage device configured to store data comprising identification data for identifying the tools;
a processor configured to process data received from the transceiver and the data storage device and to transmit data to cause said transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon the identification data stored in said data storage device; and
a connector for a power source to power the processor and the transceiver.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for identifying, monitoring, and tracking a plurality of tools includes: a pad for placing the tools, wherein the pad includes a plurality of appropriately-sized cutouts for nesting each of the tools; a sensor in each cutout that detects placement and removal of the tool in the cutout; and a low frequency radio tag placed in the pad and operatively coupled with each sensor for reading each sensor. The low frequency radio tag operates at a low clock frequency and is configured to receive and transmit data signals within a peer-to-peer network with any low frequency radiating transceiver. The low frequency radio tag includes: a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 450 kilohertz, a transceiver, a data storage device for storing data for identifying the tools, a processor for processing the data; and a connector for a power source.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for identifying, monitoring, and tracking a plurality of tools, the system comprising:
a pad for placing the plurality of the tools, wherein the pad comprises a plurality of appropriately sized cutouts for nesting each of the tools; a sensor in each cutout that detects placement and removal of the tool in the cutout; a low frequency radio tag placed in the pad and operatively coupled with each sensor for reading each sensor, said radio tag operating at a low clock frequency and configured to receive and transmit data signals within a peer-to-peer network with any low frequency active radiating transceiver, the radio tag comprising; a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 450 kilohertz, a transceiver operatively connected to the tag antenna, said transceiver configured to transmit and receive data signals at the low radio frequency; a data storage device configured to store data comprising identification data for identifying the tools; a processor configured to process data received from the transceiver and the data storage device and to transmit data to cause said transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon the identification data stored in said data storage device; and a connector for a power source to power the processor and the transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for identifying, monitoring and tracking a plurality of tools, said method comprising:
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placing a sensor in each cutout of a pad for housing the plurality of the tools, wherein each tool is nested in an appropriately sized cutout, wherein the sensor detects placement and removal of the tool from the cutout; placing a low frequency radio tag in the pad; and operatively coupling said low frequency radio tag with each sensor for reading each sensor, said low frequency radio tag configured to receive and send data signals within a peer-to-peer network with any low frequency active radiating transceiver, said low frequency radio tag comprising;
a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 132 kilohertz, a transceiver operatively connected to the tag antenna, said transceiver configured to transmit and receive data signals at the low radio frequency;a data storage device configured to store data comprising identification data for identifying the tools; a processor configured to process data received from the transceiver and the data storage device and to transmit data to cause said transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon the identification data stored in said data storage device; and a connector for a power source to power the processor and the transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification