Rotatable tags for automated location and monitoring of moveable objects and related systems

• US 8,742,897 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2013
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleTracking Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TeleTracking Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Jackson, Stephen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US13/854,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20130222117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 340/505
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A rotatable tag is provided that is configured to be affixed to a moveable object, the tag includes a housing configured to provide an increased volume and occupy a relatively small amount of surface area on the object to which the tag is affixed. The rotatable tag is configured to transmit information related to the tag and/or an environment surrounding the tag. Related systems are also provided herein.

Claims

1. A rotatable tag configured to be affixed to a moveable object comprising:

a housing having a first portion that includes at least two different patterns and a second portion at least a portion of which is translucent, positioned over the first portion, and configured to rotate to reveal one of the at least two different patterns through the translucent portion of the second portion; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a first signal to an electronic reader communicatively coupled to the rotatable tag, wherein the first signal comprises information related to the tag and/or an environment surrounding the tag.

2. The rotatable tag of claim 1, wherein the tag is further configured to indicate at least one state of the object such that the at least one state of the object is discernable from a distance.

3. The rotatable tag of claim 1, wherein a first pattern of the at least two patterns indicates a first potential state of the object and a second pattern of the at least two patterns indicates a second potential state of the object.

4. The rotatable tag of claim 3, wherein the first potential state is selected from the group consisting of available for use, in use, needs cleaning and/or needs service.

5. The rotatable tag of claim 1, wherein the tag is further configured to provide an increased volume and occupy a relatively small amount of surface area on the object to which the tag is affixed.

6. The rotatable tag of claim 1, wherein the tag has a cylindrical shape.

7. The rotatable tag of claim 1, wherein the tag is intrinsically safe such that it can be used in an oxygen rich environment.

8. The rotatable tag of claim 1, wherein the tag is configured to transmit the first signal automatically, responsively or synchronously.

9. The rotatable tag of claim 1, wherein the housing includes at least one sensor and wherein the at least one sensor comprises a temperature sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a gas sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

10. The rotatable tag of claim 1, wherein the rotatable tag further comprises a receiver configured to receive a second signal from the electronic reader.

11. A system for locating and tracking moveable objects, the system comprising:

a tag communicatively coupled to an electronic reader and configured to be affixed to a moveable object, the tag comprising;

a housing, the housing comprising;

a first portion that defines at least two patterns;

a second portion positioned over the first portion, the second portion defining a translucent section and configured to assume a first position in which the transparent section is positioned to reveal a first pattern of the at least two patterns and a second position in which the transparent section is positioned to reveal a second pattern of the at least two patterns;

a transmitter configured to transmit a first signal to the electronic reader, wherein the first signal comprises information related to the tag and/or an environment surrounding the tag.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the tag has a cylindrical shape.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second portion is configured to rotate between the first position and the second position.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first pattern is indicative of a first potential state of the object and the second pattern is indicative of a second potential state of the object.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first potential state of the object is selected from the group consisting of available for use, in use, needs cleaning and needs service.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the tag is intrinsically safe such that it can be used in an oxygen rich environment.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the tag is configured to transmit the first signal automatically, responsively or synchronously.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the housing includes at least one sensor and wherein the at least one sensor comprises a temperature sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a gas sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the tag further comprises a receiver configured to receive a second signal from the electronic reader.