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

• US 9,129,496 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• 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:
  US14/292,042
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 configured to provide an increased volume and occupy a relatively small amount of surface area on the moveable object to which the tag is affixed,

the housing including a first portion that includes at least two different patterns and a second portion that is positioned over the first portion, the second portion being rotatable about the first portion;

internal electronics that communicate via radio signal, wherein the radio signal includes at least data indicating one of a plurality of states of the moveable object that correspond to a rotational position of the second portion relative to the first portion.

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

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

4. The rotatable tag of claim 3, wherein the at least one state of the moveable object comprises available for use, in use, needs cleaning and/or needs service.

5. The rotatable tag of claim 3, wherein:

the second portion includes 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, wherein each of the at least two patterns is indicative of a state of the plurality of states of the moveable object.

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

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

8. 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.

9. The rotatable tag of claim 1, wherein the tag is configured to transmit and/or receive information.

10. The rotatable tag of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a battery, a radio transceiver and micro-circuitry.

11. 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,

internal electronics that communicate data indicating one of a plurality of states of the moveable object that correspond to a rotational position of the second portion relative to the first portion.

12. The rotatable tag of claim 11, wherein the tag is further configured to visually indicate at least one state of the object such that the at least one state of the moveable object is discernable from a distance.

13. The rotatable tag of claim 12, wherein each of the at least two patterns is indicative of a state of the moveable object.

14. The rotatable tag of claim 12, wherein the at least one state of the moveable object comprises available for use, in use, needs cleaning and/or needs service.

15. The rotatable tag of claim 11, 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.

16. The rotatable tag of claim 11, wherein the tag has a cylindrical shape.

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

18. The rotatable tag of claim 11, wherein the tag is configured to transmit automatically, responsively or synchronously.

19. The rotatable tag 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.

20. The rotatable tag of claim 11, wherein the tag is configured to transmit and/or receive information.